How to Hang a Mezuzah: Step-by-Step Guide

Moving in? In a Jewish home, the mezuzah is one of the first things to go up. If you've ever stood in a doorway holding one and wondering which way it goes, here's everything you need.

What You'll Need

• A mezuzah case: the decorative part everyone sees. Many are sold empty.
• A kosher scroll (klaf): the handwritten parchment inside. This is what actually makes it a mezuzah. Curious what it says? Read what's on a mezuzah scroll.
• Something to mount it with: small nails or screws, or strong double-sided mounting tape if you're renting.

Kosher Mezuzah Parchment Scroll (Klaf)

How to Hang a Mezuzah, Step by Step

1. Prepare the scroll. Roll it from the end of the text toward the beginning, with the writing inside and the word Shaddai facing out, and slip it into the case. (Our mezuzah scroll guide walks through it.)
2. Pick the doorpost. Stand outside the room or home, facing in. The mezuzah goes on the doorpost to your right.
3. Find the height. Measure the doorpost and mark the bottom of the top third. On a standard door that's around shoulder height.
4. Position it near the outer edge of the doorpost, the side closest to the street or hallway.
5. Angle it, or don't. In Ashkenazi tradition the top tilts inward toward the room you're entering. Many Sephardi Jews hang it vertically. Both are correct, so follow your family's custom. (Here's why the mezuzah is slanted.)
6. Say the blessing (below), then attach the case securely at the top and bottom.

The Blessing for Hanging a Mezuzah

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ לִקְבֹּעַ מְזוּזָה

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu likbo'a mezuzah.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.

Hanging several at once? Say the blessing once, before the first one, and then hang the rest without talking in between. The blessing is only said over a kosher scroll.

Which Doorways Need a Mezuzah?

Traditionally, every doorway into a room people live in gets a mezuzah: the front door, bedrooms, the kitchen, the living room. Most families start with the front door and add the rest over time.

Generally exempt:

• Bathrooms
• Very small rooms and closets (under about 6 by 6 feet)
• Openings without two doorposts and a top frame

Garages, sliding doors and other in-between spaces can go either way depending on how they're used, so ask a rabbi if you're not sure.

Renting? Hang a Mezuzah Without Nails

You don't need to drill into your landlord's doorframe. Outdoor-rated double-sided mounting tape or removable adhesive strips hold a light case securely and come off cleanly when you move out. Pick a smaller, lighter case and press firmly for 30 seconds.

Caring for Your Mezuzah

• Get it checked. Jewish law calls for having the scrolls in your home checked by a scribe twice every seven years, since ink can crack or fade.
• Protect outdoor scrolls. Choose a case that keeps rain out for exterior doors.
• Retire old scrolls respectfully. A worn-out scroll contains God's name, so don't throw it away. Bring it to a synagogue for its genizah.

Mezuzah Cases to Start With

Once the scroll is sorted, the fun part is the case. Our mezuzah cases come from independent Jewish artists in glass, ceramic, wood and metal, and a mezuzah makes one of the best housewarming gifts there is.

Songbird Mezuzah by Emily Rosenfeld Small Ceramic Mezuzah Case by Yahalomis - (Choice of Colors) Engraved Rose Quartz Mezuzah Case Fill-Your-Own Wedding Shards Mezuzah - Silver

New to all this? Start with What Is a Mezuzah?

Mezuzah FAQ

Which side of the door does a mezuzah go on?

The right-hand side as you walk into the home or room, on the doorpost itself.

How high should a mezuzah be hung?

At the bottom of the top third of the doorpost. On a standard door that's around shoulder height.

Why is the mezuzah hung on a slant?

Medieval rabbis disagreed about whether it should hang vertically or horizontally, so Ashkenazi Jews compromise with a slant, top tilted toward the room. Many Sephardi Jews hang it straight up.

What blessing do you say when hanging a mezuzah?

Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu likbo'a mezuzah. If you're hanging several mezuzot at once, one blessing covers them all.

Which doors need a mezuzah?

Traditionally, every doorway to a room people live in, not just the front door. Bathrooms, very small closets and openings without a doorframe are generally exempt. For tricky doorways like a garage, ask a rabbi.

Does a mezuzah need a kosher scroll?

Yes. The handwritten scroll (klaf) inside is what makes it a mezuzah. Many cases are sold empty, so buy the scroll separately.

Can renters hang a mezuzah without nails?

Yes. Strong double-sided mounting tape or removable adhesive strips hold a light case securely and come off cleanly when you move out.