Door Mount vs Wall Mount Pet Doors

Elizabeth Muenzen August 17, 2020

The first step in choosing the best dog door for you is deciding where to install it. The classic installation location that comes to mind is through a door. Another great option is a wall mount pet door. When deciding between a door mount and wall mount pet door, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Installation Flexibility
Insulation Value
Ease of Installation

Here, we’ll explain all about dog doors for doors and dog doors for walls so you can decide which is the best fit for your home.

Dog Door in Wall vs Door

Dog Doors for Doors

Endura Flap pet door for doors single flap opening

A door mount pet door is a great option for many pet owners! They let your pet come and go using the same door that you use. An added benefit of the door mount pet doors is the variety of features, like weather resistance. The best sealing doggie door for doors is the Endura Flap Door Mount Pet Door, which features a polyolefin polymer flap that withstands temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit and winds up to 50mph. Typically, you would install this in an exterior door, but it can be mounted on interior doors as well.

For doors under 1-1/8" thick, the Endura Flap Pet Door for Thin Doors is an excellent option.

Endura Flap door mounts are “self-framing,” meaning they have extruded aluminum pieces that frame out the door’s interior so there are no gaps. This means you can install the door mount in all sorts of places including solid core doors, hollow core doors, French doors, storm doors, and paneled doors. Pet doors for doors are generally easier to install than wall mounts, a great option for a DIY project. Keep in mind that it will be easier to mend a hole in your wall than in your door if you want to remove the pet door later on. For maximum weather-resistance, see the Endura Double Flap Pet Door for Doors.

If you are looking for a kennel dog doors or a cheaper alternative, check out the Endura Flap Kennel Dog Door. This has the same great flap without the decorative pieces and self-framing of the classic door mount—a highly functional option for DIY projects or doggy daycare centers. It’ll hold up great to lots of high-energy dogs in a kennel.

Dog Doors for Walls

Endura double flap wall mount flaps swinging open

A dog door for walls is often the best solution for maximum insulation value and allows for ultimate flexibility of location. The Endura Flap Wall Mount Dog Door comes with a sturdy aluminum tunnel that covers all the gaps between the two sides of your wall when the dog door is installed. This prevents water damage to your wall which can lead to mold and structural issues. The framing extends up to 8” thick and allows for versatile installation, from stucco to brick and concrete walls.

A dog door for walls easily accommodates a double flap option. This will look a little different than it does for the door mount. With a door mount, the two flaps will hang right next to each other. With a wall mount, one flap will hang from the interior frame and one flap will hang from the exterior frame, separated by the length of the tunnel. Both door and wall mount double flap options will provide the same great insulation; a wall mount just gives a little more buffer room between the flaps and the outside air.

It is important to note that installing a pet door in a wall is trickier than in a door. If you would describe yourself as a particularly handy person, this might not be an issue for you. If not, we would recommend hiring a professional to help with this process. Deciding between dog door in wall vs door will depend on your unique situation.

Should You get a Door Mount or a Wall Mount Pet Door?

Benefits of Door Mounts:

Simple installation process
Great insulation value
Classic pet door look

Benefits of Wall Mounts:

Flexible installation options
Maximum insulation value
Amendable installation

It all comes down to your unique situation when deciding between a door or wall mount. If you think you might want to take the pet door out in the future, we’d recommend the wall mount. If not, a door mount is a great option that doesn’t require opening up your wall! Most homes have at least four walls to choose from (and likely far fewer exterior doors), so you can get creative with location when installing a wall mount pet door.

Both the Endura Flap door mount and Endura Flap wall mount are great options for insulation value, each offering a single or double flap version depending on your insulation needs. Once you've decided which installation style works best for you, check out how to choose the right size door for your pet.

We hope this helped explain dog door in wall vs door so you can decide which is best for you. Check out our installation video archives to learn more about pet door installations.

Written by

Content Specialist
DOG PERSON🐶

Pets: My dog Benji is mixed Yorkie, Poodle, Chihuahua, and MaltiPom (YorkiPooChiMaltiPom?), yet he mysteriously bears no resemblance to any of these breeds.
Fun stuff: I love to cook!