

These guidelines can help you make a wise and polite decision.ĭON’T: Invite a game of sardines by holding the door when the elevator is already packed.

To hold the door or not to hold the door? This is one of the most important questions in elevator etiquette. Following this rule will organize the flow of people into and out of the elevator, speeding up the process while removing stress and irritation.ĭO: Move toward the back or sides once you get in, clearing the space closest to the doors for other people to enter. This is one of the most important rules of elevator etiquette. Unless you’re planning a heroic rescue on the upper floors, it’s almost guaranteed that the passengers inside are more eager to exit the elevator than you are to enter.ĭO: Wait for passengers to get out before getting in. This will clear a path for the passengers waiting to exit on your floor.ĭON’T: Rush the elevator doors. Don’t block the only exit for the passengers inside.ĭO: Stand to the right of the elevator doors. Put yourself in the shoes of the passengers: You were just trapped in an enclosed space for one of the longest minutes of your life, but now the doors are opening, freedom is yours … except your exit is blocked by a mass of human bodies. Boarding the ElevatorĭON’T: Form a mob around the elevator doors. Let’s break down the elevator ride one step at a time with a few do’s and don’ts of elevator etiquette to consider. Your more socially anxious fellow passengers will thank you (silently, of course). If that isn’t a relatable feeling, use these tips to speed up the shuffle in and out of the elevator doors instead. Following some basic elevator etiquette can ease your intense fear of making accidental eye contact with a stranger. Never fear: Social norms haven’t completely disappeared once you enter the confines of an elevator. You’re likely experiencing the discomfort of entering a small, quiet, enclosed space with a handful of random strangers. Have you ever stepped into a public elevator and felt terribly uncomfortable? You probably didn’t develop claustrophobia overnight.
