In this guide

Types of Interior Door

A large part of the costs of this project depends on the kind of door. Some are merely a style preference, while others affect the type of installation or function the door has.

Flush Doors

Flush doors are among the least expensive models, as well as the plainest. They can be made of several materials and have a very flat, simple appearance where the door lies flush with the frame. They cost between $20 and $200 a door, depending on the material, and are good for closets and contemporary designs.

Pivot Doors

Pivot doors are unique installations that usually consist of a large, single door that has a single hinge ¹ in the center. You can push the door from either side to open it, allowing it to pivot on its hinge ¹. These doors are good for busy spaces like kitchens but make poor choices for bedrooms or bathrooms due to its size when open and lack of privacy. They cost between $200 and $2,000 on average, depending on the material.

Panel Doors

Panel doors are the most common type of interior door. They have inset panels in the face of the door, which gives the door visual interest and character. They come in many styles and can be made of many different materials. They are good for all types of homes and are typically used for bedrooms, bathrooms, and other common areas. They cost between $35 and $500 a door, depending on the material.

dutch Doors

Dutch doors are single doors that are divided into two pieces around the midline so that the top and the bottom can open independently. They are usually made of wood and can be very heavy. They are good for kitchens or for people with pets who want to be able to shut the bottom half and see out the top. They have starting costs of around $500 on average.

French Doors

French doors refer to a set of double doors made of glass, usually with multiple panes or panels. They are designed to open up together to make a single, wider opening. They are good for dining rooms, living rooms, and other spaces that may have a wider threshold and need something a little more stylish or dramatic in design. They cost between $200 and $2,000 on average.

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Sliding Bypass Doors

A sliding bypass door has either two sliding panel doors or a door and a fixed panel. The doors pass each other as they slide on parallel tracks. These are good doors for wide thresholds where you need to save space and cannot install a barn door or French doors. They can jump the track easily, however, and they can sometimes be heavy and hard to operate. They start at $500 for a set.

Pocket Doors

Pocket doors are space-saving installations where the door slides into the wall rather than opening outward. They come in many styles and can be made of a variety of materials. They work best in small spaces, such as bathrooms and bedrooms. They can be very expensive to install, especially in existing homes, and are more easily put in during new construction. They can also be difficult to repair. They typically cost between $120 and $1,000, depending on the material.

Roller Doors

While much less common, roller doors are sometimes used in industrial-style and contemporary homes. They open by sliding upward on a roller and across the ceiling, so they are good at saving space and do not cover the walls. They are expensive and hard-to-maintain, however, and are not good for homes with high ceilings. They start at $500 per door.

Barn Doors

Barn doors are a type of sliding door or track door that has a distinctive style. They have a visible track and slide along it, rather than opening outward. They come in many materials, all having a rustic or barn style. They work well in a variety of spaces but only if you have the space to slide them without blocking or concealing something on the wall. They cost between $150 and $2,000 on average, depending on the material.

Hinged Doors

Most interior doors are considered hinged ¹ doors. They may be “blank,” meaning that they have no frame, or “prehung,” meaning they already have a frame and hinges ¹. Blank doors are used when you already have an existing frame and hinges ¹ in good standing. Otherwise, a prehung door is needed. They come in a very wide range of materials and sizes and cost between $20 and $2,000 a door.

Bifold Doors

A bifold door is made up of several panels that fold against one another when opened. They are usually installed on closets, but they can also be used on some wide thresholds as well. They come in many sizes and materials and require the installation of a track to slide on. They cost between $100 and $2,000, depending on the material and size.

Accordion Doors

The accordion door ² is generally used in small spaces where you cannot install a pocket door but do not have space for a sliding or barn door. An accordion door ² folds up like a pleated accordion when not in use, then pulls across the opening and fastens ³ on the other side. They are usually made of plastic or a mixture of fabric and metal. They are easily damaged and typically only used when no other door will meet the needs of the space. They cost between $20 and $100 on average.

Interior Door Material

Interior doors come in a wide range of materials from wood to metal to glass. You can also break doors down further into separate categories, which can determine their use, weight, and cost.

Solid Wood

A solid wood door is made from a single piece of wood. It may be plain or highly decorative and comes in many different styles and wood species. These doors are heavy but are good insulators against sound. They have a starting cost of around $100.

Solid Core

A solid core door may have a thin veneer ⁴ made of wood, MDF, or vinyl ⁵ that covers an inner core made of wood pulp. It is lighter than solid wood but not as light as a hollow door. It is also fairly good at insulating against sound and has a starting cost of around $50.

Hollow Core

A hollow core door is basically a shell or skin made of wood, MDF, or vinyl ⁵ that has nothing inside. These doors are very lightweight, quick-to-install, and inexpensive, but they do not block sound as well as other doors. They have a starting cost of around $20.

Mdf

MDF doors may be completely solid, solid core, or hollow core and come in a range of styles. They are more stable than solid wood doors because they are not as impacted by humidity and have a very smooth surface for painting. They have a starting cost of around $20.

Metal Doors

Metal doors can be steel over foam that is painted to resemble wood or be made of unpainted steel or aluminum. They can be traditional and used as a security door for a home office or garage or be very contemporary for modern homes. They have costs starting at around $100.

Glass Doors

Glass doors may be sliding doors made of solid glass or be French doors made of glass panels. On their own, they do not insulate well, but you can purchase models that are thicker and have better sound-insulating properties. They can have frames made out of a variety of other materials and have starting costs closer to $500.

