Main Door Design for Home: Single, Double, Wood and Steel

A good main door design for home starts with size and material. In India the standard single main door sits in a 1,000 by 2,100 mm opening (about 3 ft 3 in by 6 ft 11 in) and carries a 900 mm wide shutter, while a double door needs an opening of 1,200 mm or more. Pick solid teak or another hardwood for a classic wooden door, an engineered door with veneer for value, or steel for security, then add a multi-point or smart lock and a finish that suits your monsoon and sun.

This guide covers sizes from the Indian Standards, the main materials with prices, security hardware, weathering for exposed entrances, and finishes, with entrances designed by MOA members.

About the numbers below: sizes come from IS 4021 : 1995 and IS 2202 (Part 1) : 1999, the Indian Standards for timber door frames and flush door shutters, and from Greenply's flush door size chart. Door prices are a market range drawn from Greenply's 2026 door price guide (January 2026) and Houseyog's main door cost guide (updated August 2026), both read on 21 Oct 2026. They are for the shutter only: the frame, locks, hardware, polish and fitting are extra, and neither source says whether GST is included. Lock and paint prices are the makers' published prices. Anything marked "our guidance" is common practice, not a standard.

Main door size in India: single and double door

Indian Standards size doors in 100 mm modules. IS 4021 : 1995, the BIS standard for timber door, window and ventilator frames, names each frame by its opening: 10 DS 21 means a door (D), single shutter (S), 10 modules (1,000 mm) wide and 21 modules (2,100 mm) high. The frame itself is made 5 mm smaller all round so it fits the opening. The standard's preferred door sizes are 8 DS 20, 8 DS 21, 9 DS 21 and 10 DS 21, and it lists 12 DT 20 and 12 DT 21 for double (T) shutter doors 1,200 mm wide. It also allows non-modular sizes when maker and buyer agree.

The shutter that hangs in that frame comes from IS 2202 (Part 1) : 1999, the flush door standard. It allows 60 mm for the frame, 40 mm for the floor finish, 5 mm of clearance and a 15 mm rebate, so:

10 DS 21 opening: a shutter 900 mm wide and 2,005 mm high (2,045 mm if the opening is measured from the finished floor).
9 DS 21 opening: an 800 mm shutter.
12 DT 21 opening: two leaves that together measure 1,100 mm.

Door makers round these off. Greenply's size chart gives main doors as 900 mm wide, 2,100 mm high and 40 to 45 mm thick, against 800 mm for bedrooms. Agree the shutter size with your carpenter or supplier before the frame goes into the wall.

Scaled elevations of four main doors: a 900 mm single door opening with an 800 mm shutter, a 1,000 mm single opening with a 900 mm shutter, a 1,200 mm double door opening with two leaves totalling 1,100 mm, all 2,100 mm high, and a taller 1,500 by 2,400 mm double door — Standard main door sizes in India: the first three follow the modular openings in IS 4021 and the shutter widths in IS 2202 (Part 1); the tall double door is illustrative. Diagram: MOA

Single door or double door?

A single door suits most flats and houses, because one 900 mm leaf already gives a comfortable entry and needs the least swing space. Choose a double door when the opening is 1,200 mm or wider, or when you want to move furniture in without taking a door off. Each leaf is lighter than one very wide leaf, but Greenply notes that double doors need thicker, stronger cores so they do not sag. Villas often go to a 1,500 mm opening and 2,400 mm height (our guidance), which is a non-modular size you order to measure.

A pair of tall wooden main doors with deep carved panels and a carved floral frame, opened inward onto a white marble passage with a wood-panelled ceiling, brass wall lights and an open-riser staircase at the far end — Carved wooden double doors open onto the entrance passage of a farmhouse in Patan, with brass hinges and ring pulls on each leaf. Image: re:sōch | a design studio on MOA

Main door design for flat and small house

In most flats the builder has already fixed a 900 or 1,000 mm frame, so the design work is in the shutter, the hardware and the lobby around it. Three things help in a small entry:

a grill or glass vision panel, so you can see and ventilate without opening the door
a shoe cabinet beside the door rather than behind it, so the leaf opens fully
a safety grill door outside the main door, if your society allows it: it lets you keep the main door open for air while the grill stays locked

Home entrance with a wood-veneer main door that has a white fluted inset panel and a narrow black metal grill vision panel, beside a long wooden shoe cabinet with cane-backed shutters and a backlit niche — A main door in a Vadodara home with a fluted inset and a grill vision panel, paired with a shoe cabinet in the foyer. Image: skyscraper studio on MOA

Main door materials: wooden, engineered, steel and more

Solid teak and other hardwoods

Teak is the default "main door design wooden" because it is dense, stable and carves well, as in the farmhouse door above. It is also the most expensive option: Greenply's guide puts solid teak main doors at ₹18,000 to ₹28,000 and up, while Houseyog lists ₹35,000 to ₹2,00,000 and up depending on size and carving, and ₹20,000 to ₹60,000 for other hardwoods such as sal. IS 4021 asks for the faces of a frame that touch the wall to be painted with coal tar before fixing, and notes that a primer alone does not protect timber from the weather, so plan the finish coats too.

