How Much Does It Cost to Install a Pocket Door? [2026 Data]

Normal Range: $800 - $2,500

Most homeowners will pay around $1,050 to install a pocket door, but the cost can jump to as much as $4,250, depending on materials, the size of the door, and if any demolition is required.

How we get this data
A pocket door in a spacious interior
Photo: Casa imágenes / Adobe Stock
A pocket door in a spacious interior
Photo: Casa imágenes / Adobe Stock
Cost Insights
  • The type of pocket door you install affects the overall project cost and ranges between $550 and $7,000, depending on size and style.

  • Your door material also influences pricing, with solid wood ranging from $600 to $2,200 and more budget-friendly hollow-core ranging between $500 and $800.

  • You can expect to spend between $350 and $600 on labor for a six-hour pocket door installation.

  • Additional pros may be required if you plan to retrofit a pocket door into an existing wall, adding between $50 and $2,500 to overall project costs.

Pocket doors can help you preserve precious square footage while enhancing your home with an interesting design element. It costs an average of $1,050 to install a pocket door, but prices typically range from $800 to $2,500. The cost to install a pocket door comes down to factors such as whether you're installing the door during a remodeling project or a new home build.

Pocket Door Installation Cost Factors 

So, what is a pocket door? A pocket door slides into an adjacent wall instead of swinging outward. Just like any type of door, you have your pick of stylistic choices, sizes, materials, and construction options—all of which can impact the final cost. Pocket doors also require more extensive alterations to the surrounding wall, including demolition, electrical, plumbing, and even HVAC costs.

Type of Pocket Door

The type of pocket door you choose can impact the project's cost, which ranges from $550 to $7,000.

Pocket Door TypeCost for RetrofitCost for New Construction
Single$1,550–$2,950$550–$1,850
Double $1,700–$4,200$800–$3,300
French$2,500–$7,000$750–$1,850

Single Pocket Doors

A single pocket door is a standard door that costs between $550 and $1,850 for new construction and $1,550 to $2,950 for retrofitting. This type of door is your most basic pocket door and costs less than other options.

Double Pocket Doors

If your doorway has two doors, you’ll need to invest in double pocket doors, which range from $800 to $3,300 for new construction and $1,700 to $4,200 to retrofit. Each of these doors slides into its side of the wall, meaning you’ll pay double the labor costs to have them installed.

French Pocket Doors

The average French pocket door costs between $750 and $1,850 for new construction and between $2,500 and $7,000 to retrofit. These higher costs are due to the additional weight of glass and the complexity of framing the door, both of which increase the time it takes to install the door.

Pocket Door Size 

Door installation costs commonly come down to the size of the door, particularly when a large door and door frame alter the structure of a room. Standard door sizes apply to pocket doors just as they do with any design, ranging from 24 to 36 inches wide and 80 inches high. That being said, you'll find custom-made wide pocket doors as well, such as when separating large living areas or a wide closet opening. Here's what to expect from pocket door costs by size.

Pocket Door Width (Inches)Cost for RetrofitCost for New Construction
32$1,350–$2,200$450–$1,500
34$1,400–$2,800$500–$1,600
36$1,550–$2,950$550–$1,850
46$1,600–$3,100$600–$1,900
48$1,600–$3,800$700–$2,800
60$1,700–$4,200$800–$3,300

Pocket Door Material

6 pocket door materials compared, with hollow core being easy to glide but prone to damage

You can choose from budget-friendly pocket door materials to eye-catching additions such as glass or aluminum panels. You also have more flexibility when replacing an interior door since you don’t have to worry as much about security, insulation, and changes in the weather. 

Pocket doors, however, are still lightweight and sturdy, and they serve a practical purpose between two rooms. Here are some pocket door prices to consider, based on the door panel you choose.

Material Cost (Materials and Installation)
Solid Wood$600–$2,200
Hollow Core$500–$800
Glass$550–$2,200
Fiberglass$600–$1,000
Aluminum$600–$2,200
Chalkboard$500–$2,200

Labor 

If you hire a local general contractor to install a pocket door, you'll need to pay labor costs. Labor costs usually range from $350 to $600 for a six-hour installation, but if your project requires extensive demolition, electrical, and/or plumbing work, your costs can reach much higher.

Additionally, the urgency of your needs could result in upcharged labor costs. For example, urgent projects almost always come with an emergency fee or a higher hourly rate for after-hours or weekend work. When looking at over 22,000 Angi customers, a total of 29% of homeowners required a pro urgently for interior door installation.

If you’re retrofitting a pocket door into an existing wall, there may be a few other contractors you’ll need to help with the project:

  • Structural engineer: Installing a pocket door requires a structural engineer near you to open and clear a portion of the wall to build the pocket itself. The cost of wall demolition for pocket door installation ranges between $1,200 and $2,500. A large portion of these costs goes toward labor.

