By Evan Christensen · Owner, The Barn Door Hardware Store
Published May 14, 2024 · Updated May 2026
Evan has owned and operated The Barn Door Hardware Store since 2016. Handles are one of the most commonly overlooked parts of a barn door order — most kits don't include them, and the decision between one-sided and two-sided operation is worth thinking through before the door goes up. He and the team are available 7 days a week at info@thebarndoorhardwarestore.com.
Handles are not included in most kits
Before getting into handle styles, one important clarification: standard and heavy duty Goldberg Brothers hardware kits do not include handles. They're a separate purchase. Bifold kits do include handles. House value line kits vary — check the individual product page.
This is one of the most common post-order surprises. Accounting for handles before checkout avoids a second shipment.
Browse our barn door handles collection for bar pulls and D-pulls, and our flush pulls collection for wall-facing side options.
Single vs. double-sided handles — the practical decision
The real question isn't decorative symmetry — it's whether you need to operate the door from both sides. Think about how the door will be used:
- Room-facing side (always needed): This is the side you grab when walking toward the door from the room. A bar pull or D-pull handle mounts here and gives you something to grip when sliding the door open or closed.
- Wall-facing side (often overlooked): This is the side that faces the wall when the door is closed — the inside of a bathroom or bedroom. From this side, a bar pull would stick out too far from the door face to be practical. A flush pull is the right product here — it sits nearly flush with the door face and gives you something to grip without projecting into the room.
Most installations benefit from a bar pull on the room-facing side and a flush pull on the wall-facing side. This gives you full operation from both sides without the wall-facing pull projecting awkwardly.
| Application | Room-facing side | Wall-facing side |
|---|---|---|
| Pantry or closet — operation from one side only | Bar pull or D-pull | Not needed |
| Bathroom or bedroom — operation from both sides | Bar pull or D-pull | Flush pull |
| Home office or shared space | Bar pull or D-pull | Flush pull |
| Biparting or bypass — operated from both sides | Bar pull or D-pull on each door | Flush pull on each door |
Handle types
Bar pull
A horizontal bar that mounts to the door face with two brackets. The most common barn door handle type — straightforward, available in multiple lengths and profiles (round bar, square bar). Mounts on the room-facing side for easy gripping when sliding. Browse our handles collection for available sizes and finishes.
D-pull
A curved pull with a D-shaped profile — the arc gives your hand a natural grip position when pulling or pushing the door. Lower profile than a bar pull for installations where projection off the door face is a consideration.
Flush pull
Sits recessed into or nearly flush with the door face — no projection. Used on the wall-facing side of any door that needs to be operated from inside a room. Requires a routed mortise in the door for installation. Goldberg Brothers flush pulls use a Goldberg Brothers-specific acrylic router template. Browse our flush pulls collection. House value line flush pulls are available in matte black, brushed nickel, and stainless steel — no routing required.
Matching handles to your hardware finish
Handles should match the hanger hardware finish. Goldberg Brothers handles are available in all 17 Goldberg Brothers finish colors — the same lineup as heavy duty and bifold hardware — making it straightforward to get an exact finish match across everything on the door.
For standard duty Goldberg Brothers hardware, the hanger finish selection is limited to 4 colors (matte black, black, arch bronze, silver metallic). Handles in those same finishes are available in the Goldberg Brothers lineup.
House value line handles are available in matte black, brushed nickel, and stainless steel.
If you're stepping up to heavy duty hardware specifically to access a finish color not available in standard duty, Goldberg Brothers handles in that same finish are available to match.
Handle height
Standard door knob height — 34 to 48" from the finished floor — is the typical starting point for barn door handle placement. For most adults, a handle centered around 36 to 40" from the floor is comfortable for both pushing and pulling the door.
For households with children, consider positioning handles higher than they can easily reach if the door separates a space you'd prefer they stay out of.
For the full handle height guide, see our barn door handle height guide.
Questions about handle selection or finish matching?
Email us at info@thebarndoorhardwarestore.com with your hardware kit, finish, and which sides of the door need operation — we'll confirm the right handle and flush pull combination before you order. Browse our handles collection and flush pulls collection. Available 7 days a week.
