Steel doors are a staple in modern homes. Here’s why they remain one of the most versatile choices for homeowners.
Steel front doors and interior doors are classic, timeless, and have limitless aesthetic appeal. Many homeowners have made the upgrade, empowered by the versatile designs and custom options many steel doors offer.
Considering an upgrade? Clark Hall’s design specialists support homeowners through the entire process, from the first sketches of custom door design options to your door’s final installation.
In this guide, our experts dive into the top 2025 steel door styles, with key benefits and drawbacks to help you choose the right option for your home. Read on to learn more.
Pros and Cons of Steel Doors
Beyond aesthetic appeal, steel doors offer a range of benefits that improve your home’s security and energy efficiency. Below are key features you can expect from upgrading to steel doors.
Pros
Enhanced Home Security
Steel doors offer a level of security and durability that is unmatched by other types of entry doors. They’re one of the strongest metals available, deterring intruders and natural risks alike. For example, many steel doors are heat resistant (and can be fire-rated), offering you extra peace of mind and protection of your space. In earthquake-prone regions, steel doors and steel frames provide the safest option, combining their lightweight design with incredible strength.
Increased Energy Efficiency
Steel doors are incredibly energy efficient. Many experts believe they can outperform fiberglass and wood entry door options. The question on many homeowners’ minds is: How?
The key to cutting energy costs with your steel door lies in its construction. An average steel door is two slabs of steel filled with core material, buffering any heat or cold loss as the seasons change. Their ability to maintain temperature makes steel doors a popular choice and the best material for homeowners who live in extreme climates.
Low Maintenance Requirements
Steel doors are low-maintenance, durable, and resistant to excessive sunlight that can cause doors to fade and warp. They hide wear and tear better than wood, even with heavy use and direct sun exposure.
Most homeowners clean their steel doors just once or twice per year. Annual touch-ups may be needed to cover hairline scratches or dings that are bound to happen. If you live in more humid conditions, however, you might consider a more rigorous cleaning schedule.
To maintain your steel door and enjoy it for a lifetime, check out our comprehensive care and cleaning guide.
Limitless Customization Options
Steel doors offer limitless customization options across style, color, and hardware. Solid steel doors can be offset or framed by glass sidelights and transoms for a secondary natural light source. If your home is currently being built, you can also reach out to your design expert to ask about available custom frame options. Even if you have traditional front door ideas, they can often be done with steel over traditional wood.
Cons
As with any home improvement project, installing steel doors has pros and cons. However, the biggest disadvantages of installing steel doors are related to cost.
Higher Upfront Costs
Steel doors require a higher cost upfront than other types of doors, but have fewer maintenance costs later on. You might pay several thousand dollars for high-end steel doors, and a custom steel door can start around $10K for a single door or a smaller double door (including the glass, hardware, and installation).
Key Considerations When Buying Steel Doors
Ready to make a change? Here are a few key factors to consider before purchasing your steel door:
Quality of Steel
The quality of your steel matters, whether you’re looking at a single door, double steel doors, or any other variation. Clark Hall uses 14-gauge steel door panels, widely regarded as one of the best types of steel for doors. This gauge of steel creates a strong outer shell for your exterior door and is commonly found in steel doors used in commercial buildings. It’s a good option for homes facing unpredictable weather conditions like in Tennessee or the strong coastal winds of Charleston, as it lends strength to both the door and the frame.
Door Core
The two most common door cores for steel doors are polystyrene and polyurethane. While both provide soundproofing and energy efficiency benefits, polyurethane door cores (which is what Clark Hall uses) are best for those in wetter climates.
Polystyrene doors tend to have air pockets and gaps between the two steel slabs, which can allow moisture buildup over time if the door skin (or slabs) is compromised. For this reason, many favor polyurethane cores.
Finishing Options
Finishing options for your door can be customized to your preference and effortlessly boost the curb appeal of your home. You can opt for a burst of color or a neutral hue. Clark Hall offers several custom colors to choose from, including Burnt Copper, Cinnamon, Slate, and more.
How Much Do Steel Doors Cost?
When selecting a steel door, the goal is to find something both high-quality and cost-effective. Understanding steel door pricing and how costs vary widely across the industry can help you make the best decision for your home.
Factors That Impact Steel Door Costs:
- Extra-wide or double door configurations
- Custom hardware finishes (brass, matte black)
- Textured or insulated glass inserts
- Pivot doors
- Decorative elements such as iron scrollwork or engraving
- Installation requirements and location
Your Clark Hall design specialist can discuss pricing options with you to find the door that suits your style and budgetary needs.
