The Swing Door Supplier Talk: How to Get Clarity on Price & Custom Work
You need a door. Not just any door, but one that will last in a commercial space. Your search quickly leads to three sticking points: finding a trustworthy swing door supplier, making sense of the swing door price, and figuring out if custom swing doors are worth it. The market is full of options, but transparent information isn’t. This isn’t about finding a product; it’s about finding a partner who can deliver the right solution without surprises. Let’s talk about how to navigate these conversations, so you get a door that fits your opening, your budget, and your timeline.
How to Vet a Swing Door Supplier (Ask These Questions)
The supplier you choose will make or break your experience. A good one acts as a consultant; a bad one is just an order-taker. Here’s how to tell the difference.
Don’t just ask for a catalog. Start a conversation. Tell them about the project: “It’s for a high-traffic café kitchen” or “It’s a front entrance for a boutique needing a specific finish.” Listen to their response.
A qualified swing door supplier will ask follow-up questions about traffic, cleaning routines, and design intent. They’re diagnosing the need, not just quoting a size. A less experienced one will just ask for width and height.
Ask them to explain their quotes. If you get a single lump sum for swing door price, push for a breakdown. What’s the cost of the door slab versus the hardware? What grade of stainless steel or aluminum is included? Transparency here separates professionals from box-movers.
Finally, ask about their process for custom swing doors. Can they show you drawings from a past project? What’s their lead time? Companies like Kanod that regularly handle architectural specs will have a clear, step-by-step process to share. If they’re vague, it’s a red flag.

Swing Door Price & Supplier Guide
Breaking Down the Swing Door Price Tag
Seeing a price per door is meaningless without context. The cost isn’t arbitrary; it’s a direct result of choices. Here’s what builds the final number.
First, the “Guts”: Material and Core.
A hollow, lightweight door for a low-traffic office storeroom is a budget item. A solid-core door with a 16-gauge stainless steel face for a restaurant kitchen is an investment. The material cost difference is significant because the performance and lifespan difference is massive. You’re paying for durability and suitability.
Second, the “Gear”: Hardware.
This is where projects get underbid and fail. The hinges, closers, and pulls are the working parts. Residential-grade hardware on a commercial door will fail within a year. Commercial-grade hardware, rated for hundreds of thousands of cycles, costs more upfront but prevents constant repair bills. This is a major, and often hidden, part of the swing door price.
Third, the “Skin”: Glass and Finishes.
Standard clear tempered glass is a base price. Want frosted, tinted, or super-sized glass? The price adjusts. A standard paint color is one thing; a custom-matched architectural finish or a specialty brushed metal is another. These choices affect both looks and function.
Fourth, the “Custom” Premium: Labor and Engineering.
Standard sizes come off a standard production line. If your opening is 42.5 inches wide instead of 36 or 48 inches, you’re now in custom swing doors territory. This means non-standard fabrication, extra engineering time, and often hand-finishing. You pay for that precise fit.

Swing Door Price & Supplier Guide
When to Go Custom (And When to Stick to Standard)
Custom isn’t always better; it’s just necessary sometimes. Here’s when it makes financial and functional sense to go the custom route.
Go custom swing doors when:
- The opening won’t accommodate a standard size. It’s cheaper to build one perfect door than to rebuild a wall.
- You have a strict performance need. You require a specific fire rating, sound rating (STC), or thermal break that a stock door can’t provide.
- The design demands it. The door needs to be a seamless part of a curved wall, match a unique historic profile, or feature integrated branding.
- You’re matching existing, non-standard doors in a renovation.
Stick to a supplier’s standard range when:
- Your opening is a common size (like 36” x 84”).
- Your performance needs (for a basic office or stockroom) are met by standard builds.
- Your timeline is tight. Custom work always takes longer.
A good middle ground is a supplier with a robust standard offering that allows for some customization—like choosing different hardware or a special finish on a standard-size door. This gets you 90% of the way there without the full custom price tag.
Your Game Plan: Getting the Best Value
- Bring Your Project Details: Have drawings, photos, and specs ready. The more info you give a swing door supplier, the more accurate their swing door price will be.
- Compare Apples to Apples: Get 2-3 detailed quotes. Make sure each includes the same scope: door material, exact hardware model, glass type, finishing, and delivery. Use these quotes to ask questions: “Why is your hardware package more/less than theirs?”
- Check Their Track Record: For custom work, ask for 2-3 references from similar projects. Call them. Ask about the process, communication, and if the doors are holding up. For background on quality standards, resources like the Door and Hardware Institute can help you understand what to look for.
- Think in Total Cost: A $1,200 door that lasts 15 years is cheaper than an $800 door that needs replacing in 5. Factor in maintenance and expected lifespan.
Finding the right door is a process of alignment. You’re aligning a supplier’s expertise with your project’s needs, and a door’s cost with its long-term value. By asking the right questions and understanding what drives price, you move from being a shopper to being an informed buyer. For projects where the details matter, partnering with a specialized supplier isn’t an expense—it’s insurance. Start your project with clarity by viewing Kanod’s approach to [commercial door solutions] or by [requesting a project consultation] to discuss your specific requirements.