Standard Interior Door Sizes

Interior doors must have a minimum height of 80 inches, which is standard for most homes. Interior doors may have standard widths of 24 inches, 28 inches, 30 inches, 32 inches, and 36 inches. If you are creating an accessible home or converting a home for aging in place, the minimum door size is 36 inches.

Most homes have doors ranging from 30 to 36 inches in width for passage, with closets using smaller doors. Some smaller doors may also be found in older homes or in small spaces like half-bathrooms.

Slab Doors vs Prehung Doors

Most hinged ¹ interior doors come in one of two styles - slab or prehung. A slab door is just the door itself. It is usually unfinished and has no hardware, hinges ¹, frame, or trim. When replacing a door that has a frame that is still in good condition, a slab door can be a good choice because it is usually less expensive to purchase. You will need to finish the door and drill for the hinges ¹. It may be more difficult to install, but you do not need to remove an existing frame and potentially damage the walls.

A prehung door is a door with the frame, hinges ¹, and hardware already installed. This door is usually finished and ready to hang and can be installed very quickly. They are good for new construction or if your current frame is too damaged to support a new door. They are usually a little more expensive, but you save on installation, so the costs tend to even out.

Frame

If your existing door is in good shape but you need to have the frame removed and a new frame installed, expect to pay around $125 on average. Costs range from $100 to $225 for most doors, with an average price per linear foot of between $7 and $15. Depending on the size, condition of the walls, and the type of frame, it can take a carpenter between 1 and 3 hours to replace.

Trim and Extra Hardware

Sometimes when replacing your door, you will also need to replace the trim. Trim is what goes over the door frame, and while it is not necessary to the function of the door, it can enhance certain interior designs. If you do not purchase a prehung door, you may also need additional hardware, such as a doorknob or strike plate.

Trim costs around $155 on average installed, while door hardware can range from $20 to $200, depending on the type.

Installation Process

For a prehung door, installation is fairly quick and easy. The door frame and jamb are trimmed to fit the opening. The rough opening is checked, and temporary cleats are installed to hold the frame in place as it is nailed in.

The door and frame are lifted into place, and the door is shimmed open to hold it level ⁶. The rough opening is checked to make sure that the frame is level ⁶ and fits properly, and if not, any needed adjustments are made. The frame is now nailed into the studs of the opening, and the door is installed. If needed, trim is now installed around the door opening.

Installing a blank door is a little more difficult and time-consuming. It must be measured and drilled for the hinges ¹ and hardware, pre-fit into the frame to check the alignment, then marked and leveled ⁶. Temporary cleats will hold it in place when it is attached to the frame, then the hardware will be installed.

Keep in mind that prehung doors are typically already finished, while blank doors must be finished, often just prior to install.

Labor

The cost of labor to install a door is around $175 for installing the door and the frame and usually another $75 - $100 for installing trim and making sure the hardware is correctly in place. For the $475 project of a solid wood door, the labor portion is usually around $250 - $275, with the rest of the costs being made up by the door and hardware.

Different doors can cost more or less to install. Heavier doors cost more, while hollow doors cost less. Some installers also offer bulk discounts if you have multiple doors installed at the same time. Pocket doors and sliding doors also have additional costs associated with finishing the walls after installation.

Best Doors by Room

While it is possible to install the same door throughout a home, this does not always make for the best arrangement. Some doors may be heavier than needed, while other areas may benefit from more sound absorption than a hollow door.

Consider the use of the space and the user when deciding which door to install where. In general, the following guidelines work well:

• Closets - Hollow-core hinged ¹ doors, bifold doors, sliding bypass doors
• Bedrooms - Solid wood doors, solid-core doors
• Bathrooms - Solid wood doors, solid-core doors, pocket doors
• Dining rooms - French doors, barn doors, pocket doors, sliding bypass doors
• Kitchens - Pivot doors, Dutch doors, pocket doors

Enhancements and Improvements

Interior Door Painting

If you have a slab door, it will need to be finished or painted at the time of install. Or, you may want to have other doors in your home painted to match your new door. In either case, you will pay an additional $100 for door painting.

Old Door Removal

If you are replacing an existing door, you may need to pay to have the old door removed. This fee is largely calculated on how difficult the door is to remove. If you are removing the frame and the door, the cost will be higher than if you just remove the door. Prices can range from $20 to $50 for this job.

Additional Costs and Considerations

• You may also want to replace the hardware on your interior door. Hardware has a wide range of costs, depending on the material and style. Expect to pay anywhere from an additional $20 to $200 for the job.
• If needed, you can widen many interior doorways. The cost depends largely on whether the wall is load-bearing, the wall finish, and whether any wires or pipes need to be relocated. Costs range from $100 to $300 on average.
• If you choose to have a door made with an exotic hardwood ⁷ or a premium-grade wood, the cost of the door could be 40% more or even higher.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Hinged: A type of joint that attaches two items together but allows one of them to swing back and forth, such as a door attached to a door frame

² Accordion door: A door with panels connected by hinges, that slide along a track and fold together when opened. They are often used for closets

⁵ Vinyl: A synthetic plastic made from ethylene and chlorine. Vinyl has many applications in the construction industry and it is widely used in sidings, window frames, roofing and gutters, among others

⁷ Exotic hardwood: Timber from deciduous, flowering, seed-bearing trees that grow in tropical rainforests