Door Handle Sizes & PZ Dimensions: The Specifier's Complete Guide

The PZ dimension on a door handle is the distance from the centre of the spindle hole to the centre of the euro profile cylinder hole.

The main  UK PZ is 92mm, though a number of centres from  62mm, through to 70mm and 85mm are also a requirement depending on the Lock.

Getting these two measurements correct is the single most important step in specifying door handles.

What are door handle dimensions and why do they matter?

Door handle dimensions are the set of measurements that determine whether a handle will fit correctly on a given door and lock combination.

For OEM manufacturers building door sets and distributors stocking replacement hardware, getting handle dimensions correct is not a detail — it is the specification.

An incorrectly dimensioned handle will not align with the lock, the spindle will not engage the mechanism, and the door will not function.

Think of door handle dimensions like the pin configuration on an electrical plug. The plug may look right, it may even be a premium product, but if the pin spacing does not match the socket, it simply will not work.

The same is true for door handles: two measurements — PZ and screw centres — must match the lock and door preparation exactly for the handle to fit and operate correctly.

This guide covers every dimension an OEM specifier or distributor buyer needs to understand, with standard UK values for each.

The five key door handle measurements

PZ dimension

The PZ dimension is measured from the centre of the spindle (follower) hole to the centre of the cylinder.. It is expressed in millimetres, so a 92 PZ handle has 92mm between these two centres.

Standard PZ measurements are typically 92mm, though, 62mm, 70mm and 85mm also occur.

For OEM manufacturers and distributors, 92mm PZ is the dominant standard and covers the vast majority of multi-point locking systems used on PVCu, composite, and modern timber entrance doors in the UK.

If the handle PZ does not match the lock, the cylinder will not align with the handle's cylinder hole, creating either a gap or an overlap that compromises both security and appearance.

For OEM door set builders, this means every handle specified must be cross-referenced against the multi-point lock's declared PZ before the door set leaves the factory.

Standard UK PZ values:

62mm/92mm    Offset lever/lever applications

Backset — distance from door edge to spindle

The backset is the distance between the centre of the lock follower (8mm square hole) and the edge of the door. It determines whether the lock body and the handle spindle hole align correctly once the handle is fitted.

Standard backsets in the UK are 45mm and 57mm for most residential applications.

Older doors or specific lock types might use different backsets, but these two measurements cover the vast majority of situations.

If a handle has the wrong backset, it will not align with the latch — the spindle will not engage properly and the handle will not operate the mechanism.

For OEM manufacturers, the backset is determined by the multi-point lock specified for the door — the handle must be sourced to match.

For distributors, stocking handles across the two primary backset sizes (35mm and 44mmmm) covers the overwhelming majority of replacement requirements in the UK market.

Screw centres — fixing hole spacing

The screw centres measurement is the distance between the centres of the screw fixing holes on the backplate.

This is the second most important measurement after PZ, as it determines whether the handle fixing screws align with the existing holes in the door or lock case.

Common screw centre sizes include 122mm, 165mm, 211mm, and more. For OEM door set manufacturers, the screw centres are pre-drilled during production and must match the handle specification.

For distributors, the most important stocking consideration is 122mm screw centres, and 211mm for our Balmoral range which is the predominant measurement for 92 PZ handles on modern uPVC and composite doors

If the top fixing screw is below the lever, the handle likely follows standardised measurements — usually 92mm PZ with 122mm screw centres.

Backplate length and width — coverage and aesthetics

The backplate length is the overall measurement of the handle plate from top to bottom.

The backplate width is its horizontal measurement.

These dimensions become critical in two scenarios: when specifying handles for new door sets where the backplate must cover the full prepared area, and when sourcing replacement handles where the new backplate must be at least as large as the original to cover existing fixings and marks.

If the PZ and screw centres match the existing handle, it will fit correctly — the backplate length and width are secondary measurements, primarily needed when the new handle must cover blemishes left by the previous fitting.

For OEM manufacturers, backplate dimensions should be specified to match the door leaf preparation and aesthetic requirement of the door set.

Spindle — the connecting drive bar

The spindle is the square-section steel bar that passes through the door, connecting the external and internal handle.

