Door Handles Buyer Guide

Door handles buyer guide

The ideal door handle is one that delivers a balance between form and function. In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at some of the primary categories of door handles and door furniture. This incorporates door handles, knobs and latching mechanisms, which you may find useful when selecting new products for your doors.

What Are the different types of door handle?

Door furniture is designed and manufactured in a huge array of shapes, sizes and specifications to suit all requirements and preferences. Almost all products available are made with the same basic purpose in mind – making it easy to open and close your internal doors.

When shopping for door handles, these are the most common categories and classifications of product that you are likely to encounter:

Latch door handles

This encompasses one of the largest ranges of interior handles which are used for bedrooms, bathrooms, lounges and everywhere else around the home. These handles are designed to provide a basic yet effective latch function, without a locking mechanism. Latch handles are available in a comprehensive range of shapes, sizes, colours and materials to suit all interior décor styles.

Locking door handles

Lock door handles takes standard latch a step further, incorporating a locking mechanism via a keyhole in the plate underneath the handle. The vast majority of standard key lock door handles feature a keyhole at exactly 57mm below the main handle. This ensures compatibility with most types of lever lock.

Bathroom door handles

The primary difference with bathroom door handles is that they usually feature a mortise lock. This usually means that the plate supporting the handle needs to be slightly longer (though not always). With bathroom door handles, there is usually a hand-operated lock on the inside of the door, along with a coin-release mechanism on the other to gain access in case of an emergency. The lock itself may be sold complete with the handle and plate or available separately.

Privacy door handles

Something of a combination of the two concepts, privacy handles operate in the same way as bathroom handles, but features a back plate that matches the standard latch for a seamlessly. As with bathroom door furniture, privacy door handles feature a lock that can be activated by hand, usually with an accompanying coin-release mechanism on the opposite side.

Door lever Handles

An increasingly popular choice for contemporary homes and modern interiors in general, lever handles are easy to install and exceptionally elegant in design. They are also designed to significantly reduce the likelihood of the handles becoming loose over time, with back to back fixing to hold the handles securely in place.

Bathroom turn & release handles

The bathroom turn and release system is a simple yet effective thumb turn lock, designed to be used alongside a deadbolt. The bathroom door turn and release is suitable for other areas of the home where additional privacy is required.

Mortice knobs

Still one of the most popular choices for classical and contemporary properties alike, the traditional doorknob is available in an array of designs and specifications. It is important to factor in the additional grip strength that may be required to activate a mortise knob, which can make them unsuitable for use by younger children or the elderly.

Door handle shapes and materials

Personal preference plays a role in deciding on a door handle shape and material, though it is important to be mindful of quality and durability. The vast majority of door handles on the market will be manufactured in one of the following shapes:

Oval

Defined by a tubular shape with no defined edge, often with accompanying back plate with curved edges. Oval handles are available in a wide variety of materials, ranging from stainless steel to chrome and brass.

Round

As the name suggests, this is a smooth and primarily circular handle, which will also usually be complemented by a round back plate rather than the traditional square plate.

Angular

Rectangular and square backplates are the norm with angular door furniture, which usually comprises rectangular handles with clean and clearly defined edges.

Classic

The classic door handle design is often described as Victorian in style, produced in brass or coloured steel for a traditional look. The backplate may also be more elaborate to complement the handle.

Contemporary

At the opposite end of the scale, contemporary door handles are usually as minimalist and understated as possible, presented in modern-looking finishes such as chrome or a matte colour.