Egress Door & Hallway Width Code — 32 Inches Clear, 36-Inch Halls
Every dwelling gets one door the code cares about most: the required egress door. It has a clear-width spec, a height spec, an operability spec — and the hallway leading to it has a width of its own.
Worth knowing
- Only one door must meet the spec — other exterior doors can be smaller, sliders, or Dutch doors, so long as the one designated door complies.
- The 32 in. is clear width, not slab width: a 32 in. slab yields roughly 29.5 in. clear and does not qualify.
- Garage-to-house doors are not eligible as the required egress door — the path must not pass through the garage.
- Smart locks are fine on the egress door as long as the inside lever opens without codes or apps.
Common questions
What does the code say about one required egress door for Egress Door & Hallways?
At least one side-hinged exterior door per dwelling providing direct access from the habitable portion to the exterior. (IRC R311.2)
What does the code say about clear width for Egress Door & Hallways?
32 in. minimum clear opening, measured between the face of the door and the stop with the door open 90° — a nominal 36 in. door in practice. (IRC R311.2)
What does the code say about clear height for Egress Door & Hallways?
78 in. minimum clear opening height. (IRC R311.2)
Adopted edition by state
Base-code year from BuildSpec’s adoption records. States often amend the base code, and your city or county may differ, so confirm with your building department.
Related sections and guides
This guide is BuildSpec’s own summary, not code text. It cites the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code as model standards. The IRC 2021 text itself is in the Code Library for signed-in members; BuildSpec publishes no NEC text, which is at nfpa.org.Neither is an adoption record: your state may be on a different edition with amendments — check your jurisdiction page or get an Address Report.