How Much Weight Can A Door Frame Hold? (Find Out Now!)

We’ve all seen that hilarious video of the kid trying to do a pull-up on a door frame. They may have used a curtain rod, the door frame itself, or an actual pull-up bar. Regardless they still ate the floor in the end, so how much weight can a door frame hold?

Depending on its construction, the average door frame, including the trim, can easily hold between 250 and 300 pounds. A door frame in a residential home can usually hold between 45 and 100 pounds. An exterior door, in contrast, can typically hold between 200 and 400 pounds.

Keep in mind, the weight placed on the bar while working out will be greater than your normal body weight. This is because of the physical activity you’re performing on the bar.

Using a door frame to do pull-ups is a popular option for people that spend a lot of time on the road. Other people who use this method may not have enough room for an in-home gym. Or they simply may not have enough time to go to one.

At first sight, a door frame pull-up bar looks like a disaster waiting to happen. After all, how secure could a pull-up bar be on top of a 1-inch-thick door frame?

Pull-up bars are more secure than most people would think. Despite the thin area to mount the pull-up bar, the door frame that secures it can handle a good amount of weight.

If the door frame is properly installed, it can be pretty hard to pull a door frame from the wall.

A poorly constructed door frame will not be able to support a pull-up bar fully. The door frame may break under the pressure of using the pull-up bar.

When using a pull-up bar, the weight you’re putting on the bar becomes distributed on the door frame. If the door frame is damaged or not adequately secured to the wall, you could end up on the floor.

Watch out for pieces of trim that are glued to the wall instead of nailed. These can cause problems with how much weight the door frame can handle. Glued-on frames will become detached much more easily than frames secured to the wall with nails.

Be cautious of older-style homes and their trims. Older houses may have trim that has become slightly separated from the wall. If there is any separation between the trim and the wall, setting up a pull-up bar is not recommended.

When in doubt if a door frame can handle the weight, it might be better not to use it at all.

Your pull-up bar shouldn’t damage your door frame if you’re using it properly. Pulling yourself up and down on the bar will not cause issues. However, swinging around on them like a monkey could cause damage to the door frame.

A swinging motion going back and forth can cause your trim to come out of place. Or worse, it can cause your pull-up bar to shift on the frame.

Swinging on a pull-up bar can put you on the floor with the pull-up bar still in your hands. Therefore, it’s best to only use a pull-up bar for its intended purpose.

To replace a basic door frame it will cost between $50 to $70. Depending on the type of door frame you are replacing, the cost can vary greatly. A steel door frame costs anywhere from $100 to $130 to replace.

The average cost to replace an interior door frame is $170. The cost to replace an exterior door frame is roughly $255. These are only averages, and prices will depend on the specific door frame you need to replace.

If your door needs a paint job, check out this article on painting interior doors to find out how.

Related Questions

Can I put a pull-up bar on any door?

Technically the answer is yes; you can put a pull-up bar anywhere you want to. However, you might not want to place a pull-up bar just anywhere.Installing a pull-up bar will prevent a door from closing. So, think carefully before placing it on just any doorway. You may want to install it in a doorway that can remain open.Let’s say you don’t have a doorway that can remain open in your home. In this case, you might choose a pull-up bar that you can remove after each use. Putting a little thought into the placement of your pull-up bar could save you from having to reinstall it later.

Can I do pull-ups on a door?

People traditionally do pull-ups using a pull-up bar in a door frame or using gym equipment. However, if you must be innovative or don’t have a pull-up bar, some people use the actual door. They leave the door in an open position and pull up as they hold on to the top of the door.However, be aware that this could potentially cause your door to get out of alignment. A lot depends on the quality of the hinges and constriction, so use your good judgment. When going to the gym isn’t an option, you can always find other ways to keep yourself physically fit.