How close can a switch can be to a door

17 years ago

I have always presumed that a switch can be as close as 1-1/2" away from a door (i.e., as measured from the edge of the switch plate to the door trim, which would be 2-1/4" from the door itself.)

Or calculated another way, using the nominal edge of the door as reference, there would typically be 1" extra width on each side of the door to get to the rough framing, and then 2 2x4's, for a total of 3", after which a switch box could be placed. A switch box is 2" total in width, where the switch itself would be 1" from the edge of the box. The edge of the plate would extend about 1/4" past the edge of the box.

So the switch would be located at 5" from the nominal door edge, with the edge of the plate at 3-3/4" away, and thus being 1-1/2" away from the edge of the trim, which would be at 2-1/4"

Does this sound accurate?

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Comments (3)

petey_racer
17 years ago
Well, you did all that calculating for nothing.

There is NO rule on this. The switch can be literally anywhere. In the room, outside the room. In the corner of the room. In another room.

The proximity to the door frame is a non-issue.
Ron Natalie
17 years ago
Petey is right no code on this kind of placement, but youre calculations aren't for nothing. You need to put the switch far enough away from the door opening so that a reasonable switchplate clears whatever is going to be used for the dour casing. On the other dimension, switches that are more than a forearms length from the door are usually awkward for someone entering the room (wouldn't put much more than a foot into the room).
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texasredhead
17 years ago
The switches that control the lights and fan in my study are located so that the switch plate is about 1-1/2" from the inside door casing. I have also found it useful to have the light switchs for closets on the wall outside the closets.