Engineered and flush doors with veneer or laminate

An engineered door has a plywood or blockboard core faced with veneer or laminate. It is lighter, stays flatter and costs less than solid teak: Greenply lists ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 for an engineered plywood core with veneer and ₹12,000 to ₹18,000 for thicker shutters with premium laminate or veneer. For a main door, ask for a boiling waterproof (BWP) door. IS 2202 (Part 1) asks for BWP-grade phenol formaldehyde adhesive to bond the faces to the core, and makers such as CenturyPly publish IS 2202 test results for their BWP doors. Laminate is the low-care finish; veneer looks like real wood and is best kept where the rain cannot reach it.

Steel and steel-wood doors

Steel doors do not swell in the monsoon or attract termites, and many come in a wood-grain finish for a steel-wood look. Houseyog puts steel main doors at ₹15,000 to ₹60,000. The trade-offs are heat on a sun-facing wall, dents, and rust if the coating is cut. Near the coast, ask about galvanising and powder coating, and read our guide to building near the sea before you choose.

Fibre (FRP) doors

FRP doors are light, waterproof and cheap to keep. Note, though, that the Indian Standard for them, IS 14856 : 2000, covers glass fibre shutters "for internal use", written with bathrooms and kitchens in mind. For a main door, ask the maker for an exterior-rated product and its test data, and use a strong lock block.

Pivot doors for villas

A pivot door turns on a pin set in from the edge rather than on side hinges, so a very wide, tall leaf can swing open easily. Houseyog lists pivot doors at ₹1,00,000 to ₹3,00,000 and up. The pivot hardware must be rated for the leaf's weight, and the gaps around a pivot leaf need brushes or seals to keep out wind-driven rain (our guidance). A deep portal helps, as in this render.

Design render of a wooden double main door with a large circular inlay of radiating wood panels and a round black pull handle, set deep in a board-finish concrete portal between buff brick walls under sloping roofs — Design render: a double door with a circular inlay, recessed in a concrete portal that shades the leaves, for a farmhouse in Hyderabad. Image: VishwArchitecture on MOA

Glass and metal screens

Glazed doors bring light into a dark stair hall or foyer. Pair them with a perforated metal or jali screen for privacy and security, and use toughened or laminated glass.

Dusk view of a house entrance where a pair of black-framed glazed doors stand open between gold perforated metal screen panels, with a lit staircase visible inside and dark stone cladding beside — Glazed entrance doors framed by perforated metal screens: the screens give privacy while the glass lets light into the stair hall. Image: Varun Garg Architects on MOA

Main door design cost: what to budget

Door type	Shutter price (market range)	Source
Heavy-duty flush door for entrances	₹200 to ₹260 per sq ft	Greenply size chart
Engineered plywood core with veneer	₹8,000 to ₹12,000	Greenply 2026 price guide
Thicker shutter, premium laminate or veneer	₹12,000 to ₹18,000	Greenply 2026 price guide
Engineered wood	₹12,000 to ₹35,000	Houseyog
Steel	₹15,000 to ₹60,000	Houseyog
Solid teak	₹18,000 to ₹2,00,000 and up	Greenply and Houseyog
Pivot door	₹1,00,000 to ₹3,00,000 and up	Houseyog

Add the frame, hardware and fitting. Houseyog lists a teak frame at ₹12,000 to ₹35,000, a mortise lock at ₹2,000 to ₹15,000 and installation labour at ₹2,000 to ₹8,000. For a whole-home budget, see interior design cost room by room or try MOA's free home cost calculator.

Security: multi-point locks, door viewers and smart locks

The lock matters more than the leaf. A multi-point lock throws bolts into the frame at several points along the edge, so the door cannot be levered open at one corner. Even a rim lock can add bolts: Godrej's Tribolt Compact, for example, has two deadbolts and a latch bolt with a 21 mm throw, and fits doors 30 to 60 mm thick. Always check that a lock is made for your door's thickness.

A door viewer is the cheapest upgrade. A wide-angle model such as ASSA ABLOY's 200 degree viewer fits doors 35 to 55 mm thick, with an extension sleeve for doors up to 100 mm, which a thick carved teak door may need.

Smart locks add a fingerprint, PIN, card or phone. Godrej launched its Advantis GSL D1 in July 2025 from ₹18,499, with NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, fingerprint, PIN and RFID access, video door phone integration and a mechanical key override. Keep that key override on any smart lock for the day the battery runs out.

Finally, the frame. IS 4021 asks for at least three holdfasts on each side of a door frame: one at the centre and two 300 mm from the top and bottom.

