How to Change the Backset on a Door Latch (2024)

FAQs

How to Change the Backset on a Door Latch? ›

Latch Adjustment

Since matching the door backset to the hardware is a must for a secure door, many types of door hardware have an adjustable backset, allowing you to easily fit them to your existing doors.

Most door latches on the market today are adjustable, so that you can change the backset between 2-3/8" and 2-3/4". This brief article will explain how to adjust the backset on a door latch. This method is applicable to all Designers Impressions door knobs and levers, as well as most Callan door knobs and levers.

Most door latch adjustments are simply moving the strike plate to align with the bolt on the door handle. The only other adjustment is to tighten the mounting screws on the doorknob or the bolt plate on the outside of the door. These easy adjustments can be done with just a Phillips screwdriver.

In the U.S. there are two common backsets for residential door locks, 2-3/8" and 2-3/4". The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the 2-1/8" bore hole. We will pack your locks with a 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" latch depending on which backset you specify.

Slip a 1/16-in. -thick cardboard shim strip behind each hinge (Photos with steps 1 and 2 below). This will widen the gap along the hinge side and narrow the gap along the latch side. Hopefully, this shim will be enough to make the latch solid.

One such technical detail, often overlooked but crucial, is the backset. This measurement not only influences the positioning of your door hardware but also impacts its operation and the overall look of the door.

Latches. Our tubular door latch selection is designed for internal doors throughout your home. Also known as an internal door latch , the latch mechanism is reversible and can be used either way while all door latches are sprung which means they return into position after opening.

This can be corrected by enlarging the bolt pocket or changing the strike plate. To make the bolt pocket deeper, taller or wider, depending on where your bolt is dragging, use a chisel on the bolt hole until it is 1” deep and allows the bolt to fully extend without dragging.

If when you close the door, the latch fails to seat within the strike plate, and there is a large gap between the door edge and door jamb (on the strike plate side), the use of shims installed behind the hinges is likely the preferred repair.

How do you adjust a misaligned door latch? ›

Turn the knob to retract the latch, close the door, then release the knob so the latch just barely touches the strike plate. 2. If the lipstick mark is too high, tighten the hinges at the bottom of the door with a screwdriver. If the mark is too low, raise the latch by tightening the hinges at the top of the door.

To determine the correct backset measurement for your door, you need to measure the distance from the edge of the door to the center of your cross bore. The two standard backset measurements in North America are 2 3/8 inches and 2 3/4 inches.

The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the spindle mechanism on the latch. Usually a 63mm case measurement will have a 44mm backset and a 76mm case measurement will have a 65mm backset. The backset you choose is where your door knobs will sit on the door (where the spindle goes through).

You can work out the size of the lock by measuring the distance from the edge of the door to the centre of the door handle or knob. This measurement will give you the approximate size of the backset which will allow you to identify which size lock or latch you have.

The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the centre of the door handle. Please note that our locks and latches mostly come in 44-46mm and in 57-60mm. 57-60mm is the standard backset.

The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the bore hole. There are two common backsets for residential door locks: 2-3/8″ and 2-3/4″.

Using the appropriate-sized spade bit and an electric drill, cut the hole in the door frame about 1/4 inch deeper. Test the latch mechanism again. If the twist knob stops in the same position with the door opened and closed, the hole is deep enough. If not, use the drill to make the hole another 1/4 inch deeper.