Methods of Lighting Hanukkah Candles

I'm confused about the order of lighting: do I start lighting from the right or from the left, and where do I place the candle — closest to the door or furthest?

There are three methods in the order of lighting, and we will detail two of them: the method of the Shulchan Aruch and the Darkei Moshe and the Ari Z"l [which is the widespread custom], where on the first night the candle is placed on the right side [whether placing the menorah on the right of the entrance or on the left, and ideally it should be placed on the left so that the mezuzah is on the right unless placing it on the right will result in greater publicizing of the miracle]. On the second night, when adding another candle next to it, one begins and blesses on the added candle, which is more to the left, and from it turns to the candle next to it to turn to the right, to fulfill the rule stated in the Gemara (Yoma 15:) "all turns you make should only be to the right," therefore the lighting should always progress from left to right. Similarly, on the third night, when adding another candle next to the first two, one blesses and lights the added candle, which is more to the left. Then continues to light the candle next to it on the right, to turn to the right, and so every night blesses on the added candle, which indicates the miracle, as with the addition of days the miracle increases. [The source of the Shulchan Aruch's law is from the Maharik]. From the second day onward, during the blessing, one should stand facing the added candle, from which one begins to light today, and not stand facing the other candles, because if standing facing the right candle, one must begin lighting it due to the rule "do not pass over the commandments." There is no difference if one lights on the right of the entrance or on the left of the entrance, or in the window, or lights in the entrance space, in all cases one starts on the first day with the most right candle, and on the other days starts with the added candle, which is more to the left, and continues to light the other candles to the right. The Mishnah Berurah (ch. 676, sec. 9) writes: "And it is good and correct if one can arrange them all within the entrance space so that they are all equal in the handbreadth close to the entrance." The second method is the method of the Vilna Gaon, who disagreed with the Shulchan Aruch on two points: [A]. The one lighting at the entrance should always start with the candle closest to the entrance because the commandment is to light in the handbreadth close to the entrance, even if by doing so one will have to light from right to left, and will not be able to fulfill "all turns you make should only be to the right," in any case, the handbreadth close to the entrance is preferable. [B]. The Vilna Gaon believed that the blessing should be attached to the candle lit on the first day, which is obligatory by the main law, and then add more candles, which is "mehadrin min hamehadrin," but one should not light first the added candle, which is "mehadrin min hamehadrin." Therefore, according to the Vilna Gaon, if lighting on the left of the entrance, one lights on the first day with the most right candle, which is right of the entrance, and on the other days starts with the right candle closest to the entrance and continues to light the added candle to its left, and thus lights from right to left. If lighting on the right of the entrance or in the entrance space or in the window, then on the first day lights at the left edge of the menorah closest to the entrance, and from there starts all the days and lights from left to right. In summary: according to the Shulchan Aruch, what is said in the Gemara "all turns you make should only be to the right" is preferable to the law of "the handbreadth close to the entrance," therefore always light with the added candle, which is more to the left, and from it turn to the right. According to the Vilna Gaon, the law of "the handbreadth close to the entrance" is preferable, therefore always start from the handbreadth close to the entrance. And the Vilna Gaon also believed that on all days one should start with the first candle lit on the first day, because it is obligatory by the main law and the other candles are "mehadrin min hamehadrin." In practice: everyone should follow their custom. In any case, whatever is done fulfills the commandment for everyone. All the disputes among the authorities are only about how and from which place it is more correct to start initially. The widespread custom is according to the first method of the Shulchan Aruch.

Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim, ch. 676, sec. 5); and in Mishnah Berurah and Beur Halacha (there); Azmera Leshimcha (Issue 118). [You can download 'Azmera Leshimcha', which also contains detailed illustrations of the lighting order for different methods and situations].