Pocket Door Installation Costs at a Glance

• Installation price range: $600-$1,500
• Average installation cost: $700
• Installation in new construction: $100-$500
• Installation in existing home: $1,000-$2,500
• Hollow-core door: $120-$400
• Solid wood door: $400-$2,000

Your home has all types of doors, from traditional hinged doors to sliding screen ones. Hinged doors are typically the cheapest and easiest to install, but they can get in the way in a small home or high-traffic area. An alternative option is a pocket door, which disappears when you open it.

Here’s a breakdown of pocket door installation costs to help you plan for this home improvement project.

What Is a Pocket Door?

Pocket doors are thin doors that slide back and forth on a track. They’re kind of like sliding glass doors, but they're used as interior doors and slide into the wall when opened. They use a track that helps them glide open and closed. They're ideal in small rooms where a swinging door would get in the way, and they give the feeling of an archway when they're open.

How Much Does It Cost to Put a Pocket Door In?

According to Fixr, the average pocket door installation cost ranges from $600 to $1,500, with a national average of $700. Some people spend a lot more — upwards of $4,000 — depending on the door material and overall project. If you're retrofitting an existing home, the labor costs increase significantly because the project requires a lot of updates to the existing wall.

Several factors influence the price of the door itself, including the size, which typically ranges from 2 to 4 feet. Buying a larger door naturally costs more than a narrower pocket door. The material is another major pricing factor. A hollow-core door is the cheapest, usually ranging from $120 to $400 for the door. Solid wood can cost from $400 to $2,000. The type of door frame and trim you choose can also increase the project cost.

Installing a pocket door in a new construction home is the cheapest option, with the labor typically costing between $100 and $500. If you're having a pocket door installed in an existing home, the installation can cost you between $1,000 and $2,500.

Can You Put a Pocket Door in Any Wall?

Not all walls are large enough to accommodate a pocket door. The entire width of the door needs to fit into the wall recess. If there's only a short length of wall next to the door, it might not be large enough to hold the full door. Plumbing, electrical wiring, built-in shelves and other built-in structures in the wall can also interfere with the pocket door.

Load-bearing walls can also be tricky. You'll likely need to have a different support system installed since the studs have to be removed for the pocket door. Check local building codes to determine the requirements for a pocket door in a load-bearing wall.

There are also some situations that aren't ideal for a pocket door. They don't seal tightly like a regular door, and there aren't secure locking mechanisms for them. When you want a door that closes more securely, a pocket door isn't a good match.

How Long Does It Take to Install a Pocket Door?

The length of the installation process often depends on how much work you have to do to accommodate the door. A professional can tackle the job in less than a day. If you're doing the work yourself, it could take a day or two for all of the work. You'll need to remove the drywall, cut out the studs, install the track and door and install new drywall. If you have to have plumbing or electrical fixtures moved, the process takes longer.