Abstract: A door operating hardware installation guide for preparing a door for the mounting of operating hardware. The guide includes a front template and a side template. The front template includes a first side and a second side and the side template includes a first side and a second side. The side template is operatively, removably coupled to the front template. The front template and the side template have a plurality of through guide holes defining the outer perimeter of proposed mounting holes for the operating hardware. The accurate placement of the mounting holes in the door is facilitated by the through guide holes when either the first side or the second side of the front template is in contact with the edge of the door and either the first side or the second side of the side template is in contact with the side of the door.