Interior Door Header Size

For header spans see tables r502 5 1 and r502 5 2.

Interior door header size. If you are creating an opening no wider than 4 feet for a door or smaller window then you need a 2 by 6 header. Between 4 and 5 feet the header should be built 2 inches wide and 8 inches long while a larger opening needs a header that is 2 by 12. Measure the width of your door frame.

If the opening will be 5 to 6 feet wide such as for double doors then you will need two 2 by 10 headers. While a door width of 36 inches is oversized for an interior door it s the standard size for front doors. The clever way i used to build headers.

Most door frames that are 4 feet wide or less require a 2 by 6 header. Framing an interior door header starts with the width of the door typically 32 inches although this can vary. So if you re on the top floor you can use 2 2x4 s unless the building is 36 wide in which case you ll need 2 2x6 s.

If you are putting in an opening between 4 and 5 feet wide then you ll need two 2 by 8 headers. If you have a floor above you ll need 2 2x6 s unless the building is 36 wide in which case you ll need 2 2x8 s. When in doubt use 2 by 12 inch headers.

Header size required to support the roof ceiling and one center bearing floor of a 28 ft. Add about 3 inches all. Entry doors are usually 36 inches wide.