We want to make sure your wooden screen door is everything you want it to be. This page will help you measure your existing doorway to get the perfect fit for years of enjoyment. Please take a moment to review this information, as it is imperative to getting accurate measurements which allows us to complete your order as quickly and accurately as possible. 

Measuring for a Wood Screen Door

Before you begin taking measurements, it's important to familiarize yourself with some common door terminology. Understanding the parts of a door and its functions will make placing your order a straightforward and simple process. Please refer to the images below to better understand the 3 main components used to measure and mount your screen door.

 

 

 

Trim or "Brickmould" 

(highlighted in red, yellow, and blue)

These are the decorative pieces of wood that border the door. They are sometimes referred to as “brickmould” for houses that are brick or have siding. In most cases, your screen door will be mounted to this trim.      

 

 

 

Jamb 

(highlighted in orange)

These are the vertical components of the door frame. They are located behind the trim, and are often what your front door will be mounted to. The edge of the jamb will also serve as the “door stop” for your screen door.   

 

 

 

 

 

  

Door Sill 

(highlighted in green)

A piece of wood or plastic that rests directly beneath the door. They can be flat or slanted, like a ramp. 

 

 

 

 This diagram shows where you will be taking measurements from your door frame. The width will be measured in three places - middle, top, and bottom of your door. The height will be measured in two places - the right and left side of your door. Please reference this photo as you take measurements to insure they're being taken from the correct location.

 

Now that you're familiar with the parts of the door and where we will measure, let's begin taking measurements. We strongly recommend that you use only a trusty measuring tape, as we cannot guarantee consistent measuring with any other devices.

Cutting an Inch

An additional note to improve the accuracy of measuring is to start at the 1" mark on your tape measure rather than using the hook. (Over time the hook can loosen and provide inaccurate measurements.)

NOTE: You need to remember to subtract the inch from your final measurement if you use this method.

This door measures 32-1/8" (starting at the 1" mark and ending at 33-1/8", then subtracting the 1" from the opposite side of the door).

All measurements should be recorded in inches. Standardly, it is recorded as width x height. We fabricate to the 1/16 of an inch.

 

 Step 1:

Our first three measurements will be for the width. Starting from the top, measure from the inside edge of Trim A (red) to the inside edge of Trim B (yellow). Try to be as accurate as possible. Record your measurement as Measurement 1. Repeat this process for the middle and bottom of your door, remembering to be as accurate as possible. Record the middle measurement as Measurement 2, and the bottom measurement as Measurement 3. If the three measurements vary, use the largest of the three. This is your Actual Width. 

Step 2: 

Now we will be measuring for the height of your door. Starting on the left side, measure from the inside edge of Trim C (blue) to the top of the Door Sill (green) where you'd expect the screen door and sill to meet. If your door sill is slanted, measure to the lowest part of the sill that will rest beneath the screen door.  Try to be as accurate as possible. Record the left side measurement as Measurement 4. Repeat the process for the right side. Record the right side measurement as Measurement 5. If the two measurements vary, use the tallest of the two. This is your Actual Height.

PLEASE NOTE:

We fabricate full and square to the exact dimensions provided. If you/your contractor want to make any deductions for fit, those should be taken from the Actual Width and Actual Height dimensions.

For example, if you want to allow for hinges and opening, you could subtract 1/4" off the Actual Width and Actual Height. For a door opening that measures 36" Actual Width x 81" Actual Height, you could reduce to 35-3/4" x 80-3/4" and those dimensions would be placed in the "Fractional Dimensions" area when ordering.

While getting your measurements as accurate as possible is very important, we want to give you peace of mind knowing that all of our doors have a built in trimming tolerance to allow for a margin of error as well as being able to fit into a potentially not square door opening.

We always tell our customers that it's easy to trim wood off of your door, but it is very hard to add! With that in mind, this is why we recommend selecting the largest width measurement and the tallest height measurement (if your measurements vary). The door can always be trimmed down on site to ensure your new wooden screen door fits perfectly.

Step 3:

As a precautionary step, we ask that you also measure for the depth of your trim. This is to insure that our hardware will fit, as well as that your new screen door will be seated properly in the frame without modification to your trim. To install one of our screen doors and hardware, your trim must be at least 1" thick. If your trim doesn't meet this requirement, we recommend consulting a local carpenter prior to ordering to make the necessary modifications. 

Step 4: 

You're ready to order! You can follow the pictures and final steps below.

On any door product page, you'll see a list of options on the right hand side to customize your item. The first option is Width. Choose the width measurement from the dropdown that matches your actual width. If you don't see your exact size, that's okay! Select the number closest to your actual width by rounding up. 

For example if your actual width is 31-1/2", select 32" from the dropdown.  

Repeat for the desired height using your measurements, choosing the selection that is closest to your actual height. Doors 85" and taller will require an additional charge to cover oversize shipping costs that varies based on height.

The most common door sizes we make are 32" x 81" and 36" x 81". It's also important to note that some door styles have width and/or height limitations. To find out if a particular door style can accommodate your size, go to the product page and check the width and height dropdown menus to find your size. 

You have the option to include custom dimensions and special instructions to your screen door order. Custom dimensions can include any door size within the allowed range (24"-44" Wide & 76"-96" Tall) that is not shown in the dropdown menu. Say for example that you have an 80-1/2" tall door, but only see 80" and 81". Not a problem. You can select 81" from the dropdown, and put your exact dimensions (80-1/2") in the Fractional Dimensions text bar, and we'll make your door to that size.

Special instructions that include specific requests, such as starting the center rail at a certain height or having the trout cutout face a certain direction, are best addressed with a call or email. Whatever it may be, talk to us and we'll do our best to accommodate the request. Please note that certain requests may require additional fees. We are happy to work with you to ensure you are getting the screen door that you want.

If you have any questions about what size best fits your door, send us an email or call with your actual measurements and we'll recommend the correct size to order.

Next, you get to choose your desired wood species. We offer our screen doors in Poplar, Pine, Mahogany, and Fir. To find the best wood species for your application, check out our page on lumber: Wood Screen Doors 

Now you get to pick your Screen Frame Option. All of our screen doors come standard with a removable aluminum frame in your choice of either Bronze or White. In this example, the frame color is bronze, as shown below. 

 

For your screen, you can choose from one of our three options: 

1. Fiberglass (18 x 16 mesh): Our standard screen is a high-quality fiberglass mesh in a dark charcoal color. It is a great selection for buyers seeking a dependable screen that won't obstruct your view of the outdoors. 
2. Fiberglass Plus (20 x 20 mesh): These screens are made of a tightly woven fiberglass mesh that blocks out even the tiniest insects. This screen offers both good visibility and strength. 
3. Super Screen (17 x 14 mesh): This is the strongest, most durable screen we offer. Designed with pet owners in mind, the Super Screen is tear resistant and will last twice as long as our standard option. Keep in mind that viewing through this screen is slightly more obstructed than our both of our fiberglass options due to the extra thickness of the material.

Browse our wide selection of handmade screen doors and add your new custom door to your cart by clicking Add to Basket! If you have any questions throughout this process, do not hesitate to call us at 800-404-8279.