What Is the Standard Size for a Commercial Door?
What is the standard size for a commercial door? Learn common commercial door widths and heights, ADA clear opening requirements, and how to measure for replacement doors.
DOORS
If you're replacing a commercial door or planning a new installation, one of the first things you'll need to determine is the correct door size. Commercial doors come in several standard dimensions, but the right size depends on the building, the type of opening, accessibility requirements, and how the space will be used.
A common standard size for a commercial single door is 3 feet wide by 7 feet tall (36 inches by 84 inches). However, 36 inches by 80 inches is also widely used, and other sizes are common depending on the application.
Before ordering a replacement, it's important to understand the difference between the door slab, the frame, and the rough opening.
What Is the Standard Width of a Commercial Door?
A 36-inch-wide commercial door is one of the most common sizes, particularly for single-door entrances.
Width matters for more than simply fitting the opening. It can affect:
Accessibility and clear opening width
The movement of people, equipment, and furniture
Emergency egress requirements
Hardware selection
Door swing and clearance
For accessible routes, the ADA generally requires a minimum clear opening width of 32 inches when the door is open 90 degrees. This is not the same as the nominal door width. A 36-inch door is commonly used to provide the required clearance, but the actual clear opening must be measured and evaluated.
What Is the Standard Height of a Commercial Door?
Commercial doors are commonly 80 or 84 inches tall, with 96-inch doors also used in certain buildings.
An 80-inch door is a familiar standard in many existing buildings. Taller doors may be selected for storefronts, offices, newer commercial construction, and other applications where the opening design calls for additional height.
The correct height depends on the existing frame, ceiling and opening conditions, architectural design, and applicable requirements.
Standard Commercial Door Sizes by Type
Not every commercial door follows the same sizing conventions. Different door systems have different configurations and dimensions.
1. Hollow Metal Doors
Hollow metal doors are commonly found in apartment buildings, offices, schools, warehouses, and industrial facilities.
A frequently used size is 36 inches wide by 84 inches tall, although 36 by 80 inches is also common. Other widths and heights are available depending on the opening and manufacturer.
Hollow metal doors are often installed with steel frames and commercial-grade hardware. When a door is fire-rated, the complete assembly must meet the applicable listing and requirements.
2. Commercial Storefront Doors
Storefront doors are typically constructed with aluminum framing and glass panels. Unlike standard hollow metal doors, their dimensions are often determined by the storefront system and overall entrance design.
Common configurations include:
Single aluminum and glass entrance doors
Double storefront doors
Wide commercial glass entrances
Custom-height storefront systems
A typical storefront entrance may use a 36-inch-wide door leaf, but the actual dimensions depend on the framing system, glass specifications, hardware, and available opening.
3. Commercial Wood Doors
Commercial wood doors are frequently used in office buildings, interior corridors, conference rooms, and other commercial spaces.
Common widths include 30, 32, and 36 inches, with 80-inch and 84-inch heights frequently encountered. Larger and custom sizes may also be available.
These doors may be specified with solid-core construction, commercial hardware, or fire-rated configurations depending on their location and intended use.
4. Double Commercial Doors
Double doors are used when a wider opening is needed for people, equipment, deliveries, or higher-traffic entrances.
A common configuration consists of two 36-inch-wide door leaves, creating a nominal total width of 72 inches. Other combinations are possible.
When selecting double doors, the active and inactive leaves, astragals, flush bolts, closers, and exit hardware must be compatible with the intended application.
What Is the Minimum Size for a Commercial Door?
There is no single minimum door size that applies to every commercial opening.
For doors on an accessible route, the ADA Standards generally require at least 32 inches of clear opening width when the door is open 90 degrees. The clear opening is measured between the face of the open door and the opposite stop.
Other requirements may apply depending on the building's occupancy, the number of occupants, the means of egress, and the location of the door.
For example, a stairwell door, a main entrance, and a storage-room door may have different requirements. Always verify the applicable building code, accessibility standards, and fire-safety requirements before selecting a door.
How to Measure a Commercial Door for Replacement
If you're replacing an existing commercial door, measuring the opening correctly is essential. Ordering based only on the visible door dimensions can lead to an incorrect replacement.
Here are the measurements to consider:
1. Measure the door width.
Measure the actual door slab from one edge to the other. If the door is damaged or difficult to measure, verify the dimensions using the frame and manufacturer information where available.
2. Measure the door height.
Measure from the top edge of the door to the bottom edge. Account for any unusual threshold or floor conditions separately.
3. Measure the frame.
The existing frame dimensions are important when determining whether a replacement door will fit. Commercial frames may have different profiles, throat depths, and hardware preparations.
4. Check the rough opening.
The rough opening is the framed space that accommodates the door frame. It is generally larger than the door slab and must provide the appropriate clearance for installation.
5. Identify the hardware and handing.
Check the hinge locations, lock preparation, closer, exit device, and swing direction. A door with the correct dimensions may still be incompatible with the existing hardware or frame.
For a commercial replacement, it's often best to have the entire opening evaluated before ordering materials.
Why Commercial Door Size Matters
Choosing the wrong commercial door size can create problems beyond installation.
An incorrectly sized door may:
Fail to provide adequate clear opening width
Interfere with accessibility requirements
Create gaps or alignment issues
Prevent existing hardware from fitting properly
Affect closing and latching
Compromise a fire-rated assembly if the replacement is not compatible
The door, frame, hardware, and installation must work together. This is especially important for storefront entrances, fire-rated doors, apartment building entrances, and high-traffic commercial openings.
Need Commercial Door Replacement in Hampton Roads?
Whether you're replacing a hollow metal door, upgrading an apartment entrance, or installing a new storefront door, choosing the correct size is only part of the process.
Apex Door and Glass provides commercial door installation, repair, and replacement throughout Hampton Roads, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Our team works with businesses, property managers, apartment communities, and other commercial properties to identify practical door solutions based on the existing opening and the needs of the building.
Contact Apex Door and Glass to discuss your commercial door project and get help determining the right door for your property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are commercial doors always 36 inches wide?
No. Although 36 inches is a common width for commercial single doors, commercial doors are available in many sizes. The appropriate width depends on the opening, accessibility, occupancy, and intended use.
Are commercial doors taller than residential doors?
Not necessarily. Both residential and commercial doors are commonly available in 80-inch heights. Commercial buildings also frequently use 84-inch and 96-inch doors, depending on the design and application.
What is the standard size for a commercial double door?
A common double-door configuration uses two 36-inch-wide leaves, creating a nominal combined width of 72 inches. Actual dimensions vary by application and door system.
Is a 36-inch commercial door ADA compliant?
A nominal 36-inch door is commonly used to provide the ADA-required 32-inch minimum clear opening width. However, compliance depends on the actual clear opening, door hardware, maneuvering clearances, and other applicable accessibility requirements.
Can I replace a commercial door without replacing the frame?
Sometimes. If the existing frame is in good condition and compatible with the replacement door, replacing only the door slab may be possible. However, frame damage, incompatible hardware preparations, fire-rating requirements, or dimensional differences may make a complete replacement necessary.
How do I know what size commercial door I need?
Start by measuring the existing door slab, frame, and rough opening. Then identify the door type, hardware, accessibility requirements, and any applicable fire-rating or building-code requirements. A commercial door professional can help verify the measurements and determine the appropriate replacement.
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