Panel door designs range from 6 wooden panel doors to as many as 15 glazed panel doors. The finishes are generally hardwood, consisting of two vertical stiles and horizontal rails enclosing the panels. The panels are made of wood or glass. Wood doors often have panels as this minimises any cracking and warping by allowing the wood to expand and contract with changes in moisture and temperature.

The standard thickness of exterior doors is 44mm, although doors of a dowelled construction may be 40mm thick. There are many styles available, ranging from the more economical dowelled construction through to mortice and tenon doors, and at the top price are solid wood and pre-glazed doors. Popular exterior door designs are: Colonial 6 panel, Richmond 2 panel, Windsor style, Gothic, hand carved or triple glazed doors.