Barn doors are among the most modern and practical solutions for your space. This door comes in various layouts and designs, giving ambiance to enhance the interior while maximizing the space. If you’re thinking of installing a barn door in your space, you should know the standard sizes.
By knowing the barn door sizes, you can be guided through the proper installation and maintenance. Let’s examine some of the most important details regarding the dimension, style, and functionality.
Contents
What is a barn door?
A barn door is a sliding door type with an elegant design commonly used inside spaces and offices. This door works well at dividing the space, giving flexibility and airflow. This is effective due to their structure, which has a doomed slab that moves left to right on hardware mounted on a wall.
Barn doors are usually made of wood or metal materials, which gives the door a rustic yet industrial vibe. Because of their design versatility, they are utilized in various spaces, both residential and commercial. They are also practical and functional, which gives the space an advantage.
Understand the Barn Door Sizes
Regarding barn doors, getting the proper sizes will prevent future errors. The right size for your door may depend on many factors, including the space, size of the entryway, and hardware. To be sure you have the right size, the following questions will guide you:
What are the standard sizes?
Barn doors come in various sizes, generally 36 inches wide and 96 inches tall or 42 inches wide and 80 inches tall. These sizes need an extra measurement of an inch or more, leading to a more accurate fit. However, there are more size pairings that you can choose from, such as:
- 36 inches wide by 80 inches tall
- 36 inches wide by 84 inches tall
- 36 inches wide by 96 inches tall
- 42 inches wide by 80 inches tall
- 42 inches wide by 84 inches tall
- 42 inches wide by 96 inches tall
Additionally, larger measurements are needed if you have large doors or entryways. If you wish to extend your door space, consider the wall space portion on either side of the door. A double barn door will also give you two times the measurement.
What are the custom sizes?
If your space cannot accommodate the standard sizes, many manufacturers can offer you customized sizes. These sizes are specifically tailored to your needs. For instance, you can get a size of 42 inches in width and 94 inches in height. These sizes are not offered in stores because they are massive. So-made-to-measure barn doors combine the most visual yet practical appeal options.
What size barn door do I need?
The size of your barn door will depend on many factors. You should account for several factors to guarantee it fits correctly, works well, and looks good in your space. However, to determine what size barn doors you need, the following are some of the steps you can take:
- Measure the doorway.
- Measure the door width and height.
- Measure the track length.
- Determine the ceiling, wall, and floor clearance.
- Check for custom sizes tailored to your space.
Barn Door Size vs. Opening
The barn door size and the opening should be weighed correctly so doors will perfectly fit into place. Generally, the barn door size should be larger than the opening, approximately 2 to 4 inches for smaller doors and 4 to 8 inches for wider sizes. For instance, for a 30-inch opening, the door size should be 34 to 38 inches wide. This measurement allowance needs to add up as the opening gets wider. This ensures full coverage of the opening and produces a balanced look across the door. However, the door’s height can be the same as the door’s height or higher, depending on your preferences.
Steps to Measure Barn Door Size
In measuring the barn door, you must not skip any vital measurements. To guide you, the following are the measurements that you need to obtain:
Measure the Doorway
One of the things you need to do is measure the doorway, including the stairways, hallways, and entrances that lead to the space where your barn door will be located. When taking the measurements, you should measure the space’s width and height. This will allow you to determine what size barn door will fit into your home without hitting anything along the way.
Measure the Width
To determine how wide your door would be, you need to measure both the opening and the door frame. When measuring the opening, you need a tape measure to measure from one side to another. When measuring the door frame, you must measure the space between the outside edge of the opening and the inside. After getting the measurement, add a 2 to 4-inch allowance. This is to ensure that your door will close without any gaps.
Measure the Height
To determine how tall your door would be, you must measure the top edge, the floor space, and the molding. When measuring, you need to start from the top to the floor. However, you need to start from the floor to the top edge when placing the track above the trim or doorway.
