Universal-design wider doorways
HUD UD §3.2Description
Provide a clear opening of at least 32 inches at every interior doorway, and 36 inches at the entry, to accommodate wheelchairs and aging-in-place needs. Universal design recommends 36" interior throughout when possible.
Why this exists
Wider doors are one of the cheapest accessibility upgrades to specify during design — adding three inches to a doorway costs almost nothing during framing but is expensive to retrofit. HUD's universal-design guidelines push these as standard not just for accessible units.
Measurements
| Property | Operator | Value | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
minClearWidthInterior | min | 32 | in | Minimum interior doorway clear width. |
minClearWidthEntry | min | 36 | in | Minimum entry door clear width. |
recommendedClearWidth | min | 36 | in | Recommended clear width throughout. |
Categories
Source
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Backed by research
Universal-design recommendations: 32 inches minimum at every interior doorway, 36 inches at the entry, to accommodate wheelchairs and aging-in-place needs.
Development (2000), HUD / NAHB Research Center — Universal Design §3.2 — view source ↗
See the full research bibliography for context. Our licensing principle describes how we cite published research without using the underlying datasets.
Plan symbols this applies to
These plan symbols invoke this directive when placed on a floor plan. Click any to see where it's drawn and what other rules apply to it.
Related directives
- Universal design features encouraged for residential accessibility under Section R320.3 · Virginia USBC 2021 Amendment 33 (IRC R320.3)
- Covered multifamily dwellings: at least one building entrance on an accessible route · HUD FHA Design Manual Requirement 1 (Chapter One)
- Public and common use areas must be readily accessible to and usable by people with disabilities · HUD FHA Design Manual Requirement 2 (Chapter Two)
- All doors must provide a clear opening of at least 32 inches when open 90 degrees · HUD FHA Design Manual Requirement 3 (Chapter Three)
- Accessible route into and through the dwelling unit must be at least 36 inches wide · HUD FHA Design Manual Requirement 4 (Chapter Four)
Last reviewed 2026-05-09.