how long to wait and hold the door for someone fallowing you into a building?

Answer 1

5 seconds seem reasonable.
Naturally there are exeptions, old people, physically challenged, beautifull ladies, and so on

Answer 2

It depends on the situation. If you're holding a door for someone who is with you, then you hold it as long as it takes. However, if the person following you is a stranger (and isn't someone likely to have trouble opening the door for themselves -- elderly, frail, child, etc.) then I'd use this rule:

If the door could close completely behind you before the next person got to it, then you can let it close. However, if it is more likely to still be closing when the person would be walking through, you should hold it.

Opening doors is part of everyone's expectation for normal life. They aren't going through the door BECAUSE you are there ahead of them to hold it; they would go through anyway. And if you weren't there, they would open the door for themselves. Thus, a closed door isn't a problem.
Letting a door close on someone, or in their face, is rude.

Answer 3

first second: open door
second second: notice other person walking towards door; make eye contact!
Third second: If person notices me and sees that I am holding the door and appears to make an effort to get to the door and enter as I hold it, then I will wait however long it takes and receive their words of gratitude and respond that it was my pleasure!

However, if in that second second and eye contact the person appears to be in another world, or otherwise occupied, then I will only walk through the door and not hold it for them unless they are right on my heels. I'm not in the business of slamming doors on people.

Answer 4

If they're more than 10 feet away then I don't wait I just kind of keep holding it and walking until my arm doesn't reach anymore.

I actually hate it when people wait and hold the door if I'm really far away, because then I feel like I need to hurry up because they're being nice.

Answer 5

Are you asking about waiting with the door open, or when to let go as they enter?
Traditionally you let go of the door AFTER they get a step past where the door will hit them. Among men we sometimes pass the door to our friends in hopeful succession. The one paying no attention will stumble or sometimes eat the door.

When it comes to holding a door waiting for somebody that gets delayed the waiting can vary.
If you're being a Japanese host(est) you wait for as long as it takes.
If it's an office meeting you go back and walk with them and re-open the door.
If you're a House Frau you count to ten and then announce that you're going to go pour drinks (to encourage speed).

NOTE: In Oklahoma you only get one set of "after you"s at a door. They don't waste time holding a door and talking. Example: "After you." "No, after you." "OK!"

Answer 6

I only hold the door for them in the first place if they're reasonably close to me. If they're too far away I don't hold it at all, unless they're carrying something in their hands. They do try to hurry up because they feel like an inconvinience for the most part and that they should.

Answer 7

I would say that to hold the Door open for someone following you would be a Minute.

Answer 8

If this is a gentleman I am answering, then hold the door till they walk through it.

Answer 9

If less than 15 feet , or if you make eye contact. (unless they're taking their sweet time)