Northline Windows & Doors
Publisher
A Bigger Entrance Changes the Feel of the Whole Home
Double front doors have a way of making an entrance feel intentional. On a home with a wider façade or larger front porch, a single door can sometimes feel a little lost. Two doors bring everything back into proportion, creating a balanced entrance that feels welcoming before you even step inside.
They’re practical, too. In many configurations, one door handles everyday comings and goings while the second can be opened when you need the extra space. Moving a new sofa through the front entrance suddenly becomes a much less interesting Saturday afternoon.
The fun part is deciding what you want the entrance to look like. Some homeowners keep things clean with solid Fiberglass Doors or Steel Doors, while others introduce glass to brighten the foyer. Sidelights, transoms and glass panels can bring in even more daylight, while black, charcoal and other darker finishes can give a larger entrance a particularly striking appearance.
But bigger isn't automatically better. The proportions of the house, existing opening and amount of natural light all matter. A good double-door design should look like it belongs there — not like two doors were squeezed in simply because there was enough room.
For Ottawa homeowners considering a new entrance, that's where we'd start: look at the house first, then choose the doors.
Double Front Door Options
Choosing the Right Double Front Doors for Your Home
Double front doors give you more room to make an entrance your own, but there are quite a few decisions hiding behind those two door slabs. Material, glass, colour and hardware can completely change how the finished entrance feels. The goal isn't simply to pick a pair of doors you like — it's to create an entrance that feels right for the house around them.
Fibreglass or Steel Double Front Doors?
For most Ottawa homeowners, fibreglass and steel are the two materials worth comparing first. Fiberglass Doors are a popular choice when you want plenty of design flexibility, including smooth contemporary finishes or textured surfaces that can give the entrance more of a traditional character.
Steel Doors offer a different look, particularly for homeowners drawn to simple profiles and clean, understated entrances. Rather than asking which material is universally "best," think about the appearance you want, how exposed the entrance is to the weather and how much maintenance you're comfortable with over the years.
Double Front Doors With Glass
Glass can make a big double entrance feel considerably lighter. Instead of two completely solid slabs dominating the front of the house, glass panels break things up visually while bringing natural light into the foyer.
You don't have to turn the entire entrance into a window, either. Narrow vertical inserts can keep things relatively private, while larger glass panels create a brighter, more open appearance. Clear, frosted and decorative glass can all produce very different results. Start with how much daylight and privacy you want, then work backwards into the design.
Modern, Classic & Traditional Door Designs
Double doors can go in completely different directions depending on the house. A modern entrance might use two simple black doors with long handles and minimal glass. A more traditional home may suit raised panels, decorative glass or warmer finishes that give the entrance a little more character.
Symmetry matters here more than it does with a single door. Matching glass placement, panel proportions and hardware helps the two doors read as one complete entrance rather than two separate products sitting beside each other.
Colours, Handles & Hardware
This is where a double entrance can really change the personality of the house. White keeps things bright and familiar, while black and charcoal can create a much stronger contrast against lighter brick, stone or siding. Deeper greys and other darker exterior tones can sit somewhere between the two.
Hardware deserves just as much attention because you're seeing twice as much of it. Black hardware can create a very clean look, while brushed or satin nickel adds contrast without becoming the main feature. Longer pull handles can suit contemporary doors particularly well, while more traditional handle sets work naturally with classic panel designs.
Sidelights, Side Panels & Transoms
Already have a particularly wide or tall opening? You don't necessarily need to fill every inch of it with door. Sidelights beside the doors and transoms above them can make the entire entrance feel larger while bringing additional daylight inside.
This is especially useful when you're replacing an existing Exterior Door system that already has glass surrounding the opening. Depending on the proportions of the house, two doors with sidelights, a transom, or a combination of both can create a beautiful entrance — but the best configuration is the one that looks like it was designed for the home in the first place.
Double Front Door Replacement
A double-door entrance involves a little more planning than simply choosing two matching doors. The size of the opening, how the doors operate and the surrounding frame all influence what will work best. Getting those details right is what makes the finished entrance feel solid, comfortable and properly fitted to the home.
How Wide Are Double Front Doors?
There isn't one standard width that every double front door needs to follow. Existing entrances vary considerably, particularly on older homes or houses where the original entrance included sidelights or a custom-sized opening.
That's why we wouldn't recommend choosing doors based on a measurement you found online. The complete opening needs to be measured so the doors, frame and any surrounding glass can be planned together. For a Door Replacement, those existing dimensions are one of the first things worth looking at.
How Do Double Front Doors Open & Lock?
Typically, one side acts as the primary door you'll use every day. The second door can remain secured most of the time and be opened when you want the full width of the entrance — handy for furniture, appliances or anything else that makes you wonder how it ever got through the old doorway.
The exact locking and hardware setup depends on the door system. What matters is that both sides close securely and meet properly in the centre. A beautiful pair of doors isn't much use if you're fighting with them every time you come home.
What Affects the Cost of Double Front Doors?
There's a reason it's difficult to give one useful price for double front doors without seeing the entrance. Material is only the beginning. Door size, glass inserts, sidelights, transoms, hardware, finishes and the complexity of the existing opening can all change the scope of the project.
A relatively simple pair of solid doors is a very different project from a large custom entrance with decorative glass, sidelights and a transom. Rather than choosing purely around a starting price, decide which features actually matter to you first. From there, it's much easier to build an entrance — and a quote — around the home you're working with.
