DoorTechnik 25 years

Door Handing

Door Handing is determined by the hinge position when viewed from the pull side of the door. 

If the hinges are on the left, it is a left hand door. If the hinges are on the right, it is a right hand door.

Door handing diagram showing left hand hung, right hand hung, active left hand hung and active right hand hung doors

Door handing is important, as it sets the usage pattern of the door, guiding or affecting the flow of people. Several systems and conventions exist to describe door handing in different ways. The DIN system is simple, and copes well with internal doors and those in corridors, where there is no inside or outside. 

At DoorTechnik, we use the DIN standard for handing, as summarised below:

Left hand and right hand

  • DIN Left (LH): standing on the pull side, the hinges are on the left and the door opens towards you.
  • DIN Right (RH): standing on the pull side, the hinges are on the right and the door opens towards you.

If you are unsure about the handing you need, just send us a sketch showing the hinge side and the opening direction and we will confirm the handing for your doorset.

Frequently asked questions

What does door handing mean?

Door handing describes which side a door is hinged and which way it opens. It lets the doorset, frame and ironmongery be manufactured and fitted the correct way round.
Stand on the pull side of the door, where it opens towards you. If the hinges are on the left it is a left hand door; if they are on the right it is a right hand door. Always confirm which convention your supplier uses, as they can vary - DoorTechnik works to the DIN standard.