Door handles, and architectural ironmongery in general, make up the jewellery of a home. When given some thought, door handles can truly make a space more special. After all, these come in all shapes, sizes, designs and finishes, balancing function and beauty perfectly.
If you’ve searched for “types of door handles” on Google and you’ve come across our article, you’re in for a treat – a detailed and informative guide on the different types of door handles. Maybe you’re planning to renovate your home or office space and are wondering which door handle will be the perfect fit, or maybe you are simply intrigued about the variety of door handles available.
Perhaps you have old, worn door handles that need to go as soon as possible, and need to be replaced by beautiful new ones. However, the choice of door handles seems to be quite overwhelming. At Kingwaych Experts, we’ll be able to help you choose the ideal door handles for your home, and hopefully, make the process of picking the right door handles a bit easier.
There are three main types of door handles: lever handles, pull handles and door knobs. Whether you want to redecorate your grade-listed property with black door handles or you want to refresh your interiors by replacing plain and boring handles with brass door handles – the choice is yours. Make your house feel more like a home with the right door handles.
Lever handles
Lever handles, also known as door levers, are the most common type of door handle used in residential houses as well as commercial and public buildings. Lever handles comprise of a handle bar attached to a rose or a backplate, you might know these as lever handles on rose and lever handles on backplate, respectively.
Lever handles on rose.
Lever handles on rose are more contemporary door handles that sit on either a round rose or a square rose, and are much smaller than backplates. This type of door handle is operated with a latch; however, it can be paired separately with locking mechanisms for added security. It is normally combined with a thumb turn lock, or a door lock and escutcheon (keyhole cover) for a neater and tidy finish.
Some of our best-selling lever handles on rose include modern door handles, such as Carlisle Brass Matt Black Serozzetta Philadelphia Lever on Round Rose and Satin PVD Brass Crown Knurled Style Lever on Rose. The latter, knurled door handle, has been a popular choice for doors, cabinets, drawers and any other surface that requires a handle.
What is a knurled handle?
Knurled handles or knurled door handles feature a diamond pattern of horizontal, vertical or crossing lines on the surface of the handle which is not only elegant but it is also ergonomic, preventing hand slippage and increasing grip.
Related: Uplift your home with a knurled door handle.
Lever handles on backplate.
Lever handles on a backplate are traditional door handles which sit on a backplate. These are best suited for traditional properties. However, with the vast selection of finishes and styles, many lever handles on a backplate can also be used for more contemporary spaces.
For a sleek and modern look, Carlisle Brass Polished Chrome Victorian Lever On Backplate or Burlington Antique Brass Richmond Lever on Bathroom Lock Plate are great options. If you want to go for a more traditional and/or classic look, Pair Polished Brass Chesham Lever on Euro Lock Backplate or From the Anvil Antique Pewter Straight Lever Euro Lock Set could be a better choice.
Operating mechanisms.
These handles can have three operating mechanisms, including lever lock, lever bathroom and lever latch.
Lever lock.
This mechanism features a keyhole to operate the door handle, providing security and privacy and is often combined with a mortice lock. This includes From the Anvil Beeswax Gothic Lever Euro Cylinder Lock Furniture and Florentine Bronze Winchester Lever Euro Lock on Backplate.
Lever bathroom.
Often used on bathroom and bedroom doors, where some privacy is needed. This mechanism features a thumb turn lock, which can be locked and unlocked easily from the inside by turning the snib but can also be unlocked from the outside by turning the coin slot, in case of an emergency. The From the Anvil Aged Brass Hammered Newbury Bathroom Lever is a beautiful example of this locking mechanism.
Lever latch.
This type of mechanism is used for interior doors that don’t require to be locked. It’s a simple to use mechanism, which only requires the door handle to be pushed down for the door to open. Modern lever latch handles include the Polished Chrome Arundel Scroll Lever Latch on backplate.
Pull handles
Door pull handles are ideal for passage doors or any other doors which can only be opened when pushed or pulled. There are many types of pull handles, including:
Pull handles on rose.
These are usually fitted into a round rose and offer a modern and elegant look to any door. If you are looking to replace your kitchen door handles with pull handles on rose, the Antique Brass 158mm Knurled Pull Handle is a no-brainer. This Carlisle Brass door handle is the perfect addition to any modern space.
Pull handles on a backplate.
