How to Choose the Right Hardware for Exterior Doors
Let’s talk about exterior door hardware! This includes your front door, double entry doors, back doors, side doors, and even the door leading from your house into the garage. Exterior doors come in a few different styles, and the hardware you’ll need depends on the type of door you have and how you want it to function. Let’s walk through the most common setups so you know exactly what to order.
Hardware for a Single Front Door
If you have a regular single-entry door, the most common place to start is with a handleset. Handlesets are popular for front doors because they combine a handle and deadbolt into one cohesive look, giving your entryway a polished, finished feel.
Most homeowners choose a single cylinder handleset, which has a key on the outside and a thumb turn on the inside. This option offers convenience and security while still allowing for easy exit in an emergency. You can also choose a double cylinder handleset, which requires a key on both the outside and inside of the door. Double cylinders are often used on doors with a lot of glass, since an intruder wouldn’t be able to reach in and unlock the door. However, they’re not recommended for most homes because needing a key to exit can be dangerous in emergency situations.
If a handleset isn’t your style, you can absolutely keep things simple. Many people opt for a single cylinder deadbolt paired with a keyed entrance door knob or lever. This gives you flexibility in both design and budget. Keyless locks and sideplate locks are also great alternatives if you’re looking for a more modern or decorative option for your front door.
Hardware for Double Front Doors
Double front doors are slightly more complex, but once you understand the pieces involved, they’re easy to plan for. The key thing to know is that double doors have two roles: an active door and a stationary door, often called a dummy door.
In many double-door setups, homeowners choose handlesets on both doors for a symmetrical look. To do this, you’ll need one active handleset (either single or double cylinder) and one dummy handleset. A dummy handleset looks just like a working one on both sides of the door, but it doesn’t turn or operate. It stays fixed in place.
The stationary door is secured using bolts at the top and bottom of the door, which lock into the door frame. These are called flush bolts or surface bolts, and you’ll typically need two, one at the top and one at the bottom. Even if you decide to only install hardware on the active door and leave the stationary door visually blank, you’ll still need these bolts to keep everything secure. Just like with single doors, you’re not locked into using handlesets. You can choose a deadbolt and knob or lever for the active door and add a dummy knob or lever for the stationary door. Keyless locks and sideplate locks also work well on double doors, depending on the look and functionality you’re going for.
Hardware for Back Doors and Garage Entry Doors
Back doors, side doors, and doors leading into the garage are usually the simplest to outfit. In most cases, you’ll just need a keyed entrance door knob or lever paired with a single cylinder deadbolt. Most exterior doors include a deadbolt for added security, though you may occasionally come across a door without one.
Choosing the Right Exterior Door Hardware Made Easy
Ordering exterior door hardware doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Once you know what type of door you have and how you want it to work, the rest falls into place. From single front doors to double entryways and simple back doors, there’s a hardware setup that fits both your style and your needs—and we’re always here to help if you have questions along the way. Check out our selection of door knobs and lever style door handles when you’re ready to shop!
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Bobby Grewal
We like the idea of double doors, that has an active door and a stationary door (aka dummy door) which can open by a bolt at the top and bottom of the door and lock into place in the door jam. Will need a dummy handleset, which is simply a stationary handleset that is mounted to the door. Will need two handlesets out side, one dummy and one active. On the active handleset, when you press from outside, door will open. It will have no connection with the dead bolt. Inside we will have a handleset to open the door from inside. would also need a dead bolt that only opens from inside. Could you please send some kind of information on the above. So we will need: 2 handle sets, one for outside and one for inside that will have something to open it. 1 dead blot that can only be open from inside. Could add a knob somewhere to ease the opening of the door. We have a good size double door like the one you are showing up. All the handle sets and dead bolt etc shoud be in proportion to the door size. Currently, we have two handle sets, one is active and the other is dummy that opens with the for outside and one dummy, that opens with a bolt at the top and bottom. I hope you get the idea what we are looking for. Any help would be appreciated. Best regards Bobby Grewal
