Pocket Door vs Barn Door Compared

Sliding doors like pocket and barn doors add style and versatility to your home design. Deciding between a pocket door vs barn door for your interiors is a choice based on functionality, budget, and personal preference.

Both of these sliding door options offer privacy, can be used to open up or close off adjoining rooms, and take up less floor space than a traditional door. However, there are some key differences to take into account before choosing one or the other.

Pocket Doors Explained

Pocket doors slide along a floor track and disappear into a cavity within the wall when fully opened. This eliminates the need for the clearance space required for a traditional swinging door and makes pocket doors ideal for smaller rooms or open-concept layouts.

A single pocket door opens from left to right (or right to left) along its track. Pocket doors also come in a double format, which open like curtains. The wall space required to install pocket doors is their main downside. Calculate the full width of the door plus a little extra for the mechanism hidden within the wall.

Classic pocket doors offer a slightly more discreet option than barn doors as they don't generally have visible hardware. Choosing a pocket door style that fits with your existing decor will ensure continuity with your home's aesthetic.

Pocket Door Pros and Cons at a Glance

The following are the key advantages of pocket doors:

• Space-saving
• Doesn’t cover the adjacent wall when open
• Creates a wide door opening
• Sleek design with no visible hardware
• Closes fully for privacy and soundproofing

The main disadvantages of pocket doors include:

• Time-consuming and costly installation
• May require maintenance over time
• Can come off its track if not properly installed and maintained

Barn Doors Explained

Barn doors are sliding doors that move along a rail above the door opening. Contemporary interior barn doors are inspired by rustic farmhouse doors but have an entirely modern feel.

Because barn doors slide open along a rail, wall space at least the width of the door is required on the adjacent wall.

Barn-style doors stylishly marry ultra-modern and rustic design concepts. The overhead rail offers a nod to the traditional farmhouse style but is juxtaposed by the sleek, contemporary door that hangs below it.

Barn doors are highly customizable. Many homeowners add glass panels or opt for a clean white slab for a contemporary take on this traditional concept.

Barn Door Pros and Cons At a Glance

The main advantages of barn doors include the following:

• Space-saving
• Easy to install and maintain
• Unlikely to develop serious functionality issues
• Eye-catching design

The main disadvantages of barn doors are:

• Covers the adjacent wall when open
• Less soundproofing, especially if there are gaps or the door doesn’t seal properly
• Doesn’t offer total privacy
• Prominent hardware doesn’t fit into every home’s aesthetic.

Pocket Doors vs Barn Doors Compared

If you've settled on a sliding interior door but you're stuck between a pocket and a barn door, you're not the only one! Take the following into account when deciding between pocket doors and barn doors:

Design

Pocket doors offer a contemporary, discreet option that fits into most modern homes. Pocket doors come in a wide range of materials and styles. This makes them highly customizable.

Barn doors offer a more distinctive and unique style. Many homeowners associate barn doors with a rustic feel, but barn doors can be every bit as modern as pocket doors. That said, barn doors fit just as well in a traditional farmhouse as they do in an ultra-modern city apartment.

Many people embrace barn doors' visible rail as part of their interest and charm. However, homeowners looking for a sleeker option can opt for a concealed rail barn door. Concealed rail barn doors (or “magic doors”) run along invisible hardware installed on the back of the door itself, giving the illusion that the door is floating across the wall.

Practicality

Both pocket doors and barn doors are space-saving options. This is important as home sizes in America are shrinking due to affordability issues. They're also both great options in wheelchair users' homes as they avoid the hassle of opening and closing a swinging door.

However, poorly installed pocket doors are notorious for problems with functionality. For example, poorly designed pocket doors can fall off their tracks, get stuck, or have issues locking effectively. It's important to choose high-quality pocket doors and to use professional installation services to ensure long-lasting functionality.

Barn doors are much simpler to open and close. However, some homeowners feel that barn doors take up too much wall space. The adjacent wall must be kept blank for the barn door to slide over. This means no outlets, artwork, or shelving next to your barn door.

Installation

Installing pocket doors is more difficult and time-consuming than installing barn doors. Pocket doors require a track both in the doorway and inside the adjacent wall.

Barn doors are much easier to install. Installing a barn door is as simple as fixing the overhead rail above the doorway and attaching the door. It's still recommended to get professional help installing a barn door to avoid mistakes or accidents.

Cost

Pocket doors cost more than barn doors on average due to the lengthier installation process. Installing pocket doors can be problematic in an existing wall and can drive up prices.

The total costs of pocket and barn doors will depend on the brand, materials, and styles you choose. For example, doors with glass panels tend to be more expensive than regular wood doors.

Sealing

Pocket doors have the edge for rooms where privacy and soundproofing are important. When closed, a pocket door will fully conceal a room or space, providing complete privacy. This makes them a great home office door idea.

Barn doors hang from a rail and aren't fixed to the frame with a hinge. This means they leave small gaps on either side of the frame.

For this reason, barn doors don't provide as much privacy or soundproofing as pocket doors. Keep this in mind if you're considering a barn door for your bedroom or bathroom.

Durability

The biggest factor when considering durability is the quality of the materials and installation. Both these door designs feature a track, which can occasionally cause problems.

Any doors can come off their tracks or squeak if not properly lubricated. However, problems with a barn door's track are easily solved as the track is more visually and physically accessible.

Ultimately, barn doors are less likely to cause significant technical problems as their mechanisms are much simpler. However, you can prevent many potential problems by contracting a professional to install your sliding doors properly.

Team Pocket Door or Team Barn Door: You Decide!

Pocket doors and barn doors both offer excellent space-saving solutions for modern homes. The wide range of customizations on the market means that new interior doors can be found that fit into any home aesthetic.

Account for design, functionality, and practicality when choosing a sliding door. Ultimately, the best option for your home is the one that best meets your practical and aesthetic needs.