Door Knobs or Levers?

[HLAuburn]

I am replacing all my (ugly!) door knobs, and I'm debating between knobs and levers. I really like the look of levers, but I've had a couple people tell me they've had issues with levers not "catching" properly on doors they use a lot. I know my mom's mater bedroom door won't even catch right unless you push it closed really hard, but I'm not sure it's because it's a lever necessarily.

Anyone have any experience/advice before I order a bunch of new ones?!

Thanks!

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I like levers personally, then you can open something with your elbow when your hands are full. I've had more problems with nobs, personally....problem-wise i'd say it's probably equal.

 

[Buckalew11]

I've had both and when we built I went with knobs except for the door from my garage into the mudroom.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I also like the levers so I can open with my elbow. I am always carrying something.

 

[denisem]

I prefer levers, as mentioned, in order to open doors when your hands are full. Have never had an issue with them not latching easily.

However, we had to change out many of our interior levers to knobs when our cat learned how to jump up and open doors. So beware if you have a smart pet! We changed them back to levers after she passed away. (RIP, Millie!)

 

[thedonduck]

I prefer levers, HOWEVER I'm so glad in our current home that we have knobs because of the ages of our kids. Child locks are MUCH cheaper for knobs then they are for levers! Silly reason, but I'm glad to save money where I can. When we build in the coming years though, we will use levers!

 

[HLAuburn]

Thank you all for the replies~!

I prefer levers, HOWEVER I'm so glad in our current home that we have knobs because of the ages of our kids. Child locks are MUCH cheaper for knobs then they are for levers! Silly reason, but I'm glad to save money where I can. When we build in the coming years though, we will use levers!

Good point. Fortunately (or unfortunately!), mine are old enough to open knobs or levers, so maybe levers might be the way to go.

The levers I like are twice as expensive as the knobs, so maybe I'm trying to talk myself out of them, but they're soooo pretty!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I prefer knobs - can't say if I even know why.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I prefer knobs because it's easier to hang something on a door knob than a lever.

 

[North of Mouse]

We have levers and have never had problems with them not closing properly.
Also, as other posters have said, I like the freedom of opening them with my elbow when my hands are full/dirty. They're the only kind we will ever have now.

 

[StephMK]

We have levers and I like them for the reasons mentioned. I've never had a problem with a lever not working other than our bedroom. In the winter, it doesn't catch but I think that's a humidity, alignment issue than the lever because it works fine the other half of the year. Since they both latch the same in the frame, I wouldn't see why levers would create more issues.

 

[scrapquitler]

I prefer levers, as mentioned, in order to open doors when your hands are full. Have never had an issue with them not latching easily.

However, we had to change out many of our interior levers to knobs when our cat learned how to jump up and open doors. So beware if you have a smart pet! We changed them back to levers after she passed away. (RIP, Millie!)

We have all levers in our house, they are much easier. I will agree about the cats! One of our cats learned how to open the doors with the levers. Toddlers can also open them easily....

 

[NotUrsula]

If you don't want toddlers or cats opening levers, take them off and remount the handle in reverse, so that you have to LIFT the lever to open the door. Problem solved.

As to the catching issue, it can happen if people develop a habit of leaning their full weight on the lever as they open it. This will tend to pull the door a bit out of plumb, and the strike plate will get out of line with it. If you install all your interior doorways with adjustable strike plates, adjusting to fix that problem takes less than 5 minutes.

 

[brittsmum1998]

We have levers and I love them. I have RA and the levers are so much easier.

 

[tvguy]

I hate levers. Newer buildings have them to meet ADA requirements, those requirements say the handles have to require less strength to operate them, and as we all recall from our physics classes, that means they have to be turned more to operate them. That extra movement seems to hurt my wrists. Never tried opening a lever with my elbow, maybe that's the solution to my issue with them

 

[Piper]

I have had levers for the last 4 years with no problems. I will say that from an old person's point of view--levers are much easier to open than knobs!

Downside--my dog can also open them (and she is little-9 lbs.)

 

[mhsjax]

I hate levers. Newer buildings have them to meet ADA requirements, those requirements say the handles have to require less strength to operate them, and as we all recall from our physics classes, that means they have to be turned more to operate them. That extra movement seems to hurt my wrists. Never tried opening a lever with my elbow, maybe that's the solution to my issue with them

Never took physics, but this makes no sense. I grew up with knobs and I now have levers. I can promise you, it take less movement to open a door with a lever than it does a knob. Lever, one or two fingers pushed downward, a knob, total twist of the hand and wrist.

 

[NotUrsula]

I DID take physics, and it still makes no sense. A lever is a type of fulcrum design, and thus multiplies the force that you apply to the long end of the handle in order to rotate the barrel to move the latch. A knob does not multiply the force as efficiently as a fulcrum does.

 

[piglet too]

My husband works for a company that owns a lot of doors and door hardware manufactures. Levers are nice for all the reasons other posters have mentioned. As for doors with levers not closing properly, that has to do with the lock itself, not the type of handle.

 

[design_mom]

I DID take physics, and it still makes no sense. A lever is a type of fulcrum design, and thus multiplies the force that you apply to the long end of the handle in order to rotate the barrel to move the latch. A knob does not multiply the force as efficiently as a fulcrum does.

That's what I was thinking, too. The longer the lever, the less effort it should require, right?

We built our house 10 years ago when my son was 2 and we didn't have a daughter yet. We specifically picked out the knobs because we didn't want a toddler to be able to open the basement door and fall down the stairs, etc. However, a mistake was made and the builder installed lever handles. They offered to re-order, but it would have delayed our closing date, so we chose to keep the levers.

Lever door handles are more difficult to child-proof (or dog proof -- we can't shut the dog in the basement... she'll just open the door and let herself out.) However, now that the kids are old enough not to require child-proofing, I *love* the lever door handles!

I've never had trouble with my doors closing or staying closed. (Although we did in my old house -- but those were knobs.) ETA: My mother-in-law who has severe arthritis in her hands really likes our lever door handles, too. She is thinking of replacing the handles in her home.