A Guide to Measuring a Hollow Metal Door Rough Opening

Related:Hollow Metal Doors by SizeandBuild Your Door (Quote Tool).

Hollow metal doors are used on most commercial buildings - as security doors, fire doors, tenant entry doors, and back-of-house openings. If you are installing a new door and frame package (or replacing an existing opening), the most important first step is verifying therough opening size.

For the full overview (door types, frames by wall type, parts, resources, and quote tool), see:Complete Hollow Metal Door Guide.

Before you measure: identify the frame type

Rough opening sizes change based on the type of steel frame being installed. Most commercial hollow metal frames fall into two groups:

• Drywall frames (interior frames that wrap the wall)
• Masonry frames (commonly used for block, brick, and concrete; can wrap the wall or butt to the wall)

Drywall frames (wrap-around frames)

A drywall frame is typically shipped knocked down (3-piece) and installed on interior drywall walls. These frames usecompression anchors and are designed to wrap around the wall. Because the frame wraps the wall, the rough opening is smaller than a butt-mounted masonry condition.

Rough opening formula - drywall frames that wrap the wall

Example: A 3'0" x 6'8" door and frame package (36" x 80") typically needs a rough opening of38" x 81".

Masonry frames (block, brick, concrete)

Masonry frames are commonly used in exterior openings and in masonry walls such as CMU block, brick, and poured concrete. These frames are often installed using punch and dimple anchors, but other anchor types are also used depending on the wall condition.

The key detail: masonry frames can be installed in two ways:

• Wrap-around (the frame wraps the wall return)
• Butted to the wall (frame is set against the face of the wall)

Rough opening formula - masonry frames that wrap the wall

Example: A 3'0" x 6'8" door and frame package typically needs a rough opening of38" x 81".

Rough opening formula - masonry frames butted to the wall

Example: A 3'0" x 6'8" door and frame package typically needs a rough opening of40-1/2" x 82-1/4".

If you already know your rough opening and want to find the correct door and frame size, start with:Hollow Metal Doors by Sizeor use ourBuild Your Door (Quote Tool).

Rough opening chart for common hollow metal door sizes

Below are common commercial door and frame sizes. Use this chart to confirm rough opening sizes without doing the math.

Rough openings for frames that wrap around the wall

Door & Frame Size: 2'0" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 26" x 81"
Door & Frame Size: 2'4" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 30" x 81"
Door & Frame Size: 2'6" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 32" x 81"
Door & Frame Size: 2'8" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 34" x 81"
Door & Frame Size: 3'0" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 38" x 81"
Door & Frame Size: 3'4" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 42" x 81"
Door & Frame Size: 3'6" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 44" x 81"
Door & Frame Size: 3'8" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 46" x 81"
Door & Frame Size: 4'0" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 50" x 81"

Door & Frame Size: 2'0" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 26" x 85"
Door & Frame Size: 2'4" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 30" x 85"
Door & Frame Size: 2'6" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 32" x 85"
Door & Frame Size: 2'8" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 34" x 85"
Door & Frame Size: 3'0" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 38" x 85"
Door & Frame Size: 3'4" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 42" x 85"
Door & Frame Size: 3'6" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 44" x 85"
Door & Frame Size: 3'8" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 46" x 85"
Door & Frame Size: 4'0" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 50" x 85"

Door & Frame Size: 3'0" x 8'0" Rough Opening: 38" x 97"
Door & Frame Size: 4'0" x 8'0" Rough Opening: 50" x 97"
Door & Frame Size: 6'0" x 6'8" (Double Doors) Rough Opening: 74" x 81"
Door & Frame Size: 6'0" x 7'0" (Double Doors) Rough Opening: 74" x 85"

Rough openings for frames butted against the wall

Door & Frame Size: 2'0" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 28-1/2" x 82-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 2'4" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 32-1/2" x 82-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 2'6" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 34-1/2" x 82-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 2'8" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 36-1/2" x 82-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 2'10" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 38-1/2" x 82-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 3'0" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 40-1/2" x 82-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 3'4" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 44-1/2" x 82-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 3'6" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 46-1/2" x 82-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 3'8" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 48-1/2" x 82-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 4'0" x 6'8" Rough Opening: 52-1/2" x 82-1/4"

Door & Frame Size: 2'0" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 28-1/2" x 86-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 2'4" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 32-1/2" x 86-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 2'6" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 34-1/2" x 86-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 2'8" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 36-1/2" x 86-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 2'10" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 38-1/2" x 86-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 3'0" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 40-1/2" x 86-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 3'4" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 44-1/2" x 86-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 3'6" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 46-1/2" x 86-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 3'8" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 48-1/2" x 86-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 4'0" x 7'0" Rough Opening: 52-1/2" x 86-1/4"

Door & Frame Size: 3'0" x 8'0" Rough Opening: 40-1/2" x 98-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 4'0" x 8'0" Rough Opening: 52-1/2" x 98-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 6'0" x 6'8" (Double Doors) Rough Opening: 76-1/2" x 82-1/4"
Door & Frame Size: 6'0" x 7'0" (Double Doors) Rough Opening: 76-1/2" x 86-1/4"

Next step: get the right door package

The first step to any hollow metal door installation is verifying the rough opening and frame type. Once you have that, you can quickly select the correct door and frame package by size or build a custom quote.

• Shop Hollow Metal Doors by Size
• Build Your Door (Quote Tool)

Need help? Call 866-232-5673 or text photos to 210-275-8966.