Panel vs. stile-and-rail doors: what's the difference and how to choose

"Panel" and "stile-and-rail" are the first words you hear from a consultant when the talk turns to door construction. Short answer: at IN WOOD, every door is panel construction. Here's what that means.

Panel doors

Inside, a wooden frame with a honeycomb core; on top, MDF facing. The surface is flat, smooth or decorated: moulding, milling, mirror inserts. This is the most common type of interior door.

Stile-and-rail doors

The leaf is assembled from solid-wood vertical stiles joined by horizontal rails. Often with glass inserts: satin or black glass. They look more textured thanks to the visible stiles.

What IN WOOD manufactures

Every collection is panel construction: ETALON, NOMINAL, FREZZATTI, PERFETTO and flush-mount doors. The core: an 80×27 mm frame and a honeycomb core with an 18 mm cell. MDF facing on top, 4–6 mm depending on the collection. The edge (PVC or aluminium depending on the model) protects it from moisture and impact. Finish: PVC film or RAL/NCS paint depending on the collection.

For most interiors, panel construction is a practical choice: it's stable, holds its shape well, and leaves room for decor without complicating installation.