How Much Weight Can I Hang on a Door?

Have you ever stopped and wondered, how much weight can I hang on this door? If you have, then this article will help you decide. Doors come in thousands of shapes and sizes. In this article, I will share the principles needed to determine how much weight your door can hold. 

In general, an interior door in a residential house can hold between 45 to 100 pounds. An exterior door with robust hardware can withstand anywhere from 200 to 400 pounds. Some commercial-grade doors are able to hold even more. 

The best way to determine how much weight you can hang on your door is to understand the principles of what makes a door strong. 

In the sections below, we will list several types of doors. Then, we will discuss several steps you should take when deciding how much weight the door can withstand. 

How to Determine How Much Weight You Can Hang on a Door 

To determine how much weight a door can hold, we need to look at several things. 

Here are some things to consider: 

1. Type of hinges
2. Hardware used to secure hinges
3. Weight of the door  

Let’s jump in! 

Type of Door Hinges

Your hinges are important. Have a look at the type of hinge used on your door. You might be able to tell if they appear robust or not. Also, take note of the number of hinges. Most doors should have at least three hinges; however, some smaller doors may only have two. 

If you can see a manufacturer’s name or number on your hinge, you may be able to look up the hinge’s weight rating. 

However, even if your hinge is rated for four hundred pounds, that doesn’t mean your door can hold that much weight. You must also consider the type of screws used to hold the hinges in place and the overall weight of your door. 

Type of Hardware Used to Secure Your Door

If your hinges are secured with short little screws, then your door will be unable to withstand high amounts of weight. 

If you don’t know what type of screws were used for your door, you can unscrew one of the screws from the hinges. Inspect the length of the screw. Also, take note of the material the screw is holding on to. 

If you have stubby screws, you may be able to replace them with longer, more robust screws. Longer screws will help your door handle more weight. 

Weight of the Door 

Finally, once you’ve measured the weight limits of the hinge and the hardware, find out the weight of your door. 

If you know your door is hardwood, then it will be heavier than softwood. Also, determine if your door is hollow or not. You can do this by tapping around the door with your finger. You’ll be able to hear a thud if it’s solid and more reverberation if it’s hollow. 

If you want a precise measurement, you can always take the door off the hinges and weigh it on a scale. However, be cautious. You don’t want to mess up a well-functioning door by accident. 

How Much Weight Can I Hang on the Outside Doors? 

Exterior doors are different from inside doors. Typically, you will see a higher grade hinge and more robust hardware used for a door leading outside. 

The main door into your home needs to do several things:

1. It needs to provide insulation against wind, rain, cold, and heat.
2. Your door needs to provide security from intruders.
3. An outside door will be seen by all who walk or drive by, so it needs to look good. 

Here’s a chart with general weight limits for an outside door. The weights are similar across the ranges. Medium-frequency doors = 10x- 24x per day. High-frequency doors = more than 25x per day.

Remember, this chart is only a general reference. Weight limits will vary based on the type of hardware, the type of hinge, and the type of door. 

Some door hinge companies will have door hinge information sheets. These will explain the weight capacity of your door in more depth. You may be able to alter the weight capacity by doing something simple, like reinforcing your door with more durable hardware. 

You may wonder, what is the difference between a heavy-duty hinge and a light-duty hinge? 

Difference Between Heavy Duty Hinge and Light Duty Hinge

Heavy-duty hinges will sometimes have ball-bearings between the knuckles of the hinge (the knuckles are the slots where the hinges rotate against each other, similar to knuckles on your fingers). These ball bearings make the door much smoother and less likely to develop a squeak. 

Light duty door hinges will have no ball bearings and are more likely to be constructed from aluminum than stainless steel. 

How Much Weight Can I Hang on a Cabinet Door? 

As you may have noticed in the chart above, many cabinet doors can withstand a weight of around 80 pounds. However, I must emphasize that this is highly variable based on the type of cabinet door, the hinge, the hardware, etc. 

With any cabinet door, follow the same guidelines we discussed above for assessing the amount of weight you place on the door frame. 

If you’re going to hang a rack on a door, just be careful. Test the door by applying some weight to the door before you hang your object. If you hear any creakiness or feel any wiggle, the door likely can’t withstand much weight.  

Things to Consider When Hanging Something on a Door 

There are all sorts of things we like to hang on our doors. Signs, wreaths, lights, mirrors, and much more! However, aside from the weight, you should consider several other things when hanging something on a door. 

Unlike inside doors, doors leading to the outside are there for more than just privacy – they protect from the elements, protect from intrusion, and make our homes look decorative. You don’t want to do anything that would disrupt one of these three things. 

Here are some things to consider when handing something on a door:

1. Will hanging something on the door create a crack or a gap?
2. Will it make the door susceptible to water?
3. Can a door begin to sag from too much weight? 
4. Is it a hollow core door? 

In the sections below, we answer these questions and give you some tips for hanging objects on your door. 

Will Hanging Something on the Door Create a Gap? 

You don’t want any gaps around the edges of your door. Gaps can create a lack of privacy. Nobody wants a big gap at the edge of the bathroom door! 

For this reason, it’s important to be careful about applying too much weight to your door. Doing so could cause sagging. And a sagging door creates a gap. 

Sometimes, you might use a hook that hangs on the top of the door. These hooks can work well; however, be sure your door has enough clearance for the hook. If the hook doesn’t have clearance, when you close the door, you’ll put stress on your hinges – leading to squeaks and gaps. 

Of course, gaps in a door leading outside will cause increased energy bills and expose your home to water. 

Will Hanging Something Make Your Door Susceptible to Water? 

We mentioned this in the last section. However, it’s important. While it might be tempting to hammer a big nail into your front door, proceed with caution. 

The nail could cause minor splitting in the door, leading to water sneaking inside your home, causing rot and mold. 

Tip: Instead of nailing into your doors, use a strong adhesive to attach hooks. Command strips work well, and they can be removed later without leaving holes! 

Can a Door Begin to Sag from Too Much Weight? 

Yes. If you don’t keep an eye on a door, applying too much weight could cause the door to sag at the hinges. Of course, this will depend on the door and the hinges. 

Tip: Weight applied closer to the hinge side is less likely to cause the door to sag. Why? The further the weight from the hinges the more strain it places on the door. 

Can I Hang Something on a Hollow Door? 

Yes, you can hang something on a hollow door. However, it’s not a great idea to nail into a hollow door. 

If you want to hang something on a hollow door, you have two main options. 

First, you can use an adhesive, like Command strips. An adhesive can be removed later without leaving any marks. 

Second, you could use a hook that hangs off the top of the door. This can be a good option if your door has enough clearance at the top. If you don’t have adequate room for the hook, then you’ll place a strain on the door when it is closed (or the door won’t close at all). 

Conclusion

The door, the hinges, and the hardware all work together to create a strong door. It’s important to follow principles and understand how your door works before hanging any weight on the door.