How to Measure Your Doorway

Before you order: a wrong measurement is the most common reason a custom screen doesn't fit. This guide takes about three minutes. If anything looks unclear, send us a photo of your doorway — we'll check it for you before production.

You're measuring the outside of the frame

Most people instinctively measure the door itself, or the opening between the trim. That's the wrong number for a magnetic screen. You want the outer edge of the door frame — the flat surface where the screen's adhesive tape mounts. That's almost always larger than the door panel, and larger than the opening.

Width: outside edge to outside edge

  1. Hold the tape measure horizontally across the top of the door frame.
  2. Anchor at the outer left edge of the frame.
  3. Pull straight across to the outer right edge.
  4. Write the number down in inches.

Take three measurements — top, middle, and bottom. Frames are rarely perfectly square. Use the largest number.

Height: outside top to floor (or threshold)

  1. Hold the tape vertically along one side of the frame.
  2. Anchor at the outer top edge of the frame.
  3. Pull straight down to the floor, or the threshold your screen will sit against.
  4. Write the number down in inches.

Take three measurements — left, center, and right. Use the largest number.

Outer frame ≠ door opening

Term What it means Use it?
Door panel The actual door slab ❌ No
Door opening The empty space the door fills ❌ No
Outer frame The trim around the door, molding included ✅ Yes — measure this

The screen mounts onto the outer frame so the panel hangs in front of the opening. Measure the opening only, and your screen comes out too small — gaps let bugs in.

Different doorways, different tricks

Patio / sliding doors

  • Measure the full outer trim, covering both panels' worth of width.
  • Your screen needs to cover the whole opening even when one panel stays put — so measure across the combined frame.
  • If the patio door has decorative molding wider than the trim, measure to the outer edge of the molding.

French doors

  • Measure as one continuous opening — outer left frame to outer right frame.
  • Height: top frame to floor.
  • Don't measure each door separately. The screen is a single panel covering both doors.

Garage openings

  • Garage openings can run 8 ft to 16 ft or more wide. Confirm your number is in inches, not feet, before you enter it.
  • Measure to the outer edge of the garage frame, not the rough opening.
  • Mounting to a rolling-door track? Email us first — adhesive performance varies.

RV / camper doors

  • RV frames are narrow. Measure to the very edge of the metal frame, not the rubber gasket.
  • Check both the interior and exterior frame — some RV doors are stepped and only one side suits the screen.

Common mistakes

  • ❌ Measuring the door panel. You'll get a number that's too small.
  • ❌ Measuring the door opening. Same problem — too small.
  • ❌ Only measuring once. Frames are rarely perfectly square.
  • ❌ Using feet instead of inches. Our form is inches only.
  • ❌ Forgetting the molding. If your trim has decorative outer molding, that's the edge you measure to.
  • ❌ Rounding down. Use the largest of your three numbers — too tight can't be fixed; a little loose can be trimmed during install.

Not sure? Send us a photo

We've measured plenty of doorways with customers over email. If yours is unusual — odd molding, a brick frame, a two-story patio, a recessed RV door — take a photo with your tape measure visible and email it to us before you order.

We'll confirm:

  • The number you're about to enter is correct
  • Whether the adhesive will hold on your frame material
  • Whether you'll need the included pushpins

We do this for free, even if you don't end up ordering.

You've got your numbers

Head back to the product page, enter your width and height, pick your mesh color. Production starts as soon as you order. Back to Custom Magnetic Screen Door →