Entry Doors — Types & Styles

What to consider for looks, durability, security, and comfort—plus how to read performance labels.

What You’re Choosing When You Pick an Entry Door

Your entry door does more work than any other door in your home. It handles weather, gets used multiple times daily, needs to look good from the street, and serves as your first line of security.

Your decision comes down to three main choices: material (steel, fiberglass, or wood), glass configuration (how much light and where), and hardware (locks, handles, and how everything seals). Beyond those basics, check the NFRC label to compare performance — how well a door insulates (U‑factor), how much solar heat passes through glass (SHGC), how much daylight comes through (VT), and how tight the seal is when closed (AL).

This page walks through those decisions from a style and performance perspective. It does not cover installation steps or pricing; see linked pages for process, calculator, and financing.

Here’s what you’ll see:

What entry doors do and why material choice affects durability, maintenance, and appearance

Where entry doors work best on your home—front entrances, side entries, garage access points

Steel vs. fiberglass vs. wood—trade‑offs for looks, upkeep, and performance

Glass options and sidelites—balance natural light with privacy and efficiency

Hardware and security features—why multi‑point locks matter for both safety and comfort

How to read NFRC labels—what U‑factor, SHGC, VT, and AL mean in plain terms

Style options—panel designs, lite configurations, finishes, and matching your architecture

Where Do Entry Doors Work Best?

Front Entrances

The main access point and curb‑appeal anchor. Front entries get the most weather exposure—sun, rain, snow, wind—so material choice and finish matter. Covered entries expand your options; fully exposed entries benefit from fiberglass or steel.

Side Entries

Less formal, often used from driveway or yard. Function and sealing take priority. Steel is a durable, secure, budget‑friendly pick.

Attached Garage Entries

Where your garage connects to your home, building codes commonly require a fire‑rated door. Most homeowners choose steel for durability and security. High‑quality hardware is important here due to frequent daily use.

Exposure Factors

Sun exposure: South‑facing doors fade finishes; large glass increases solar heat (see SHGC).

Covered vs. uncovered: Overhangs help wood last; uncovered entries favor fiberglass or steel.

Steps & landing clearance: Ensure swing clearance; if adding a storm door, account for both swings.

What Are the Different Entry Door Materials?

Steel Entry Doors

Steel skins over a wood/composite frame with insulating foam cores. Durable, affordable, and low‑maintenance; can dent from hard impacts. Smooth or embossed wood‑grain looks; factory‑painted or primed. Check U‑factor on the NFRC label for insulation performance.

Fiberglass Entry Doors

Fiberglass skins over a wood/composite frame with foam core. Stable through temperature swings; resists warping, cracking, and rot. Mimics wood grain convincingly or comes smooth for modern looks; stain or paint as desired.

Wood Entry Doors

Premium, authentic look and feel (mahogany, oak, cherry, fir). Requires periodic finishing; more sensitive to exposure. Solid wood insulates naturally but generally less than foam‑core steel or fiberglass. Glass package often drives overall performance more than the slab.

Performance Note

For doors with glass—sidelites, transoms, or lites—the glass package affects energy performance more than the slab material. Compare U‑factor (insulation), SHGC (solar heat), VT (daylight), and AL (air leakage) on the NFRC label.

What Entry Door Glass Options Are Available?

Glass Types

Clear glass: maximum daylight, minimum privacy.

Frosted/textured glass: daylight with obscured view (reeded, seeded, rain, frosted).

Decorative glass: patterns/bevels/etches for style with partial privacy.

Performance Trade‑Offs

VT (Visible Transmittance): higher = brighter entry; lower = reduced glare/brightness.

SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient): lower helps reduce heat from sun‑exposed doors; higher can allow passive gains in winter.

Sidelites and Transoms

Sidelites and transoms add daylight without enlarging the slab. Ensure continuous weather‑seals at all transitions; check AL (air leakage) on labels—lower is better.

What Hardware and Security Features Matter?

Multi‑Point Locking Systems

Engage at top, middle, and bottom for stronger security and even compression around the frame—helping weatherstripping seal consistently compared to a single deadbolt.

