Skip to content
Price Your WindowsGet your estimateMy estimates

Window & door types

All window types

Entry door

A single exterior door panel swings on side hinges, locks with a deadbolt and seals at the threshold.

Entry door

Drag or press ← → to rotate; Home resets the view

Pick a window or door type, drag or use ← / → to rotate the 3D model, and press the mechanism buttons to see how it opens.

How it opens and how it is built

A single solid door panel hangs on hinges along one side of the frame and swings open, usually into the house. The panel is often steel, fiberglass or wood around an insulated core, and it may have a glass insert or none.

A lock and a deadbolt hold it shut, weatherstripping runs around the frame, and a threshold with a bottom seal closes the gap under the panel. In the 3D model above you can check how the door panel swings open.

Why you'd want it

An entry door is the main or side way into the house: it has to close tightly, lock well and stand up to daily use and the weather. A solid panel gives privacy and keeps heat in better than a door that is mostly glass.

A hinged patio door also swings on hinges but is mostly glass and opens onto a terrace. A sliding patio door gives a wide glass wall to the yard and needs no room to swing.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • A solid panel gives privacy and keeps heat in better than a glazed door.
  • It is built for daily use as the main way in, with a lock and a deadbolt.
  • It can have a glass insert or none, as you prefer.

Cons

  • Without glass it lets in no light or view.
  • The hinges and the lock carry daily use and need adjusting when the door sags.
  • The threshold and the bottom seal wear and need care to keep drafts out.

It's for you if…

  • You are replacing the front or side door of the house together with the windows.
  • The old door is drafty, sticks or no longer locks smoothly.
  • You want privacy at the entrance and little or no glass.

Don't overpay if…

  • The door leads to a terrace and you want light and a view: a patio door is made for that.
  • A quote adds a large decorative glass insert you did not ask for: it is an option, not a need.
  • Only the threshold seal or the weatherstripping is worn: they can often be replaced without a new door.

How it affects the price

The price of an entry door depends mostly on the panel and the hardware: the material of the panel and its core, any glass insert, the lock and the deadbolt, and the threshold. It usually has less glass than a patio door, so its price follows the panel rather than the glass: a plain panel with simple hardware is usually the less expensive choice, and a decorated panel with a glass insert costs more.

Sidelights or a transom over the door, the finish and the size also affect the price.

All window types and their impact on the price →

Lifespan and care

Once or twice a year, check that the door closes without rubbing and that the lock and the deadbolt turn smoothly, and lubricate them and the hinges as the maker advises. Look at the threshold and the bottom seal each season: keep them clean and replace the seal when daylight shows under the door. Touch up the finish of the panel where it is scratched.

Figures with sources

How much glass entry doors have
Many doors don't have any glass (like your front door)Source:ENERGY STAR Key Product Criteria: Residential Windows, Doors and Skylights (U.S. EPA)
How ENERGY STAR sets its criteria for doors
Performance criteria for doors are based on the amount of glass they have (called glazing level) and ratings certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)Source:ENERGY STAR Key Product Criteria: Residential Windows, Doors and Skylights (U.S. EPA)
Products whose glazing the federal safety standard covers
storm doors or combination doors, doors, bathtub doors, and enclosures, shower doors and enclosures, glazed panels and sliding glass doors (patio-type)Source:16 CFR 1201.1 Scope — Safety Standard for Architectural Glazing Materials, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)

What it pairs with

The installation decides most of how an entry door works: a square frame, a well-sealed threshold and flashing that sheds water. If the door has a glass insert or sidelights, the glass unit and the rules for safety glass in doors matter too. The hardware — the hinges, the lock and the deadbolt — is chosen with the door.

How a door and its sill are installed →The glass in a door insert →

Compared with similar types

Frequently asked questions

How is an entry door different from a patio door?

An entry door is the main or side way into the house, with a solid panel, a lock and a deadbolt and little or no glass. A patio door is mostly glass and opens onto a terrace or a garden.

Which lock and hinges should I look for in the estimate?

Check that the estimate names the lock and the deadbolt, the number and type of hinges and the threshold. Ask the installer what each one is, so you can compare quotes on the same hardware.

How do I look after the threshold?

Keep it clean and dry, and check the bottom seal each season. If you see daylight or feel a draft under the door, the seal is worn or the threshold needs adjusting.

Can I have an entry door with glass?

Yes, many panels come with a glass insert or with glass sidelights. The glass in a door falls under safety glazing rules of your area, so check the type of glass in the estimate.

Price it for my home