Material is no small matter (pun intended) when it comes to UTV doors, so making sure you at least understand the basics of what each type of door offers is key. Aluminum doors (or, in some cases, steel) are going to provide the most complete protection.
Aluminum doors are rigid, include real hinges and latches, often have sliding windows or vents for airflow control, and seal way better than soft alternatives. Impact protection is serious. A branch or rock that would tear through soft material just bounces off aluminum. The downsides? They’re chonkier than most alternatives and will generally cost you more than a soft side-by-side door set.
Speaking of soft doors, these are typically made with synthetic materials like canvas and attach to your frame with zippers or velcro. They’ll still keep the dirt, mud and branches out while weighing a fraction of what metal doors do, and are easier to take off when you need. The major downside here is that they aren’t as durable as metal UTV doors.
Entry and exit is easy with half doors since you don't need to open anything, just step over. The downside is they don't do much for cold-weather protection and won't stop larger branches or debris from coming into the cab at upper body level.
Full doors extend from floor to roof, providing complete side protection. They include windows (either fixed, sliding, or removable sections) for visibility and ventilation control. These are what you want for serious weather protection, enclosed cab setups with heaters or AC, or maximum debris protection. The catch is they make entry/exit more involved since you're opening and closing doors every time, which can get annoying if you're in and out constantly for work purposes.
Finally, upper door panels can be added to half doors to create full-door protection without replacing your existing doors. This is a smart approach if you already have half doors and just want to add more protection seasonally. Many upper door systems attach and remove easily with clamps or quick-release pins, giving you the flexibility to configure your doors based on conditions. You can run just lowers in summer, just uppers if you have aftermarket cab nets keeping stuff out below, or combine both for complete protection when the weather turns nasty.
How easy doors are to install and remove matters way more than most people realize until they're actually dealing with them. Bolt-on aluminum UTV doors will typically take an hour or two of installation time for each pair. All you need is basic hand tools, and once they’re on, it’s just like a car door.
Soft doors vary wildly in installation complexity. Most people prefer designs that use clamps or straps to attach to the cage. Your first setup may take you half an hour or an hour at the very most, but once the frame is on, removing or installing pieces takes minutes.
If seasonal flexibility matters to you, prioritize doors that are actually removable without requiring tools or leaving obvious mounting hardware. Some aluminum door systems use quick-release pins instead of bolts, making removal feasible (though still not quick). The best soft door systems use heavy-duty zippers with storm flaps. You can partially open sections for ventilation without fully removing doors, and full removal/installation is simple enough that you'll actually do it when conditions change.
What if I’ve already got a cab enclosure and/or windshield?
Don’t necessarily count yourself out yet, as there are plenty of UTV door kits that are compatible with accessories like these!
What if I just want a driver’s side door?
You can absolutely run just one door if that's all you need. Plenty of solo riders add just a driver's door for debris protection and save the cost of a passenger door they'd rarely use. That said, having both doors helps balance your machine slightly and looks more finished.
Will aluminum doors significantly affect performance?
If you’re going with a full set, you’re looking at roughly fifty to a hundred pounds of added weight. Depending on your machine, this may slightly affect your center of gravity, but for utility machines, you may not even notice.