Cost to Install a Pocket Door – 2021

| Last Updated: August 22, 2021

National Average Improvement and Repair Cost

Pro

DIY

Hours:

10.5

17

Cost:

$ 567

$ 225

Would you do this project? According to our survey, 49% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.

The average price to Install a Pocket Door noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.

How much is a pocket door installed? The contractor cost to install a pocket door is $567 vs. doing it yourself for $225 and saving 60 percent. 

A pocket door is designed to slide away into the pocket of a wall cavity taking up virtually no wall space and requiring no room to swing out and open like a traditional door. This feature makes a pocket door the ideal choice for entry into a room where space is at a premium but privacy is required. Two pocket doors are often used to create a grand entrance into a dining room or parlor.

A pocket door is actually a system that includes hardware and special framing, which is sold separate from the door. The door can be any flat surface or a paneled, hollow or solid door, so it’s style can be matched to other doors in a home. A carpenter will charge $567 to install a 36-inch pocket door, which includes labor and material; but if you have carpentry experience and tools, you can buy the door and hardware system for $225 and do it yourself, saving 60 percent. The best online source of information that we know is Johnson Hardware, the manufacturer of the hardware. All of their installation instructions are available in PDF files so you can see what’s involved before deciding if you want to tackle the job or hire a pro.

Here is a link to instructions from our Dummies© book about How to Install Pocket Doors.

Don’t forget to buy recessed door handles or hardware. You’ll find a selection of pocket door locking privacy pulls and nonlocking recessed handles at home centers and wherever doors are sold.

Now you know the average cost to install a pocket door, which includes the labor and material, and what’s involved, so you can decide to do it yourself or hire a contractor.

Looking for other door options? You may check related articles below:

Welcome! We hope you’ll find the job costs of home improvement projects useful when you’re deciding whether to do a job yourself vs. hire a contractor. We’re the authors of 20 home improvement books, most notably Home Improvement for Dummies©, Bathroom Remodeling for Dummies©, Carpentry for Dummies©, Plumbing for Dummies©, and Painting and Wallpapering for Dummies©. Our most recent book Fix It and Flip It is in its second edition. We’ve appeared as home improvement experts on television programs such as CNN, Dateline, the Today Show, HGTV and many others.