If you are installing a new football, then you are going to be faced with the task of choosing where to position it. There is no set height that a doorbell should be; however, there are some general guidelines you can follow to ensure your doorbell is easily visible and reachable for the vast majority of your guests.
Here we take a closer look at the standard doorbell height and recommendations for doorbell placement.
Standard Doorbell Height
When considering the height of your doorbell, you need to remember why you are installing it in the first place. Your doorbell is there to be used by visitors to alert you that they have arrived or that a parcel is being delivered. It is in your interest to make sure that a doorbell is clearly visible and easy to reach so that guests at your front door will make use of it.
If you make your doorbell difficult to reach or camouflage it against some door trim in the same color, then you are likely to miss the arrival of visitors or have post returned to sender. With this in mind, a doorbell needs to be positioned at a height that is going to be accessible for the vast majority of people.
Around 4 feet from the floor is the recommended height for a regular doorbell because this will ensure that a variety of people of different heights can reach it.
Older children you are coming to visit your children will be able to reach the doorbell without adult assistance, and adults of varying heights won’t need to bend down to use the doorbell.
The doorbell will also still be high enough that small children won’t be able to press it for fun. A height of 4 feet from the floor will be suitable for most people to comfortably use, and they won’t have to extend their arm too far upwards to press it.
Doorbell Camera Height
Doorbell cameras have exploded in popularity over the last few years, and it is now commonplace to see a residential front door equipped with a doorbell camera.
These are doorbells that are usually linked to smartphones, so the homeowner’s phone will alert them when their doorbell has been pressed, even if they aren’t home. The camera feed will then be displayed on the smartphone so the homeowner can see who is at their front door.
In some instances, a speaker can be used so that the smartphone user can communicate with the person ringing the bell. For example, to tell them where to leave a parcel.
Doorbell cameras are also a great way to deter thieves and potential intruders since they know their identity and activity will be getting recorded or potentially even watched in live time on the smartphone.
A doorbell camera also allows you to clearly see who is at the front door before you open it and even hear what they are talking about. With this in mind, it is not hard to see why doorbell cameras have become so mainstream.
The price of doorbell cameras has also dropped significantly, so they are now more widely available to the general public rather than being reserved for the most wealthy households as they once were.
If you are installing a doorbell camera, the height of it is going to be extremely important because this is no longer simply a decision regarding visibility and reachability, but it is also going to define what your doorbell camera can see.
The recommended height for a doorbell camera to be installed is the average chest height of an adult, which falls between 4 feet from the floor and 5 feet from the floor.
High-quality doorbell cameras will typically have a good range of vision so that they can see several feet in all directions from where they are installed, so at this height, you should be able to comfortably see the entire upper body and face of a visitor at your door, even if they are tall.
If the person is a small adult or an older child, you should still be able to see their faces on camera with a doorbell installed between 4 and 5 feet from the floor level.
Some types of doorbell cameras will have an extended range of view that will allow you to see right down to the ground level; in that case, you will be able to see any small children at your door, or you can keep an eye on a parcel if a delivery person has left it on your doorstep.
Doorbell Position
When installing a doorbell, you will also need to decide whereabouts to install it with regards to the door and the frame. Many people recommend that a doorbell should be installed on the right-hand side of a door as you look at it because the majority of people are right-handed, and therefore this feels like the most natural positioning.
However, the way that your door opens can also affect where the doorbell should be positioned. Ideally, you want your doorbell fixed on the same side of the door as the door handle and on the opposite side of the door to the door hinges. Therefore, if your door handle is on the left side of the door, the doorbell should also be on the left side of the door.
If there is space on your door frame, you can install a doorbell directly onto it. However, ensure there is no part of the doorbell overhanging the frame as this will look shabby. Instead, you could also have your doorbell installed to the side of the doorframe on the siding or brickwork of the house.
Stick to a classic color for the doorbell, such as white, black, or silver, but be sure to choose a color that is different from the background the doorbell is installed on so that it stands out and won’t be accidentally missed by visitors.
