Lever Handles

Aged Brass Brompton Lever on Rose Set, from our current range.

What is a lever handle?

A lever handle is a door handle operated by pressing down or pulling a horizontal lever, rather than gripping and turning a round knob. It connects through the door to a spindle, which retracts a sprung latch, or operates a lock, allowing the door to open. Lever handles are the most widely fitted type of door furniture in the UK, used on everything from internal doors to front doors and fire doors.

Lever handles are generally sold as a pair, and are fitted in one of two ways: lever on rose, where each handle sits on its own small circular back plate, and lever on backplate, where the handle sits on a longer plate that also covers the keyhole or cylinder. Rose fittings tend to suit contemporary and minimalist doors, while backplates are more traditional and are still specified on many period properties.

The mechanism inside a lever handle matters as much as its appearance. Handles are either sprung, returning to a level resting position after use, or unsprung, which will droop over time unless fitted with a good quality tension spring. Cheaper unsprung handles are one of the most common causes of a handle looking untidy within a year or two of fitting.

Where lever handles are used

• Internal doors – the standard choice for bedroom, bathroom and reception room doors, usually paired with a latch or, for bathrooms, a privacy lock
• Front and back doors – paired with a sashlock or multi-point locking system, and often specified in a higher security grade
• Fire doors – lever handles used on certified fire door sets need to be tested as part of that door set, and are usually fitted on rose rather than backplate
• Commercial and rental properties – lever handles are the standard specification for schools, offices, care homes and rented housing, generally in a durable satin stainless steel or powder-coated finish

Choosing the right lever handle

A few practical points are worth checking before you buy:

• Spindle size – most UK doors use an 8mm spindle, but it is worth checking, particularly on older doors or imported ironmongery
• Sprung vs unsprung – a good quality sprung mechanism keeps the handle level and is worth paying for on a door used frequently
• Rose or backplate – backplates suit period doors and also cover any existing screw holes from a previous handle, which is useful when replacing like for like
• Finish – see our Hardware Finishes Guide for how to choose between brass, black, pewter and other finishes
• Fire door certification – if the handle is going on a fire door, check it is sold or certified as part of a fire door hardware set

Related products

Browse our current range of Lever Handles, or see the related categories in our Door Furniture Guide, including Escutcheons, Pulls & Thumbturns and Latches & Turns.

Frequently asked questions

What size spindle do lever handles use?

Most UK lever handles use an 8mm square spindle as standard. If you are replacing an existing handle, it is worth checking the old spindle size before ordering, especially on older or non-standard doors.

Do I need different handles for a fire door?

Yes, in most cases. Fire door hardware needs to be tested as part of a certified door set, so a fire door should use lever handles supplied or approved for that purpose, generally fitted on rose. See our Door Furniture Guide for more on fire door hardware.

What's the difference between lever on rose and lever on backplate?

Lever on rose handles sit on a small circular plate and generally suit contemporary doors. Lever on backplate handles sit on a longer plate that also covers the keyhole or cylinder, giving a more traditional look and covering existing screw holes when replacing an older handle.

Why has my lever handle started to droop?

This is usually a sign the handle is unsprung, or that its internal spring has weakened. Upgrading to a good quality sprung handle is the most reliable fix.

Can I fit lever handles myself?

Most lever handles can be fitted with basic tools if you are replacing a like-for-like handle on an existing spindle and latch. If you are changing the backplate size or the lock itself, it is worth taking care with alignment, or asking a joiner to fit it.

Back to the Door Furniture Guide, or explore the full Knowledge Centre.