Smart locks aren't the only way to beef up a door's security—sometimes you need to start with the front door itself. The Main Door Mahogany prehung front door combines strength and style to protect your home's main entrance. Its weight makes installation tricky but hanging it is pretty straightforward. (But the weight is a good thing in the long run.)
It doesn't give you the visibility of the storm-door-style security doors, but the speakeasy portal allows for some airflow and protects you while you're chatting with someone standing on your front porch.
Top security doors of 2022
- : Best overall
- : Budget pick
- : Best screen door
- : Best steel door
- : Best climate control
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Door
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Best for
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Price
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Materials
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Finish
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Sizes
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Prehung
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Learn more
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Best overall | $1,229.00 | Solid wood, bronze |
Rustic Distressed | 36 x 80 in. |
 Yes |
View Pricing |
 |
Budget pick | $156.00 | Powder-coated stainless steel, metal screen |
Black, White, Navajo White |
30 x 80 in. 32 x 80 in. 36 x 80 in. |
 No |
View Pricing |
 |
Best screen door | $728.68 | Steel, pine overlay, steel screen |
Light Oak | 36 x 80 in. |
No, frame requires assembly |
View on Amazon |
 |
Best steel door | $929.99 | Steel, fiberglass, mineral wool |
Gray | 29 x 80 in. 30 3/4 x 80 in. 34 5/8 x 80 in. 36 x 80 in. 39 1/2 x 80 in. |
Yes |
View on Amazon |
 |
Best climate control | $1,990.00 | Steel, BioFoam, Laminated Strand Lumber, tempered glass, composite edges |
Primed, Black, Dark Grey, French Grey, Oil Rubbed Bronze, Medium Bronze |
32 x 80 in. 36 x 80 in. |
Optional purchase |
View pricing |
*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Reviews for the best security doors
1. Main Door Mahogany Prehung Front Door: Best overall
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Looking like it could guard a castle entrance, the Main Door Mahogany takes its style from old-world beauty that will fit right in as your home’s front door. We're glad it's not made from real mahogany because real mahogany is endangered.1 Instead, it's made from FSC-certified Brazilian mahogany (Cedro Arana), a sustainably sourced tropical hardwood.
Sustainably sourced wood Hardware included Working speakeasy Easy installation Attractive design
No hole for deadbolt No exterior moldingThis wooden door features a speakeasy hatch in place of a peephole and a distressed finish with iron accents, but we found the distressing to be less aged-over-time and more attacked-with-a-hatchet than we'd like (that is, unless you literally want to look like you're living in a castle under siege).
This entry door is simple to install, but it is solid wood, so we recommend rounding up a few friends—or a professional from Thumbtack—to help with the heavy lifting. The exterior molding is not included, and you'll need to drill the hole for the deadbolt, so plan accordingly. This door works best in a protected location—you'll void the warranty if you place it on an exterior wall without an overhang.
2. Unique Home Designs Su Casa Steel Security Door: Budget pick
Su Casa
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Home safety can get expensive, so if you need extra security but can't afford a solid wood door, the Unique Home Designs Su Casa steel security door is a budget-friendly option that can go in front of your regular front door and enhance your home's curb appeal. It's not as tough as some of the other doors on our list, but its design makes it a decent crime deterrent for the price.
Crime-deterring design Attractive scrollwork motif Low price tag Corrosion resistance Two-way installation
Hollow tube construction Screen vulnerabilityThe Su Casa's metal screen allows for ventilation and keeps insects out, but the welded steel tube scrollwork grilles add a layer of protection to your home. We like that you can choose whether you want it to open from the left or from the right and that it has a powder-coated frame and galvanized steel screen for protection against rust and corrosion.
We recommend adding an extra layer of sealant for long-lasting wear before you install it since the one-way installation screws will make this screen door tricky to remove once it's in. (One-way screws: great for preventing crime, not so great for door replacement.) This steel door comes with a one-way driver bit to make installation a little easier.
3. Prime-Line Woodguard Steel Security Door: Best screen door
If the Prime-Line Woodguard door were a little bit easier to install and didn't have that wavy mesh screen look to it, we would rank it higher on our list. As it is, it's an affordable choice for a security screen door, and we like the solid pinewood styling over the security steel.
