Levers or Knobs? How to Choose for Every Door
Levers and knobs do the same job, but they feel different in the hand and in a room. The right choice depends on who uses the door, the style of the house, and sometimes the building code.
Ease of use
Levers are easier to operate. They can be opened with an elbow, a full hand or a closed fist, which matters when carrying groceries, for children, for older family members and for anyone with arthritis or limited grip. Accessibility guidelines in the US, including the ADA standards for public buildings, call for hardware that can be operated without tight grasping or twisting, which is why levers are standard in commercial buildings.
Style
Knobs are the traditional choice in older American houses and suit Colonial, Victorian, Craftsman and cottage interiors. Levers became common in the twentieth century and suit modern, mid-century and many transitional homes, though there are many traditional lever designs too. Neither is wrong. The aim is consistency throughout the main spaces.
Pets and children
A lever can be opened by a determined dog or cat jumping against it, and by a toddler once they can reach. Knobs are harder for both. Some households use levers through the house and knobs on doors that should stay closed, such as a basement or utility room.
Handing
Many levers are reversible, but some decorative levers are handed, meaning they are made to point one way. Knobs are never handed. If you choose a handed lever, you need to know the handing of each door before you order.
Mixing the two
It is perfectly fine to use levers on the main doors and knobs on closets or secondary spaces, as long as both come from the same collection and finish. The shared rose or backplate shape ties them together.
Our rule of thumb
- Choose levers for main living spaces, for anyone with limited grip, and for modern or transitional homes.
- Choose knobs for period houses, for doors pets and children should not open easily, and for a softer traditional look.
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