How to Choose Internal Doors for Your Home: Interior Door Styles, Materials & Costs

What are the pros & cons of glazed internal doors?

Fully-glazed doors can add wow factor, letting in light, connecting spaces and creating a striking design feature. But they come at a price. “Glass is the most expensive component of a glazed door, hence why they are a more expensive option than an unglazed door,” says Simon Johnson, sales director at JB Kind. “This is perhaps the reason why glazed doors are usually only fitted as a feature in main living areas.”

Factors such as door frame material, the size of panels and configuration will all impact the final cost. “There’s a definite trend for internal heritage steel-look doors,” says Pat Garside, commercial manager at Deuren. “They have slim, thin frames and let in lots of light so they’re well-suited as internal doors.”

Heritage-style glazed doors continue to be a popular look. Wide spans, like this IDSystems setup, are a fantastic way to close off a space while still creating an open-plan feel

Sliding glass doors can be a striking and versatile way to partition off areas without eating into space. “Typically, in larger rooms, internal doors have needed fixed frame windows alongside them so even when they are open there is still a physical barrier in place,” says Edward Stobart, technical sales manager at IDSystems. “But the latest trend for sliding glass partitions means the panels can move into place when needed but can slide back when not required.”

IDSystems’ single glazed Sunflex sliding doors are available frameless or with aluminium glazing bars to match the look of traditional steel framed glass screens. “The Sunflex system is single glazed, so the glass specification remains relatively similar regardless of the design. Adding Art Deco-style heritage bars will increase the price, but for those seeking the steel look, they still remain significantly more cost-effective compared to forged steel frames.”

Which interior door opening style is right for your scheme? 

Another important consideration is how the doors open. From designs that swing on side hinges or around an axis through to those that can slide or fold back, the trick is to establish which style will best suit your space and budget.

Conventionally-opening, side-hinged single doors and double doors are the most familiar. Sliding doors are very effective in opening and closing off areas, particularly in open-plan layouts. They’re also a great way to save space in compact zones, as they don’t require room to swing.

In a pocket configuration, the door leaf slides into the wall cavity, as illustrated by this Eclisse Classic setup

You can take this one step further with a sliding pocket door, which glide away discreetly into wall cavities. Most internal sliding doors fall into one of these three categories:

• Pocket doors, whereby the leaf slides into a hollow space within the wall are one of the most popular choices as it offers a seamless look.
• Barn doors provide a more rustic feel where the door hinges on a visible track over the opening.
• Telescopic doors feature multiple linked door leaves, so as you move one, the others simultaneously move with it. They are then either neatly stacked to one side or housed within a designated wall cavity.

Doors that unfold in a concertina motion, known as bifolds, are another stylish choice for dividing rooms and creating a flexible living – and again save space versus side-hinged designs. They’re often priced per door panel. Finally, pivot doors that spin on an axis can add the wow.

Case study Oak frame self build in Wales with sliding internal doors

When Tony Cain retired early from the police force and began renovating houses, he and his wife Moira found a neglected piece of land in Ruthin – a pretty historical market town with a castle. The walled plot had once been the garden of a grade II listed church and already had consent for a four-bedroom red brick house. Having lived in an Edwardian property for many years, Tony and Moira weren’t keen on a modern style. “An oak frame house seemed much more in keeping.” The couple submitted a revised application, but the sensitive location created an extensive list of stipulations.

Photo: Nikhilesh Haval

“The plot was surrounded by an old 10ft stone wall on two sides with another stone wall through the middle, dividing the land in half,” says Moira. “It was overgrown and we wanted to change the design from the start. But we liked the location because it’s within walking distance of the town square, shops and amenities yet still has a countryside feel.”

Photo: Nikhilesh Haval

The couple went to a Build It Live show to investigate oak frame construction, where they discovered what they’d assumed might be an expensive way to build was, in fact, within their budget. Moira and Tony approached Welsh Oak Frame who were a natural fit for the project location, and one of the company’s schemes became their starting point.

The couple settled on a double-height entrance hall with an oak staircase. Downstairs is largely open plan while the upstairs bedrooms have vaulted ceilings with oak in the bathrooms. Tony and Moira chose sliding internal doors for a few of the room entrances inside the home – which have a charming, rustic style. In the bedroom, a sliding door connected to a top rail helps separate the main zone from a walk-in wardrobe and bathroom.

