If you feel like it’s time to replace your office door handle with a new one, then you probably need to remove the old one first. Don’t know how to do that? Then don’t worry. We’ve done the research to provide you with the steps on how to remove a door handle.
To remove an office door handle, you can follow these steps:
- Look for the handle’s screws. If you can find them, remove them to take off the handle.
- For hidden screws, look for a small hole on the side of the handle.
- Use a screwdriver or an allen wrench to take the screw out of the hole. Other models have a tab you push in with a tool.
- Remove the rose (the cover for the base plate) by pulling it off or prying it off with a screwdriver.
- Once you see the screws, unscrew them and then remove the rest of the handle.
It’s a simple process. But if you need more explanation, keep on reading for an in-depth guide. We've also answered questions on how to pick the right size for a door handle, tighten a door handle, and reverse a Schlage door handle.
Removing An Office Door Handle: A Step-By-Step Guide
Before you start removing your door handle, first check if its screws are visible or hidden. If you can see the screws, then take the appropriate screwdriver, and unscrew them. Once those are out, you can remove the door handles on both sides of the door.
If you can’t find the door handle’s screws on the surface, then they are hidden. To remove door handles like these, you can follow these steps:
1. Look for a small hole on the side of the handle
Starting with the handle on the interior side of the door, look for a small hole big enough to fit a pin or an allen wrench on its side.
Take your tool and insert it into the hole. Once you feel that you’ve pushed in the tab inside, the door handle's lever should come off.
2. Take the screw out of the hole
For others, it can be a screw that you remove with an allen wrench or a different screwdriver. You can do the same on the other side as well. Some brands might have a tab inside that you can push in using a provided tool.
3. Remove the rose
The rose is the cover for the base plate. On some models, they can slide off, and on others, there are notches or grooves on the rose that can accommodate a flathead screwdriver.
If the rose on your handle has these notches, use the screwdriver to pry it off. You can do this by slipping the screwdriver underneath the notch and then twisting it. With the rose removed, the screws should be visible. As with the handle, you can take off the other rose on the other side as well.
4. Remove the screws and the handle
Using a drill bit with a screwdriver attachment or a regular screwdriver, loosen the screws and take them out.
With the screws out, remove the rest of the set from the door. Be careful not to drop the handle on the other side.
If you have a hard time removing one of the parts and there aren’t any other screws, try pushing in the latch, and it should come out.
Watch this video for the more detailed steps:
Are All Door Handles The Same Size?
No, not all door handles are the same size, but they are similar. Before you purchase a door handle, you should get the right measurements. That way, you can be sure that the handle you buy will fit into the door.
How do I know what size door handle I need?
There are three measurements you have to make to know what size door handle you need. They are the size of the backset, borehole and cross bore, and the door thickness.
The backset is the distance from the center of the borehole to the edge of the door. Sizes may vary, but they are commonly 2 ¾ or 2 ⅜ inches here in the United States.
The borehole is the large hole in the door where the doorknob goes. The cross bore is the hole on the side where the latch goes. Handles and levers usually need a borehole that is 2 ⅛ inches in diameter. Cross bole holes have a diameter of 1 inch.
Lastly, measure door thickness. Interior doors have a standard measurement of 1 ⅜ inch and exterior doors are 1 ¾ inches.
How Do You Tighten A Commercial Door Handle?
If the whole set is loose, there might be an issue with the screws on the base plate. To fix this problem on a door handle with visible screws, use a screwdriver to tighten them. If the handle has hidden screws, remove the handle, and the rose, to expose the screws and tighten them as shown in this video below:
It can also be the screw that attaches the handle to the shaft or the rod is loose. To address this problem, tighten the screw on the side of the handle with a screwdriver or Allen wrench.
Something else you can try is to remove the screw and then realign the handle before putting it back in. With the screw off, you can remove the handle and look for the groove on the rod where the screw is supposed to go.
After finding that, put the handle back on and align the groove with the hole on the handle. Finally, put the screw back in, and tighten it.
How To Reverse Lever On Schlage Door Handle
Schlage manufactures its handles so that they are reversible. That way, you don’t have to worry about getting the direction of the levers wrong. To reverse the lever on a Schlage door handle, you will need the pin tool included with the set, or a screwdriver, and the key to the handle. Then follow these steps:
- Insert the key into the lock, and then turn it 90 degrees to the left. The key should now be vertical.
- Remove the handle by inserting the pin tool or screwdriver into the hole on the side of the handle. Push it in, and it should allow you to slide off the handle until the inserted key stops it from sliding off completely.
- Then, turn the key 90 degrees to the right and take it out. Now you can completely slide off the handle and remove the key cylinder from inside the handle.
- Remove the handle on the other side with the lock button by inserting the pin in the hole. You don’t need to use a key for this step.
- Transfer the key cylinder to the handle from the lock button side. Then, switch it with the handle from the keyhole side. Now you have a new outer and inner handle. The outer handle should have the key cylinder, while the inner handle has the lock button.
- Lastly, slide the handles back on, making sure to match the hole where you inserted the pin tool with its tab on the shaft. You should hear it click into place when you put the handle back on. Do the same on the other side, and you have successfully reversed your Schlage door handle.
This helpful video illustrates the whole process:
Final Thoughts
Door handles are easy to remove once you know how the process works. Now that we’ve given you the steps, you can do it yourself. As long as you can find the screws, then you can remove the door handle easily. They are also what you look for when you need to tighten a loose handle.
As with all DIY projects, if this one seems too difficult for you, it is better to seek professional help.
If you’re also having trouble removing dummy door knobs or wondering if you should go with a handle or a knob for your door, you can find articles on these topics and more at DoorDodo.com.