The measurement will also vary depending on the molding. When the door has molding, take the measure from the top of the molding to the floor, then deduct half an inch. When the door does not have a molding, you need to take the molding from the top of the door opening to the floor, then deduct half an inch.
Measure the Opening
To begin measuring the opening, you need to measure the height and width of the space where you will install the barn door. You need to use consistent units, either cm or inches, as you will be comparing the size of the door. As you account for the measurement, ensure the door is larger than the opening.
Measure the Hardware
In installing the door, you need various hardware, including a handle, a track system, stoppers, roll hangers, and more. Although the sizes of this hardware are not needed to be accurate, you need to take it into account so it will fit in the door. For instance, before you can install the hardware, you need to measure the track to ensure it will fit. Too long tracks will not fit into the area, and too short tracks will leave a gap between the door and the wall.
Measure the Track Length
You need to measure the track length to get the size of your barn door and know if it will fit perfectly into the space. To get the size of the track length, get the width of the barn door and multiply it by two. The size of the track will depend on your door’s needs. For instance, a longer track door is suitable for a double barn door.
Factors Influencing the Barn Door Size for Various Applications
When considering the size of the barn doors, the following factors might influence the measurement:
Space Availability
The first thing you need to do when taking into account the measurement of the barn door is determine the space available where the door will be installed. You should measure the width of the doorway or the wall opening to estimate the maximum width of the door. A narrow door is more suitable for a smaller and more intimate space, while a broader door is more suitable for a large door with high ceilings.
Aesthetic
The barn door sizes matter if you want to keep your space aesthetically pleasing. A large door size can be the center of attention in the space. In contrast, a small door size is enough of an entryway for compact spaces. There are also different types of barn doors such as barn sliding doors, modern barn doors, and custom barn doors you can choose from.
Function
The function of the barn door will allow you to consider its size. For instance, if you utilize the barn door as a room divider, you must provide an adequate width dimension to cover the separate area. Depending on your needs, you can minimize or maximize the barn door sizes.
FAQs on Barn Door Sizes
What size barn door for a 30-inch opening?
To ensure that the door fully covers the opening, the door must be wider than the opening. With a 30-inch opening, the barn door measure should have a 4 to 8-inch allowance. The recommended measurement for a 30-inch opening is 34 inches in width. The track length should also have an allowance, leading to a recommended measurement of 40 inches. This gives for a 2-inch overlap, enough for a snug fit and good covering.
What size barn door has a 32-inch opening?
As mentioned, to cover the opening fully, the door should have a wider measurement than the opening. With a 32-inch opening, the barn door measure should have a 4 to 8-inch allowance. Among the most recommended would be at least 40 inches wide. The track length should also be wider, and with a 32-inch opening, the track length would be around 44 inches. This would allow for the door to glide smoothly on either side of the doorway.
Do barn doors come in different sizes?
Barn doors come in different sizes, depending on your space needs. However, you have two options: standard and custom sizes. The common size of barn doors is 36 inches wide by 84 inches tall, or 42 inches wide by 80 inches tall. If these sizes do not fit your space, manufacturers can accommodate your specifications.
What is the best way to measure a barn door?
The best way to measure a barn door is to use a tape measure and follow a consistent step in measuring the width and height. In measuring the width, you must begin from the left edge to the right edge of the opening. In measuring the height, you must start from the top of the ceiling to the floor.
Does a barn door need to be wider than the opening?
A barn door should have a wider measurement than the opening. There should be a two- to three-inch measurement allowance for the barn door. The door height should also have a one-inch allowance.
How long does a barn door track need to be?
The door track should be longer than the barn door. Technically, when doing your measurement, you should add a few inches by multiplying it by two. For instance, if your barn door is 30 inches wide, multiply it by two, and your door track is 40 inches.
Conclusion
Knowing the barn door sizes accurately can save you time and effort in the long run. With this guide, you can navigate the maintenance and installation without a sweat.
If you have more questions, our team of experts can accommodate you. They have extensive knowledge of all aspects of barn doors to ensure you get the right size. So don’t hesitate to contact us!
