The short answer
Passage handles latch but don’t lock: closets, halls and laundry. Privacy handles lock from inside with an emergency release outside: bathrooms and bedrooms. Dummy handles are fixed pulls with no latch: bifolds, closet pairs and doors held by a catch. Pick one finish for the building and change only the function room to room.
The three functions
| Function | What it does | Typical rooms |
|---|---|---|
| Passage | Turns to unlatch. No lock. | Closets, hallways, laundry, kitchens |
| Privacy | Push-button or turn lock inside, emergency release outside | Bathrooms, bedrooms |
| Dummy | A fixed handle with no latch | Bifolds, double closet doors, doors held by a ball catch |
Room by room in a rental suite
| Opening | Function | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | Privacy | Auto-release privacy unlocks when the inside lever is turned, so nobody is locked out of a bathroom by accident |
| Bedroom | Privacy or passage | Owner’s choice. Privacy is common in shared rentals |
| Reach-in closet, swing door | Passage | |
| Bifold or closet pair | Dummy | One on each leaf, or a single pull |
| Linen and coat closets | Passage | |
| Laundry or mechanical | Passage | Privacy if the owner wants it lockable |
| Pocket door | Pocket passage or privacy | A lever would block the pocket. See pocket doors |
| Suite entry | Not covered here | Entry doors take keyed, often fire-rated hardware, ordered separately |
Ordering
- One finish. Choose one finish for the building, such as satin nickel or matte black, and only the function changes.
- Levers in accessible suites. Knobs need a grip; levers work with a closed fist. See lever vs knob handles.
- Backset. Our latches are 60 or 70 mm (2-3/8″ or 2-3/4″). Prehung doors are bored to match.
- On the schedule. Put the function on each line of the door schedule, and the finish once at the top.
See every lever, knob and pocket lock on our hardware page.
Sources
Code requirements change and local rules vary. Confirm sizes and clearances with your designer and building department before ordering. We supply doors, trim and hardware; we’re not a code consultant.
