What are standard UK door sizes?

Whether we’re talking internal or external doors, it will probably come as no surprise that there is not a one size fits all door size in the UK for either of these types.  With so many different property types in the UK, from rural country cottages to multi-story blocks of flats and apartment blocks, it would be impossible to create a single standard sized door.

As professional joiners, we work in a lot of period properties where historic door openings are typically much narrower than that of a contemporary new build property.  Then there are all the different door types to consider – fire doors and disabled doors for example, have different building regulations that must be adhered to, and patio, bi-fold, and French door sizes will all differ depending on your property type and opening size.

That said, if you are looking for a new front door or internal doors, there are common sizes that you can use as a guide which we cover in this article. We will be looking at:

Internal Doors 

There are several commonly used door sizes which can be found in most UK homes. What you will find most often is that door manufacturers will display their available door sizes in height x width x depth. Here are some of the most frequently found internal door sizes:

UK standard interior door sizes

  • 1981 x 457/533 x 35mm – popular for cupboard/wardrobe doors.
  • 1981 x 610/686 x 35mm – popular where available wall space may be restricted.
  • 1981 x 762 x 35mm – often referred to as a 2’6″ door and is the most common internal door size in England and Wales.
  • 1981 x 838 x 35mm – also known as a 2’9″ door and is the most used door size for wheelchair access.

What are metric door sizes?

Metric door sizes are becoming more popular, especially in Scotland and the UK. The main difference with metric sized doors is their height and thickness. Their height will be slightly taller at 2040mm, and their thickness will increase to 40mm. Common sizes tend to be 2040 x 562/626/726/826/926 x 40mm. With this insight, we can now answer some internal door FAQs:

What is the average height of a UK internal door?

In England and Wales, the most common door height of an internal door is 1981mm. Scotland most commonly use a metric equivalent at 2040mm.

What is the average width of a UK internal door?

Within England and Wales the most common width of an internal door is 762mm. Scotland use a metric equivalent at 726mm.

How do I measure for a replacement internal door?

The most important thing to note when buying replacement doors, is NOT to measure the existing door.  Always measure inside the door frame.

1
When measuring the width
Take three measurements inside the door frame – at the top, middle and bottom. Take the widest measurement to determine your door width.

2
When measuring the door height
Measure the inside of each vertical side of the frame. Take the longest length as the door height.

3
When measuring door thickness
If you are replacing doors (i.e. keeping your old frames) you will need to measure the thickness of the door. Measure the edge of the door and record its thickness. Measure the rebate in the door frame too (the bit where the door sits when closed).  Both measurements should provide you with a best match fit with one of the UK standard door thicknesses (35mm being the most common).

“TOP JOINERS TIP:
measure twice,
cut once”

What is the standard size of a fire door?

All standard UK and metric door sizes are typically available as a fire door equivalent with one small difference – building regs state that door thickness for fire doors needs to be 45mm.  This is due to the extra component materials required to achieve its fire rating.

Door size conversion chart

If you still work in feet and inches fear not, this chart will convert standard internal UK door sizes into the metric equivalent for you to save you the bother:

Height & Width

Metric (mm)

1981 x 457

1981 x 533

1981 x 610

1981 x 686

1981 x 711

1981 x 762

1981 x 838

1981 x 915

1981 x 1067

1981 x 1168

1981 x 1220

1981 x 1372

1981 x 1524

2032 x 813

2134 x 915

2040 x 526

2040 x 626

2040 x 726

2040 x 826

2040 x 926

Imperial (Inches)

78” x 18”

78” x 21”

78” x 24”

78” x 27”

78” x 28”

78” x 30”

78” x 33”

78” x 36”

78” x 42”

78” x 46”

78” x 48”

78” x 54”

78” x 60”

80” x 32”

84” x 36”

80 1/4” x 20 11/6”

80 1/4” x 24 5/8”

80 1/4” x 28 5/8”

80 1/4” x 32 1/2”

80 1/4” x 36 7/16”

Imperial (Feet & Inches)

6’6” x 1’6”

6’6” x 1’9”

6’6” x 2’0”

6’6” x 2’3”

6’6” x 2’4”

6’6” x 2’6”

6’6” x 2’9”

6’6” x 3’0”

6’6” x 3’6”

6’6” x 3’10”

6’6” x 4’0”

6’6” x 4’6”

6’6” x 5’0”

6’8” x 2’8”

7’0” x 3’0”

6’8 1/4” x 1’8 11/16”

6’8 1/4” x 2’0 5/6”

6’8 1/4” x 2’4 5/8”

6’8 1/4” x 2’8 1/2”

6’8 1/4” x 3’0 7/16”

External Doors

As with internal doors, front doors, patio, French and bi-folding doors do not come in one size only. This section looks at the most common external door sizes found in the UK.

