Interior Door Styles & Types
Popular Interior Door Type
Hinged Doors
Hinge doors open easily from either room and can swing either inward or outward. Hinges can reside on either the left or right side of the door to accommodate the functionality of both rooms. Single hinge doors are most commonly used for bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.
Sliding
Sliding doors are ideal for closets or anywhere space is tight because they don’t swing open. They’re a great choice for pantries, cupboards, wardrobes and more.
Pocket doors are similar to sliding doors, but they disappear almost completely when open. They’re great for closing off spaces that may otherwise be left open, like kitchens, dining rooms, pantries and more. They’re also a great option for saving space.
Bifold
Bifold doors have one or two pairs of doors that fold in half to open and are ideal for closets in smaller rooms. They slide on a track and are secured with pivots in the top and bottom corners, while the doors are hinged together in the middle. A single pair of bifold doors generally accommodates up to a 36-inch opening, while two pairs support openings from 48 to 72 inches.
Barn Doors
Barn doors are a beautiful option that provide some rustic charm to any space. They hang on a track that rests above the door and slide open and closed. They’re great for kitchens, living rooms and other areas.
Prehung vs. Slab Doors
You’ll also need to choose whether you want a slab door or a prehung door. A slab door simply a rectangular piece of material in the shape of a door. It doesn’t come with a frame, hinges or hardware. A prehung door comes with everything you need, including a frame, hinges, pre-drilled knob holes and all of the hardware you’ll need to install it.
If you’re replacing existing doors, you can use slabs, but if you’re installing new doors from scratch, it’s easier to go with a prehung option. It all depends on what you’re comfortable with.
Popular Interior Door Style
Flush
A flush door is a simple, flat door with no moulding or design.
Panel-moulded
A panel-moulded door has moulding panels to add visual variety.
French
A French door is usually characterized by glass or windows covering most of the face of the door to allow light through.
Interior Door Core Types
Hollow MDF
- Primed and ready for paint
- Lightweight
- Composite construction for higher durability
- Low sound insulation
- Lower cost
Solid MDF
- Primed and ready for paint
- Lightweight
- Composite construction for higher durability
- Better sound insulation
- Medium cost
Solid Wood (Stile and Rail)
- Can be sanded and painted
- More expensive
- Heavy
- Excellent sound insulation
- Features real wood grain
Interior Door Sizes and Installation Tips
To ensure proper installation, first determine the required door swing and handle placement. Regardless of whether the door swings away from you or toward you, if the handle is on the left side, it is a right-hand door and, if the handle is on the right, it's a left-hand door.
Replacement doors should have the same measurements as old doors. When purchasing doors for a new area, measure the width of the doorway at the top, middle and bottom and use the smallest measurement. To determine a rough opening size, add 2-1/2" to the width and 2" to the height
- Door thickness: Available in 1-3/8" and 1-3/4" thicknesses
- Door width: Standard widths include 18", 20", 24", 28", 30", 32" and 36" doors
- Door height: Standard heights include 80", 84" and 96" doors
- Customized sizes are available in a range of different designs
- To measure for a prehung door, remove the interior casing and measure the opening
Frequently Asked Questions
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No, staining is not recommended. However primed hardboard doors can be painted.
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Buy a solid core door where security, noise resistance or fire resistance is important.
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For a slab, measure the existing door. For prehung, measure the rough opening.
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Yes, if the holes are drilled in identical locations.