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Last updated on February 29th, 2024 at 05:22 pm
Installing new bifold doors and wondering where to put the handles? I’ve got you covered! Here is where you should put the handles on bifold doors:
Bifold door handles should be placed in the center of the flat part of the panel on the side that the door opens. For example, a bifold door that opens from the right to the left should have the handle centered on the flat part of the right-side panel, and vice versa.
Pictures and videos are always more useful in my opinion though, so I’ll show you exactly where I’m talking about below!
Let’s dive in!
Quick Navigation: How To Install Handles On Bifold Doors
- Measure & Mark The Bifold Door
- Drill Through The Bifold Door
- Screw The Handle Onto The Bifold Door
- Final Thoughts
| Level Of Difficulty | Time To Complete |
|---|---|
| Easy | 10 Minutes |
| Material List | Tool List |
|---|---|
| Closet handles | Drill with various drill bits |
| Contractor pencil | Impact driver or screwdriver |
| Tape measure |
Where To Install Handles On Bifold Doors
I broke this tutorial up into pictures below to help you figure out exactly where to install handles on your bifold doors.
Step One: Measure & Mark The Bifold Door
The first step to installing bifold door handles is to measure and mark the center of the door panel with a pencil.
To find the center, I measured the width of the panel that is on the side where the door opens.
In my case, my bifold door opened from the right to the left, so I measured the right-side panel where it was flat.
If your door opens the other way, then it’s the left-side panel that you will be measuring.
I had two bifold doors on my closet, so I installed handles on both sides.
Measure the width with a tape measure and mark the center with a pencil.
Then measure the height of the flat part of the panel. To do this easily, I like to start my tape measure at the 1 inch mark and find the halfway point that way.
It’s easier to hold the 1 inch mark against a beveled edge rather than the end of the tape measure.
Mark the center with a pencil and make a little cross where the two measurements meet. This is where you will drill to install your bifold door handles.
Once you have your mark, you can move onto the next step!
Step Two: Drill Through The Bifold Door
The next step to installing bifold door handles is to drill through the bifold door.
Be sure to drill through the face of the door into the back of the door.
That way, any chip out will happen in the back of the bifold door where you will never see it (and it will be covered by the screw head).
Use a 3/16” drill bit to drill through the mark you made on the center of your door.
Once you have your hole drilled, it’s time to move onto the next step!
Step Three: Screw The Handle Onto The Bifold Door
The last step to installing bifold door handles is to screw the handle onto the bifold door.
This part is much easier with an impact driver because its a tight fit for the screw that goes into the handle, but a screwdriver also works. (Just need a little more force as you screw it in.)
Insert the screw through the back of the bifold door until it is hanging out the front of the hole.
Then take the handle and slowly twist it on straight on the screw. I say slowly at first because the handle might try to go on sideways if you go too fast.
Once the handle is on straight, then you’ll want to hold the handle with one hand and tighten the screw with an impact driver or screwdriver from the backside.
Tighten until the handle is snug on the door and doesn’t twist easily.
Ta-da! Now repeat the process if you have another bifold door!
Final Thoughts On Where To Put The Handles On Bifold Doors
There you have it!
The best bifold door handle placement is in the center of a flat part midway up each door. Placing the bifold door handles in this position looks visually appealing and often is a comfortable spot for you to naturally grab and use when you walk up.
Installing bifold door handles are rather simple, and they make using the doors so much more friendly.
If you have a different style bifold door than I had, there are no worries. When in doubt, centering handles always look visually appealing.
So find a flat part at about waist height and try to center the handle through there. You could also walk up to the door and try to figure out where feels the most natural to grab and open it.
Catch you in my next post!
By Christine
Christine is a blogger and DIYer who tackles home renovation and decorating projects alongside her husband, Adam, for their personal residence and rental properties. Although she successfully tackles large renovation projects to avoid expensive contractor fees and bring her vision to life now, her path to success was not easy.
Go here to read her story, “From a Clueless First-Time Homebuyer To A Confident DIYer Creating Her Dream Home One Project At A Time“.
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