Putting Up a Mezuzah: Mezuzah Placement, Blessing & Step-by-Step Guide
Quick answer: Proper mezuzah placement means affixing a kosher mezuzah scroll inside a protective case on the right side of the doorway as you enter, in the upper third of the doorpost, usually with the top angled inward according to Ashkenazi custom. Before attaching the mezuzah, the blessing is recited when the doorway requires one, and the mezuzah should be secured firmly to the doorpost.
Putting up a mezuzah is one of the most meaningful ways to bring Jewish life into the home. The mezuzah marks the doorway with Torah, reminds us of G-d’s presence, and turns an ordinary entrance into a place of mitzvah (מִצְוָה, commandment).
This guide explains how to put up a mezuzah, where to place it, what blessing to say, which side of the doorpost to use, how high the mezuzah should be, when to angle it, and why the kosher scroll inside matters just as much as the case on the outside.
Mezuzah Placement Basics: Where Does a Mezuzah Go?
A mezuzah belongs on the doorpost, not on the door itself. In most cases, it is placed on the right side of the doorway as you enter the room, in the upper third of the doorpost height, and close to the outer part of the entrance. The goal is for the mezuzah to be encountered as you enter the space.
For a front door, this is usually simple: stand outside the home, face the entrance, and place the mezuzah on the right side as you walk in. Interior doorways can be more complicated because two rooms may both be used regularly, and the direction of entry may not be obvious.
Good mezuzah placement starts with knowing whether the doorway actually needs one. Bedrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, offices, family rooms, basements, attics, and garages often require mezuzahs when the room and doorway meet the proper halachic requirements. Bathrooms do not receive a mezuzah, and some small or unusual spaces may be exempt.
Before installing mezuzahs throughout a home, a room-by-room review of which rooms need a mezuzah can prevent both missing an obligated doorway and placing a mezuzah where one does not belong.
Use a Kosher Mezuzah Scroll Before You Put Up the Case
The outside case is what people see on the doorway, but the heart of the mitzvah is the scroll inside. A mezuzah scroll contains the Shema (שְׁמַע) and Vehaya im shamoa (וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמֹעַ), two Torah passages handwritten on klaf (קְלָף, parchment) by a qualified sofer STaM (סוֹפֵר סת״ם, Jewish scribe).
A decorative case, empty case, printed insert, photocopy, or paper scroll does not fulfill the mitzvah. Before the case is affixed to the doorpost, it should contain a real kosher mezuzah scroll that fits safely inside without bending, crushing, or damaging the parchment.
If you already have a case, the scroll size matters. A properly sized piece of kosher klaf protects the parchment from being forced into a case that is too small and helps keep the mitzvah prepared respectfully.
Step-by-Step: How to Put Up a Mezuzah
- Confirm the doorway needs a mezuzah. Most regular living spaces require one, while bathrooms and some unusual spaces do not.
- Place the scroll inside the case. The kosher scroll should be protected inside the mezuzah case before it is attached to the doorpost.
- Choose the correct side of the doorway. In most cases, the mezuzah goes on the right side as you enter the room.
- Measure the height. The mezuzah is placed in the upper third of the doorpost, ideally near the lower edge of that upper third.
- Prepare the mounting method. Screws, nails, strong adhesive, or strong mounting tape may be used when they hold the mezuzah firmly and respectfully.
- Say the blessing when required. Say the bracha before attaching the mezuzah, then affix it immediately without talking in between.
- Secure the mezuzah firmly. The mezuzah should not swing, slide, or be easy to pull off accidentally.
The Mezuzah Blessing Before Affixing the Mezuzah
Before affixing a mezuzah to a doorway that requires a blessing, the traditional bracha (בְּרָכָה, blessing) is recited:
Transliteration:
Baruch Atah A-donai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu likboa mezuzah.
English translation:
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.
The blessing is said before the mezuzah is attached. Once the blessing is said, the mezuzah should be affixed right away without talking in between. If several mezuzahs are being put up at one time, one blessing can often cover all of them when they are affixed one after another without interruption.
For the Hebrew text, transliteration, English translation, and practical details, the mezuzah blessing article gives the bracha its own focused explanation.
Which Side of the Door Does the Mezuzah Go On?
In most cases, the mezuzah goes on the right side of the doorway as you enter the room. For the main entrance to a home, this means the right side when entering from outside.
Interior doorways can be more complicated. A doorway between a kitchen and dining room, hallway and living room, or two rooms that are both used regularly may raise questions about which direction counts as “entering.” In those cases, the flow of traffic, the use of each room, the direction the door opens, and the layout of the home can matter.
When the correct side is not obvious, the detailed doorway examples in which side of the door the mezuzah goes on can help you understand why some interior doorways need more thought.
How High Should a Mezuzah Be Placed?
The mezuzah should be placed in the upper third of the doorpost. A practical way to calculate this is to measure the height of the doorway, divide that number by three, and place the mezuzah at the lower edge of the top third.
For example, if the doorway is 84 inches tall, the top third begins at 56 inches from the floor. The mezuzah should be placed at or near that beginning point of the upper third, not all the way at the top of the doorway.
