Last updated: April 13, 2026

Door Header Size Calculator

Based on 3 sources
100 people find this calculator helpful

Table of contents

How to properly size door frame headers

The fetched OmniCalculator page treats door headers as simply supported beams, but then gives a quick field rule for standard openings: multiply the lumber depth in inches by 12 to get the maximum rough opening in inches.

L = d x 12

Door header size chart from Omni

The fetched chart maps rough openings to nominal sizes: 48 in to 4 x 4, 72 in to 4 x 6, 96 in to 4 x 8, 120 in to 4 x 10, and 144 in to 4 x 12.

Recommended size workflow

Omni's FAQ example takes a 50-inch rough opening, divides by 12, then rounds up to the next even header depth, giving a 4 x 6 recommendation. This rebuild supports both directions: choosing a header from the opening or checking the maximum span from a selected header.

in
50
in
4.17
ft
4" x 6"

Did we solve your problem today?