How to Replace a Broken Door Handle in Australia

A broken handle always feels urgent, whether it is a bathroom door the kids can't open or a front door that won't latch. Replacing one is one of the easiest jobs in the house. The catch is that most people order the wrong part first and wait for a second delivery. This guide, from our locksmith team, shows you what to measure and buy so you get it right the first time.

What to measure before you buy

Three measurements decide whether a replacement fits. Take them before you shop.

1. The backset

The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the centre of the latch, the bolt that pokes out of the door edge. Australian doors use one of two standards:

• 60mm, the most common in homes built after the 1980s
• 70mm, common in older homes and some commercial doors

Get this wrong and the latch will not reach the striker, so the door will not close. It is the single most common ordering mistake.

2. The face hole diameter

This is the hole through the face of the door where the spindle passes. Most modern Australian homes have a smaller hole, roughly 25mm to 35mm. Homes built from about the 1970s to the early 2000s, and some commercial doors, often have a larger 54mm hole. With a 54mm hole you need a handle on a backplate or a large rose, or the hole will show around the edge. A quick check: about the size of a 50 cent coin means 54mm.

3. The door thickness

Most internal doors are 35mm thick and most external doors 40mm to 45mm. Standard handles suit these. Check more carefully if you have a solid heritage door, a fire door or a cavity slider.

Passage, privacy or entrance?

The function decides whether the door locks and how. Replace like with like unless you want to change how the door works.

A broken bathroom handle almost always needs a privacy set. For the full breakdown, read passage vs privacy vs entrance kits explained.

Choosing your replacement handle

Match the finish. Check the other handles in the room. A brushed nickel lever among matt black ones stands out. If the existing hardware is worn, replacing every handle in the room at once gives a cleaner result.

Backplate or round rose. With a 54mm hole, choose a backplate or wide rose so the hole is covered.

Buy a complete kit. For internal doors, a kit includes the lever pair, latch, faceplate, striker, spindle and fixings, all pre-matched in one box.

How to fit it, step by step

You will need: a Phillips head screwdriver, a flathead screwdriver, an Allen key (often supplied) and a tape measure.

1. Remove the old handle. Undo the screws on the inside handle. If none are visible, look for a small slot under the rose, insert a flathead screwdriver or pin to release the cover, and undo the fixings beneath.
2. Remove the latch. Undo the two screws on the faceplate at the door edge and slide the latch out.
3. Fit the new latch. Slide it in with the angled face of the bolt towards the striker, the way the door closes. Screw the faceplate in. If it is a slightly different size, ease the recess with a chisel.
4. Fit the handles. Pass the spindle through the latch, fit a handle on each side and tighten the fixings. Tighten any grub screws under the levers last.
5. Test before closing. Turn the handle several times and check the latch moves freely. Close the door gently. If the latch misses the striker, loosen the striker screws, shift it slightly and retighten.

When to call a locksmith

• The door is stuck shut. Forcing it can damage the frame. A locksmith can open it without damage.
• It is a front door entrance set. Fitting and keying a cylinder is more involved than a lever swap.
• You have a mortice lock. Common in older homes, the mechanism sits inside the door and needs the right replacement part.
• You are still not sure. Don't guess. A wrong order costs time and money.

Our locksmiths fit hardware across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula, and give advice by email anywhere in Australia. Book a locksmith or email a photo.

Replacement handle checklist

Common questions