Standard UK Front door sizes

There are several different standard front door sizes, but most properties adhere to one of the following door frame widths that are considered standard within the UK:

  • 711.2mm or 28″”
  • 762mm or 30″
  • 812.8mm or 32″”
  • 914.3mm or 36″

The most popular standard door widths in the UK are 762mm (30”) and 828mm (33”). The latter is more commonly used in modern dwellings, as they comply with disability access regulations. For entrance doors built in dwellings since 1999, the threshold must remain level, to allow for accessibility.

While door widths vary in the UK, the standard door height is 1981mm (78”).

Can front doors be bespoke?

We thought you’d never ask! Yes, they can!  If the width of your doors does not adhere to the most common off the shelf solutions, a custom-made door would be a great option.  Likewise, if you are after a front door that offers great kerb appeal and the best first impression of your property you can, a front door crafted by a professional joiner that is a perfect fit and personalised, then opt for a bespoke timber street door.

Timber is an excellent choice for entrance doors – strong, resilient, energy efficient and beautiful, there are plenty of reasons to choose wood. Here at Parsons Joinery, all our front doors are made from scratch on site at our workshop in Ringmer, Sussex.  We use quality, sustainably sourced timber for all our projects and we can either create exactly what you want or, if you need some inspiration, we can show you example of our work to help you along.

We regularly craft and replace timber doors for our customers, as well as uPVC, metal, and composite doors.  A solid wood door can transform your property and give it a makeover that enhances its whole appearance, whatever your requirements might be, we can meet them.

Standard bi-fold door sizes

The standard size for external bi-fold doors is dependent on the size of the aperture.  Our timber bi-folding doors can be built up to 16ft wide, with individual leaf sizes up to 1000mm (3.2ft).At Parsons, we can make timber bi-folds between:

  • Two- leaf bifold doors = 1800mm (6ft) wide
  • Five-leaf options = 5000mm (16.40ft wide)

Bi-folding doors are less likely to follow a standardised sizing structure as they are often made for extensions or where new openings have been created, so there isn’t a historic standard to work from. We can make – to almost any size, design & style.

At Parsons Joinery we focus on bespoke external wooden bi-fold doors only with the price starting around £3,000 for a two-leaf bi-fold door. Generally, the price increases by around £1,500 per additional door leaf that is added.

Standard French door size

The standard width for French doors is:

  • 1200mm (3.9ft)
  • 1500 (4.92ft)
  • 1800mm (5.9ft)

As we make our French doors bespoke, the team at Parsons can replace doors made from timber, uPVC, metal, and composite materials, upgrading them to new, sustainably sourced wood.  If you don’t have French doors already, or you have different types of doors don’t worry, we can help you make the switch.

For new French doors, you will need to have enough space to fit them – individual door widths usually start at around 30 inches.  There’s no need to be restricted by manufacturer sizes though, as we’ll make your doors from scratch to ensure they are a precise fit.

How wide does a door need to be for wheelchair access?

To allow for wheelchair access, external and internal doors must have a minimum clear opening of 750mm. Watch out though, a clear opening is not the same as the door width.  You will need an 826mm (32.5″) wide door to achieve a clear opening of 775mm. It is likely that this value is based on the standard size of wheelchairs that range from 24 to 27 inches – 32 inches provides enough allowance for easy manoeuvring in doorways. That said, a door width of 900mm (35.4) is the most common.

As we close the door on this article (excuse the pun!), we hope that you have found it useful and informative.  If you are looking for bespoke timber doors, whether that be double doors, patio, French or front doors, the team at Parsons can help. Simply check our the areas we cover as well as our about us page, and give us a call. 01273 769815.