The Best Material For Your Front Door

Looking to upgrade your front door or maybe you’re in the process of building your custom home and want to choose the right door that perfectly suits your needs. Before picking the style that matches your taste, first consider the type of material that you want your door to be crafted from. 

To help you choose we’ve gathered the top six most common materials that front doors are made from. From wood, to steel, aluminum and more—this list will help you narrow down the perfect door material that suits your needs and your budget. *

The Best Materials to Use For Your Front Door

When looking to choose the type of door that you want for your home, the first thing that you will need to consider is what it will be made from. You’ll be weighing several factors such as durability, home design, personal style, and budget. To help you decide, here are the most used materials that make up most front doors.

Wood

Wood is a naturally energy-efficient material and is the most common material that is used to build doors. Able to be used in a variety of home styles, it can be solid, paneled, engineered wood, and can even include metal or glass panels for a decorative touch. The most used wood types for these doors are oak, mahogany, elm, beech, and sycamore. Using solid wood isn’t as budget friendly but offers major durability and charm to a home’s entrance.

Average cost range for wood door: $400 - $1,800
Additional average cost range to add sidelights: $1,200 - $4,100
Average cost range for installation: $500 - $1,900

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Steel

One of the strongest and most durable materials to use for a front door is steel. These doors often feature a solid panel with an inner frame that is commonly made from steel but can also use wood or foam. Steel doors are easy to paint, they will not crack or warp, and most of the time they are more budget-friendly than wood doors.

Average cost range for steel door: $100 - $1,000
Additional average cost range to add sidelights: $700 - $3,000
Average cost range for installation: $500 - $1,900

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Fiberglass

Incredibly durable and versatile, fiberglass doors are a popular choice for homeowners as they require minimal maintenance and won’t chip or dent the way a wood or steel door may over time. Fiberglass doors can also be made to mimic wood and aren’t affected by humidity. These doors are more affordable than wood doors but are slightly more expensive than ones made of steel.

Average cost range for fiberglass door: $200 - $2,700
Additional average cost range to add sidelights: $700 - $3,800
Average cost range for installation: $500 - $1,900

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Aluminum

An ultra-strong material, aluminum makes for an excellent choice for a door. Doors made from aluminum typically feature a wooden or foam core and require minimum maintenance. They are known to be strong, reliable, and durable enough to last for many decades. These doors are also recyclable which make them a great choice for homeowners who value sustainability. 

Due to the powder coating placed over aluminum doors, these doors never require painting and will never rust. One of the most expensive materials on this list, aluminum doors are a hefty investment but will last a homeowner for up to 60 years with minimal to no maintenance.

Average cost range for aluminum door: $900 - $2,400
Additional average cost range to add sidelights: $1,200 - $3,500
Average cost range for installation: $500 - $1,900

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Wrought Iron

Wrought iron doors are often custom made to the exact designs and specifications of the buyer. These doors are often quite ornate with decorative enhancements which can range from traditional to contemporary and often feature glass panels for a stylish touch. 

Wrought iron doors are very sturdy and low maintenance. Though they are pricey from the get-go, due to their durability, homeowners find them as a cost-saving choice over time.

Average cost range for standard wrought iron door: $2,000 - $12,000
Additional average cost range to add sidelights: $2,600 - $5,000
Average cost range for installation: $500 - $1,900

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Composite

Composite doors can be crafted out of a variety of materials and usually have a solid timber core. They can be made from a range of materials like uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride), laminate, foam, and glass-reinforced plastic. 

Thanks to the material it is made from, composite doors are very weather resistant, easy to maintain, energy efficient, are strong and durable. Composite doors can feature a range of styles too, from traditional to modern—the versatility of this door type is endless.

One of the most advanced types of doors that are currently available, composite doors take the best parts of other materials and use them most effectively. Due to its characteristics, these robust doors are one of the most expensive doors on the market.

Average cost range for door: $500 - $3,000
Additional average cost range to add sidelights: $700 - $3,800
Average cost range for installation: $500 - $1,900

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Choose the Perfect Front Door for Your Custom Home with 5th Avenue Construction

Are you ready to choose your perfect front door and build your custom dream home? With a trusted and professional builder like 5^th Avenue Construction you can be rest assured that every step of the way will be as smooth and stress-free as possible thanks to their decades  long experience in the business.

Contact the experts at 5^th Avenue Construction at (331) 255-7500 or at info@5thavemgmt.com and begin your home building journey today.

*The cost range prices above are based on national averages and are referenced from homeguide.com’s article ‘2023 Cost to Install Exterior Door | Front Door Prices’