It engages with the lock follower — the square hole in the lock mechanism — and transmits the rotational movement of the lever to the latch or gearbox.

ERA handles are supplied with spindles sized to suit door thicknesses from 40mm to 70mm, as standard, depending on the type of handle you use from ERA.

Complete measurement reference table

Handle types and their dimension implications

Lever-lever handles

A lever-lever configuration has a lever handle on both the inside and outside of the door.

Both levers share the same spindle and operate the latch simultaneously. This is the standard configuration for most residential and commercial entrance doors using multi-point locking systems.

Both sides of the door carry matching levers, meaning both handle sets must be dimensionally identical.

Lever-pad handles

A lever-pad configuration has a lever on the inside and a fixed pad (non-operating handle) on the outside.

The outside pad does not operate the latch — entry is by key only. This is common on front entrance doors where enhanced access control is required, as it prevents anyone outside from operating the latch without a key.

Lever-pad arrangements are often used as a security feature to prevent access to a property without a key.

For lever-pad handles, the PZ measurement differs between the lever side (typically 92mm) and the pad side (typically 62mm), as the pad does not have a spindle operating the lock from outside.

Inline vs offset handles

Standard handles have the spindle and cylinder holes in a vertical inline arrangement.

Certain lock systems use an offset configuration where the cylinder is not directly above the spindle — in these cases the PZ dimension remains the same but the physical position of the cylinder hole differs.

Always verify handle compatibility against the specific lock system when specifying for non-standard configurations.

How door handle dimensions vary by door type

uPVC entrance doors

uPVC doors almost universally use multi-point locking systems, making PZ 92mm the standard specification. 92mm PZ fixing centres fit the vast majority of uPVC doors.

Backsets of 35mm and 44mm are most common on uPVC multi-point locks.

Composite entrance doors

Composite doors also predominantly use multi-point locking systems and follow the same 92mm PZ convention.

Handle specifications for composite doors should be verified against the specific lock system used, as some composite door manufacturers use proprietary lock configurations with different backset or screw centre requirements.

Timber entrance doors

Timber entrance doors may use either a mortice lock and sashlock with a separate handle, or a multi-point locking system.

For mortice sashlock applications, the handle centres dimension — the vertical distance between the spindle and the keyhole on the lock — must match the Locks Centres – this may be a Euro Profile Keyway (PZ) or could be a standard keyway suitable for a Lever Lock.

ERA's traditional mortice lock range have different lock centres depending on the model,for example the Euro Profile Sashlock is 47.6mm (48mm) where as the Lever Lock has a centre distance  of 57mm, which must be matched by the handle specification.

Aluminium doors

Aluminium entrance doors typically use multi-point locks suited to narrower stile profiles.

ERA supplies a dedicated aluminium door handle range through our website, with dimensions suited to aluminium system profiles.

Specifying door handles for OEM door sets: a practical checklist

For OEM manufacturers building door sets, the following checklist ensures correct handle specification before production:

1. Confirm the multi-point lock PZ — this dictates the handle PZ required.
2. Confirm the lock backset
3. Confirm the lock's screw centre fixing positions — these must match the handle.
4. Confirm the door thickness — this determines the correct spindle & screws length.
5. Confirm whether the application requires lever-lever or lever-pad configuration.
6. Confirm the finish requirement — ensure handle finish is consistent with other ironmongery on the door set.
7. Cross-reference against the ERA product specification for the selected handle to verify all dimensions before ordering.

Our door handle range

ERA's entrance door handle range covers the full spectrum of OEM and distributor requirements.

Named ranges within the Fab&Fix collection — including Balmoral, Windsor, Kensington, Blenheim, Farnham, Heritage, Architectural, Berwick and Forged — cover a range of styles, finishes and technical configurations for uPVC, composite and timber entrance door applications.

All handles in our range are specified with full dimensional data including PZ distances, backset, screw centres, backplate dimensions and spindle length — enabling OEM specifiers and distributor buyers to confirm compatibility before ordering.

ERA Everywhere trade account holders can access the full range online, with Quick Shop reordering and account management available at any time.

Apply for a trade account today. You can have an account in under 60 seconds. Find out more here.