Types of door handles

Help & Advice > Product Guides > Door furniture

Door handles can often add the final finishing touch to your home, so it’s important to pick the perfect one.  We’ve outlined the different types of door handles available to help you decide which is best.

From doorknobs and handles to cabinet pulls and thumb turns, at DOOR SUPERSTORE, we’ve got you covered.

Table of contents

• Lever on backplate handles
• Lever on rose handles
• D Pull handles
• Flush pull handles
• Doorknobs
• Thumb turns
• Cabinet cup handles
• Cabinet pull handles
• Cabinet knobs
• Understanding the different types of door handles

Lever on backplate handles

Lever on backplate handles are handles that are supplied with a backplate. They are a traditional style handle and can be supplied just as a lever with backplate, with a lever and a lock, or with just a thumb turn, most commonly used for bathrooms. In addition, the backplate provides an opportunity to choose from a range of styles, from the classic shape to a square, curved or even fleur-de-lys styled backplates for more traditional buildings.

Lever on rose handles

Lever on rose door handles are levers that are supplied with a square or circular rose, surrounding the point at which the handle connects to the door. Therefore, the fixings are hidden from view to add a smooth finish to the door. They are much smaller than backplates, and do not come with locks, but if needed locks can be fixed separately and covered with escutcheons to create a smooth finish.

The lever on rose handles come in a range of styles and finishes to suit your door, from simple stainless steel levers to polished chrome and two-tone finishes, and from linear handles to winged, curved and square.

D Pull handles

D pull handles are a great solution to doors that do not require latches and open inwards.  Fitted externally onto the door, they come in a wide range of styles and are often chosen for their simplicity and ease of use. Choose from curved D handles, straight edge handles and T handles which have extensions at each end to create a more linear appeal.

Flush pull handles

Installers often fit flush handles on sliding doors. They fit them into the door itself to create a flush finish. This is so that the doors can slide into the cavity without obstruction. They come in a range of styles and sizes, from small finger pulls to rectangles, squares and circular designs.

Doorknobs

Door knobs have been around for hundreds of years, and are typically spherical shaped. You can use them to open latches by turning. You can even pair them with locks for added security.

They come in a range of styles and designs, such as antique cast iron door knobs for use in traditional and period buildings, to decorative and more contemporary stainless steel and polished chrome doorknobs. As well as traditional doorknobs, you can also purchase centre doorknobs, which are more for decorative purposes, adding a feature to your front door.

Thumb turns

Many homeowners opt for thumb turns in bathrooms. The thumb turn moves the bolt into and out of the lock, making them easy to operate. People often choose thumb turns for privacy rather than security because it is easy to open them from the outside in case of emergency. This is done using a coin turn.

Cabinet cup handles

Cup handles are the perfect choice for drawers, kitchen cabinets, and more because of their ease of grip, particularly on heavier furniture. In addition, they come in a classic curved semi-circle shape, while also being available in a range of colours and finishes to suit your home or piece of furniture.

Cabinet pull handles

Cabinet pull handles come in a range of sizes, shapes and designs to add the finishing touches to your furniture. Pull handles for cabinets can be minimalistic, in curved or linear designs, whilst more traditional pull handles include classic D handles and cast iron handles.

Cabinet knobs

Did you know you can even fit door knobs on cupboard doors? Alternatively, cabinet knobs can update a room and add finishing touches to furniture. They come in a range of styles, shapes and colours to suit your home, from contemporary square knobs to traditional brass and wooden circular knobs.

Understanding the different types of door handles

Understanding the different types of door handles involves recognising their functionality and aesthetic appeal.

Key considerations include:

• Type of door (interior or exterior)
• Desired level of security and privacy
• Overall style of the space

Additionally, materials and finishes vary, offering options to match the decor and durability requirements of the door.