How much does it cost to install a pocket door?

Pocket doors are space-saving doorways that provide privacy yet allow for both open and closed positions for doors. Rather than swinging out into the room, a pocket door slides sideways into the wall. When open, the door is invisible to the naked eye, and when shut, a pocket door looks similar to ordinary doors. It does not, however, have the standard hardware associated with a regular door such as hinges ¹ or a doorknob.

Pocket doors were once popular in Victorian homes and are currently making a comeback as Universal and Accessible Designs become more popular. Because pocket doors slide to the side, they do not impede access for those with mobility issues or who use wheelchairs. 

Pocket doors come in many sizes, but the standard doorway of 30-inches is the most common. The average cost to install a pocket door in new construction is around $700, while the average cost to install a pocket door in an existing wall is around $2,250.

Pros and cons

Pocket doors work well in many situations, but they are not right for every home or application.

Pros

The biggest advantage to using a pocket door is the space it saves. Pocket doors do not open into the room, so small spaces do not need to worry about the door swinging into them. For example, in bathrooms, the toilet or sink will not be in the way with a pocket door.

Pocket doors are also great for accessibility. Someone using mobility aids will find it easier to slide the door than to pull it toward themselves. So, using pocket doors can help increase Universal Design.

Pocket doors are also stylish. They work well in contemporary spaces to give an illusion of openness, and they also work well in historic homes where this type of door was the norm.

Cons

Unfortunately, pocket doors have some drawbacks. If they become stuck or go off their track inside the wall, they can be difficult to fix without further damage to the wall itself. They can be expensive to add to existing homes because the wall needs to be opened up, which can make the project more difficult to complete. They also require more maintenance than a regular door, which may only require minimal care, such as oiling of the hinges ¹.

Standard sizes

Like ordinary doors, pocket doors come in a range of sizes suitable for installation anywhere in the home. Typically, they come in standard widths like ordinary doors, including:

• 24-inches
• 28-inches
• 30-inches
• 32-inches
• 34-inches
• 36-inches

Larger pocket doors are available, but they may require special tracks and hardware to keep them level within the wall. If you need to cover a wider door opening, you may want to install two pocket doors, one coming from each wall and meeting in the center, rather than using a single, large door.

Materials

Like regular doors, pocket doors also come in several materials with pros and cons for use within the home.

Labor

The labor portion of this job varies tremendously depending on several factors. In new construction, labor is fairly simple. A track is installed inside the framed but unfinished wall. Space is left between the studs on either side of the wall to allow for the door to slide. The wall is finished around the track, then the door is hung and frame installed if desired.

If there is an existing wall, labor may be more complicated. The wall may not be thick enough to accommodate the door. Or, there may be pipes or wires located in the wall that must be moved. The wall must be opened so that the track can be installed and the door properly hung. Sometimes, the best course of action is to completely remove the wall and reframe it so that it is wide enough to accommodate the door. This is why there can be such an enormous cost difference between new construction and a retrofit.

Typically, for new construction, the installation or labor portion of the door is around $100 to $500. For a retrofit, the costs of labor may be between $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the condition of the existing wall.

Maintenance

Pocket doors have more moving parts than a standard door, so there is more maintenance involved. There are rollers inside the door that allow it to move freely on the track. These rollers may collect hair, dirt, and other debris that can cause the door to stick and not slide properly. When this happens, the door must be taken off of the track, and the rollers cleaned out.

Sometimes the track itself may become a problem, in which case the wall must be opened, and a new track installed. This can usually be accomplished by opening a small access hole in the wall, rather than opening the entire wall.

Occasional oiling of the rollers and track can help keep the door moving smoothly, but little additional maintenance is needed.

Pocket vs traditional doors

Pocket doors are not for everyone, and many times a traditional door makes more sense.

Enhancement and improvement costs

Pocket doors, like traditional doors, come with a wide range of options that may improve their style or performance for your home.

Double pocket doors

For wide openings, you may want to consider using double pocket doors rather than a single, large door. To do this, both walls will need to be opened or built to accommodate the doors. The cost for new construction is around $1,400, and around $4,500 for existing homes.

French pocket doors

French pocket doors are also common in some older homes. These glass doors cost slightly more than a standard pocket door but greatly enhance the appearance of the room. Expect to pay around $1,000 for a single door and $2,000 for a set of double French pocket doors.

Automatic pocket doors

To make a pocket door truly accessible, you may want to invest in automatic door technology. Automatic doors operate by sensor ², push button, or remote control and come in a range of sizes. Often, you only need to automate the track, letting you use the door of your choice, but some companies sell their own doors and sensors ² as a package. Expect to pay a minimum of $500 additional per door.

Interior wall demolishing

If the wall you want to install the pocket door on is not suitable, it will have to be removed. The cost of removing a wall can range from $300 to remove a non-load-bearing wall to $3,000 for removing a load-bearing wall ³ that will need to have the load redistributed. 

Additional considerations and costs

• Pocket doors come on a variety of tracks and rollers. Steel rollers tend to be noisy and are more likely to jump the tracks than plastic or other rollers.
• Pocket doors add roughly 10 square feet of usable floor space, which would normally be covered by an open door.
• While not common, indoor/outdoor pocket doors exist to give you access to patios, lanais, and other outdoor living areas. Keep in mind that they can be difficult to form a tight seal around to keep energy costs down.
• Pocket doors are only as durable as the hardware used to install them. Cheap tracks need more maintenance and will not last as long as better quality tracks, which may make a standard door the longer-lasting option.
• Upon opening a wall, you may discover mold, asbestos ⁴, or other hazardous materials, which may require remediation professionals before you can proceed. This will add around $500 to your total.
• If you have an old door to remove, expect to pay around $100 for removal and disposal fees.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Hinges: 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 Sensor: Device that responds to a physical event or change in the environment by emitting an output signal