Exterior doors don't only refer to the front door of a home. According to the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, "manufactured homes shall have a minimum of two exterior doors located remote from each other." While some tiny homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and other dwellings with limited square footage might only have one front door due to space limitations, most homes will be required by law to have at least two entries. Not only is this practical for entering and leaving home, but a safety precaution in the event of fires and other disasters that require easy exit from a building.
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An exterior doors' cost varies widely depending on the type of door, the materials included, and the insulation value. Solid wood front doors can cost thousands of dollars, while inexpensive fiberglass doors can cost as low as $200. You can expect to pay an average of $988 for installation alone if you choose to hire someone to install your exterior door.
One of the most inexpensive options that will not sacrifice insulation capacity is steel doors that incorporate insulation. This option offers less customization than wood or fiberglass alternatives but can be functional and high performance while providing a smooth, attractive, and durable replacement for your exterior doors.
If having a comfortable home is your priority, there is a growing selection of Passive House doors out there. These exterior doors have multiple seals and locking points and have an R-value of 10 or higher. These doors offer twice the insulation value as a typical door. If you're planning to spend $3,000 to $8,000 on a door, then a Passive House door is worth looking at.
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Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.
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The exterior doors of homes have long played an essential part in architectural history. From the significance of front doors for the Jewish Passover festival to the elaborate doors of castles adorned with aristocratic families' crests, exterior doors are a defining feature of the homes we inhabit. The exterior cladding, landscaping, and other features can certainly draw attention, but exterior doors act as a passageway and introduction to the buildings we live in.
Choosing the best exterior door doesn't only help draw attention to the attractiveness of your home but can affect your house's energy efficiency and thermal performance. Unfortunately, many door manufacturers focus on the aesthetic qualities of the exterior doors that they make while disregarding the efficiency qualities these doors should incorporate. Because exterior doors connect our home to the outside world, energy efficiency measures are of the utmost importance.
We have looked over hundreds of exterior doors offered by dozens of manufacturers. What follows is a complete review that will help you choose the most eye-appealing doors that are functional, energy-efficient, and practical for your household needs.
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By Tobias Roberts, Rise Writer
Mar 10, 2025 · 6 min read
Of course, a back patio door can be designed to drastically increase your home's living area by connecting the house to an outdoor living space. Even for tiny homes, an extra door can be designed to open up to a connected greenhouse, which increases the home's insulation while offering the opportunity to grow your vegetables.
There are different standard dimensions and features for the varying types of exterior doors, which include:
There are hundreds of different types of exterior doors on the market. How can homeowners make an educated decision about which kind of door is best for their particular needs?
The United States Department of Energy states that "your home's exterior doors can contribute significantly to air leakage, and can also waste energy through conduction, especially if it's old, uninsulated, improperly installed, and/or improperly air sealed. Weatherstripping can reduce energy losses due to air leakage."
When searching for the best exterior door, then, the following criteria should be taken into consideration:
No matter what type of door you have, weatherstripping your doors and windows should be a priority. There is no better way to quickly and cheaply stop air leaks and improve your home's energy efficiency than by purchasing a DIY weatherstripping kit for your doors and windows. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates "that caulking and weatherstripping any gaps will pay for itself within one year in energy savings."
For homeowners who do not want to invest in new exterior doors, weather stripping can significantly improve the performance of even the oldest of doors. To weather strip an old door, you will first want to remove the old weather stripping. Caulking and other sealants (VOC-free, if possible) only require an inexpensive caulking gun and a steady hand. More advanced options include a rigid aluminum bar and a rubber gasket. You might have to use a hacksaw to cut the aluminum weatherstrip to the right size before attaching it with screws to the door's bottom exterior surface. You can use the same aluminum pieces of weather stripping for the side jambs, floor jambs, and the door's head jamb.
Installing your exterior door is undoubtedly a challenge, but it can save you money and allow you to upgrade to more elaborate and higher performance door options. Most replacement exterior doors are pre-hung with jambs, brick molding, and the necessary hardware, which takes away some of the work. While the exact installation requirements will depend on the type of door, the kind of frame, and the exterior cladding of your home, the following steps can be helpful.
Installing an exterior door on your home is a fun DIY project that can help you improve your home's energy efficiency and attractiveness.
