What Size Barn Door for 36 Inch Opening?

Among the design trends we've seen in recent years, the rise of the interior barn door is one of our favorites.

If you want a sleek, rustic, or classic look for your renovation, a sliding barn door is a great choice. It adds both style and function to any room.

However, it can be difficult to figure out what size barn door you need. If you have a 36-inch opening, you might wonder if a standard barn door size will work for you. You may also need to think about getting a custom door.

To help you, we created this easy guide. It has all the information you need to choose the right barn door size for your 36-inch opening. We will cover

• Standard barn door sizes
• Custom barn door sizes
• Factors to consider when selecting a barn door

Let’s get into it!

Standard Barn Door Sizes

Barn doors come in many shapes and sizes. However, some sizes are standard in the industry. You can find these sizes in most retailers and stores.

The standard sizes usually cater for openings of two different widths: 36” and 42”. From there, there are a range of heights paired with these widths to create the standard sizes.

They are as follows;

• 36" x 80"
• 36" x 84"
• 36" x 96"
• 42" x 80"
• 42" x 84"
• 42" x 96"

If you have a 36-inch opening, then one of the first three sizes in the above list might be the right fit for your doorway.

The one you pick will depend on the height of your doorway, which can be easily figured out with some quick measurements.

The benefit of these standard sizes is that they make planning your doorways easy. You know the exact measurements of the door you will install. This allows you to plan around it easily.

It is also easier to find a standard-sized door. These doors are usually mass-produced and available at local homeware or hardware stores.

However, they present a large issue in the fact that they are not flexible. Not all doorways match standard sizes. This leaves many builders and renovators having trouble finding the right fit.

This makes planning from a design and practical view very hard. People with unique doorway sizes cannot easily find a barn door. This makes it tough to plan the rest of their room.

If you choose a standard-sized door, you will be limited to the designs at your local store.

With a standard-sized door, you have no design input. This can be tough if you care about your home's design.

Custom Barn Door Sizes

An alternative to purchasing a standard barn door is commissioning a custom one.

This simply means contracting with a local store or craftsman, and asking for a barn door to be made based on your specific requirements.

A custom barn door can be any size, shape, color, or finish you want. Buyers usually have full control and can design their perfect door.

The benefits of a custom door include the ability for renovators to create a door that matches their vision. This way, they do not have to settle for a standard door from the store.

It is a great choice for those whose openings do not fit standard sizes. A custom door can be made to match your specific measurements.

However, custom doors are typically much more costly than the standard ones.

A craftsman needs extra time and effort to help you design the door. They will make it by hand based on your ideas. While the overall look of the door may be much more to your liking, it comes at a significantly higher price.

If you have a 36-inch opening, a standard barn door size will likely fit. This means you probably won't need a custom door.

If you really want a specific design or like the look of standard-sized doors, a custom-made barn door could be the best choice for you.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Size

Before choosing your barn door size, there are several factors we recommend you take into account. This will ensure that the door you pick is the perfect fit both practically and aesthetically.

• The style of the barn door: You should factor in the style of the barn door you want.
  
  Depending on the desired aesthetic effect, sizing up or down might contribute to the overall look of the door.
  
  It is a good idea to consider a range of options before committing to one, as you may find that different styles and sizes drastically change how your room looks and feels.

• Clearance needed for door operation: Barn doors do not operate like normal doors, and need a significant amount of space to be able to slide along their tracks.
  
  Make sure you factor in enough space around the barn door before committing to a size to ensure you can use the door properly.
  
  Many people forget this important point. It can create a tough situation when it's time to install the door!

• The proportion of the door to the opening: The proportion of the door to its opening can vary greatly depending on its size.
  
  Think about what size works best for you and the space where you will install the door. This will help ensure it functions well and looks great.

• Personal preference: Be sure to take into account your own preferences, after all, it is your renovation project!

Take time to consider the look and feel of each door in your space and choose one that feels right to you.

Just because your opening is a certain size does not limit the choices you have of barn doors. Look at your space holistically and select the one that looks the best.

Ready to buy your barn door? Check out our selection at The Barn Door Hardware Store.