This is the 2nd time I have used Compdoor, and the experience just gets better.
23 June 2026
Published by: Owen Mullock
Home renovation. It’s a truly unique expression of your personal tastes and styles, and styling your home’s exterior is no exception. A front door is not only going to contribute to the first impressions guests have of your home, but it can also enhance your home’s security and energy-efficiency. That’s why it’s imperative when you’re shopping for a new front door that you get the right size for your entranceway.
When browsing front doors you’ll likely notice that they come in a variety of sizes. It’s important to understand what these measurements mean so you can choose the perfect size for your home:
Some doors are wider than others, some taller, and some are even thicker. As you’ve probably guessed, not all homes are built the same. This can differ depending on the age of your property, the style, or even if you’ve had a bespoke entranceway built to your standards. Using our quick measurement guide below, you can measure your door to the millimetre to understand what size of door you should be looking for!
Whilst Building Regulations don’t dictate a ‘standard size for front doors’, there are certain parameters for the size of your door that must be adhered to. As a result of this, there are many common dimensions that are readily available from UK manufacturers that fit most properties.
The most common for modern properties is 1981mm x 838mm x 44mm, as they tend to be built to meet accessibility requirements, as we explore below. You might also commonly find door sizes of 1981mm x 762mm x 44mm in older properties. We’ve explored some of the most common door sizes for you:
| Height (mm) | Width (mm) | Thickness (mm) |
| 1981 | 762 | 44 |
| 1981 | 838 | 44 |
| 2032 | 813 | 44 |
| 2082 | 864 | 44 |
| 2134 | 915 | 44 |
Nothing beats a good old imperial measurement, but we can’t say it’s the most accurate for front doors. That’s why most external doors are measured in millimetres. For those looking for a door in feet and inches, we’ve provided a handy conversion chart for standard UK door sizes:
| Metric measurements (mm) | Imperial measurements (feet & inches) | Imperial measurements (just inches) |
| 1981 x 762 | 6’6” x 2’6” | 78″ x 30″ |
| 1981 x 838 | 6’6” x 2’9” | 78″ x 33″ |
| 2032 x 813 | 6′8″ x 2′8″ | 80” x 32” |
| 2082 x 864 | 6’10” x 2’10” | 82” x 34” |
| 2134 x 915 | 7’ x 3’ | 84” x 36” |
Remember: It’s always more accurate to measure to the millimetre!
French doors and double doors are great additions to the rear of any property, and in some cases even as front doors! Generally, these tend to be taller than your average front door. Whilst there is no specific ‘standard’ size for a French door, there are again many common sizes that manufacturers supply:
| Height (mm) | Width (mm) | Thickness (mm) |
| 2032 | 610 | 44 |
| 2032 | 762 | 44 |
| 2032 | 915 | 44 |
| 2032 | 1220 | 44 |
These sizes can differ, but generally they won’t go any taller than 2134mm (80”) or any wider than 3000mm (118”).
There are a few additional determining factors that need to be considered when choosing a new front door. These regulations ensure that your entryway is secure and energy efficient, as well as accessible for wheelchair users. Whilst it is mainly applied to the production of new homes, or converting buildings into dwellings, they are worth noting!
Thankfully, almost all manufacturers adhere to these regulations anyway, and you’ll likely see these mentioned when you’re browsing exploring your options.
To help you understand a little more about what is required from a front door, we’ve included the rules and regulations below:
Something you’ll notice prominently in new-build homes especially, is the minimum opening width. This is to make all new homes accessible to wheelchair users.
The minimum clear opening width for visitable dwellings (Category 1) should be at least 775mm. This is the space available when the door is open at a 90 degree angle.
This regulation requires that doors adhere to 2 specific security measures:
Whilst your door doesn’t have to be 44mm thick to meet PAS 24, thinner doors will struggle to meet the requirements.
Most composite doors are at least 44mm thick, even going up to 70mm, which gives them enough space to include a reinforced core, multi-point locking systems, thermal insulation, and glazing units.
If you’re opting for a composite door, there’s a high chance that you’ll see these security standards!
Whether you were looking to make your home more energy efficient, save some money on bills during the summer and winter months or not, it’s now a requirement that all new and replacement doors meet a certain U-value (thermal efficiency rating).
From 2023, all external doors need a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or lower.
You’ve found a handful of doors that are perfect for your property – great! You can’t wait to get one installed, but they’re available in a few sizes. You’re going to need to understand which one fits your property, so it’s time to get measuring.
It’s always more accurate to measure to the millimetre (instead of inches).
Measure the width: Take three measurements – top, middle, and bottom of the opening. Always use the smallest of the three, as door frames can warp over time (typically more common in older properties). This ensures the new door will fit even if the opening isn’t perfectly square. It’s always easier to pack the areas where a door may be too small than to cut a door down to size!
Measure the height: Measure from the sill (bottom) to the underside of the frame (top).
Measure the thickness: Check the depth of the existing door slab, excluding the frame. Most UK external doors are 44 mm thick, but this isn’t always the case.
Finding a new front door doesn’t have to be hard. We’ve made it easier than ever to find your perfect door with our online door designer, but if you have any questions at all about buying your new front door, feel free to contact our team! We’re always happy to help you find the perfect door.
