The dog door rough opening is the hole you cut for the pet door frame, and it is larger than the flap your dog walks through. On Hale Pet Doors it runs 2 to 2 1/8 inches larger than the passage in each direction: a Large door with an 11" x 16" passage needs a 13" x 18" rough opening.
Passage opening vs rough opening vs outside frame
Pet door listings use three measurements. Mixing them up is the most common way to cut the wrong size hole.
Passage opening
The flap area your dog walks through, chosen from your pet's shoulder height and chest width. Hale's sizing guide calls it "the entry way your dog goes through." It is the smallest of the three.
Rough opening (rough cut out)
The hole you cut: "the size of the hole needed to fit your pet door into your wall," per the sizing guide. The frame and weather-stripping need room, so it is about 2 inches bigger than the passage.
Outside frame (tip to tip)
The outer edge of the installed frame. On Hale's standard sizes it is roughly an inch larger than the rough opening each way, so the flange covers the cut edge by about half an inch per side. An oversized or crooked cut can show past the frame.
Dog door rough opening sizes for all 11 Hale sizes
From Hale's pet door sizing guide, width x height. The Door Model and Wall Model manuals list the same rough openings for the sizes they cover.
| Size | Passage opening | Rough opening | Outside frame (tip to tip) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Medium | 6 1/2" x 9 1/2" | 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" | 9 9/16" x 12 9/16" |
| Tall Small Medium | 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" | 8 1/2" x 14 1/2" | 9 9/16" x 15 3/8" |
| Medium | 8 1/2" x 12 1/2" | 10 1/2" x 14 1/2" | 11 9/16" x 15 3/8" |
| Tall Medium | 8 1/2" x 16" | 10 1/2" x 18" | 11 9/16" x 19 1/16" |
| Large | 11" x 16" | 13" x 18" | 14 1/16" x 19 1/16" |
| Tall Large | 11" x 19 1/2" | 13" x 21 5/8" | 14 1/16" x 22 9/16" |
| Tall Large Plus | 11" x 23 1/2" | 13" x 25 5/8" | 14 1/16" x 26 9/16" |
| Extra Tall Large | 11" x 27 1/2" | 13" x 29 5/8" | 14 1/16" x 30 9/16" |
| Extra Large | 14" x 19 1/2" | 16" x 21 5/8" | 17 1/16" x 22 9/16" |
| Extra Large Plus | 14" x 23 1/2" | 16" x 25 5/8" | 17 1/16" x 26 9/16" |
| Giant | 15 1/2" x 27 1/2" | 17 5/8" x 29 5/8" | 18 9/16" x 30 9/16" |
Custom sizes are the exception. The Door Model manual says to use the rough opening dimensions you supplied when ordering. For a custom Wall Model, the opening "may be determined by measuring the tunnel." Either way, measure twice and confirm custom sizes with Hale before you cut.
Pick the size before you cut
Settle the pet door size first: flap top an inch or two above your pet's shoulders, width at their widest point plus an inch or two. The manuals add that the top of the passage opening should sit above the shoulder of your largest pet: "If in doubt, larger is better." Still choosing a model? Start with Hale dog doors.
Where to put the rough opening in a door
For a door install, Hale's Door Model is self-framing, so you cut the rough opening straight through the door and the two frame halves sleeve together through it. Placement rules from the Door Model installation manual:
- Stay at least 4 inches from the bottom and the side. The manual says the rough opening should be "no less than four inches from both the bottom and the side of the door" to keep the door's construction sound. It notes this can vary with the size and type of door.
- Leave room above for the security cover. The standard cover loads from the top, so check that nothing above the pet door will block it. Side-loading covers are available if something is in the way. The cover closes off the opening; it is not a substitute for locking your house.
- Raised panel doors need care. Center the pet door on the door or on a panel. On a true (solid wood) raised panel door, the manual warns that centering on the door means cutting the vertical support, which "will structurally weaken the door."
- Check the door thickness. The Door Model fits doors 1 1/4" to 2" thick. Thinner doors (1/2" to 1 3/8") get a build-out if a factory cut-down was not ordered. The spec sheet says a dimension over 2" would normally call for a wall unit.
Two more checks before you cut a door: confirm the door is not fire-rated (doors between an attached garage and the house can fall under fire-separation rules; see our guide to installing a dog door in a metal door), and check your door maker's warranty, since cutting a door may affect it.
