What are the best front door colors to paint with? Enjoy this tour through a vast array of popular front door colors to take your curb appeal to the next level.
The Best Type of Wood for Front Doors
Making a statement with your front door starts with the best wood for the job
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The best wood for exterior doors depends on your budget and climate, with options ranging from cost-effective alder and maple to highly durable mahogany.
Expect to pay $550 to $2,400 for professional exterior door installation, with average costs around $1,500 depending on your home and door type.
Your front door choice should balance durability and maintenance needs, as softer woods like cedar require regular sealing while hardwoods offer longer lifespans.
Hiring a local door installation professional removes the guesswork from selecting and installing the right wood door, ensuring proper fit and weatherproofing for your home.
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Nothing quite makes a statement like your front door—it’s the first thing people see when they approach your house, and it’s where many family and friends greet you before stepping inside. Finding the best wood for front doors can be challenging with so many different types of wood, stains, and paint choices. But we’ve got your front entryway covered with these six types of wood for front doors.
| Type of Material | Average Lifespan (in Years) |
|---|---|
| Alder | 25 |
| Cedar | 30 |
| Cherry | 25 |
| Mahogany | 60 |
| Maple | 30 |
| White Oak | 30 |
1. Alder
Photo: peterspiro / iStock / Getty Images
Knotty red alder is a type of tree that grows on the West Coast, making it an abundant and oftentimes sustainable material for front doors. Alder comes in light beige to red-brown colors and has knot patterns that give it a rustic appearance.
At the same time, knotty alder is considered semi-hardwood because of its lower density and softness, making it less durable than other options. Still, if you live on the West Coast and are after an eco-friendly material for your front door, then alder may be a good choice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lower pricetag | Not as durable as other materials |
| Resistant to wear and tear | Less resistant to moisture |
| Often sustainably sourced | Stains unevenly |
Best for: Rustic homes on the West Coast
2. Cedar
Photo: Spiroview Inc. / Adobe Stock
Cedar is a popular wood material for all kinds of exterior carpentry projects, from wooden decks, fences, siding, and—you guessed it—doors. This type of wood comes in warm hues of light pink to dark red-brown and has textures ranging from fine to coarse, making it suitable for all kinds of home styles.
But what sets cedar apart from other woods is its natural resistance to rot, insects, and warping. Cedar contains fragrant resins and oils that give your home a fresh smell while protecting your door from the elements.
Keep in mind, however, that cedar is still a softwood, so it doesn’t have as long a lifespan as some of its hardwood competitors. Cedar can also be more expensive depending on the quality and how readily available it is in your area.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Rot-, warp-, and insect-resistant | Moderately priced |
| Lightweight and easier to install | Not as strong as hardwoods |
| Stain- and finish-friendly |
Best for: Homeowners looking for an economical front door with low exterior door maintenance requirements
3. Cherry
Photo: dpproductions / iStock / Getty Images
Cherry front doors are naturally red-brown in color and darken as they age. The wood contains straight grain patterns that help create a warm and traditional appearance that may fit colonial, Victorian, and Tudor-style homes well.
Cherry resembles mahogany without the higher price tag, but it still costs more than other types of wood for front doors. Because cherry wood is on the softer side of the hardness spectrum, your front door may have a higher risk of wear and tear.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Rich colors | Higher cost than average |
| More affordable than mahogany | Requires more maintenance |
| Highly durable | Darkens over time |
Best for: Colonial, Victorian, and Tudor-style homes
4. Mahogany
Photo: yenwen / Getty Images
Mahogany wood offers a straight grain and dark reddish or brown appearance that can transform even the most drab entryway into one that evokes regality. While there are several species of mahogany trees, the highest quality mahogany wood is one of the strongest and densest wood materials for a front door. Due to its strength, mahogany can withstand even the harshest outdoor environments, making it a good investment for your front door.
