Vastu Shastra · वास्तु शास्त्र
Main door Vastu: direction, position on the wall and what to avoid
As per Vastu, the best direction for the main door is north, north-east or east. North-west, west and south are acceptable with some care, while the south-west and south-east are traditionally avoided. Where the door sits along the wall matters as much as the direction it faces.
Main entrance: the short answer
Best: North, North-east, East. Acceptable: North-west, West, South. Avoid: South-west, South-east. The main door brings energy in; north and east doors let in the morning light, and the south-west corner is kept closed and heavy.
The main door is often called the mouth of the home, where people, light and air come in. This guide covers the direction, the preferred part of the wall, the size and swing of the door, the nameplate, threshold and lighting, and what to keep out of the door’s line. If you rent and cannot move the door, the adjustments below are for you.
Which direction suits the main door
The direction of a door is the direction you face as you step out of the home. Stand on the threshold looking outwards and check a compass held flat, away from steel grills and electrical boards.
| Door faces | Traditional verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| North | Good | The Kubera zone of money and new opportunities |
| North-east | Good | Ishaan, the zone of clarity; keep it uncluttered |
| East | Good | Morning light and the Sun; growth and standing |
| North-west | Acceptable | The air zone of movement and visitors |
| West | Acceptable | Varuna’s zone; steady results with the right position on the wall |
| South | Acceptable | Workable when the door sits in the right part of the wall |
| South-west | Avoided | The heavy earth zone that is kept closed |
| South-east | Avoided | The fire zone of Agni |
Where on the wall the door should sit
Many Vastu schools divide the outer boundary into 32 parts, called padas, eight on each side, and some are preferred for an entrance. So the best spot depends on which wall the door is on, and the extreme corners are commonly avoided on every side.
The table gives the parts most consultants prefer. The guides for east, north, west and south-facing houses cover each case in more detail.
| Door on the | Part commonly preferred | Part commonly avoided |
|---|---|---|
| East wall | Just north of the centre (Jayant and Indra padas) | The south-east end |
| North wall | Around the centre (Mukhya, Bhallat and Soma padas) | The far north-west end |
| West wall | Around the centre (Sugriva, Pushpadanta and Varuna padas) | The south-west end |
| South wall | Just east of the centre (Vitatha and Grihakshat padas) | The south-west half of the wall |
Size, shutters and how the door opens
The main door is traditionally the largest and strongest door in the home, larger than any room door inside. Solid wood is the common choice, and two shutters are often preferred over one. A main door that opens inwards is said to welcome energy in, and many consultants add that it should swing clockwise as it opens.
The door should open fully without hitting furniture or a wall, and it should not creak or stick. Oil the hinges and replace a broken handle quickly.
Nameplate, threshold and lighting
A clear nameplate in wood or metal is commonly placed on the left side of the door as you face it from outside. A raised threshold (dehleez) in wood or stone marks the line between outside and inside; in a flat a slim marble strip does the same job.
The entrance should be well lit, with a warm light on in the evening. Many families add a toran of mango leaves, a rangoli or an auspicious symbol at the door, and keep the shoe rack to one side.
What to keep out of the door’s line
Vastu calls an obstruction in front of the door dvara vedha. These are the ones most often mentioned:
- A pillar, pole, tree or transformer directly in front of the door
- A staircase that starts or ends right in front of the door
- A toilet door visible as soon as you enter
- Another door of the home in a straight line, so you can see from the front door to the back door
- A mirror on the wall directly facing the main door from inside
- Dustbins, broken furniture, piled shoes or dead plants at the entrance
Check your own house. Score your home room by room against the traditional Vastu placements.
House Vastu CalculatorDo
- Keep the door, frame and hinges clean and in good repair
- Light the entrance well, especially after sunset
- Place a clear nameplate on the left side as you face the door
- Keep the area in front of the door open, swept and uncluttered
- Make sure the door opens fully and silently
- Keep the shoe rack to one side, not facing the door
Avoid
- Do not store junk or keep dustbins at the entrance
- Do not hang a mirror facing the main door from inside
- Do not let a fused bulb or broken bell stay that way
- Do not block the door with furniture that stops it opening fully
- Do not leave a creaking door or broken handle unrepaired
- Do not plan a new main door in the south-west or south-east if you are building
Adjustments without rebuilding
- For a south-west or south-east door, many consultants suggest a heavier, solid door and a bright, well-kept entrance
- A threshold strip of marble or brass across the doorway is commonly suggested to mark and strengthen the entrance
- Auspicious symbols, a toran of fresh leaves or a rangoli at the door are commonly suggested for any entrance
- Where something stands in front of the door, a plant or screen that breaks the straight line is often suggested
- If a toilet door faces the entrance, keeping it shut and adding a curtain is commonly advised
These are traditional practices that many families follow. They vary between Vastu schools; for your own home, a consultant can say which matter most.
Questions
Which direction is best for the main door as per Vastu?
North, north-east and east are the traditional first choices. North-west, west and south are acceptable when the door sits in the right part of the wall, and the south-west and south-east are traditionally avoided.
Is a south-facing main door bad?
Not by itself. A south door is acceptable in most traditions when it sits just east of the centre of the south wall. The south-west half of that wall is the part that is commonly avoided.
Should the main door open inwards or outwards?
Inwards is the common advice, and many consultants add that it should swing clockwise. It should also open fully without hitting anything.
How do I find the direction of my main door?
Stand on the threshold facing outwards, hold a compass or phone flat and away from metal, and read the direction you are facing. That is the direction of the door.
What can I do if my flat’s door is in an avoided direction?
Focus on what you control: a clean and well-lit entrance, a sturdy door in good repair, a threshold strip and a clear path in front of the door.
Related Vastu guides
- East facing house Vastu: Main door position on the east wall, a room by room layout and the common mistakes in east facing homes.
- North facing house Vastu: Kubera’s direction: where the door goes on the north wall, the room layout and what to avoid.
- South facing house Vastu: Why many south facing homes are fine, where the door goes on the south wall and how to place each room.
- West facing house Vastu: Why west facing homes are not bad, where the door goes on the west wall and how to lay out the rooms.
- Vastu remedies without demolition: Room use, colours, light, clutter, mirrors, plants, salt and yantras: traditional fixes, and when to rebuild.
Your personal best directions come from your Kua number. Check your whole home with the house Vastu calculator, see whether your house number suits you, and find your lucky number. More tools: all free calculators.
More about the service: Vastu consultation · all guides on Vastu Shastra · Spotted something to correct? Tell us