Where to put the rough opening in a wall
The Wall Model is also self-framing: an aluminum tunnel attached to the inside frame spans the wall, and you cut it to the wall's depth. Placement rules from the Wall Model installation manual:
- Aim between studs. The manual says to place the pet door between studs and center it if possible. It notes studs in an exterior wall should be 16" on center, "giving you 14" of room between studs." Every size up to Extra Tall Large has a 13" or narrower rough opening. Extra Large, Extra Large Plus (16" wide) and Giant (17 5/8" wide) are wider than a 14" stud bay, so talk to Hale or an installer before you cut.
- Look for wiring and plumbing. Check both sides of the wall for outlets, switches and fixtures. The manual reminds you that upstairs bathrooms may have plumbing in the walls below, and warns that hitting a power line or pipe with power tools "can result in severe injury or death."
- Cut a test hole first. Open a small hole near the center of the marked pattern, shine a flashlight in, and feel for obstructions. A small hole is much easier to patch than a full cutout.
- Check wall thickness. The Wall Model is "built for walls up to 10 inches thick." Tunnels come in 10" and 16" lengths, and longer ones can be custom ordered. Contact Hale for walls over 10 inches.
- Mind the step-over. Hale's standard rise (the lip your pet steps over) is 2 inches. For a short-legged or older dog, the sizing guide suggests mounting lower.
How to mark and cut a dog door cutout
Condensed from Hale's manuals. Read the full manual for your model on the installation manuals page first.
Tools: tape measure, level, pencil, masking tape, drill (7/8" paddle or 5/16" bit), a saw for your material, eye protection and gloves. Walls may also need a stud finder and drywall saw.
- Mark the opening. Draw the rough opening with a level and pencil. Masking tape lets you check size and placement before drilling.
- Square and level on both sides. For a wall, drill straight reference holes through each corner from the inside, then mark the outside from them.
- Drill starter holes in two diagonal corners (or all four) so a saw blade fits.
- Cut along the lines, even on both faces. Stay inside the marks; you can trim a tight opening but not add material back.
- Test fit before drilling screw holes. Do not frame the opening; for walls it is neither needed "nor is it advisable."
Blade and bit notes by material
- Hollow core: circular saw with a diamond blade; a reciprocating saw can shake the skin loose from the core.
- Wood: reciprocating saw, not a circular saw.
- Fiberglass: reciprocating or diamond-blade circular saw, plus a good dust mask.
- Steel skin: diamond blade, then a fine reciprocating blade (18 teeth per inch minimum).
- Stucco, brick and block: 5/16" masonry bit for reference holes; diamond blade for stucco. Cutting masonry creates respirable crystalline silica dust, according to OSHA, so protect your lungs.
Common rough opening mistakes
- Cutting to the passage or outside frame size. The frame will not fit, or the flange will not cover the hole.
- Out of square or level. The manual says a square, level opening "will help ensure that the pet door operates correctly."
- Skipping the 4-inch door margin or the wall test hole.
- Copying an old door's opening. Rough openings can differ between brands.
Special cases
Glass: Hale's In-Glass model requires professional installation, so there is no DIY rough opening to cut.
Not sure about your door or wall? Hale's manuals say: "To reach an experienced installer for free consultation, please call 1-800-646-4773." Or find a local installer through Hale's installer locator.
Frequently asked questions
How big of a hole do I cut for a dog door?
Cut the rough opening listed for your exact pet door size and model, not the flap size. For Hale's standard sizes the rough opening is 2 to 2 1/8 inches larger than the passage in each direction. For example, a Large door with an 11" x 16" passage needs a 13" x 18" hole.
Is the rough opening the same as the dog door size?
No. The door size usually means the passage opening your pet walks through. The rough opening is the larger hole you cut for the frame, and the outside frame is larger again. Hale's sizing guide lists all three for each of its 11 standard sizes.
How far from the bottom of the door should a dog door be?
Hale's Door Model manual says the rough opening should be no less than four inches from both the bottom and the side of the door, to keep the door's construction sound. It notes this can vary with the size and type of door, so check before going lower.
Can a dog door go between wall studs?
Usually, yes. Hale's Wall Model manual says studs 16 inches on center leave about 14 inches between them. Rough openings up to Extra Tall Large are 13 inches wide or less. Extra Large, Extra Large Plus and Giant are wider than that, so call Hale or an installer before cutting.
Do I need to frame the rough opening?
No. Hale's Door Model and Wall Model are self-framing. The Door Model manual says there is no need to frame out the inside of the door, and the Wall Model manual says framing the wall cutout is neither needed nor advisable.
Sources
- OSHA: Silica, Crystalline
- Hale Pet Door: Door and Wall Model installation manuals (linked above), sizing guide and spec sheets