Tamper-proof hinges Pinewood overlay Includes frame
Tools requiredIt has tamper-proof hinges, and the mesh screen (wavy though it may be) keeps out both human intruders and insect ones. The doorknob and deadbolt aren't included in the package, so you can select your own for extra safety.
For installation, be sure you have a tool on hand that can handle one-way security screws. Although this door doesn't come in a prehung configuration, it includes a frame that you assemble before hanging.
4. Viz-Pro Quick Mount: Best steel security door
While the other security doors on our list are attractive in their own ways, the Viz-Pro Quick Mount focuses solely on security with its steel construction and multi-point locking system. The result is a bland grey door that's downright unwelcoming—it tells intruders to move along.
Multi-point locking system Steel construction Includes frame Includes locking handle
Bland designWhile the other doors in our comparison work well in any exterior doorway, this door is a better fit for workshops and garages. The biggest highlight is probably the 9–12 point locking system that secures the door on all four sides instead of focusing on the side with the handle like normal doors. It also comes with a mortise lock handle, which means you don't need to buy a door lock separately.
We love that it comes in five different sizes and includes a frame for easy mounting. The door isn't solid steel—that would be a nightmare to lift—but its hollow core contains fiberglass and mineral wool for extra insulation against heat and cold.
5. GlassCraft ThermaPlus Iron Door: Best climate control
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
If you want a tough door without having to deal with a tough backache from installing it, the GlassCraft ThermaPlus is a good choice. Its 18-gauge steel skin is more than twice as strong as the 25-gauge steel you find on most front doors, but its core is made of lightweight thermal BioFoam, which reduces weight and adds a thermal barrier.
Strong construction Trimmable edges for exact fit 6 different finishes Modern design Thermal barrier
High price tag Extra charge for prehungThe door's interior structure is beefed up even more at the top and bottom with Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL), an engineered wood product that's specifically manufactured for enhanced structural integrity, to ensure that all the kicking in the world won't budge your door. The double-insulated tempered glass on this door offers a lot of resistance to physical attacks. You can choose different levels of privacy protection for the glass as well.
The GlassCraft ThermaPlus is a solid choice for home security, but it comes at a price—it's nearly $2,000, and getting it prehung will add another $1,000. On the plus side, it comes in six different finishes, so you can choose the color that best suits your home's design.
Final word
The Main Door Mahogany is secure and stylish. The overall look and construction of the door says, "Keep walking," which is why we named it our top pick for the best security doors.
While an exterior security door is a good start to a more secure home, if you want to take it a step further, consider other ways to strengthen door security, like installing sensors on your doors and windows and using door jammers.
For the most effective electronic door and window safety, it's important to understand how door sensors work and how to find the best door and window sensors. For no-tools-required door security, and more peace of mind when you're traveling, check out our picks for the best door jammers.
Keep in mind that security doors aren't always DIY-friendly, and even those with straightforward installation might not be a one-person job for safety reasons. A service like Thumbtack can help you find a professional to assist you in fitting and hanging your exterior doors with confidence.
Security door FAQ
Most regular front doors aren't designed to be security doors, but there are certainly things you can do to make them tougher, like installing door armor with a reinforced strike plate.
You can also add security storm doors to standard front doors for added protection. To strengthen regular screen doors and storm doors, consider adding reinforced screening like Crimsafe screens.
It depends on where they're located. It's not a good idea to put vulnerable windows right next to the locking mechanism on your door because intruders can easily smash out the windows to reach inside and open the deadbolt.
If you have storm doors in front of your doors, it adds another layer of protection because intruders would have to unlock and open both the security storm door and the front door.
Sliding door locks, security bars, door braces, and contact sensors are all things you can use to create intruder-resistant doors for your patio. Adding simple coverings to the windows on your sliding glass doors can make your home less tempting to intruders in the first place by obscuring the view of valuables and people inside.
How we reviewed the best security doors
After becoming a victim of a home invasion myself, I learned that my front door was definitely my home's Achilles heel. As it turns out, my experience was no exception, and burglars often prefer breaking in through a door instead of a window.
To find the best security doors, we studied the most important qualities in effective security doors and scoured the web to find doors that fit the bill without breaking the bank. Our full methodology explains more about how we rank and review the products on our site.
Related articles on SafeWise
Sources
- US Fish & Wildlife Service, "Catalina Island mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus traskiae)." Accessed September 20, 2021.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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