Interior vs. Exterior Door

The main difference between interior and exterior doors is obvious in that interior doors are constructed to suit the needs of interior floors plans and exterior doors are constructed to perform according to exterior needs. When shopping for doors your first consideration will be whether you need interior or exterior doors.

Interior and exterior doors have several small distinct differences. Their function, performance, appearance and construction are all totally different because of the requirements and standards set for each. For example, exterior doors need to be heavy duty and should be weatherproof and painted or stained with a quality product to help it endure the outside elements. They also usually have a sturdy lock system to prevent intruders from entering into the home.

There are different types of doors for each category. Exterior doors generally include front entry doors, back doors, French doors, glass sliding doors, and patio doors. Interior doors are typically classified as hinged doors, sliding glass doors, sliding wooden doors, pocket doors, bi-fold doors, and multi-fold doors. Many manufacturers make both interior and exterior doors, but they are often treated as totally separate product lines.