Solid Core vs. Hollow Core Doors: Which Interior Door Should You Buy?
Two interior doors can look identical from the hallway and feel completely different when you open them. The difference is usually the core. Whether a door is solid core or hollow core affects how it sounds, how it feels and how much it costs. Here's how the two compare, so you can decide where each makes sense in your home.
What's the Difference?
Hollow core doors
A hollow core door has a thin outer skin, often hardboard, over a frame, with a mostly empty interior that may be filled with a lightweight internal structure. For example, our 6' x 6'8" Flush Hollow Core French door uses a primed textured hardboard face and a hollow core.
Solid core doors
A solid core door has a dense, filled core. Our white Shaker interior doors use solid core MDF construction with 12mm MDF panels.
Solid Core vs. Hollow Core at a Glance
| Solid core | Hollow core | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Blocks more sound | Lets more sound through |
| Feel | Heavy, substantial; closes with a solid sound | Light; can feel less substantial |
| Weight | Heavier to handle and install | Lightweight and easy to handle |
| Cost | Typically costs more | Typically costs less |
| Dent resistance | More resistant to dents and impacts | The thin skin can dent or puncture |
Are Solid Core Doors Quieter?
Yes, a solid core door generally reduces sound transmission more than a hollow core door, because there's more mass to block it. Many buyers notice this most on bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
A solid core door is only part of the picture, though. Gaps around and under the door let sound through too. For ways to seal those gaps, see our post on 7 methods to soundproof your door.
Are Solid Core Doors Worth It?
For most rooms where people spend time, we think so, and our customers seem to agree. Nearly every interior door we carry at AAA Doors is solid core, and our best sellers are solid core Shaker prehung doors.
Solid core makes the most sense for:
- Bedrooms and nurseries: quieter rest
- Bathrooms: more privacy
- Home offices: fewer household noises during calls
- Media rooms: keeps sound in
When Hollow Core Is Fine
Hollow core doors still have a place:
- Closets and storage rooms where sound isn't a concern
- Tight budgets, where you'd rather spend on other parts of the project
- Wide or bifold-style openings, where lighter doors are easier to handle
If you're doing a wide closet opening, compare our hollow core flush French door with the solid core flush version. Both are 6' x 6'8" units with a listed size of 73 9/16" x 81 3/4". They differ in core and face texture: textured hardboard on the hollow core, smooth on the solid core.
How to Tell Them Apart
- Knock test: a hollow core door sounds hollow and light. A solid core door gives a dull, solid thud.
- Weight: lift the bottom corner. Solid core is noticeably heavier.
- Check the specs: the product page should state the core type. Ours list it in the product title.
Installation Notes for Solid Core Doors
- Plan on two people for handling and hanging, especially taller 96" doors.
- Make sure the hinges and jamb are well secured to the framing, since the extra weight puts more load on the top hinge.
- Prehung units make this easier, because the door is already hung in its frame. Our prehung Shaker doors include three hinges.
Ready to swap one out? Our step-by-step guide on how to replace a prehung interior door covers measuring and installation. Still choosing a look? Compare Shaker interior door styles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MDF solid core a good interior door?
Yes. Solid core MDF doors are a popular choice for a smooth, paintable surface with a solid feel. Ours come primed white.
Do solid core doors need special hinges?
They need properly sized hinges that are securely fastened. Our prehung solid core Shaker doors come with three hinges installed.
Can I replace a hollow core door with a solid core slab?
Often, yes, if the size, hinge locations and bore match. Check that your existing jamb is square and well secured, since the new door will be heavier.
Are solid core doors fire rated?
Not automatically. Fire-rated doors are tested and labeled separately. See our fire-rated doors collection.
Upgrade to solid core: shop our interior doors, nearly all solid core, in Shaker, French and tall styles.