Home Improvement Ideas Doors Door Repairs & How-To How to Install Bypass Doors in Only Two Steps Give your closet a new look with a set of bypass doors. They can be installed in a snap! By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on June 18, 2018 Trending Videos Close this video player Project Overview Working Time: 2 hours Total Time: 2 hours Skill Level: Beginner A popular choice for closets, bypass doors need no room to swing open, but they allow access to only one side of a closet at a time. Hardware kits are available for openings of 4, 5, 6, and 8 feet. To accommodate a different opening width, simply cut a standard track with a hacksaw. The kits are designed to work with standard 1 ⅜-inch-thick interior doors. If you use thicker doors, they may interfere with each other as they slide. Thinner doors may have a wide gap between them. The combined width of the doors should equal the width of the opening plus at least 1 inch. This provides ½ inch of overlap between the two doors when they are closed. Some minor variations exist among bypass door kits from different manufacturers, but they are all easy to install. Check the manufacturer's directions carefully before you start. Expect to spend an hour or so installing a pair of doors and hardware. You'll need to finish the opening with wood jambs or drywall before you begin. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Drill/driver Level Tape measure Bypass door hardware kit Materials Doors Shims Instructions Install Track Consult the manufacturer's instructions to install the track. Its position depends on how you plan to trim the opening. Screw the track to the top of the door opening. Then check to make sure the track is level; shim if necessary.Project tip: When hanging bypass doors you have some options for finishing the opening. For utility applications simply hang the doors as is. For a more finished look, add trim to one or both sides of the header. Attach Hangers Attach the hangers to the tops of the doors. The hardware kit specifies the exact locations. Tip the doors to hook the hangers onto the track. After the doors are hanging, install the center guide on the floor to keep the doors in line.