Two bookcase doors provide a wider entrance, but both cabinets occupy part of the opening. Use the diagrams and calculator below to estimate the actual clear passage—not merely the finished or rough-opening width.
Do not use these deductions for Single, BiFold, Alpha, mirror, or other hidden-door configurations. Confirm the resulting passage works for people, furniture, accessibility, egress, and applicable building-code requirements before ordering. Smaller out-swing Double Doors with deeper bookcases can have very limited clearance.
The chart letters describe depth, adjacent wall space, and resulting passage. Select the matching configuration only after reviewing the diagrams.
Shallow Double Bookcase Door configuration.
Middle Double Bookcase Door configuration.
Deep Double Bookcase Door configuration.
Clear adjacent wall space beside the finished opening.
The usable clear opening after both doors are open.
Both bookcases push into the concealed room. The published pass-through deduction remains the same for A, B, and C, but the adjacent-wall requirement D increases with bookcase depth.
Both bookcases pull into the visible room. Deeper configurations occupy progressively more of the doorway, which is why 48-inch-wide doors require special attention.
Enter the finished Double Door width—not the rough-opening width—then select the exact swing and depth configuration identified above.
Enter inches as a whole number or decimal.
The finished width is 2 inches less than the corresponding rough-opening width.
D is the minimum clear adjacent wall space beside the finished opening.
Approximately 34-1/4 inches
Planning estimate only. Custom details can alter actual operating clearances. Confirm critical dimensions before production.
Every calculation begins with the finished overall Double Door width.
One pass-through deduction; D changes by depth.
| Configuration | Subtract for E | Minimum D |
|---|---|---|
| A · 8-1/4″ | 13-3/4″ | 1-1/2″ |
| B · 10-1/4″ | 13-3/4″ | 3-1/2″ |
| C · 12-1/4″ | 13-3/4″ | 5-1/2″ |
| Double-Sided | 13-3/4″ | 6″ |
Deeper bookcases require a larger deduction.
| Configuration | Subtract for E | Minimum D |
|---|---|---|
| A · 8-1/4″ | 21″ | 1-1/2″ |
| B · 10-1/4″ | 25″ | 1-1/2″ |
| C · 12-1/4″ | 28″ | 1-1/2″ |
Protrusion is the distance the rear of the bookcase extends into the room behind the wall when closed. Subtract the wall depth from the overall bookcase depth.
Example: 8-1/4″ overall depth − 4-1/2″ wall depth = 3-3/4″ protrusion.
No. Hide-A-Way Doors rough openings are generally 2 inches wider and 2 inches taller than the finished door size. Use the finished door width—not the rough-opening width—in these formulas.
Both bookcase cabinets and their pivot geometry occupy the doorway when open. The combined deduction is therefore larger than it is for a Single Bookcase Door.
The published formulas leave only about 23 inches for B and 20 inches for C at a 48-inch finished width. Those narrow passages may not suit the intended use.
No. This page and its calculator apply only to Double Bookcase Doors. Other door types use different geometry and clearance rules.
No. Overall depth includes the 3/4-inch face frame, bookcase backing, and 1/4-inch rear trim. Subtract those components to estimate usable shelf depth.
The purchaser, builder, and installer must verify the final passage, swing path, accessibility, egress, and compliance with all applicable building requirements.
Send us the finished opening, planned wall depth, desired bookcase depth, swing direction, and minimum passage you need. Our specialists can help identify the information you should review.
The purchaser, builder, and installer remain responsible for all dimensions, clearances, accessibility, egress, code compliance, and jobsite suitability.