This detail matters. A mezuzah placed too low may not be valid. A mezuzah placed very high may raise other issues, especially when the doorway is unusually tall. The placement guide on how high the mezuzah should be goes deeper into the measurement and common doorway examples.
Should the Mezuzah Be Slanted or Straight?
Many Ashkenazi Jews place the mezuzah on a slant, with the top leaning inward toward the room. Many Sephardic Jews place the mezuzah vertically. Both practices come from halachic tradition and reflect different minhagim (מִנְהָגִים, customs).
The slanted Ashkenazi placement is often explained as a compromise between opinions about whether the mezuzah should be vertical or horizontal. Sephardic custom generally follows the vertical position. If your family has a minhag, follow your family or community practice. If you are not sure, ask a competent rabbi.
The background behind the diagonal position is explained more fully in our article on why the mezuzah is slanted.
Where on the Doorpost Should the Mezuzah Sit?
Beyond the side and height, the mezuzah should be placed on the actual doorpost, not on the door itself. It should also be placed toward the outside part of the doorway, within the outer tefach (טֶפַח, handbreadth) of the entrance when possible.
A tefach is commonly estimated at about three to four inches. This is why many guides describe the mezuzah as being placed within roughly the outer 3.2 inches of the doorpost width. The idea is that the mezuzah should be encountered as one enters the room, close to the outer edge of the doorway.
The halachic source for this placement appears in Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 289:2.
Can You Use Mounting Tape for a Mezuzah?
A mezuzah must be affixed securely. That means it should not swing, slide, or come off easily. Nails and screws are common, but strong adhesive or strong double-sided mounting tape can also be acceptable when it holds the case firmly to the doorpost.
Weak tape, loose Velcro, or anything temporary that allows the mezuzah to move freely is not a proper way to affix it. The Hebrew blessing uses the word likboa, meaning to affix or establish firmly, so the mounting method should feel permanent and secure.
The difference between secure adhesive and temporary attachment is important, which is why our article on mounting a mezuzah with tape focuses specifically on tape, Velcro, and practical installation concerns.
Putting Up a Mezuzah on an Outdoor Doorway
Outdoor mezuzahs need extra care because heat, rain, sun, humidity, and moisture can damage the scroll. A kosher scroll can become pasul (פָּסוּל, invalid) if the letters crack, fade, smear, or become damaged.
For an exterior doorway, choose a case that better protects the scroll and make sure the scroll fits safely inside. A front door, gate, porch entrance, or exposed side door may need a more durable case than an interior bedroom or hallway.
When weather is part of the doorway conditions, a properly sealed case from the outdoor mezuzahs collection can help protect the kosher scroll inside while keeping the doorway ready for daily Jewish use.
What About Archways and Unusual Doorways?
Archways, very tall doorways, extra-wide openings, sliding doors, pocket doors, and open room transitions can be more complicated than a standard rectangular doorway. The placement may depend on the shape of the opening, the height where the doorway becomes wide enough, the direction of entry, and whether the space is truly obligated in mezuzah.
If an archway or unusual doorway creates uncertainty, ask a competent rabbi before reciting a blessing. A curved entrance can change the way the top third is calculated, and the article on mezuzah placement on an archway gives a helpful introduction to that issue.
Can You Put Up Several Mezuzahs With One Blessing?
Yes. When several mezuzahs are being affixed at one time, one blessing can often cover all of them. The usual practice is to say the bracha before putting up the first mezuzah, then continue affixing the rest without unnecessary interruption or conversation.
This is one reason it helps to prepare everything in advance. Place the scrolls in their cases, decide the correct side and height for each doorway, prepare the tape or hardware, and then say the blessing when you are ready to begin.
Shulchan Aruch discusses one blessing covering multiple mezuzahs in Yoreh De’ah 289:1.
Can You Put a Mezuzah on a Business Door?
A place of business may also require a mezuzah, depending on the use, ownership, layout, and doorway details. Offices, stores, warehouses, and workspaces can raise practical questions, especially when the space is rented, shared, or used by both Jewish and non-Jewish employees.
In many cases, Jewish-owned or Jewish-used business spaces should have mezuzahs on obligated doorways. Because business situations can vary, unusual cases should be reviewed with a competent rabbi.
Choosing the Right Mezuzah Case for the Doorway
The case should fit the scroll, suit the doorway, and protect the parchment. A small interior room may only need a simple case, while a front entrance may call for something larger, stronger, or more weather-resistant. A formal entryway, office, child’s room, or kitchen may each call for a different style of mezuzah case.
Before choosing by style alone, make sure the case can hold the scroll size you plan to use. The scroll should never be squeezed, bent, crushed, or forced into the holder.
Putting Up a Mezuzah the Right Way
Putting up a mezuzah is not difficult, but the details matter. The doorway should require a mezuzah. The scroll should be kosher. The case should protect the klaf. The mezuzah should be placed on the correct side, at the correct height, and affixed securely.
When those details come together, the mezuzah becomes more than an object on the door. It becomes a daily sign of Torah, Jewish identity, and kedushah (קְדֻשָּׁה, holiness) in the home.
A case is only complete when the scroll inside is valid, so anyone setting up a Jewish doorway should understand what makes a mezuzah kosher before treating the installation as finished.
