Size the Screen Door Closer to the Door You Actually Hang: Weight, Width, and Swing

A closer on an exit door does two jobs. It keeps the door from standing open at dusk, and it keeps the door closing without a slam. Both depend on matching the closer to the door in your house, not the one on the shelf. This guide shows what to measure and what to ask so the closer fits the door it is going on.

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Measure the door, not the frame

Note the door's width, height, and thickness. Weigh it if you can. A screen door is often much lighter than a solid door with glass, so check the screen frame and the panel separately if the door has both. Note which side the hinges are on, and whether the door opens toward you (inswing) or away from you (outswing). Those four facts decide which closer fits, and they are what the seller will ask first.

Match the force rating to the weight

Closers are labeled for a range of door weights and widths. Choose one whose rating covers your door, and resist the urge to pick the strongest unit on the shelf. A closer that is too strong makes the door slam and makes it hard for a tired hand to open. A closer that is too weak lets the door drift open when the wind picks up. If the label gives a range, aim for the middle rather than the top edge.

Check the mounting and the adjustment

Surface-mounted closers fit on the face of the door and the frame, and they need clearance above the door and a bracket that suits your frame depth. Ask whether the closer adjusts for closing speed and for latching speed. A closer with no adjustment will not give a gentle finish on a door that needs one. Ask whether the arm clears the door handle, since a handle that catches the arm will wear both out.

Fit it to how the door is used

Think about how often the door opens in a day and who opens it. If she goes out often, a closer that needs a firm pull will wear on her hands and on yours. Pick the setting that closes the door fully without a hard swing, and test it with the door open to the width she actually uses. Cold weather can slow some closers, so retest the setting when the seasons change.

Test before you trust it

Open the door fully and let go. It should close slowly and latch without help. Then push the door about halfway and let go. It should continue closing on its own. Check the latch once the door is shut. If it does not latch cleanly, adjust the latching speed before deciding the closer is the wrong one.

For the wider exit plan this door belongs to, see Sundowning and Wandering, St. Louis. The Sources page shows where the hardware guidance comes from.