Top 4 Steel Door Types for Your Home
Any steel door is a strong addition to your home’s design. The safety and noise control benefits are invaluable, providing homeowners with an immediately noticeable difference.
If you’re looking for inspiration, we recommend starting with the top four steel door options available on the market and tailoring them to your specific design preferences. Many homeowners transform their doors with modern, traditional, or ornate styles.
1. Single Iron Doors
Single iron doors are long-lasting doors that offer uncompromised strength and versatility, supporting a range of design styles. They can be minimalist with clean lines for modern and contemporary designs. Paired with a rustic finish, single iron doors complement modern styles. In traditional homes, single iron doors can be ornate with grand flourishes.
Homeowners using this type of iron door for their entryway often include custom glass inserts or transoms for additional natural light.
2. Double Iron Doors
Double iron doors are one of the best steel doors for your home, offering a touch of modernity and a wider entry point to emphasize clean lines or geometric designs.
Double iron doors can be accentuated with textured glass windows, intricate curves, or ornate wrought iron scrollwork to complement traditional designs.
3. French Iron Doors
French iron doors are meant to be a focal point of your living space. They seamlessly connect the exterior to the interior, giving you near–limitless views of your space and pair well with sleek modern and contemporary styles.
Many homeowners who live in small- and mid-size homes enjoy the spacious illusion that these types of doors create, but they are suitable for all types and sizes of living spaces.
4. Pivot Iron Doors
Pivot doors are a fantastic statement piece, functioning a bit differently than your average door. These doors swing on a pivot hinge, with both planes of the door extending inside and outside when the door is used. As a result, they effortlessly open your space and extend your entryway, which is ideal for homeowners looking to offer more vertical or horizontal space.
The pivot hinge is perfect for handling large, heavy doors for bold architectural statements, which are hallmarks of modern and contemporary designs.
If you’re feeling inspired by the idea of a pivot door, be sure to check out our pivot front door ideas.
How Steel Doors Compare
With the benefits of steel doors in mind, explore how steel doors compare to other popular front door materials like iron, fiberglass, and wood.
Iron vs. Steel Doors
Both are metal-based, but iron doors require less maintenance, while steel doors are more durable, energy-efficient, and offer superior security. While standard iron door designs may cost less, pricing becomes comparable for ornate designs. For a more in-depth comparison, visit our iron vs. steel doors page.
Steel vs. Wood Doors
While wood doors are more affordable, steel outperforms them in every other category. Steel is more durable, much more secure, requires less maintenance, and offers superior insulation to wood doors.
Fiberglass vs. Steel Doors
Fiberglass doors offer a wider variety of design options and require less maintenance than steel doors. Steel doors surpass fiberglass in durability, security, and long-term cost-effectiveness.
Steel Door Installation
Once your steel door is designed, installation is fast and seamless. Our professional in-house installation team transforms your entrance in just a few hours, weather permitting.
Utilizing professional installation from Clark Hall for your custom door ensures that it will be done right — and quickly. Contact us when you’re ready to make your entryway pop!
Why Choose Clark Hall?
Clark Hall is the leading provider of custom steel entry doors. From the first call to Clark Hall, our in-house team works with you through every phase of the design and execution process, offering white-glove experience and industry-expert support as you perfect your space.
After you design your door with our specialists, you can finalize your hardware, finishes, silhouettes, and windows on a completely custom basis. Once you’ve finalized your design, our in-house install team will arrive to bring your vision to life. After installation, you can enjoy your upgrade for years to come — as well as the peace of mind that you’re covered by one of the best warranties in the industry.
Considering designing your own? Clark Hall’s experts are here for you. We understand how valuable your custom iron doors can be to your property and are here to support you through every stage of the design and execution. Connect with us today to work with an expert and start your home improvement process. It’s our pleasure to serve you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which grade of steel is best for a door?
The best steel for home exterior doors ranges from 20-gauge to 22-gauge steel for balancing cost with security and durability. Homeowners in more severe climates should consider upgrading to 16-gauge or 18-gauge steel for added strength.
Level 4 (maximum duty) 14-gauge steel doors often use galvanized steel for superior corrosion resistance, making them ideal for coastal areas or homes where security is a top priority.
What are the potential disadvantages of a steel door?
The main disadvantages of steel doors are higher upfront costs compared to wood or fiberglass, susceptibility to rust without proper maintenance, and heavier weight that may require additional structural support.
What is the best exterior door for a house?
Steel doors are the most secure exterior door material. They are extremely durable, difficult to break into, and offer extensive customization options with modern styles. Their energy-saving benefits and weather resistance make steel the best exterior door choice.
