What Type of Door Handles Do I Need to Suit Different Locks in My House?
Each door within your house will most likely be required to perform a different function beyond just opening and closing. For example, a bathroom door should be able to provide some privacy to the user, or a bedroom door may be required to perform a security function to secure some prized possessions.
This article provides some information on the function and suitability of different door handle types in your home, including:
- Latch Door Handles
- Bathroom Door Handles
- Euro Cylinder and Multipoint Lock Door Handles
- Mortice Lock Door Handles
Hopefully, we can help you make the right decision on what type of door handle you need for each of the common lock types. So let's get started...
1. Latch Door Handles
Type of Lock Used: Tubular Latch
Most Common Door Types: Passage Doors, Lounge Doors, Kitchen Doors
This is most likely to be the most common type of door handle that you will use in your house, the latch door handle. For doors in a residential setting that do not require locking, lever latch door handles serve as a basic but functional choice.
These do not provide any locking functionality, and they simply open and close the door latch as the handle is operated. These types of handles are streamlined and straightforward in their operation, offering ease and convenience on doors that have no significant security or privacy functions in daily use.
You will most likely come across 3 options when looking for a latch door handle:
1.1 Lever Latch Door Handle on Backplate
A door handle that is generally mounted onto a rectangular backplate. The backplate will normally be the same size as its lock, bathroom and euro handle counterparts, but will be blank where you would normally find some holes for the locking function.
1.2 Lever Latch Door Handle on Rose
The door handle will normally be mounted on a round rose (or square rose) and is much smaller in footprint than a backplate door handle. For latch handles, you will only need the round rose door handle that is used to operate the latch, there is no need to use an escutcheon or turn and release on these doors).
1.3 Door Knob aka Passage Door Knob
The door knob is generally a round or square handle that fits within the palm of your hand and rotates the latch as you rotate the door knob. This is different to a lever door handle that uses a lever action to help open the door latch easily. You may also come across a passage door knob that is an Americanised version, this comes with a tubular latch inbuilt into the door knob.
Just also worth highlighting that door knobs can also be used with rim latches as well as tubular latches.
2. Bathroom Door Handles
Type of Lock Used: Bathroom Lock or Tubular Latch + Tubular Deadbolt Combination
Most Common Door Types: Bathroom Doors
Bathroom doors are slightly unique in their function, as they need to provide lockable privacy from one side of the door without being overly secure. It is important that the door can be opened relatively easily in the event of an accident or illness, which a key locked device wouldn't allow.
Hence there is a market specifically for bathroom door locks that provide a dual function of having a latch operation at the top to open and close the door, whilst also having a separate spindle driven deadlock underneath to provide the privacy function when someone is using the bathroom.
So what handles do you need for this? As obvious as it sounds, you will need a bathroom door handle.
This is a specific type of door handle that contains a turn and release on the door handle, aka snib and release. The turn or snib side stays on the bathroom side of the door handle and allows the user to lock the deadbolt from the inside. The release is installed on the outside of the door and is generally plain-ish in design. However, it will have a groove in the design that will mean the deadbolt can be opened from the outside using a coin in the event of a medical issue etc. in the bathroom.
Just one thing to remember, on your bathroom lock or deadbolt, check what the spindle follower size is, this will generally be 5mm for domestic locks and 8mm for commercial locks. You need to make sure the snib and release you use matches this, or you can use a conversion kit.
These generally come in 3 varieties:
2.1 Bathroom Lever Lock Door Handle on Backplate
On these door handles, the outline shape of the bathroom door handle will match your latch version, however the snib and release will be built into the design to allow the latch and deadbolt to work.
Generally these work best for 57mm centre bathroom locks.
2.2 Lever Door Handle on Rose + Turn & Release
You can simply purchase the latch handle on rose, but for the bathroom lock you will need to purchase a turn and release separately to operate the bathroom deadbolt.
If you aren't using a standard bathroom lock, or are using a separate latch and deadbolt combination, this works better as you can install the handle and turn & release at the lock centres you need.
2.3 Turn & Release Only
Sometimes you may not actually need a door handle to open the door, for example on a toilet cubicle door. In this scenario, simply a turn and release will be sufficient to operate the privacy deadbolt.
