Types of door closers and how to choose one

This section and those after it, unless dated otherwise, were checked on 1 October 2026 against the sources listed on this page.

The types of door closers are surface mounted, concealed in the door, overhead concealed and concealed in the floor: the four types ANSI/BHMA A156.4, the American National Standard for door closers and pivots, sorts by where the closer is mounted. Electromagnetic and electromechanical closer-holders, which hold the door open until they release it, have their own standard, ANSI/BHMA A156.15.

One example of each, with the maker’s own limits:

Surface vs concealed vs floor closer: which one?

A surface closer gives the most mounting choices, because one body can take all three arms: Norton’s Tri-Style 1600 and 8501 and BEST’s HD8000 come with the parts for regular, top jamb and parallel mounting. A floor closer carries the door’s weight, which Rixson says reduces stress on the frame and eliminates sag; for existing installations Rixson supplies its floor closers without the cement case.

Unlike most surface closers, the 7900 and every single acting Rixson floor closer are handed, so the hand goes on the order (see the door handing chart). Replacements are on our floor closers page.

The size a door needs is read from the maker’s sizing table by door width, interior or exterior, and arm. Size is spring power, numbered 1 to 6 under ANSI/BHMA A156.4; Norton’s 8000 and 7500, Sargent’s 281 and BEST’s HD8000 adjust through all six on site. Setting the spring power and valves on site is covered in commercial door closer adjustment.

Norton’s tables for its 1600 storefront closer show what the number buys:

The same size closes a narrower door outside than inside, and a parallel arm can need a size more: in these tables a 38 in interior door takes size 3 on a regular arm but size 4 on a parallel arm. Norton and Sargent base their charts on 1-3/4 in thick, 7 ft standard weight doors swinging to 110 degrees; taller or heavier doors may need a larger size.

Weight is its own limit: 250 lb for Norton’s 8000 and Sargent’s 281, 180 lb for BEST’s HD8000. Norton Rixson estimates a door’s weight as its area times a weight per square foot: 6.5 lb for 1-3/4 in hollow metal, 7 lb for 1-3/4 in solid core wood, 3.5 lb for an aluminum and glass storefront door, 7 lb for 1/2 in tempered glass. Its own example: a 3 ft 6 in by 8 ft door of 1/2 in tempered glass is 196 lb.

Sargent notes the spring setting decides both the closing force and the force needed to open the door. Where the 2010 ADA Standards apply, section 404.2.9 limits that opening force on interior hinged doors to 5 pounds maximum to push or pull the door open. It sets no figure for exterior hinged doors and leaves fire doors to the minimum opening force the appropriate administrative authority allows. Norton, Sargent and BEST each warn that a closer set for low opening force may not close and latch the door reliably; Norton and Sargent name wind gusts and building stack pressure. The Norton 8501 we list covers sizes 1 to 6 on doors 28 to 48 in wide.

We supply listed hardware and confirm in writing the part number and options you have chosen. We are not code consultants; your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) makes the final call.

Not with a mechanical hold-open arm. Norton states that hold open arm door closers are not permitted on fire door assemblies, and Sargent’s UL listing covers its closers “for self-closing doors without hold-open feature”. For a fire door that has to stand open, makers offer closer-holders that close it when an alarm is signaled or the power fails.

• Listing. ANSI/BHMA A156.4 (2019, section 1.3) requires a closer on a labeled fire door assembly to be listed or labeled by a nationally recognized independent testing laboratory, with periodic in-plant follow-up. Norton lists its 8000 Series to UL 10C positive pressure for up to 3 hours; Sargent lists the 281 for use on fire rated doors.
• Floor closers. Rixson’s fire rated package, for assemblies up to 3 hours, is a non-hold open closer with steel top and intermediate pivots. Rixson says center hung floor closers are not for fire rated doors, and its low opening force closers not for labeled fire doors.
• Closer-holders. dormakaba’s 1800 Series, certified to ANSI/BHMA A156.15 and UL listed, holds the door open or lets it swing free, and closes it when the current is interrupted or an alarm is signaled; without power it works as a standard closer.
• Doors that are not fire rated. Sargent advises friction hold-open arms for moderate use and positive stop hold-open arms for doors held open repeatedly. The Norton 8501’s thumbturn hold open version, the CLP8501T, is for these doors only.

Nothing on this page is quoted from NFPA 80, the fire door standard. Closers listed for fire doors are on our fire rated closers page. What the rest of a fire door needs, part by part, is under fire rated door hardware in our when is panic hardware required guide.

We supply listed hardware and confirm in writing the part number and options you have chosen. We are not code consultants; your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) makes the final call.