# Doorway Sizes
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Exterior
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Exterior doors have a thickness of 1 3/4 inches to 2 inches. When you buy a door, match the thickness of the old door with the new so the new door closes flush with the door jamb. The height of exterior doors range from 6 feet 6 inches to 7 feet. You can request a special height if your doorway is not cut to a standard size. The width of a standard exterior doorway is generally 36 inches. The width of the exterior doorway is dictated by the building code of your state.
Interior
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Local building codes have specific requirements for interior doors. For instance, doors located at the top of stairways must open away from the stairs, to prevent accidents. Interior doors for commercial buildings must be at least 32 inches wide to accommodate wheelchairs. Doorways between rooms in the home differ according to preference; however, standard doorways range between 24 inches to 48 inches wide. Closet doorways are generally 18 inches to 24 inches wide. Building codes require wheelchair access to at least one bathroom, which means one bathroom doorway must be at least 32 inches wide. The remaining bathroom doors can be 24 inches wide. The standard height of interior doorways is 80 inches.
American Disabilities Act
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The American Disabilities Act sets forth specific requirements for doorway sizes to accommodate people with disabilities. The outer doorway requirements for buildings require the width of the doorway to be at least 32 inches with the door open. The measurement is taken from the edge of the open door to the door jamb. The threshold can be no higher than 1/2 inch. The 32-inch width of the doorway is also required for closets over 24 inches deep.
Fitting Doors
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Ready-to-hang doors are available at most home improvement stores in standard sizes, such as 24, 30 and 36 inches. However, when you get the door home and attempt the hanging, the door may be too wide. You can resize the door by trimming both sides slightly, until the door fits properly. For doors that are too narrow, you must add additional trim to narrow the opening of the doorway.
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