For these situations, it is more common to use a turn and release with an indicator. This has a red and green indicator that shows whether the bathroom is currently occupied or not.
3. Euro Cylinder & Multipoint Lock Door Handles
Type of Lock Used: Euro Sashlock, Euro Deadlock, Multipoint Lock (MPL)
Most Common Door Types: Lockable Doors, Front Doors, Back Doors
Euro cylinder locks are a great way to add a security provision to any door. These are often found on uPVC and composite doors through a multipoint (MPL) locking system, this provides enhanced security through several locking points along the height of the door. These systems require compatible door handles to operate effectively and accommodate the barrel of the euro cylinder. Plus these handles must consider the lock centres (distance between the handle and euro cylinder) and also also the screw holes within the lock.
Most common lock centres are 92PZ (92mm) or 62PZ (62mm), whilst common screw centres are 122mm and 211mm.
These types of handles generally come with screws only on one side that are inserted through the lock and clamp both door handles to the door. This means there are no visible screws on the outside, increasing the security of the door.
Euro cylinder door handles can also be used on internal doors using a Euro sashlock or a Euro deadlock - these operate similar to a normal mortice lock but are generally 48mm lock centres.
For these types of locks, you specifically need either Euro lock door handles or multipoint door handles if these are being used on an external door with a multipoint lock. These will come with a Euro-shaped cutout ready for the barrel to go through.
These generally come in 4 options:
3.1 Euro Lock Door Handle on Backplate
On these door handles, the outline shape of the euro lock door handle will match your latch version, however there will be a Euro cylinder cutout at a preset distance within the plate.
Generally these work best for 48mm centre Euro locks.
3.2 Multipoint Door Handles
Similar to above, however the gap between the handle and Euro cylinder is slightly larger to help drive a multipoint lock (MPL).
The screws on these types of handles are only visible from the inside.
Popular lock centres are 92mm and 62mm.
Screw centres are important on these handles as the screws need to pass through the lockcase. Popular screw centres are 122mm and 211mm.
3.3 Lever Door Handle on Rose + Euro Escutcheon
You can simply purchase the latch handle on rose, but for the Euro cylinder lock, you will need to purchase a Euro escutcheon to house the Euro barrel.
If your mortice lock is not 48PZ or 48mm lock centres, this option can work better as you have the flexibility to install the escutcheon at whatever centre you need.
3.4 Euro Escutcheon Only
In certain scenarios, you may only need a Euro deadlock that doesn't require a door handle or latching mechanism. In this scenario, you can simply purchase a euro escutcheon to tidy the hole around the Euro cylinder barrel.
4. Mortice Lock Door Handles
Type of Lock Used: Mortice Sashlock
Most Common Door Types: Lockable Doors, Front Doors, Back Doors, Bedroom Doors
Sometimes you can't beat an old-school mortice lock mechanism! These can offer a high level of security due to their in-door placement and complex internal structure, allowing them to be used on both external and internal doors.
Finding door handles to suit mortice locks is generally quite easy as they have been around for a long time and have a well-settled specification. Normally you will find that the lock centres on these types of locks are 57mm between the handle and the lock itself.
These generally come in 3 varieties:
4.1 Mortice Lock Door Handle on Backplate aka Keyhole Door Handle
On these door handles, the outline shape of the mortice lock door handle will match your latch version, however, there will be a mortice lock cutout at a preset distance within the plate.
Generally these work best for 57mm centre mortice locks.
Normally there are 2 cutout options, a traditional keyhole shape, or a simple, more modern oval shape.
4.2 Lever Door Handle on Rose + Keyhole Escutcheon
You can simply purchase the latch handle on rose, but for the mortice lock, you will need to purchase a keyhole escutcheon to cover the opening for the key.
If your mortice lock is not 57mm lock centres, this option can work better as you have the flexibility to install the escutcheon at whatever centre you need.
4.3 Keyhole Cover
Another option for mortice locks is to use a keyhole cover. This simply is screwed to the door over the keyhole and can also include a cover plate to prevent any dirt or ingress from getting into the locking mechanism.
In conclusion, the selection of door handles should always be guided by the type of door, its function, and the level of security required.