work ▁( or ▁with ▁some ▁master ▁car pent ers ), ▁the ▁manufact ure ▁or ▁installer ▁will ▁be vel ▁the ▁leading ▁edge ▁( the ▁first ▁edge ▁to ▁meet ▁the ▁j amb ▁as ▁the ▁door ▁is ▁closing ) ▁so ▁that ▁the ▁door ▁fits ▁tight ▁without ▁binding . ▁Spec ifying ▁an ▁incorrect ▁hand ▁or ▁swing ▁will ▁cause ▁the ▁door ▁to ▁bind , ▁not ▁close ▁properly ▁or ▁leak ▁( for ▁exterior ▁doors ). ▁Fix ing ▁this ▁specification ▁error ▁will ▁be ▁expensive ▁or ▁time - consum ing . ▁In ▁North ▁America , ▁many ▁doors ▁now ▁come ▁with ▁factory - installed ▁h ing es , ▁pre - hung ▁on ▁the ▁j amb ▁and ▁s ills . ▁ ▁While ▁facing ▁the ▁door ▁from ▁the ▁outside ▁or ▁less ▁secure ▁side , ▁if ▁the ▁h inge ▁is ▁on ▁the ▁right ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁door , ▁the ▁door ▁is ▁" right ▁handed "; ▁or ▁if ▁the ▁h inge ▁is ▁on ▁the ▁left , ▁it ▁is ▁" left ▁handed ". ▁If ▁the ▁door ▁sw ings ▁toward ▁you , ▁it ▁is ▁" reverse ▁swing "; ▁or ▁if ▁the ▁door ▁sw ings ▁away ▁from ▁you , ▁it ▁is ▁" Normal ▁swing ". ▁ ▁In ▁other ▁words , ▁In ▁the ▁United ▁States : ▁ ▁Left ▁hand ▁h inge ▁( L HH ): ▁Stand ing ▁outside ▁( or ▁on ▁the ▁less ▁secure ▁side , ▁or ▁on ▁the ▁public ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁door ), ▁the ▁h ing es ▁are ▁on ▁the ▁left ▁and ▁the ▁door ▁opens ▁in ▁( away ▁from ▁you ). ▁ ▁Right ▁hand ▁h inge ▁( R