What is the difference between hollow core and solid core doors?

Hollow core doors have a lightweight cardboard honeycomb interior covered with thin hardboard or veneer faces. They weigh 20-25 lbs and cost $30-$80. Solid core doors have a dense composite or particleboard interior covered with veneer or hardboard. They weigh 50-70 lbs and cost $80-$200. The key differences are sound insulation (solid core provides significantly better sound blocking, STC 30-35 vs. 20-25 for hollow core), durability (solid core resists dents, warping, and damage), and feel (solid core doors feel substantial and close with a satisfying weight). Hollow core doors are adequate for closets and low-traffic areas. Solid core doors are recommended for bedrooms, bathrooms, home offices, and any room where sound privacy matters. What is the most popular interior door style?

What is the most popular interior door style?

The Shaker-style panel door is currently the most popular interior door in residential construction. Shaker doors feature flat panels (not raised) with square-edged stiles and rails, creating a clean, transitional look that works in both traditional and contemporary interiors. The 2-panel and 3-panel Shaker configurations are the most popular. For traditional homes, the 6-panel Colonial door remains a classic choice. For contemporary and modern homes, flush doors (solid core with smooth faces) provide a minimal look. The trend in recent years has moved away from elaborate raised-panel designs toward simpler, flatter profiles that complement modern and transitional interiors. How wide should interior doors be?

How wide should interior doors be?

Standard interior door widths are 24 inches (closets), 28 inches (small rooms), 30 inches (standard bedrooms and bathrooms), 32 inches (standard passage doors), and 36 inches (main entries and accessible doors). The most common bedroom door width is 30 or 32 inches. Bathroom doors are typically 28 or 30 inches. For ADA accessibility, doorways must provide at least 32 inches of clear opening width (a 36-inch door provides approximately 34 inches of clear width when open 90 degrees). If you are building new or renovating, consider using 32 or 36-inch doors for all rooms to accommodate future accessibility needs, furniture moving, and wheelchair access. The cost difference between a 30-inch and 36-inch door is minimal.

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Woodworking & Lumber

Wood Door Types Guide: Panel, Flush, French, Barn & Pocket Doors Explained

Lumberama Editorial Team, Interior Door & Millwork Specialists Feb 2, 2025 12 min read

Panel Doors

Panel doors are the most common and traditional interior door style. A panel door consists of a frame (stiles on the sides, rails across the top and bottom) with flat or raised panels set into the frame. The panels "float" in the frame, allowing wood to expand and contract with humidity changes without cracking.

Common configurations: 2-panel (two large panels, vertical or horizontal), 4-panel (the most traditional residential style), 5-panel (popular in Craftsman homes, with five equal-height panels), 6-panel (the classic Colonial door, with six panels in three rows of two). Shaker-style panel doors (flat panels with square-edged stiles and rails) are the most popular contemporary style.

Construction: Solid wood panel doors are made from hardwood or softwood lumber. Paint-grade panel doors are often made from engineered stile-and-rail construction (MDF panels in a wood or composite frame). Stain-grade panel doors use solid hardwood throughout.

Species: Paint-grade: pine, poplar, MDF. Stain-grade: oak, maple, cherry, walnut, mahogany. Pine and poplar are standard for painted doors. Oak is the most common stain-grade species.

Flush Doors

Flush doors have a flat, smooth surface with no panels, molding, or raised detail. The surface is a flat sheet of material (wood veneer, hardboard, or MDF) over a core.

Hollow core: A lightweight frame with a honeycomb cardboard core, covered with a thin hardboard or veneer face. Light (20-25 lbs), affordable ($30-$80), and adequate for closets and low-traffic areas. Hollow core doors provide minimal sound insulation (STC rating around 20-25).

Solid core: A composite or particleboard core covered with veneer or hardboard. Heavy (50-70 lbs), significantly better sound insulation (STC rating 30-35), and more durable than hollow core. Solid core flush doors are the standard for bedrooms, bathrooms, and any room where sound privacy matters. Price: $80-$200.

Solid wood: A true solid wood flush door (no veneered core) is rare and expensive. Typically made from laminated strips of hardwood. Used in high-end residential and commercial applications.

French Doors

French doors feature glass panes (lites) set in a wood frame. They allow light to pass between rooms while providing a visual and physical barrier. French doors are typically sold and installed in pairs (two doors that open from the center).

Lite configurations: True divided lite (TDL): individual glass panes separated by wood muntins. The traditional, highest-quality construction. Simulated divided lite (SDL): a single large glass pane with applied muntin grids on the surface. Looks like TDL but is less expensive and easier to clean. Full lite: a single large glass pane with no divided lites. Modern and minimal.

Common configurations: 10-lite, 12-lite, 15-lite (the most popular), and full lite. More lites create a more traditional look; fewer lites or full lite are more contemporary.

Barn Doors

Barn doors slide on a track mounted above the doorway. The door hangs from rollers on the track and slides to one side to open. Barn doors don't swing into the room, making them space-efficient for tight areas where a swinging door would interfere with furniture or traffic flow.

Hardware: A barn door track system ($50-$200) includes a rail, rollers, and a floor guide. The track must be mounted to a header or wall framing (not just drywall) because the door weight hangs from the track. A standard interior barn door weighs 50-100+ lbs.

Design: Barn doors come in every style: rustic reclaimed wood, modern flat panel, glass-paned, and traditional X-brace. The barn door aesthetic has expanded far beyond farmhouse style into contemporary, industrial, and transitional interiors.

Limitation: Barn doors do not seal against the frame like hinged doors. There's always a gap between the door and the wall (typically 1-2 inches). This means barn doors provide minimal sound insulation and no air seal. Don't use barn doors for bedrooms or bathrooms where privacy and sound control are important.

Pocket Doors

Pocket doors slide into a cavity (pocket) built inside the wall. When open, the door is completely hidden inside the wall. When closed, it looks like a standard hinged door. Pocket doors are the ultimate space-saver because they require zero floor space for opening.

Construction: The wall must be built with a pocket door frame kit (a pre-engineered frame that creates the cavity). This means pocket doors must be planned during new construction or major renovation — they can't be easily added to existing walls. The wall cavity is split (half the wall thickness on each side of the door), so the wall cannot contain plumbing, electrical, or insulation in the pocket area.

Standard Sizes

Standard interior door sizes: 24 inches wide (closets), 28 inches (small rooms), 30 inches (standard bedrooms, bathrooms), 32 inches (standard passage), and 36 inches (main entries, accessibility). Standard height: 80 inches (6 feet 8 inches). Standard thickness: 1-3/8 inches (interior) or 1-3/4 inches (exterior).