Door Handle Buying Guide: How Many Do You Need and What to Order

Ordering door handles for a house or renovation project involves more decisions than most people expect. Beyond choosing a style and finish, you need to work out exactly how many handles you need, which latch and lock types are required for each door, and how to ensure everything arrives correctly specified. This guide walks through the process step by step.

Step 1: Count Your Doors

Start by counting every internal door in the property that needs a handle. Include:

• All room doors (living room, kitchen, bedrooms, study)
• Bathroom and en-suite doors
• Cloakroom doors
• Cupboard and wardrobe doors (if they require handles rather than push-to-open mechanisms)
• Utility room and boot room doors

Do not forget doors that are easy to overlook — airing cupboards, under-stair cupboards, and any internal doors to garages or outbuildings.

Step 2: Identify the Function of Each Door

Not all doors require the same hardware. Internal doors fall into three main categories:

• Standard passage doors: Doors that do not need to lock — most room doors in a house. These require a handle set and a tubular latch.
• Privacy doors: Bathroom, en-suite, and cloakroom doors that need to lock from the inside. These require a handle set, a bathroom deadbolt, and a thumbturn on the inside with a coin release on the outside.
• Keyed doors: Doors that need to lock with a key. These require a handle set and a sashlock.

Make a list of each door and its function before ordering.

Step 3: Calculate How Many Handle Sets You Need

Most internal door handle sets include a pair of handles (one for each side of the door), the spindle that connects them, and the fixing screws. You need one handle set per door.

If you are using lever handles on rose, you will also need to order latches, locks, and any escutcheons or thumbturns separately. If you are using lever handles on backplate, these components are often incorporated into the backplate design, but check the product specification carefully.

Step 4: Order the Right Latches and Locks

The latch or lock is fitted into the edge of the door and is operated by the handle. The key specifications to check are:

• Backset: The distance from the edge of the door to the centre of the latch bolt. Standard backsets are 57mm (for most internal doors) and 44mm (for thinner doors). Measure your door edge to confirm before ordering.
• Case size: The overall dimensions of the latch or lock body. Most standard latches are compatible with most door thicknesses, but check if you have unusually thin or thick doors.
• Follower size: The square hole in the latch that the spindle passes through. Most handles use a standard 8mm square spindle — check that the latch follower matches.

Step 5: Don’t Forget the Accessories

A complete door hardware order for a whole house will typically include:

• Handle sets (one per door)
• Tubular latches (one per passage door)
• Bathroom deadbolts (one per privacy door)
• Thumbturns and coin releases (one set per privacy door)
• Sashlocks (one per keyed door)
• Escutcheons (one per keyed door, if using lever on rose handles)
• Door hinges (typically three per door — see our guide on choosing door hinges)

Step 6: Order Spares

It is always worth ordering one or two spare handle sets and latches when fitting out a whole house. Handles can be damaged during building work, and having a spare means you can replace a damaged piece without waiting for a reorder.

A Note on Spindle Length

Standard internal doors are typically 35–44mm thick, and most handle sets include a spindle of appropriate length. If your doors are thicker than standard — for example, solid hardwood doors or fire doors — you may need a longer spindle. Check the door thickness before ordering.

Explore Door Handles

Browse our full range of door handles, including lever handles on rose and lever handles on backplate, or see our door handles guide for help choosing the right style and finish.