The main downsides to a mahogany front door include its high upfront cost, risk of becoming endangered from lack of availability, and susceptibility to discoloration in sunlight. When exposed to UV rays, mahogany darkens, which can surprise some homeowners and detract from the original appearance and color scheme.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stunning red-brown hue | High cost |
| Great insulator | Less renewable |
| Extremely durable | Can discolor in sunlight |
Best for: Homeowners looking to spend more upfront to save more in the long run
5. Maple
Photo: Xacto / iStock / Getty Images
Not every homeowner wants a dark or red-hued front door. That’s where maple comes in. Maple wood has a light beige color and discreet grain pattern, making it a solid choice for a front door. Modern and minimalist homes especially benefit from the clean look that maple offers. Maple is a hardwood that ranks high on the hardness scale, making it slightly stronger than white oak but weaker than mahogany.
On the downside, maple front doors are less water- or temperature-resistant than other top contenders. You’ll need to take extra maintenance steps, like regularly cleaning and resealing the door, to ensure your maple front door can withstand the tests of time.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Economical in cost | More prone to scratches |
| Easy to paint or stain | Susceptible to moisture and UV rays |
| Suitable for many home styles | Requires regular maintenance |
Best for: Modern-style homeowners looking for a modern flair for their front door
6. White Oak
Photo: peterspiro / iStock / Getty Images
White oak is a close competitor to maple when it comes to color and strength. It has a light cream or gold appearance and a coarse grain pattern. Installing one of these doors will result in a warm, inviting doorway suitable for contemporary, Mediterranean, and rustic styles alike. White oak wood also has closed-cell properties, making it more water resistant and suitable for humid climates.
There are two main cons to choosing white oak. Firstly, you’ll need to invest in more regular maintenance. Because white oak is lighter in color, dirt is more visible, meaning you’ll need to clean your front door more often. Secondly, the coarse-grain pattern makes white oak less suited to painting. You’re best off staining your oak wood door, as the grain pattern may show through the paint if you choose a lighter color.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Water-resistant | Less suited for painting |
| Easy to stain | More maintenance |
| Economical |
Best for: Those willing to invest extra in upkeep to maintain a clean appearance of a light-colored door
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Door services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
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- Sue B.
Terrible experience. Walls/trim/floors/cabinets/doors all have drip marks, overspray, etc. Tiling at the fireplace had to be redone by another vendor due to incorrect and shoddy install by Profect. Contractor had his children in our house while he was on site without prior authorization or...
Profect painting & exteriors - Maggie M.
Jason has helped me with multiple household projects, with the most recent being new door installation. He has always showed up on time and organized and has done an incredible job! Jason is very professional and he's now my go-to for anything around my house that needs to be fixed or...
Huff Garage Rescue, LLC - Thomas S.
Company came to look at my garage door that was off track. They also said I needed a brace on the other garage door. They put the door back on track, and I paid to install the brace. The technician told me I needed a new garage door opener, and it would cost $1000. Red flags went off in...
Precision Overhead Garage Door Service - Lisa S.
On Sunday 2/26 I requested quotes via Angi from 4 refrigerator repair businesses. Northwest Appliance responded to me Monday morning (2/27) and my refrigerator was repaired by noon the same day. Great communication, they did everything they said they would. The technician had the parts on...
- Warren C.
Excellent customer service and knowledge. I was recommend to him from my neighbour. My front door and window came in great and were installed beautifully perfectly, I m very satisfied with their excellent work, so decided to order one more big bow window for my living room. I cant wait for...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Matthew L.
Called ahead and worked quickly to install keyless locks on vintage wooden doors.
Expert Lock and Key, LLC - Lori M.
Scott did not get appropriate access to the property prior to the scheduled inspection which required us to come back later in the day to complete it. He also, unprofessionally, knocked on a neighbor?s door in his attempts to reach someone with access. His overall report was fine though the...
Security First Home Inspections - Gary K.
Door Depot was very responsive - they came out the day after my call to assess my needs, then returned at my convenience to complete the work. They arrived early, and the work was completed in a shorter period of time than estimated. Very pleased with the results. I would definitely use them...
Door Depot LLC - Jim L.
Replace garage doors: Fast response, competitive estimate, timely work done well.
Village Garage Door - Dana M.
Jeremiah did an awesome job cleaning 28 windows inside and out! He was fast, efficient and now I have a beautiful view again. This was a Groupon for $139 for 20 windows, but I had 28 windows/doors cleaned, so there was an extra $6 per window. Totally worth it.
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