Exception to the Rule: If you have a locking door that swings outward, you'll need to order your lever handle in the opposite handing so that the lock is on the correct side of the door.

Example: Fred has a patio door that he wants to install a locking lever handle on. Refering to the illustration to the right, he stands in the door and the door swings out to his right side. However, since Fred's door swings out onto his patio, rather than into his home, he'll need to order the opposite handing than he generally would so that the lock is on the correct side. So, Fred orders a left handed lever handle.

This same rule applies to doors that use privacy levers. If the door swings out of the room, order the opposite door handing so your lever handle has the lock on the right side.

You do not need to determine door handing when ordering doorknobs, deadbolts and even some levers that are non-handed. Any lever handles that need to have their handing indicated will have the option upon checking out.