What Is It and Do You Need One?

Often referred to as a secret or hidden door, the jib door is set flush in the wall without any visible trim, hardware, or other architectural element giving away that there’s an opening most of the time.

Thus, a jib door is one that either completely camouflages into the surface or just blends in to keep the design minimal. They’re functional, pragmatic, and can blend in seamlessly with any design aesthetic.

We break down everything you need to know about a jib door, so you know what to expect when it comes to the installation process and costs.

Why Should You Choose a Jib Door?

The most common reason one utilizes a jib door is to preserve a seamless or smooth wall, whether it’s in a corridor or room. Essentially, it’s ideal when you want to avoid a visibly busy design, Albert Rutkowski, principal, master cabinetmaker, and craftsman at AhA!nteriors, says.

This keeps something like a foyer coat closet or shoe rack, kitchen pantry, or utility room for HVAC or laundry machines from detracting from the overall aesthetic of a space. In some cases, homeowners may want to go further in actively concealing certain storage and linen closets by continuously running molding or wainscoting along the wall where the opening is located. Or, as portrayed in fiction, by covering the door with a bookcase, faux fireplace mantle, or some other furnishing.

If any of these ideas appeal to you and it’s too much of a hassle or cost to retrofit the wall in question with a pocket to accommodate a sliding door, then a jib door might be the right move. Keep in mind, however, that your space must still be able to accommodate an inward or outward swing or pivot of a jib door.

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Ideal Installation Locations

Typical spots for jib doors include hallways and corridors, under-stair cupboards or spandrels, entry foyers, bathrooms, kitchens, and even bedrooms. Again, the area in front of the opening will require a minimum clearance for the swing or pivot arc of the door, so double-check your measurements.

How to Install a Jib Door

For the most basic of jib doors, you will need concealed hardware, from the hinges that connect the door to its supporting wall (or pivots if you prefer to floor-and-ceiling–mount it) to latching mechanisms that don’t require exposed handles and pulls.

“We use SOSS hinges, which differ from butt hinges since they completely disappear when the door is in closed position,” Rutkowski says.

Also mentioned above, pivot hardware is another option as it remains hidden between the door top and ceiling as well as the door bottom and floor. As for the latch, meanwhile, you’ll need a touch-to-open spring latch, which functions just like push-to-open cabinetry doors and drawers.

If you don’t mind a little bit of the hardware exposed, there are decorative flush handle and pull options, some of which even have a pull-out loop that allows one to turn the handle (like a doorknob) for use with conventional door latches. Rutkowski recommends that you also consider painting the doors the same color as the rest of the wall or utilizing custom-integrated pulls for a cleaner look.

Typical Costs and Processes

The cost of alteration work naturally varies greatly by home region, skill level, how busy the contractor is, and so forth.

“Any general contractor can install conventional doors on butt hinges. But for jib doors, a skilled carpenter or millworker would work best to ensure proper installation and fabrication,” Rutkowski recommends.

He explains that routing the concealed hinges into the doors may be more time-consuming, but this doesn’t necessarily equate with being a lot more expensive since a jib-door installation tends to eliminate some other conventional door parts (such as door casings).

When it comes to retrofitting a wall or erecting an entirely new wall, the same construction and carpentry methods will apply. Essentially, the contractor will prepare an opening for a door devoid of non-flush casings to provide a smooth transition between the wall and the door.