How to Measure — Steel Doors & Windows
Measure your opening. We'll build to it.
Every BlackFramed door and window is built to the dimensions you submit. Take your time, measure carefully, and send us the numbers — you'll review and sign off on detailed Shop Drawings before anything goes into fabrication.
Before You Submit
Why we recommend a professional measurement.
Because we fabricate to your submitted dimensions without an on-site visit of our own, the measurements you send us are the foundation of your project. If you have a contractor, architect, or installer, we strongly recommend they take or verify your final numbers before you submit your order.
Before any piece goes into production, we prepare Shop Drawings — detailed fabrication drawings showing every dimension, configuration, and detail of your order — and you'll need to review and sign off on them. That sign-off is your final opportunity to catch any measurement issue before fabrication begins, so review your Shop Drawings carefully, ideally with your contractor or architect.
Before You Measure
What you'll need.
- A steel tape measure
- A pen & paper, or your phone's notes app
- A second pair of hands for large openings
Use a steel tape, not fabric.
Fabric and vinyl tapes stretch and sag over long spans, which throws off your numbers on tall doors and wide openings. A rigid steel tape stays accurate — it's the single easiest way to get a reading you can trust.
The Measurements
Measure your rough opening.
A precise, two-step method for ordering steel doors. Take your measurements before drywall, trim, or flooring is finished — and always at three points.
Measure the Width
Inside jamb to inside jamb. Confirm the opening is plumb and level before recording the value.
- A
Measure inside jamb to inside jamb — never down the middle of the opening.
- B
Take the width at three points: top, middle, and bottom. Record the largest value.
- C
Confirm the opening is level and plumb using a 24″ spirit level on each jamb.
Measure the Height
Subfloor to underside of the header. Skip any threshold or finished flooring that hasn't been installed yet.
- A
Measure from the subfloor to the underside of the header — not from finished flooring.
- B
Skip the threshold. If one is in place, measure beneath it to the structural deck.
- C
Take the height at the left, center, and right of the opening. Record the largest value.
Common Mistakes
Four things to avoid.
None of these will ruin your quote — you'll confirm every dimension on your Shop Drawings before fabrication — but avoiding them gets you a more accurate first number.
Measuring only once
Openings shift over time and settle out of square. Always measure at three points, not one.
Forgetting trim or finish
Note whether your numbers include trim, drywall, or stucco — it changes the true rough opening.
Measuring to the finished floor
Measure height from the subfloor and skip the threshold — finish flooring added later throws the number off.
Rounding up "to be safe"
Give us your real numbers, even if they seem oddly specific. You'll confirm everything on your Shop Drawings before we build.
After You Submit
What happens next.
Your first estimate is never the number we build to. Here's how it moves from your measurements to a finished opening.
You send us your numbers
Through our quote form, by photo, or however's easiest.
We prepare a quote
Based on your measurements and chosen configuration.
We prepare Shop Drawings
Detailed fabrication drawings reflecting your exact dimensions and configuration.
You review & sign off
Your final checkpoint before production — the numbers on that document are exactly what we build to.
We fabricate
To the signed-off Shop Drawings.
Frequently Asked
Measuring, answered.
No. Your measurements help us prepare an accurate quote — and before we fabricate, you'll review and sign off on Shop Drawings that reflect your exact dimensions. That sign-off is the checkpoint that catches any issue.
Send us clear photos of the opening with a tape measure in frame and our team can help you interpret the numbers. For final dimensions, we recommend having a contractor, architect, or installer take or verify them.
Shop Drawings are detailed fabrication drawings showing the exact dimensions and configuration of your order. Yes — your sign-off is required before we begin production, since those drawings become the exact specification we build to.
Since we fabricate exactly to your signed-off Shop Drawings, this is exactly why that sign-off step exists — it's your (or your contractor's) chance to catch a measurement issue before production begins. We strongly recommend reviewing Shop Drawings with a professional if you have any doubt.
Rough opening is the raw framed opening before trim or finish; finished opening is what you see day to day. Let us know which one you're measuring — either works, as long as you tell us.
Yes. Rough dimensions are enough to start — we'll refine everything with you as the project moves forward.
Ready to get started?
Send us your numbers.
Even rough ones — we'll take it from there, prepare your quote, and verify every dimension before anything is built.