
At the very least, pocket doors do require thicker walls. This means an offset of more than 4 inches (100mm) to accommodate doors that have a usual thickness of 2 inches, with a bigger gap required for thicker door choices.
What is the minimum wall thickness for installing a pocket door?
If you make a wise choice and select Johnson Hardware’s version of hardware for installing a pocket door - the minimum wall thickness is 4–1/2″ assuming 1/2″ drywall on both sides of the wall. The hardware, tracks and steel studs will occupy 3–1/2″, just like a 2x4 stud wall without any drywall attached. Well.. Let us see
Can a pocket door be used as a door?
Almost all types of doors may be hung as pocket doors, rather than installed as swinging doors. Solid doors are heavier and thus more challenging to the hardware. However, hardware tends to pull out of hollow-cored composite doors over time. Use pocket doors in 2 x 6" walls, rather than in 2 x 4" walls, if possible.
Are inter interior pocket doors any good?
Interior pocket doors are equally poor performers with respect to sealing off a room's smell (think kitchens or bathrooms). Similarly, more light will escape from one space to the other. Wall sturdiness. For a typical 32" pocket door, a wall opening double that size is needed.
How much space do pocket doors take up?
In tight quarters, like a Jack and Jill bathroom, standard swinging doors will eat into the limited clearance space available, gobbling up 10 or more square feet each! Pocket doors solve that problem. Wall space.

How thick of a wall do you need for pocket doors?
In terms of wall thickness, a pocket door system can usually be installed on a plastered wall with: a thickness of 107 / 125 mm for hinged doors (e.g. Absolute Swing model); a thickness of 90 / 107 / 125 /145 mm for sliding doors (Evolution model); a thickness of 170 mm for overlapping sliding doors (Staffetta model).
How thin can a pocket door wall be?
The existing wall should also be thicker than 4 inches, as the standard pocket door thickness is about 2 inches. Based on these measurements, you will be able to choose the right pocket door kit for your home.
Can a pocket door go in a 2x4 wall?
1:094:12Pocket Door Installation in 2x4 Wall - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere i'm not crazy about this design because these are just like one by fours. It's not a strongMoreHere i'm not crazy about this design because these are just like one by fours. It's not a strong wall of course after all the drywall gets mounted. It it does make it a bit stronger.
Can you put a pocket door in any wall?
The pocket door system can be installed against the existing wall. This is done by creating a false stud wall along the side of your existing one with a space for the frame, the Rocket Pocket is only 100mm wide including plasterboard so you will not lose lots of space in the room.
Can you put a pocket door in a 4 inch wall?
What is this? Required wall dimensions are double the size of the door that you plan to install and thickness of more than 4 inches (100mm). So a standard 32-inch door, the pocket door kit should at least be 64 inches in width.
How thick is a stud wall for pocket door?
The most common studwork is usually 75 mm or 100 mm thick and the plasterboard is nearly always 12.5 mm thick in both cases.
How hard is it to install a pocket door in an existing wall?
4:159:05How To Install A Pocket Door In An Existing Wall - Cavity SliderYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd we just do the same. Top middle and bottom so three fixings in The Bachelor do the trick. Now soMoreAnd we just do the same. Top middle and bottom so three fixings in The Bachelor do the trick. Now so to come around and pop a couple of screws in this side to hold the plasterboard back to the cavity.
What type of door is best for a pocket door?
As long as the measurement is correct for the pocket opening, the door is the right thickness, and the door hasn't been pre-drilled for a standard door lockset or hinges, you can use any kind of door for a pocket door.
How do you frame a wall with a pocket door?
5:467:01How to Place a Pocket Door Part 1: Framing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere inside the pocket. That's a spacer that I put in because this section of the floor is way lowMoreHere inside the pocket. That's a spacer that I put in because this section of the floor is way low which actually makes our studs a little bit too short for this. Application.
Can you replace a regular door with a pocket door?
You can install a pocket door in any interior doorway of the home that has enough wall space to accommodate the door. First, be sure to check for plumbing or electrical inside the pocket space, however. The best place for a pocket door is in rooms where there isn't enough clearance for a traditional swinging door.
Can a pocket door be put anywhere?
You can really have a pocket door installed anywhere you like but normally, such doors are placed in areas where they will be of benefit. If the space provided for a door swing is not optimal, a pocket door will free up space in the home.
How much does it cost to install a pocket door?
It costs an average of $1,000 to install a pocket door, but prices typically range from $500 to $3,500. Learn how much pocket door installation costs based on factors like whether you're installing the door during a remodeling project or a new home build.
How thick should a wall be?
The standard wall thickness for a residential house for 2×4 studs is 4-1/2 inches wide, including a 1/2 inch drywall on both sides. You should use 2×6 studs on walls with plumbing, which will bring the thickness to 6-1/2 inches, including the 1/2 inch drywall on both sides.
What is the thickness of a wall?
Average Wall Width of Interior Walls Most interior walls are constructed with 2-by-4 framing, and each 2-by-4 has a nominal width of 3 1/2 inches. Drywall typically covers both sides, and it's usually 1/2 inch thick, which makes the wall 4 1/2 inches thick.
What are the dimensions for a pocket door?
The standard size for a pocket door is the same as that of a hinged door, with a width of 30 or 36 inches or 76 to 91 centimeters and a height of 80 inches or 203 centimeters.
