How to Install an Interior Door: 6 Simple Steps

Replace an interior door and lockset with these expert tips

Whether you're going through a home renovation or want to replace an old, crooked bedroom door, installing a prehung door is a beginner-friendly DIY project that can be accomplished in a few hours. All this project requires are nails, a nail gun, and a power drill. In this guide, we'll walk you through all of the steps of installing an interior pre-hung door, with tips from Professional Handymen Barry Zakar and Ryaan Tuttle.

Interior Door Installation Overview

Slide the prehung door into a rough opening. Use a level to ensure the door is even, adding shims to adjust it as necessary.
Once the door is flush, score and remove the excess shims and nail the door frame in place with 6 in (15 cm) finishing nails.
Install the trim and caulk or fill any gaps or screw holes. Attach the latch, doorknobs, and strike plate.

1

Remove the existing door, if necessary.

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Pull the hinge pins from the old door, then remove the hinges from the jamb. To remove a door hinge pin, put the flat end of a nail punch against the pin and tap it up with a hammer. Once the pin is raised a few centimeters, take a screwdriver to pry it up. Repeat on all hinges.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Unscrew the hinge brackets from the door jamb.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Once the door is loose, gently lift it with your hands from the rough opening. Lay it flat against the floor or dispose of it.

2

Level and shim the door in position.

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Slide the prehung door into the rough opening and level it. Take your prehung door and fit it into the rough opening. Get it as flush as possible with the drywall. Then, open the door 90 degrees and shim the door frame so it's level with the head jamb (the top horizontal section). Slide the shims between the frame and drywall on the top, left, and right sides of the door so the door is perfectly level.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Shims are tapered, so stack them opposite of one another to ensure the door remains even.
- Before positioning the prehung door, check the level of your flooring with a level.
- If your flooring is uneven, identify the highest point on the floor. Use a circular saw to trim the door jamb on the high side.^{[4]XResearch source}
- To get the right-sized prehung door, measure the rough opening. Home Improvement Specialist Ryaan Tuttle says, “Measure the top width. Measure the bottom width. Make sure they’re the same. Then, measure your height on the right and left side. Take all the smallest numbers you have, and that will be the door size.”^{[5]XExpert SourceRyaan Tuttle
  Home Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview. 13 January 2021.}

3

Nail the door frame to the studs.

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Drive two nails through each shim 1 in (2.5 cm) from the edge of the jamb. Before sending finishing nails through the jamb, check that the door is leveled and opens smoothly. If it does, use a brad nailer to nail two 6 in (15 cm) finishing nails into each shim to secure the door in place.^{[6]XResearch source}
- If any shims are sticking out, take a utility knife to score it and snap the excess wood off.

4

Install the door trim.

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Professional Handyman Barry Zakar suggests cropping the trim’s corners and edges where they meet the wall. This way, you can properly install the trim all around the opening, except the floor.^{[7]XExpert SourceBarry Zakar
HandymanExpert Interview. 16 July 2020.} Nail the trim in place with 6 in (15 cm) finishing nails. Space the nails 16 inches (41 cm) apart. Work one section at a time.^{[8]XResearch source}

5

Fill any gaps and nail holes.

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Cover any imperfections with caulk or wood filler. If you notice any gaps around the trim, go in with a caulk gun and apply a bead of caulk to fill it in. Use your finger to wipe away any excess residue and let it dry overnight. Similarly, Professional Handyman Barry Zakar says to use spackle over nail holes before sanding it down with sandpaper and repainting, if necessary.^{[9]XExpert SourceBarry Zakar
HandymanExpert Interview. 16 July 2020.}
- You can paint the trim with a paintbrush, but that's optional.

6

Attach the new lockset.

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Generally, prehung doors come with attached hinges and pre-cut holes for a doorknob and strike plate. However, you'll need to purchase new or reuse the accessories from your previous door. Use the included hardware to install the door knob. Slide the latch in the latch plate and insert the latch through the hole for the doorknob. Then, install a doorknob on either side of the hole and screw them in place.^{[10]XResearch source} Finish by installing the strike plate onto the door jamb, opposite the latch.

Expert Q&A

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Question
How tall is the average door?
Patrick Johns
Home Improvement Specialist
Patrick Johns is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of CatchAll Handyman Services. With more than 28 years of experience, he has worked on a variety of home improvement projects, such as carpentry, plumbing, and door and window installations in both commercial and residential properties.
Patrick Johns
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Answer
Most doors are either 6 ft (1.82 m) or 8 ft (2.4 m) tall. If your door seems really tall, it's probably safe to assume that it falls in the 8 ft (m) category.
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How do I determine if it's a left swing or right swing door?
Community Answer
When you're standing outside the room looking in, the side that your hinges are on determines if it's a left inswing or right inswing door.
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What should the distance be between the bottom edge of a new door and the hardwood floor?
Mathew
Community Answer
The ideal gap between a new door and a hardwood floor is ½ inch to ¾ inch (12.7mm to 19.05mm). For rugs, provide extra clearance.
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Tips

Most of the doors on the market are prehung doors. If you use the existing door frame door jamb, buy a blank door without the hinges.^{[11]XExpert SourcePatrick Johns
Home Improvement SpecialistExpert Interview. 26 October 2021.}
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When installing a solid core door, take a screw out of each of the 3 hinges and drive a long 2.5" screw in. This will increase door stability. Shimming the door jamb after bracket installation will also greatly increase the strength.
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You may need to tweak the door jamb when adjusting for the reveal (gap between door and door jamb). Reverse the screw in the bracket, move the door jamb then re-tighten the screw.
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