This type of pull handle features a more traditional look and can be fitted on both internal and external single and double doors. Some of these pull handles are perfect for commercial use with engraved “pull” and “push” plates, including 300mm SAA 19mm dia. Pull Handle on Plate Engraved Push. Pull handles on backplate without engraving are also available, such as From the Anvil Aged Bronze Large Art Deco Pull Handle on Plate.
Back to back pull handles.
These handles are fitted back-to-back on entrance and internal doors, being ideal for restaurants, offices, and other commercial buildings. These are designed for doors that swing both ways.
Bolt through pull handles.
This type of pull handles features a bolt which passes through the door and is then fixed by a nut at the opposite side. These are modern handles commonly used for kitchen cabinet doors, cupboard doors, drawers and wardrobe doors.
Satin Brass 160mm Square Section Block Cabinet Handle, Matt Black 160mm Square Section Block Cabinet Handle and Antique Brass 160mm Square Section Block Cabinet Handle are some of the most popular pull handles for cabinets. These are simple, beautiful and practical, perfect for any property.
Face fix handles.
These pull handles feature visible screw fixings, including From the Anvil Black 203mm Gothic D Handle and From the Anvil Polished Bronze Large Art Deco Pull Handle.
Sliding door handles.
Besides pull handles for single and double doors, there are also pull handles for sliding doors and pocket doors, which operate from side to side instead of outwards and inwards. These types of doors are the perfect option for rooms which have limited space and can either be opened with flush pull handles or ring pull handles.
Related: Types of sliding door locks.
Flush pull handles are recessed into sliding doors, enabling them to slide past each other without difficulty, whilst ring pull handles are operated by pulling on the ring, which will then pull the door open. Both types of pull handles offer a comfortable and firm grip on sliding doors.
Door knobs
Door knobs are usually round handles which rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise to open a door. These are mainly used for internal doors as an alternative to lever handles. There are also centre door knobs which are used as decorative and functional pieces of hardware to pull entrance doors closed from the outside. There are various types of door knobs, including:
Dummy door knobs.
This type of door knob doesn’t require to be rotated to be operated; it simply requires to be pulled to open the door. It is mainly used on cabinet doors and wardrobe doors.
Passage door knobs.
These door knobs are usually used on hallways or in rooms which don’t require privacy. They operate with a latch and require rotation of the handle to open the door.
Privacy door knobs.
This type of door knob features a twist lock which only functions from one side, being ideal for bathroom and bedroom doors. In case of an emergency, they can also be unlocked from the outside. These are also known as turn and release handles or thumbturn locks. The Nero Matt Black Bathroom Turn & Release is a beautiful option for bathroom and bedroom doors.
Keyed entry door knobs.
These door knobs have a lock and key mechanism on both sides of the door and can be used in any room which you require to be secure.
Door knobs are available in a wide range of designs, styles and finishes. Some of our best-selling doorknobs include Satin Nickel 38mm Oxford Cupboard Knob, Old English Matt Black Harrogate Mushroom Mortice Knob and Gun Metal 38mm Oxford Cupboard Knob.
Door levers vs door knobs
When choosing door handles for your home, it is normal to ask the question: “should I pick door levers or door knobs?”. Both types of door handles offer a beautiful finish to any home or office, however, there are a few benefits and drawbacks specific to each handle which you should consider.
Door knobs are more practical in the sense that, when fitted with appropriate latches, they can be used by rotating the knob either way, regardless of the position of the door. However, these door handles don’t offer as much grip as lever handles, thus can be more difficult to use by the elderly and children.
Door levers offer more convenience for the user, as they are easily operated (even with your elbow when you are carrying home bags of groceries!). This type of door handles features a wider variety of options, not only in terms of back plate choice but also technology-wise, with some door handles operating with a digital lock, such as the Union E1200 Codehandle Battery Operated Digital Lock.
There are a few drawbacks when it comes to lever handles. Due to their shape, loose clothing tends to get caught on the handle. Plus, due to the springs that hold the lever, these handles might require more maintenance than door knobs.
Nonetheless, door knobs and door levers can be combined around the house to give different design elements to your overall décor. So, if you are not sure about a particular door handle, why not mix and match? We hope that this guide has been helpful and informative. If you have any enquiries regarding our selection of door handles, feel free to email us at info@ironmongeryexperts.co.uk, or contact us at 01376 557 561.