How do you install a wall with a pocket door?
5:377:01How to Place a Pocket Door Part 1: Framing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere inside the pocket. That's a spacer that I put in because this section of the floor is way lowMoreHere inside the pocket. That's a spacer that I put in because this section of the floor is way low which actually makes our studs a little bit too short for this. Application.
What is pocket door?
A pocket door is a door that slides, via rollers on an overhead track, into a “pocket” in the wall on either side of it. When it’s fully open, the door completely disappears. Pocket doors were very popular in the Victorian era, but when they went out of fashion, many of the hardware manufacturers went out of business.
What era were pocket doors popular?
Pocket doors, popular in the Victorian era , are seeing a resurgence. If you're considering pocket doors for your home, keep these considerations in mind. By Jennifer Noonan.
Can you put a light switch in a pocket door?
Because the door slides into the wall, you need to have enough clearance in the wall framing for the door (s) to fit, and you cannot put any light switches or outlets in those walls (there’s no room). The hardware for pocket doors is fairly stripped down, since it also must be able to clear the framing in the wall.
Do pocket doors have drawbacks?
That said, pocket doors do have their drawbacks though and are not the right solution for every space. Keep these things in mind if you’re weighing the decision: Pocket doors save valuable floor space by eliminating the room you need for traditional doors to swing.
Can you slide a finger in a pocket door?
The hardware for pocket doors is fairly stripped down, since it also must be able to clear the framing in the wall. It just allows you to slide a finger in to pull the door closed. Double-pocket-door privacy lock sets do exist, but they are not common and can be expensive.
Solid Vs. Hollow Core Pocket Doors
Pocket doors slide within a pocket in the wall when you open them, seemingly disappearing from view. They are the perfect door solution for those who don't have much space in a room since they don't require any clearance space for swinging.
Can you turn a regular door into a pocket door?
You can use any type of door for your pocket door. But preferably, the door hasn't been pre-drilled with holes for the door handle and the hinges.
Why do people dislike pocket doors?
Just as pocket doors have their advantages, they also present some disadvantages to homeowners. Here are just some drawbacks to having pocket doors installed that make people dislike them.
Final Thoughts
Pocket doors can either be solid or hollow core. It's just that experts recommend the use of solid doors since they are more durable, provide better insulation and noise reduction, and generally offer higher quality than hollow core doors.
How thick should a pocket door be?
Note that the wall should also be thicker than four inches and the standard door is about two inches in thickness. Next, you need to measure out the doorway itself during the planning phase. A pocket door should disappear completely and remain accessible by a recessed pull on the leading edge.
Why do people want pocket doors?
Some homeowners ask for pocket doors simply because they like the style. Others find themselves in a position where they have to decide whether to include pocket doors in their homes during the design process of a remodeling project.
How do pocket doors work?
Pocket doors are hung from recessed tracks, with the top of the door attached to a trolley system and glides that keep the door centered when it moves. Alternatively, some are mounted from the ground or the ground and ceiling, if the door is heavier and wider than the standard door.
How much space does a swinging door take up?
Wall space. When open, a swinging door occupies wall space equal to its width (usually 32-36” for an interior door). In small rooms where wall space is at a premium -- for furniture placement, storage, or hanging art -- pocket doors solve the dilemma.
Why are sliding pocket doors useful?
Convenience. Sliding pocket doors are useful in designing two separate rooms so that they may be joined as needed. For example: A formal dining room might have a wide opening, equipped with pocket doors, toward an adjacent space. This would enable larger dinner parties to fit in, while still allowing more intimate settings when the door system is kept closed.
What is pocket door?
Usually used in the home's interior, pocket doors are doors that “disappear” into a special crevice inside the wall when opened. They are generally top-hung and slide along a track mounted on the ceiling. Some homeowners ask for pocket doors simply because they like the style.
What size opening is needed for pocket door?
Wall sturdiness. For a typical 32" pocket door, a wall opening double that size is needed. The opening is covered up with the wall finish material (e.g. drywall) but because that wall section contains no studs, it will be flimsy and tend to wobble.
What is pocket door?
Here's your ultimate size and dimension guide to single and double pocket doors. Detailed charts, illustrations and tables. Pocket doors serve as good interior doors because they are a space-saving door design. They are commonly used for powder rooms but also doorways into adjacent rooms like a kitchen into a dining room.
Can a pocket door be a stud wall?
A stud wall also has to be appropriately designed to hold a pocket door. The door itself can be whatever width and height it needs to be for the doorway, the adjoining wall has to be able to hold the door meaning it’s going to take up more floor space than a typical stud wall.
Can pocket doors be installed in a solid wall?
Pocket doors can potentially be difficult to install, a solid wall is going to need to be planned ahead with a cosmetic side wall attached to accommodate the space for the pocket door to slide into when open.
Can pocket doors be single doors?
They can be a single door or double doors. They are great space-saving door options for interiors and ideal if you prefer an entry between rooms remain open but once in a while like to close it off. Check out our pocket door charts below.
Can you add a pocket door to a home?
Although it can be done, it usually isn’t recommended to add a pocket door which wasn’t part of the original home design , as it requires more building materials and labor than would typically be expected to replace a door.
Is a pocket door the same as a double door?
Single door pocket doors are the same as double doors, other than they only need one side of the door opening to be built according to the needs of the door sliding inside the wall.
