When you're planning to replace a door, knowing the different types of doors can help you find the right one. Slab doors are one of the most common types and provide a simple, customizable option for adding new doors or replacing old ones. Our guide outlines what a slab door is and why it might be the best fit for your DIY project.

What Is a Slab Door?

A slab door is just the basic, flat panel that comes without a frame, hardware, or hinges. Though some slab doors come with a precut hole for the door knob, you'll need to purchase the hardware separately. Slab doors are an excellent option for when you want to replace a door but not the doorframe or for if your doorframe isn't a standard size.

When installing a slab door, you'll first need to install hinges to attach the slab door to the frame. You'll also have to measure the slab door and existing door frame carefully, taking note of where the lockset and latch will be. You might need to trim the bottom or sides of the door to ensure the door fits properly.

Benefits

• Slab doors are much less expensive than prehung doors.
• There are plenty of size options available, and you can cut slab doors to size if your doorway has non-standard dimensions.
• You can retrofit a new slab door on an existing frame, saving you the time and carpentry that you'd need to build a new frame.

Considerations

• Because you often have to cut a slab door to the right size, it can be somewhat difficult to achieve both a tight fit and a simple swing.
• Slab doors are easier to move or carry than prehung doors.
• They might require extra tools since they aren't already attached to the door frame like prehung doors.

Tip!

When choosing the right door for your reno project, you might need to consider prehung vs. slab doors. Learn more about the differences between these two door types with our guide Prehung vs. Slab Door: What Is the Difference?.

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