Kicked-In Door Frame Repair Kit: FIX-A-JAMB vs. Door Armor (Which One Do You Need?)

If someone kicked in your door, the door itself usually survives. What breaks is the door jamb: the strip of wood on the frame that holds the strike plate and deadbolt. Standard strike-plate screws often reach only about an inch into the soft wood of the jamb, so a hard kick splits the wood and the door swings open.

The good news is that you rarely need to replace the whole frame or buy a new prehung door. A steel repair kit can cover the damage and make the jamb stronger in an afternoon, often in less than half an hour.

The question most people get stuck on is which kit. We make two products that both fix a kicked-in door frame, and they do different jobs:

• FIX-A-JAMB: a steel sleeve that repairs a broken jamb.
• Door Armor: a steel kit that repairs and reinforces the jamb, the door around the lock, and (optionally) the hinges.

Here's how to choose. If you want the step-by-step for the repair itself, see our guide on how to fix a kicked-in door frame.

First, check the damage

Before you buy anything, look at three things:

1. The jamb. Is the wood split along the strike plate, or are pieces missing? Both kits cover split and splintered jambs. If the whole frame has pulled away from the wall, or the door no longer closes, call a carpenter first.
2. The door. Is the door cracked around the deadbolt or knob? FIX-A-JAMB doesn't cover the door. Door Armor's Door Shields wrap the lock area of the door.
3. The door thickness. Standard exterior doors are 1-3/4" thick. Interior doors and many manufactured-home doors are 1-3/8". This decides which product fits.

Option 1: FIX-A-JAMB, the fastest clean repair

FIX-A-JAMB was built for one job: making a broken door jamb look and work like new without replacing it.

FIX-A-JAMB Exterior ($69) - A 40-inch, L-shaped steel sleeve that covers a damaged exterior jamb. - Fits 1-3/4" exterior doors. - Installs in about 15 minutes. If the trim molding isn't already broken, you'll need to remove it, because the L-shape wraps the jamb. - It's a favorite with apartment maintenance teams because it turns an ugly, splintered frame into a clean, finished repair fast.

FIX-A-JAMB Interior (for bedroom and bathroom doors) - A 24-inch piece for 1-3/8" interior door jambs, installed in about 5 minutes with no cutting.

FIX-A-JAMB Mobile Home - A 40-inch, 18-gauge galvanized steel piece for 1-3/8" manufactured-home doors, secured with seven 3-1/2" screws. It installs in about 15 minutes.

What FIX-A-JAMB is not: a security upgrade. It makes the jamb stronger than the broken wood it covers, but it protects only one part of the door. The lock area of the door and the hinges stay as they were. We say this on our own product pages because we'd rather you buy the right product than the cheaper one.

Choose FIX-A-JAMB if: the damage came from something other than a break-in (a door slammed against a stuck bolt, a kid locked in the bathroom, rot), or you need a fast cosmetic repair on a low-risk door.

Option 2: Door Armor, repair and reinforce in one step

Door Armor is a security product first, and it also fixes damage from a previous break-in. That matters, because a door that's been kicked in once has shown a burglar it's an easy target.

Door Armor Single Door Security Kit ($79) - 46-inch Jamb Shield: a steel shield that covers the lock side of the frame, which is the spot that splits in a kick-in. It anchors with long 3-1/2" screws, so the force of a kick goes deep into the frame instead of into the trim. - 2 Door Shields: steel shields that wrap the door around the deadbolt and knob. MINI Door Shields go on in about 5 minutes with 4 screws if you can fit two quarters between the door and the frame. PRO Door Shields install through the door, fit any clearance, and come with MINI shields as well. - Optional Hinge Shields (+$20): guard the hinge side, about 10 minutes to install. - Optional Pry Shield (+$10): stops the door from being pried open once a kick fails. About 5 minutes, 3 tamper-proof screws. - Made in the USA from galvannealed steel and powder-coated in White, Aged Bronze or Satin Nickel to blend in with your trim. - Fits exterior doors up to 1-3/4" thick and installs in under 30 minutes with a drill. All screws and the Torx bit are included. - Backed by our lifetime kick-in guarantee: $500 on Door Armor MAX kits and $300 on Door Armor MINI kits. If a burglar kicks through a protected door, the guarantee goes toward your insurance deductible. See the warranty for full terms.

