Installing internal doors might seem straightforward, but getting a perfect fit takes a bit of know-how. In this guide, we’ll share practical tips and step-by-step advice for hanging doors, fitting hinges, handles, and latches.
Check your frames first
A good fit starts with a straight, square frame — but if you’re hanging a door into an old lining, that’s rarely the case. You’ll usually need to cut your door (using a plane) to suit the frame you’re working with, making sure the head of the door sits symmetrically with the top of the lining. Both spines of the door have a trim of timber suitable for planing, usually between 6–12 mm. So be careful not to plane any further than this. If you take off too much, the dressed (cut) inside of the door will show and the door may become unusable. You can check how much is left to plane by looking at the top or bottom of the door, we recommend removing no more than 5 mm per side. Adjust and check until the door sits flush in the frame. Take your time here — it’s the foundation for everything that follows.
Don’t rush your hinges
Use good-quality hinges and take the time to line them up perfectly — it makes a big difference to how the door closes and feels. Some people use a hinge jig, but another simple method is to use a staff (basically a piece of door stop).
Here’s how:
1. Mark your hinges on the door — 6 inches down from the top and 9 inches up from the bottom.
2. For fire doors, add a third hinge halfway between the top and bottom ones.
3. Hold your staff flush against the spine and top of the door, then transfer your hinge marks onto it.
4. Using a 2–3mm packer at the top of the frame, push the staff up to the packer and hold it against the side of the frame to transfer the marks. This provides the required gap between the frame and door.
5. Press your hinges against the door upside down where you plan to fit them and scribe around them with a sharp Stanley knife.
6. Chop out the hinge recesses carefully with a chisel until the hinge sits flush with both the frame and door.
7. Pre-drill (pilot) the holes, then screw your hinges into the door.
This method keeps everything aligned perfectly between the door and frame.
Hang your door
You may need to raise the door or tilt it slightly to get your top hinge screwed in first. Once that’s done, fit the bottom hinge, followed by the middle one (if you have one). Check the swing — it should open and close smoothly without scraping.
Make adjustments
When you first close the door, it might be a bit tight — that’s fine. It’s always better to start slightly tight than to have big gaps.
• If it’s catching, plane the edge gradually until it fits nicely.
• Often it’s just the leading edge (the edge that meets the frame first). Try planing that slightly before taking more off elsewhere.
• If the bottom is tight, you’ll need to take the door off and plane the bottom edge — just be careful not to take off too much.
Once it closes smoothly and evenly, give it a light sand to remove sharp edges and you’re done.
Handles and latches
1. Mark the Handle Height
Handles are usually fitted 1 metre from the bottom of the door.
• Measure up 1 metre from the bottom on the spine edge (the side where the hinges aren’t).
• Make a small pencil mark.
• Then measure the centre of the door’s thickness and mark that too.
This gives you your handle and latch height.
2. Mark the Latch Position
Most latches are about 58mm from the front of the faceplate to the centre of the spindle hole.
• Measure 58mm from the edge of the door and mark it on both sides.
• Using a square, transfer your 1-metre line around the edge of the door so it meets those 58mm marks.
Now you’ve got your latch position marked accurately on both sides.
3. Drill the Latch Hole
Use a spade bit just big enough for the latch barrel — it should be slightly smaller than the latch faceplate.
• Drill carefully into the edge of the door deep enough for the barrel to slide fully in. I usually pencil mark the spade bit where I need to stop, or you can wrap some tape around it.
• Keep your drill straight to avoid the hole wandering off centre.
4. Drill the Handle Holes
Using the same spade bit, drill from both sides of the door into the latch hole.
• Go slowly as the door is now hollow inside from the first hole.
• Clear out any loose material left inside — this helps the latch and handles sit properly.
5. Fit the Latch
• Insert the latch barrel into the hole.
• Line up the faceplate so it’s square with the edge of the door.
• Pre-drill the fixing holes and screw it temporarily in place.
• Use a sharp Stanley knife to scribe around the faceplate, then chisel out the recess until it sits flush.
• Screw it back in securely.
6. Fit the Handles
• Slide the spindle bar through the latch hole.
• Fit both handles over the spindle so they sit snug against the door face.
• Screw each handle into place.
• Finally, tighten the small Allen screws (grub screws) on each handle to secure them to the spindle.