The material you choose for your home’s front door must be able to withstand wind, rain and sunlight and at the same time have the strength to keep intruders out. Homeowners also want an entry door that’s attractive and complements the home’s exterior. Steel and wood are standard materials for entry doors because both are a solid, durable choice. But each has pros and cons that may make one material more suitable for your home than the other.

Cost and Efficiency

Steel doors are less expensive than wood doors, although there are low-end wood doors that are comparable in price. But these are also of lower quality and may not last as long as high-end doors with better construction. Steel doors are typically more energy-efficient than wood because they have higher insulating values, so they’re better at keeping conditioned air inside your home and outdoor air outside. The efficiency of any door, though, depends on several other factors. No matter which material you choose, look for a door with a tight-fitting frame and energy-efficient cores.

Care and Maintenance

Steel doors are typically finished at the factory with a baked-on polyester finish or vinyl coating that doesn’t require further finishing by you at installation. A steel door, however, does require periodic repainting to protect the steel from moisture, which can lead to rust. Wood doors typically require refinishing every one to two years to protect the wood from weather and must be coated entirely, including the sides, top and bottom edges. While wood doors require more maintenance, they’re easier to repair than steel. Dents in steel doors must be sanded, filled using an auto body repair kit and repainted, and if scratches aren’t repaired, the steel may rust, causing further damage. If scratches or other minor damage occurs, the wood won’t deteriorate like steel, and a quick sanding and refinishing is typically enough to conceal the damage.

Style and Appearance

The beauty and versatility of wood doors may be their strongest attribute. Wood is a warm, natural material that creates a welcoming entry to your home, and it can be painted any color you choose. Wood also has a wide range of design and style options and a range of wood types -- including maple, walnut, pine, cherry and oak -- and you can customize wood doors with embellishments and carvings. Steel doors, on the other hand, can look too cold for many homeowners’ tastes, but they do offer some design versatility. Steel doors are available with a wood-grain pattern embossed on the surface and typically have a paneled design that mimics wood door styles. They can be painted any color you choose as well.

Durability and Security

Steel entry doors offer more durability and stability than most wood doors. Steel is stronger than wood and won’t warp or crack when impacted by strong forces. The door's inner core may be made of wood, but you can also find even stronger steel doors with a steel core. Wood may crack if enough force is exerted on it, so it may not be as good for keeping intruders out as steel. But the most important security feature for an entry door, no matter what material you choose, is a quality door lock. Most burglars get in because the doorjamb splits near the strike plate of your lock. No matter which door material you choose, use a solid strike plate fastened with at least 3-inch-long mounting screws that go into the framing beyond the jamb. This will increase the door’s security.