The 10 Best Interior Door Handles
Special Honors
Benson White Porcelain Made to imitate a vintage style that was popular from the 1880s to the 1940s, the Benson White Porcelain is an excellent addition to classically-styled homes and features a porcelain knob that's easy to clean and looks especially appropriate in bathrooms and kitchens. It is made in the USA and built to function for years without incident. The backplate is forged brass and sports exposed screws. rejuvenation.com
Viccha Victorian Plate Chateau Ornate and elegant, this offering from Nostalgic Warehouse is available in seven finishes and is hand assembled in the United States. Channeling Old World charm, it boasts distinct curvilinear embellishment and a sparkling crystal door knob that's mounted on a solid forged brass base for durability. nostalgichardware.com
Bachelet Egg Consisting of a smooth, unadorned round-shaped knob and a circular rosette with braided rope detailing the perimeter, the Wellington Egg is crafted in the Classic style from solid brass and includes all the necessary operating parts and fastening hardware. signaturehardware.com
Editor's Notes
December 02, 2020:
The Emtek Select has the craftsmanship that makes it worthy of a spot on this list. Yet, without sufficient feedback, we cannot justify placing it in the number one position. Thus, we pushed it back to bring more deserving picks to the forefront.
The Decor Living Athena Collection is an attractive crystal knob that catches the light from every angle. Yet, frequent turning causes it to loosen and eventually fall off. Needless to say, we removed it from the list.
Unfortunately, Honeywell halted production on the 8104303 Straight Passage door handle. There is no sign the company plans to re-release the model, so we replaced it with the Honeywell 8106303, which provides the same durability. Instead of a straight lever, it boasts a charming wavy design. Plus, it comes in a variety of finishes. We also added the Berlin Modisch privacy lever with a push-button lock for added security.
August 30, 2019:
Choosing the right interior door handle depends largely on your tastes and needs, which is why we included options that come in privacy, dummy, passage, and keyed entry variants, as well as ones sold in contractor packs for those looking to outfit the doors in their home or office building with matching fixtures. We favored lever-style handles but also wanted to include a few knobs for those who like the aesthetic and want to avoid getting anything caught on them. Knobs are also harder for pets to overcome.
While none of the privacy selections on this list (AmazonBasics Wave, Probrico Wholesale, Schlage Accent, etc) can boast the security level that exterior door handles enjoy, they are nonetheless high quality and provide a level of protection that is appropriate for a bedroom, bathroom, private sitting room, or area where unsolicited entry would not be welcome. Rather than come with keys, they lock via thumbturns or buttons and can be unlocked from the outside in the case of an emergency with a flat item such as a coin or a long implement like a bobby pin.
For closets, cabinets, and doors that only require a push or pull, the charming Kwikset Lido Half-Dummy is ideal, while a modern household would benefit from something like the Avalon 0530. The Emtek brand is known for its impressive quality, stylish designs, and durability, which is why we chose the Emtek Select for our number one spot. The Kwikset Pismo is a style that's loved by designers and has a reasonable price tag, while the Decor Living Athena Collection is great for retrofitting older homes.