Lever on Rose or Backplate: Which One Fits Your Door

Updated 2026-11-08 · RAYEN 雷茵

Every lever in our lever handles sits on one of three bases: a round rose, a square rose or a long backplate. The look is the obvious difference. The practical one is where the keyhole sits, because that decides which locks the lever can work with.

What is the difference between a rose and a backplate?

• A round rose is a small disc under the lever. Ours run from Ø50mm, as on UL1005, to Ø65mm on UL690. The keyhole gets its own cover, which you can see in the photo of AL-114.
• A square rose does the same job with straight edges, from 48 × 48mm on KA9-2005 to 55 × 55mm on AL1-114.
• A backplate is one long plate that carries the lever and the keyhole together. Ours run from 185 × 45mm, as on 58150-704, to 288 × 55mm on 7284-578.

Why does a backplate fix the lock case?

On a backplate the distance from the lever to the keyhole is cut into the metal. 58150-704 has a 58mm centre and lists lock case 5845. 5039-340 has a 50mm centre and lists 5045. 72150-704 has a 72mm centre. Put a plate on a lock with a different centre and the keyhole misses the cylinder.

A rose lever has no keyhole of its own. The lock case sets the spacing and the small cover goes wherever the cylinder is. That is why most rose levers list two cases, such as 8550 / 7255 on A5-653 or 5845 / 7250 on AL-114. Our guide to lock case numbers explains those codes.

The narrow plates on the BK and ET series sit in between. ET4006A has a 160 × 35mm plate with no keyhole in it; the photo shows the key in the lever neck. It lists CT60 / 7255, so it behaves like a rose lever on a plate.

How far does each type stand off the door?

Here are the levers that list a projection, the distance from the door face to the furthest point of the lever.

The narrow plates sit close, at 52mm to 54mm. The stainless rose levers stand further off, up to 80mm on UL1016. On a door that opens against a wall, a return or a second leaf, that gap decides whether the lever hits.

When should you choose a rose?

• The door is new and the lock case is not bought yet. A rose keeps two cases open.
• You want a quiet look. A rose and a separate keyhole cover take up less of the door than a plate.
• The door stile is narrow. SF-15 needs 53mm of flat face; a long plate needs its full width the whole way down.
• One lever must suit several door types in a project. Order one rose lever and choose the case per door.

When should you choose a backplate?

• You are replacing an old plate. A new plate can cover the marks and holes of the old one; a rose cannot.
• The lock is already in the door. Measure its centre and pick a plate with the same figure.
• You want one piece for the customer to see. The keyhole and the lever line up by design.
• The door has a thin facing or a glass panel near the lock. A plate spreads its fixings over a longer length.

Check the size of the old plate too. Our guide to lever handle plate sizes lists every footprint we make.

What should you measure first?

• On an existing lock: centre distance from spindle hole to keyhole, and the backset from door edge to keyhole.
• On an existing plate: length, width and the position of the spindle hole on the plate.
• The flat width of the stile where the base will sit.
• Door thickness. It decides which levers fit at all. See lever handle door thickness.

What to write on your order

Name the base and the case together. For a rose lever: AL-114, Ø54mm rose, anodised matt black, lock case 7250. For a plate: 58150-704, 185 × 45mm plate, 58mm centre, lock case 5845, matt black. Add the door thickness on every line. If you are matching a lock already in the door, send a photo of its face plate with a ruler beside it.

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