Deadbolt Specifications

1‑inch throw (bolt extension into the strike).

ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 (highest) or Grade 2 for robust residential security.

Reinforced strike plate with long screws into wall framing.

Hinge Quality

Use long screws into framing; consider non‑removable hinge pins for outward‑swing doors.

Hardware Finishes

Oil‑rubbed bronze — dark, traditional

Satin nickel — neutral, modern

Polished brass — bright, classic

Matte black — contemporary

ADA‑Compliant Levers

Lever handles are easier to operate than knobs and support aging‑in‑place or reduced hand strength.

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How Do Entry Doors Affect Comfort and Air Sealing?

Air Leakage (AL) Rating

AL measures how much air passes when closed (lower is better). Sliding doors typically have higher AL than swing entry doors because panel interfaces and weatherstripping wear increase leakage over time.

Fit and Installation Quality

Alignment: frame level, plumb, square so gaps are consistent.

Weatherstripping: should compress slightly all around—no light showing.

Threshold seal: adjust sweeps/compression periodically; thresholds wear with use.

Seasonal Performance

Materials expand/contract with temperature/humidity. Wood changes the most; fiberglass and steel are more stable. In freeze‑thaw climates, moisture in gaps can expand and damage seals—proper fit and sealing prevent this.

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How to Read the NFRC Label

U‑Factor — Insulation

Lower means better resistance to heat flow; helps keep interiors comfortable year‑round.

SHGC — Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

Lower blocks more solar heat through glass; choose based on sun exposure and climate goals.

VT — Visible Transmittance

Higher lets in more daylight; balance with privacy needs and glare.

AL — Air Leakage

Lower indicates tighter seals and fewer drafts. Evaluate alongside fit and installation quality.

Using the Label

Balance all four metrics for your exposure and comfort goals.

Larger glass areas need better glass packages to maintain comfort.

Compare products side‑by‑side using the same NFRC fields.

What Entry Door Styles Are Available?

Panel Designs

2‑panel — simple, modern

3‑panel — Craftsman emphasis

4‑panel — balanced, traditional

6‑panel — classic American

Flush/slab — flat, minimal, contemporary

Lite Configurations

Half‑lite — upper half glass

3/4‑lite — larger glass for more light

Full‑lite — mostly glass with minimal framing

No lite — maximum privacy; use sidelites/transom if desired

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Grille Patterns

GBG (grilles‑between‑glass) — low maintenance

SDL (simulated divided lite) — dimensional look

Common patterns: Colonial, Prairie, Farmhouse

Privacy Textures

Reeded — vertical lines obscure view

Seeded — vintage bubble effect

Rain — water‑drop pattern

Frosted — uniform obscured finish

Etched — decorative patterns

Finish Options

Factory paint or stain — durable, controlled application

Primed — paint after install

Clear coats — show wood grain or wood‑look surfaces

Bare wood — finish before/after install as required

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Entry Doors — Types & Styles

What You’re Choosing When You Pick an Entry Door

Here’s what you’ll see:

Where Do Entry Doors Work Best?

Front Entrances

Side Entries

Attached Garage Entries

Exposure Factors

What Are the Different Entry Door Materials?

Steel Entry Doors

Fiberglass Entry Doors

Wood Entry Doors

Performance Note

What Entry Door Glass Options Are Available?

Glass Types

Performance Trade‑Offs

Sidelites and Transoms

What Hardware and Security Features Matter?

Multi‑Point Locking Systems

Deadbolt Specifications

Hinge Quality

Hardware Finishes

ADA‑Compliant Levers

How Do Entry Doors Affect Comfort and Air Sealing?

Air Leakage (AL) Rating

Fit and Installation Quality

Seasonal Performance

How to Read the NFRC Label

U‑Factor — Insulation

SHGC — Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

VT — Visible Transmittance

AL — Air Leakage

Using the Label

What Entry Door Styles Are Available?

Panel Designs

Lite Configurations

Grille Patterns

Privacy Textures

Finish Options

What Homeowners Say

Ready to Choose Your Entry Door?

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