Entry Doors Versus Interior Doors

Material – Interior doors are usually made out of one single material like fiberboard or wood, while exterior doors are oftentimes made out of many different materials like wood with a reinforced metal frame. Entry doors are also often made out of metal, while interior doors are almost never made out of metal.  

Thickness – Entry doors need to be thick and heavy to not only keep out the outside weather, but also to provide extra security and durability. Interior doors are usually very thin, as they don’t need to stand up to elements, intruders, or harsh conditions.  

Core – Entry doors are almost always solid all the way through, either with the same material or with a wood or foam center. Conversely, interior doors generally have a hollow or honeycomb core. Some higher quality interior doors have solid cores, and there are a few mid-range models that have a wood fiber core to mimic the heavy feel and noise reduction of a higher quality door.  

Insulation – Interior doors don’t separate the inside from the outside, so they don’t need to have any insulation. Entry doors need to have at least some insulation to protect the home from exterior temperatures. There are higher quality entry doors with extra insulation to help control energy costs, like steel doors with foam cores that help keep hot summer air or chilly winter winds from entering the home.  

Appearance – Some interior and entry doors share similar appearances and features, including raised panels and face decorations. However, its more common for entry doors to have decorative panels on one or both sides, while if an interior door has decoration its almost always on both sides. Also, entry doors are much more likely to have frosted glass or other decorative elements, while glass is not common in interior doors. French style doors are the exception.  

Price – Interior doors are lighter and less detailed, so they are generally less expensive. Entry doors need to stand up to a lot of use and outdoor elements, and therefore need to be built more solid and more expensive.