Specifying
Door handing: how to determine LH, RH, LHR and RHR
By the Div08 Consulting team · Updated
To determine door handing, stand on the outside of the door (the street side, the corridor side or the side you would use a key from). If the hinges are on your left and the door swings away from you, it is left hand (LH). Hinges on the right, swinging away, is right hand (RH). If it swings toward you, add reverse: LHR or RHR.
How to determine door handing
Door handing in commercial hardware follows one convention: you always read it from the outside of the opening. The outside is:
- the exterior, for a door in an exterior wall
- the corridor or common side, for a door into a room
- the side you would unlock with a key (the secure or keyed side), when neither of the above is clear
Then ask two questions. Which side are the hinges on? Does the door swing away from you (into the room) or toward you?
- Stand on the outside, facing the door.
- Note the hinge side: left or right.
- Note the swing: away from you is a standard hand, toward you is a reverse hand.
- Combine them: LH, RH, LHR or RHR.
Door handing chart
| Hand | Hinges on | Door swings | Common name |
|---|---|---|---|
| LH | Left | Away from you (inswing) | Left hand |
| RH | Right | Away from you (inswing) | Right hand |
| LHR | Left | Toward you (outswing) | Left hand reverse (reverse bevel) |
| RHR | Right | Toward you (outswing) | Right hand reverse (reverse bevel) |
Reverse hands are common on exit doors. A door from a room into an exit corridor usually swings out in the direction of egress, so from the corridor (the outside) it swings toward you and reads LHR or RHR.
Spec tip
residential door suppliers sometimes hand doors from the inside or by the side the knob is on. On a commercial job, write the convention into the spec and show the swing on the plans, so nobody has to guess which method a field measure used.
Why handing matters for hardware
A wrong hand is one of the most common reasons hardware sits in a box on site while a replacement ships. Handing affects:
- Mortise locks: the latch bolt bevel has to face the strike. Many are field reversible, but some functions and electrified versions are ordered handed.
- [Exit devices](/guides/exit-devices/): some rim devices are non-handed, while many vertical rod and mortise devices, and devices with special trim, are handed.
- [Door closers](/guides/door-closer-types/): the hand and the swing decide whether the closer mounts on the pull side (regular arm) or push side (parallel arm, top jamb), and which bracket is needed.
- [Continuous hinges](/guides/continuous-hinge/) and electrified hinges: many geared continuous hinges are non-handed, but some pin-and-barrel models and most electrified versions are ordered for a specific hand.
- Frames: the strike and hinge preparations in a hollow metal frame are located for one hand. A frame prepared for the wrong hand cannot simply be flipped.
- Pairs: on a pair of doors, the active leaf and inactive leaf each have their own hand, which drives the flush bolts, astragal and coordinator.
Handed vs reversible (non-handed) hardware
Manufacturers increasingly make hardware that is non-handed or field reversible: most cylindrical levers, many closers and many rim exit devices. That reduces mistakes, but it does not remove the need to hand the schedule. Lever return direction, closer arm mounting, electrified hinge location and frame preps still depend on the hand.
The safe practice is to list the hand for every opening in the door schedule and in the hardware submittal, even when the product is reversible, and to confirm hands against the floor plans during submittal review.
Frequently asked questions
Do you determine door handing from inside or outside?
From the outside: the exterior, the corridor side, or the keyed side. That is the standard convention for commercial door hardware.
What does LHR mean on a door?
Left hand reverse. Standing on the outside, the hinges are on your left and the door swings toward you. It is also called left hand reverse bevel.
Is a left hand door the same as a left hand reverse door?
No. Both have hinges on the left from the outside, but an LH door swings away from you and an LHR door swings toward you. Locks, closers and exit devices may differ between them.
Do lever handles have a hand?
Many commercial levers are field reversible, but they still need to be set for the correct hand so the lever returns properly and points the right way. Check the product and the installation instructions.
General guidance only. Code requirements depend on the edition your jurisdiction has adopted and on the listing of each fire-rated assembly; confirm with the authority having jurisdiction. Published by Div08 Consulting (John Voll, owner).