Outside elevation of a single main door marked with a canopy above, a multi-point lock with bolts at top, middle and bottom, a door viewer, a smart or mortise lock, hinges, frame holdfasts and a weather bar, beside a section through the threshold showing a drip, a raised step and outside paving sloping away — The details that keep a main door secure and dry. Holdfast count from IS 4021; viewer height, hinge count and threshold details are our guidance. Diagram: MOA

Weathering: monsoon and sun-facing entrances

Most main door problems are water and sun, not burglars. The fixes are mostly in the design:

Shelter the door. A canopy, chhajja or deep recess keeps rain and harsh sun off the leaf. This matters most on west- and south-facing entrances.
Stop water at the bottom. Fit a weather bar with a drip, raise the threshold a step and slope the outside paving away from the door (our guidance).
Seal every face. Finish the top and bottom edges of the shutter as well as the faces, so it does not drink water from below.
Use an exterior finish. Asian Paints describes its WoodTech Aquadur PU Exterior as UV resistant and non-yellowing, at ₹1,777 a litre (MRP, inclusive of taxes). It advises against veneer, MDF and plywood outdoors with that finish, so an exposed door is better in solid wood or steel, while a veneered door belongs under a deep canopy.

For the walls and slab around the door, see our waterproofing guide by climate.

Latest main door designs and finishes

The newest entrances in member projects are calmer than the heavily carved doors of the past, with the detail in texture rather than ornament:

Fluted or grooved leaves with long timber or brass pulls, which make a solid door look lighter.
Circular or geometric inlays in contrasting grain, centred on a single large handle.
Carved panels kept for a traditional or farmhouse setting, often in teak with brass hinges.
Vision panels with grills in flats, for air and a view of the lobby.
Full-height doors that run to the ceiling, which make a foyer feel taller.

View through a pair of open fluted wooden doors with long timber pull handles and brass hinges, into a hallway with dark wood flooring leading to a bright living room — Tall fluted wooden doors with full-length pulls in a Mohali home, a simple way to make a solid leaf look lighter. Image: Varun Garg Architects on MOA

A double-height foyer with striped marble flooring, where two tall dark wooden door leaves stand open to a timber deck and pool, flanked by gold elephant figures on brass consoles under a skylight — Full-height double doors in a Panchkula house open the foyer straight onto the pool deck. Image: Varun Garg Architects on MOA

If you also follow vastu, our post on main entrance vastu and the 32 padas explains how to find your door's position.

FAQ

What is the standard size of a main door in India?

The most common is a 1,000 by 2,100 mm opening (10 DS 21 in IS 4021) holding a 900 mm wide shutter. Greenply's chart gives main door shutters as 900 by 2,100 mm and 40 to 45 mm thick.

Which wood is best for a main door?

Teak is the most durable and the most expensive. Hardwoods such as sal cost less, and an engineered door with a BWP core and veneer gives a wood look at a lower price, as long as it is kept out of driving rain.

What is the cost of a main door for a home?

For the shutter alone, roughly ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 for an engineered door with veneer, ₹15,000 to ₹60,000 for steel and ₹18,000 and up for solid teak, by Greenply's and Houseyog's published ranges. Frame, locks and fitting are extra.

Is a steel main door better than a wooden one?

Steel resists termites, swelling and forced entry better. Wood is warmer to touch, quieter and easier to repair. On a sun-facing or coastal entrance, check the coating and shade the door whichever you choose.

Should a flat have a single or double main door?

Usually single, because flat frames are typically 900 to 1,000 mm wide. Add a vision panel or a safety grill door for ventilation.

Planning a new entrance? Find architects on MOA for facades and doors, or interior designers for flat entrances, and filter the directory by your city.

Sources

Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 4021 : 1995, Timber door, window and ventilator frames, specification, law.resource.org, listed at services.bis.gov.in (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 2202 (Part 1) : 1999, Wooden flush door shutters (solid core type), law.resource.org (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
Bureau of Indian Standards: IS 14856 : 2000, Glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) panel type door shutters for internal use, law.resource.org (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
Greenply: Flush Door Size Chart for Homes: Width, Height and Thickness Explained, greenply.com (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
Greenply: Latest Door Design Price List for Modern Indian Homes (2026), greenply.com (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
Greenply: Main Door Designs for Indian Homes: Styles and Materials, greenply.com (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
Houseyog: Main Door Cost in India (2026), houseyog.com (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
CenturyPly: Century Club Prime Doors, centuryply.com (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
Godrej Enterprises: Tribolt Compact 1CK LB rim lock, godrejenterprises.com (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
Godrej Enterprises: Locks and Architectural Solutions unveils the Godrej Advantis GSL D1, godrejenterprises.com (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
ASSA ABLOY: Door Viewer 200 degree with Crystal lens, assaabloy.com (accessed 21 Oct 2026)
Asian Paints: WoodTech Aquadur PU Exterior Gloss, asianpaints.com (accessed 21 Oct 2026)