How to Make a Sliding Barn Door

Better Homes & Gardens

Slide into style with this rustic DIY weekend project. A sliding barn door adds dimension to any home with a farmhouse flair. Perfect for a kitchen or den entrance, a sliding door provides privacy when needed or acts as eclectic decor when not in use. Our step-by-step instructions make it possible to make this stylish door yourself.

What You Need

Hardware and Supplies

  • 1-1/4-inch coarse thread panhead pocket-hole screws

  • 1-1/4-inch brad nails

  • Wood glue

  • Door track kit

Wood Products

  • (9) 1" x 6" x 8' wall stud

Tools

  • Miter saw

  • Drill/driver

  • Pocket hole jig

  • Speed square and/or carpenter square

  • Sander

  • Tape measure

Cut List

  • (2) Rail 1 x 6 x 38-1/2-inch pine board

  • (2) Stile 1 x 6 x 73-3/4-inch pine board

  • (1) Angled Stile 1 x 6 x 78-11/16-inch pine board

  • (5) Vertical Backer Boards 1 x 6 x 83-1/2-inch pine board

Step 1: Cut Rails and Stiles

Cut two Rails and two Stiles to length. Drill pocket holes for 3/4-inch material into the ends of the Rail pine boards. Attach the Stiles to the Rails with wood glue and 1-1/4-inch pocket screws.

Step 2: Mark Angled Stile

Flip frame assembly over so that the pocket screws face downward. Lay the full (not yet cut) 8-foot-long Angled Stile board under the frame assembly. You can use our approximate measurements of where the board is located.

Cut the board, but don't install it yet.

Step 3: Cut Backer Boards

Flip assembly again so that the pocket screws are facing up. Cut Vertical Backer Boards to fit the length of door, and attach with wood glue and brad nails.

Step 4: Attach Angled Stile

Flip door one more time. Insert the Angled Stile, and attach with wood glue and brad nails.

Step 5: Put Door on Track

Attach barn door hardware and wall track according to instructions.