How to Install a Door Knob with a Plate
To install a door knob with a plate, fit the latch into the door edge and screw its plate flush, mount the outside and inside knob halves through the door, then fasten the strike plate to the frame so the latch lines up. Most replacements take under an hour with a screwdriver. If the door has no bore hole yet, you will also need to drill two holes first, using the template that comes in the box.
Kwikset 96900-463Best overall
Estmoon Most keys included
Gobrico 12061-01Lightest in the lineupKnow which plate you are dealing with
"Plate" can mean three different parts, and the guide below covers all of them. The latch plate (also called the faceplate) is the small metal rectangle on the edge of the door. The strike plate is the metal piece on the door frame that the latch slides into. The rosette or backplate is the decorative disc or plate that sits against the face of the door behind the knob.
Some latches have a plate that cannot be removed and others use a drive-in collar with no plate at all. Check the instructions in your box before you start. If you are still choosing a set, our best door hardware page lists which options include adjustable latches and which functions they cover, so you can match the set to the door before you buy.
Check the fit and gather tools
Measure two things before you open the package. Door thickness is the width of the door itself. Backset is the distance from the door edge to the center of the large hole. Every set ranked on our best door hardware page fits doors from 1.375 to 1.75 inches thick, with an adjustable backset of either 2.375 or 2.75 inches.
Most installs only need a few common tools. A deeper job, such as a new door, needs a few more.
- Phillips screwdriver (the only tool many sets need)
- Pencil and tape measure
- Drill and a flat or twist bit for pilot holes
- Chisel and hammer if the plate needs a recess
- Hole saw and spade bit, only if the door has no holes yet
- Painter's tape to mark and protect the finish
Replace a knob on a door that already has holes
This is the most common case, and it goes quickly if you work in order.
- Remove the old knob. Unscrew the visible screws or pry off the rosette cover, then pull both halves apart and slide the latch out of the door edge.
- Check the latch. Set the new latch to your backset by twisting the adjustable part until it reads 2.375 or 2.75 inches. The tip (the angled side) should face the direction the door closes.
- Slide the latch into the edge hole. If it has a removable plate, trace the plate with a pencil first, and use a chisel to deepen the recess so the plate sits flush with the wood. Then drive the two screws.
- Insert the outside knob half through the latch. Its spindle (the square shaft) should pass through the latch opening. Hold it in place.
- Fit the inside half and plate over the spindle. Line up the screw posts, then tighten the mounting screws by hand with a screwdriver in a gradual, even pattern.
- Test the knob before you close the door. It should turn smoothly and spring back to rest.
Install or adjust the strike plate
The strike plate decides whether the door actually latches. Close the door slowly and see where the latch tip meets the frame. Mark the spot with a pencil or a dab of lipstick on the latch tip, then close the door gently to leave a mark on the jamb.
Center the strike over that mark and trace around it. Chisel a shallow recess, drill pilot holes, and screw the plate in. Many sets include a round-corner strike, which saves chiseling square corners.
If the latch rubs or the door will not catch, the plate is usually a hair too high or low. Loosen the screws, shift the plate, and retighten. Longer screws, such as the 3 inch screws on some reinforced strike sets, reach the wall stud behind the jamb for stronger resistance to forced entry.
Add a deadbolt
A deadbolt uses the same idea but its own pair of holes. It sits above the knob, and the bolt passes into the frame through a second strike plate. Entry combo sets, such as the Kwikset Tylo set on our best door hardware page, pair a keyed knob with a deadbolt and include two keys. Some sets can be re-keyed at home with a tool, which helps if you want one key for several doors.
Mark the deadbolt height with the template so it sits comfortably above the knob. Drill a face hole that matches the template and an edge hole for the bolt. Install the bolt, then the exterior cylinder, then the interior thumb turn, and finish with the strike plate. Turn the key and thumb turn a few times to confirm the bolt extends fully into the frame.
If the door has no hole yet
A new or blank door needs two holes. Use the paper template that comes with your set to mark both, then drill them with a hole saw and a spade bit. These are the standard measurements, but always follow the dimensions printed on your template, since they can vary by model.
| Hole | Where | Typical size | Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face (bore) hole | Through the door face | 2-1/8 in, as listed for the Estmoon set | Hole saw |
| Edge (latch) hole | Into the door edge, meeting the face hole | About 1 in | Spade bit |
| Latch plate recess | Around the edge hole | Depth equal to plate thickness | Chisel |
| Strike plate recess | On the frame | Depth equal to plate thickness | Chisel |
Tips for a wooden door and for safety
Wood can split, so drill the face hole from one side until the pilot tip pokes through, then finish from the opposite side. Placing a scrap board against the exit side helps prevent a ragged edge. Keep the bit level and drill slowly.
Safety matters here. Wear safety glasses when drilling or chiseling, and hearing protection if you run a hole saw for long. Unplug corded drills when changing bits, and keep your hand behind the chisel edge, never in front of it. Clamp the door on sawhorses or secure it in place so it cannot tip.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my knob turn but the door will not latch?
Usually the strike plate is slightly misaligned or the latch is set to the wrong backset. Check the mark on the jamb and shift the strike plate a little until the latch tip drops in.
Can I install a privacy or passage knob the same way?
Yes. The mounting steps are the same. A privacy set locks from the inside with a thumb turn, while a passage set never locks. Pick the function that suits the room.
Which way should the latch bevel face?
The angled side of the latch tip should face the direction the door closes onto the frame, so it slides over the strike plate instead of catching on it.
Do I need a locksmith?
Not for a standard replacement. A locksmith can help with a damaged door, an unusual bore size, or a custom frame.