  • Electrician: You may need to hire an electrician to navigate wiring behind drywall. The cost of an electrician ranges between $50 and $130 an hour, plus the cost of materials like wiring, which costs about $6 per linear foot

  • Plumber: Contact a plumber to handle any pipes or gas lines in the way of your pocket door installation. Since the cost of replacing pipes can get quite hefty—an average of $1,250—this could determine whether this is the right spot for a pocket door or whether a pocket door alternative is best. 

  • HVAC technician: Moving a radiator or air ducts can also add significant construction costs to this otherwise straightforward project. In some cases, a trained contractor will be able to work around major hardware without disruption. However, air duct replacement costs between $450 and $2,200, and $150 to $450 extra for the cost to replace a baseboard heater.

Why You Should Hire a Contractor for Pocket Door Installation

Pocket door installation requires extensive demolition, plumbing, and electrical work in most cases. This is especially true when installing a pocket door during a remodeling project rather than a new build. Hiring a local general contractor brings specialized equipment and experience to your project, making the process smoother and often saving you money in the long run.

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a contractor for pocket door installation

Installing a pocket door is a major renovation project that requires specialized equipment. Here are some of the top reasons to work with a pro:

  • A contractor can handle modifications to your wall’s structure, which is crucial if the wall is load-bearing and requires reinforcement to maintain integrity.

  • They can correctly reframe the wall opening to accommodate the pocket, a task that is difficult and risky for DIYers due to hidden wires, pipes, or studs.

  • Pros know how to ensure the track and hardware are level and square, preventing the door from sticking, wobbling, or failing over time.

  • Existing walls often contain electrical wiring and plumbing that contractors can safely identify and reroute.

  • Contractors are experienced in performing the necessary demolitions with minimal mess and can repair the surrounding drywall, patching, taping, and painting for a clean finish.

If you want to DIY pocket door installation

If you want to take on some aspects of the project yourself, here are a few DIY tasks that can help save time and labor costs:

  • If you are replacing an existing door, remove the old door yourself ahead of time to save on overall labor costs.

  • Remove obstacles, furniture, and decorations from the area to create a clear workspace prior to installation.

  • If you’re planning a larger renovation, schedule the pocket door installation at the same time to take advantage of the contractor’s presence.

  • Repaint the wall yourself after the installation is complete to save on the final finishing costs.

Ways to Save Money on Pocket Door Installation Costs

If the cost of installing a pocket door snuck up on you, there are ways to keep your budget to a minimum. Whether this is a DIY project or not, there are plenty of simple ways to lower your bottom line.

  • Install the pocket door with other projects, such as during a renovation.

  • Speak with at least three contractors and compare prices.

  • Keep a flexible schedule to take advantage of holiday and seasonal sales.

  • Opt for a hollow-core door to keep material costs low. 

  • Opt for a wall that does not contain wiring, plumbing, or HVAC hardware.

  • Repurpose an existing door slab by changing out the hardware placement.

  • DIY small details of the project, such as replacing and painting the drywall

Next Steps: Finalize Your Project With a Pro
  • Discuss where you want the door placed and confirm if the wall is load-bearing to avoid structural damage.

  • Check for and plan to relocate any electrical wires or plumbing pipes within the wall where the pocket door will be created.

  • Discuss the potential need to reconfigure HVAC ducts if they run through the wall.

  • Talk to your pro about which side of the wall should house the pocket door, as it’s difficult to place electrical outlets or switches on the side where the door slides.

  • Consider whether you plan to attach heavy items to the wall later to plan the best placement for your door with the contractor.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can install a pocket door in an existing wall in many scenarios. Construction only becomes more complicated if the wall is load-bearing or contains HVAC, plumbing, or electrical hardware. However, many homeowners choose to install pocket doors into existing walls if they enhance the design of the room.

Installing a pocket door can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours, plus the time for the paint to dry. The project could take up to a couple of days if a professional also needs to move plumbing or HVAC vents from the wall.

Pocket and standard doors are similar in price, but pocket doors cost more to install than standard doors. Professionals usually charge around $150 to $200 to hang a standard door. But if you're installing a pocket door on an existing wall, you'll likely pay between $1,000 and $3,500

While a pocket door can be a smart decision to add privacy in a small space, it most likely won’t increase home value. Pocket doors can sometimes be difficult to maintain, and they can pose a challenge to those with mobility issues. But generally speaking, adding an interior door where privacy is needed will be a benefit to homebuyers.

Removing a pocket door essentially involves building a new wall, which costs between $1,000 and $3,200. Depending on your unique project, you might need to add waste removal, plumbing, mold remediation, or electrical services, which can further drive up costs.

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