How to Kick Down a Door

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 21, 2024

Being able to kick down a door may not be a skill you use very often, but it could certainly come in handy in cases of fire or a medical emergency. Remember to always assess the situation as well as the door itself to determine whether the door should and can be kicked down. To kick down a door as safely as possible, you’ll need to examine the door’s materials, locate the weakest part of the door, use your forward momentum, and keep your foot flat when kicking.

Kicking Down A Door

Make sure the door is made of wood or another destructible material. Then, plant yourself and kick just above or below the door's lock. Or, aim just above the doorknob or deadbolt. Kicking the lock itself isn't effective and may result in injury.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Assessing the Door

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1
Examine the door and frame materials. If the door is made of metal or has a metal frame, you probably won’t be able to kick it down. If the door or frame are made of wood or a hollow-core material, you should be able to kick it down with minimal force.^{[1]
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- Exterior doors are usually made of solid-core material, such as chipped or shaved wood and laminate, and are harder to kick down.
- Interior doors are usually made from hollow-core material like hollow wood or fiberboard. These doors usually have no insulation or security, and require minimal force to break down.^{[2]
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- Solid wood doors are made of hardwood and require an average amount of force to kick in.
- Metal-clad doors are made from softwood with a thin metal covering and require an average to above average amount of force.
- Hollow metal doors are much heavier than other doors. They have a reinforcing channel around the edges and the lock mounting area, and some also have insulating material. They require maximum force; it may not be possible to kick these in.
2
Check the hinges to see which way the door swings. Unless the door is made of flimsy materials, kicking it down will likely only work if the door swings away from you.^{[3]
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Research source} Hinges are located on the side of the door that swings forward, so if you see hinges, you should avoid kicking down the door.
- Exterior doors for residential buildings, such as homes or apartment buildings, generally swing inward.
- Many commercial buildings, however, usually have exterior doors that open outward.
- If the door opens outward, try removing the door hinges. Keep in mind that many commercial door hinges have theft-proof hinge pins that do not allow them to be removed.
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First, look for where the lock is mounted. This is typically the weakest part of the door, so your kick should be aimed above or below this area. Other weak points include the frame and the latch.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Assuming the Correct Stance

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Give yourself enough space to extend your leg for a firm kick. A leg’s length should be a few feet, but try extending your leg to the door to see what feels most comfortable. You should be able to place your foot flat against the door while keeping your knee slightly bent.^{[5]
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This will give you maximum strength and impact. To prepare for the kick, place your dominant leg slightly closer to the door than your other foot.^{[6]
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Firmly planting your standing foot will give you stability and let you push your momentum toward the door as you kick. The steadier you hold yourself, the stronger and more accurate your kick will be.^{[7]
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4
Keep your center of mass slightly in front of your back leg. This way, your body will have some forward momentum toward the door. When you kick, it should feel somewhat like you are "falling into" your target.
- Don't lean away from the kick, but keep your body upright as much as possible to keep from actually falling forward.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Kicking the Door Down

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1
Aim for the area above or below the lock. You should never kick the lock itself--instead, kick the door itself just above or below the lock. Kicking the lock could break your foot.
- You can also aim just above the deadbolt or knob if you can’t locate a regular lock.
2
Kick with your foot completely flat. As it comes in contact with the door, your foot should remain flat and contact the door straight-on, horizontally (not upward). This will help you apply maximum force and protect you from potential injuries.^{[8]
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- The main area of contact should be your heel, not the ball of your foot or your toes.
Never straighten your leg all the way when doing this type of kick. Make sure your leg is still slightly bent when your foot hits the target. Straightening your leg all the way can cause serious damage to the knee.
If your first kick makes a dull thud noise, the door is likely made of reinforced material. If this is the case, kicking again will likely not work and may injure you. If you hear a splintering sound like kindling breaking, that means the frame is starting to break. Try a second or third kick if needed.^{[9]
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Community Q&A

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Question

How do I bust it down with one kick? And what should I do if I want it to be silent?

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Community Answer

To bust it with one kick, you must be very strong or the door has to be very weak. There is simply no other way. Also, there is absolutely no way you can make it silent.

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How do I kick a plastic door in?

Community Answer

Make sure you apply enough force to knock down that door. Make sure you're kicking it next to the knob of the door. But be careful, this can injure you badly. Raise one of your legs high enough to the knob, but make sure you're not too far or too close to the door. Apply all the force you've got into the kick. You might not do it right on the first try, it will take time and practice. Only do this in an emergency, not for fun.

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Question

I am stuck in the dining room with the living room door stuck. I can't get out. What can I do?

Community Answer

If you have tools available, you could try using a screwdriver to unscrew the hinges on the door (if they're on the dining-room side). If not, you could try using something to smash a large enough hole in the door to put your hand safely through and turn the knob from the living-room side, or use the advice in the article to kick it down.

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Warnings

Don't jump-kick. Jumping will make you lose stability and decrease the accuracy of your aim.

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Helpful 11 Not Helpful 1
Kicking down a door can cause a lot of damage, both to you and the door. Only attempt to kick down a door in an emergency situation.

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If you are not in good physical shape, don't use this method. It applies a great deal of force to the body, and should not be attempted by anyone with physical limitations.

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If you can’t kick the door down with three kicks, you should stop kicking and try to find another way in. You could also try knocking the door down with a hammer, sledge, or crowbar.

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There are only two possible scenarios in which it can be appropriate for an ordinary citizen to kick down someone's door: if their building is on fire or if they have an urgent medical emergency and cannot answer the door. Otherwise, never kick down a door with intentions of breaking into a building that you don't have permission to enter if you're not a police officer. Doing this is invasive, illegal, and may be dangerous. If the situation demands a physical confrontation (e.g. defense of others or property, or citizen's arrest) in those areas, then you must call the police instead.

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If you are dealing with a burning building, always have someone call emergency services before or while taking further action.

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