How to Make Holes in a New Door to Install a Doorknob

Find the center of the edge of the door where you'd like the door latch to reside. Use a ruler and make a pencil mark parallel to the edges. Use a square to make a line perpendicular to the edges across the parallel line. Note that where the two lines meet indicates the center of the hole for the door latch.

Extend the perpendicular line made across the edge of the door to the face of the door a few inches using a square. Measure 1 3/4 inches back from the edge of the face of the door on the line and make a mark. This indicates the center of the doorknob.

Place the point of a nail at the intersected lines on the edge of the door. Tap the nail lightly with a hammer to make a slight indentation on the door. Remove the nail. Do the same where the lines intersect on the face of the door.

Insert a 7/8-inch spade drill bit into a power drill. Place the point of the bit on the nail indentation on the edge of the door. Hold the drill level so the hole will be straight. Start the drill and bore through the door to make a 2- to 3-inch deep hole. Remove the drill from the door.

Remove the spade bit and install a 2 1/8-inch hole saw into the power drill. Place the tip of the pilot bit of the hole saw on the nail indentation on the face of the door. Hold he drill level so the hole is straight. Drill approximately halfway through or until the pilot bit protrudes from the opposite side of the door. Remove the saw from the door.

Place the pilot bit of the hole saw through the hole made by the pilot bit on the opposite side of the door. Hold the drill level. Start the drill and drill through the remaining thickness of the door. Remove the saw from the door.

Smooth the edges of the door knob and latch holes with sandpaper.