Unlike FIX-A-JAMB, the Door Armor Jamb Shield doesn't require removing or altering the door or trim to install.

Watch the install:

"Hey, I just want to let you guys know that the installation went just as easy as you described and finished in less than an hour. I travel a lot and the piece of mind that I have that my wife and possessions are safer put my mind at ease. I am 6'4" 240lbs and I put a couple of whacks in the door that would have taken the old jam out for sure. Nothing I did could budge it. Thanks a bunch" — Doug M. (Illinois) (source)

Choose Door Armor if: the damage came from a break-in or attempted break-in, it's an exterior door, or you want the door to hold the next time someone tries.

FIX-A-JAMB vs. Door Armor at a glance

What about the cost of hiring a pro?

"Door jamb repair cost" is one of the most searched questions about kicked-in doors, and the honest answer is that it depends on your area and how much of the frame a carpenter replaces. Get a local quote and compare it with a kit:

• FIX-A-JAMB Exterior costs $69 and about 15 minutes of your time.
• Door Armor costs $79 and under 30 minutes, and your door ends up stronger than it was before the break-in.

Keep in mind that a standard replacement jamb is usually the same kind of soft wood, held by the same short screws, unless the carpenter adds reinforcement. A steel kit changes the weak point itself.

Quick decision guide

• Exterior door, kicked in by an intruder → Door Armor Single Door Kit (add the Pry Shield after a break-in).
• Exterior door, cosmetic or non-security damage → FIX-A-JAMB Exterior.
• Bedroom or bathroom door → FIX-A-JAMB Interior.
• Mobile or manufactured home door (1-3/8") → FIX-A-JAMB Mobile Home.
• Not sure about clearance? → Choose PRO Door Shields; they fit any gap and include MINI shields.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use both?

No. A door gets one or the other, never both. Choose FIX-A-JAMB to repair a frame that's already been kicked in and split: it covers the broken jamb in about 15 minutes and is a repair, not a security upgrade. Choose Door Armor to repair a split frame and protect against the next kick-in, or to reinforce a sound frame before an attack: it strengthens the lock side of the frame, the door around the lock and, optionally, the hinges.

What is the difference between FIX-A-JAMB and Door Armor?

FIX-A-JAMB is a repair product: a steel sleeve that covers a broken door jamb. Door Armor is a security product that repairs the jamb and also reinforces the door around the lock and, optionally, the hinges.

Can Door Armor fix a door frame that was already kicked in?

Yes. The 46-inch Jamb Shield covers the damaged lock side of the frame while reinforcing it, so the door is stronger than before the break-in.

How long does it take to install a door jamb repair kit?

FIX-A-JAMB Exterior installs in about 15 minutes. The Door Armor Single Door Kit installs in under 30 minutes with a drill.

Which kit fits interior or mobile home doors?

For 1-3/8 inch doors, use FIX-A-JAMB Interior for bedroom and bathroom doors, or FIX-A-JAMB Mobile Home for manufactured-home doors.

Fix it today and make it stronger

A kicked-in door is a repair job and a warning. FIX-A-JAMB will make it look right again. Door Armor will make it look right and hold the next time.

"Love Door Armor and Armor Latch. I had a domestic dispute at my home a week ago and things could have gotten alot uglier if I had not installed Door Armor on my front door and back. Instead of having somebody charge me a arm and a leg to fix my door frame I just had to clean the door prints off my door. The product works and I will tell anyone who asks me the best way to protect there home is ARMOR CONCEPTS." — Jack (Las Vegas, NV) (source)

Shop the Door Armor Single Door Kit — repair and reinforce in under 30 minutes, with our lifetime kick-in guarantee ($500 on MAX kits, $300 on MINI kits) and 60-day returns.

Just need a clean repair? Shop FIX-A-JAMB Exterior.

Want to secure every door, not just the broken one? Read our complete guide on how to kick-proof a door.