With previous renovation experience, Tony took on as much of the build as he could himself. Once the shell was up, which took around a week, he wrapped it with structural insulated panels (SIPs) and installed triple glazing supplied by Welsh Oak Frame, a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) system and an air source heat pump.

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How can you choose the right door furniture? 

Don’t underestimate the impact that glazing and door furniture can have, too. Introducing glazed panels can add style and enable sunshine to flow. Many ranges have glass elements available, while made-to-measure doors allow for a wealth of glazed configurations to set them apart.

The price you pay for this will depend on a whole host of factors, including whether you’re buying a standard door or going bespoke. For example, at Doors of Distinction you can buy an engineered oak four-panel door for around £180, but adding glazed panels or decorative glass will increase the price. At a high-end bespoke supplier, such as Urban Front, glazed panels start from £1,780 +VAT for 500mm x 2,100mm.

Including glazed elements in your internal doors will help light to flow and add character. Shown here is the Deco 4 panel clear glazed internal door in oak from Jeld-Wen

Ironmongery can also make a big impression, from door handles and knobs, to locks and hinges. Match your door furniture – such as stainless steel, bronze or matt black fittings – with the room’s overall interior scheme for a seamless look. “Door furniture is an extra cost that many forget to include in their budgets,” says Simon. “It is worth investing in quality ironmongery to ensure longevity and purchasing a handle pack is one way to save money, as everything you need to fit the door comes in the box.”

Price-wise, at Doors of Distinction you can buy a pair of stylish latch handles for £15-£30. At the top-end, Urban Front’s stainless steel handles, to match their bespoke doors, start from around £800 for a pair. Ultimately, “the higher the performance, the more a door will cost,” says Elizabeth. “Details like sound insulation, drop down fire door seals and specialist locking can all affect the price.”

How much do internal doors cost? 

The construction of internal doors has a major bearing on performance and price. At the high end are solid wood doors, which, as the name suggests, are made of natural timber throughout. Solid core or semi-solid core doors are the middle ground and typically have a dense, engineered centre to provide exceptional stability. At the other end of the spectrum are hollow core products, which tend to have a lightweight material inside and don’t feel as solid to use.

Simon Johnson, sales director at JB Kind, explains: “Like all products, the materials used within a door’s construction determine the price. A solid core door will cost more than a standard (hollow) core door, as more material is required.”

Major DIY stores have a wide range of interior door styles suiting different budgets. For instance, prices can start from as little as £36 for a white cottage-style door and range up to over £900 for a luxurious black-primed and glazed modern design. “Additional door styles to choose from include oak veneer, white primed, space saving bifold, French doors, glazed and fire doors, meaning there is something for every home,” says Chris from Wickes.

You’re likely to need more doors upstairs than downstairs. Shown here is the Belton door from JB Kind. Its single-panel design adds a modern touch to a classic look

Think about your internal door’s finishes, too. Wow-factor hardwood designs stand at the premium end of the market. “I would suggest a minimum budget for a high-quality doorset of around £2,000 + VAT,” says Elizabeth from Urban Front. “Opting for fire-rated doors will add to the cost, but could be a worthwhile investment. Our internal doors, which can be pivot or hinge, are handcrafted from hardwood, and start at £5,000 + VAT.”

Prices start at around £200 for JB Kind’s Tigris laminate door with a light grey coloured wood effect. Meanwhile, you’re looking at £220+ for a Tigris real oak veneered internal door. “A primed door is a good option if you are on a budget, but as they are not finished, you still have to factor in the cost of painting or varnishing the doors,” says Simon.

Floor-to-ceiling doors can provide a dramatic twist. “Standard sizes are usually what most clients look for to keep costs down,” says Elizabeth. “Full height doors that reach to the ceiling are very popular nowadays but this increases the cost.”

Of course, there are ways to be clever with your budget. “Consider investing in specialist finishes only on the ground floor or living areas and keep bedroom doors simple to reduce costs. Apply the same approach when deciding on the different sizes,” she says.