Interior doors · Buying guide
Door Buying Guide
Replacing worn doors, remodeling, or giving a room a fresh look? This guide walks you through the six decisions that matter: door type, size, swing, style, finish and core. Choose a door that fits your opening and complements your décor.
01 · Door type
Pre-hung or slab?
There are two ways to buy a door. Choose based on whether you are replacing the whole unit or just the door itself.
Pre-hung door
Ready to install
The door comes already mounted in its frame, with hinges attached. It is ready to install in a prepared doorway.
Slab door
Door only
Just the door: no frame, hinges or handle set. Slabs come unfinished (stain or paint required) or finished and ready to hang.
02 · Sizes & measuring
Measure before you order
Door openings and dimensions matter. If you are replacing an existing door with a pre-hung unit, choose one with the same dimensions as the door you have now.
Standard widths
24"28"30"32"36"Custom sizes
Heights
80"84"96"Custom cut
Measuring for a slab door
Door only
Measure the width, height and thickness of the door.
Measuring for a pre-hung door
Door + frame
Measure the slab’s width and height, the rough opening (the space between the studs with no door installed) and the thickness of the jamb.
03 · Door handing
Which way does it swing?
Door swing determines where your hinges and hardware go. Stand on the outside of the door (the entrance side). If the hinges are on the left, it is a left-hand door; if they are on the right, it is a right-hand door.
Left hand
Opens inward
Left hand reverse
Opens outward
Right hand
Opens inward
Right hand reverse
Opens outward
04 · Door styles
Find the right style
A well-designed door is a simple way to add style to your home. Here are the options we offer.
Barn doors
Room dividers
Barn doors separate rooms while adding artisan character. Some glide along an upper rail; others use a bottom track to keep the door from swinging. Styles range from rustic to polished, prefinished or unfinished, and we offer a kit that converts most doors into a barn door.
Pocket doors
Saves floor space
A pocket door slides along its length and disappears into a compartment in the wall. Use it for architectural effect or where there is no room for a swinging door. Most run on rollers from an overhead track; single or double doors suit different opening widths.
Bifold doors
Closets & laundry rooms
Hinged panels fold out to the side in pairs. Bifolds don’t swing, so they take up less space than a hinged door, and louvered versions improve air circulation. A great fit for closets, laundry and utility rooms, or as a room divider.
Bypass doors
Closets
Two or more panels slide past each other on parallel overhead tracks, so you open one side at a time. Most common on closets; the panels overlap slightly so there is no visible gap.
French doors
Brings in natural light
Large glass divided into smaller panes, also called grids or divided lites. More than an entry or exit, a French door is an elegant way to fill your home with natural light.
Swinging doors
Most common
A hinged door that swings into or out of a room. This is the most standard interior door application.
05 · Finishes
Choose a finish
The right finish depends on how much time and budget you want to put into the project.
Primed
Ready to paint
Sealed with a coating that helps paint or stain adhere. A great choice if you want to paint the door yourself, in any color you like.
Stained
Natural wood look
Enhances the natural wood grain with an even color tone. Shades range from light honey maple to dark espresso or black.
Prefinished
Least work
Factory-finished using techniques a step above what is possible at home, with door and hinge holes pre-cut. It just needs installing.
Unfinished
Blank slate
Pre-sanded but not stained or painted, so you can finish it exactly how you want. Takes more work than a prefinished door.
06 · Core type
Hollow core or solid core?
Hollow core
Light & affordable
Lightweight, inexpensive and easy to install, which makes them a popular choice for bedrooms, bathrooms and closets. They offer little sound blocking or fire resistance.
Solid core
Quieter & sturdier
Sturdier and heavier, with better soundproofing and insulation. You get the look, feel and durability of solid wood without the cost, plus good fire resistance.
Tip
Trimming a hollow core door
Hollow core doors aren’t truly hollow: inside is a foam or cardboard core. Trim from the bottom, and no more than 1-1/2 inches. Measure and mark the cut, score along a straight edge with a utility knife, clamp a straight-edge guide to the door, and cover the score line with masking tape all the way around to prevent chipping. Then cut with a power saw.
Keep exploring
Ready to choose your door?
Shop interior & exterior doors →
Browse the catalog
See every door style we carry, with sizes and options.
Glass door options →
Glass styles
Compare glass types and lite patterns for French and entry doors.
Panel & sticking options →
Design details
Pick the panel style and edge profile that finishes the look.
Not sure which door is right?
See and handle real doors at our Elk Grove Village showroom, or send us your plans and we’ll help you choose the right type, size and style for every opening.
