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Backset and Latch Faceplates, Explained

Updated October 11, 2026

Backset is one measurement

Hook the tape on the door edge and read to the center of the bore hole. US homes use 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 in. Measure twice, top and middle of the hole, and photograph the tape seated on the edge. A reading between standards means an adjustable latch, not a guess.

Faceplates must match the cut

• Round corner: the common retrofit plate.
• Square corner: older and commercial doors.
• Drive-in: no plate at all; the latch presses straight into the bore.

Match the plate before the backset. The wrong plate means chiseling a finished door, and chiseling voids the clean look if not the warranty.

Strike and handing ride along

While the door is open, measure the strike plate end to end and the door-to-frame gap, and record hinge side plus swing direction from outside. One photo set covers the latch, strike, and handing orders in a single store trip.