Can you add butterfly doors to any car?

You can buy universal butterfly door conversion kits that will work with most vehicle makes, including Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan, and Toyota. However, these universal kits may require some modifications to properly fit your car.

Are butterfly doors practical?

Butterfly doors aren’t the most practical door system. While they do make it easy to enter and exit the vehicle, you need a lot of room on either side of the car for the doors to open. If you’re in a crowded parking lot or a narrow garage, it might be difficult to access or leave your car.

What is the difference between a swan door and a butterfly door?

Butterfly doors open up and out, pivoting toward the windshield. They create a wider door opening, making it easier to access a small cabin. Swan doors open more like a traditional door, but with a slight upward angle. They’re more often used in vehicles with a very low ground clearance.

How Much Do Butterfly Doors Cost?

Written by Amy Bobinger and 1 other

Nov 25, 2024

It can cost thousands of dollars to put butterfly doors on a car, depending on the year, make, and model of your vehicle.

Question: Hi. I want to add butterfly doors to my car, but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you know how much butterfly doors cost?

Answer: Butterfly door conversion kits can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the make of your vehicle and the type of conversion kit your vehicle requires for installation.

The price of the conversion kit doesn’t include labor costs should you want a professional to complete the installation. This can add as much as $1,500 or more to your total. It also won’t include the cost of having a universal kit modified to fit your vehicle.

Did you know? Butterfly door conversion kits don’t include replacement doors. They come with replacement door bolts and hinges, changing how your existing doors open and close.

Butterfly door options

There are three approaches to getting butterfly doors on your vehicle—DIY, professional installation, and buying a vehicle that already has butterfly doors installed. Each has pros and cons that will affect your final price.

Conversion kit

If you’re a skilled mechanic, you can install the butterfly doors yourself. However, these installations may involve cutting into your fenders and welding various parts to your chassis, so unless you are very experienced, it’s best to have this done professionally.

If you do decide to install a conversion kit yourself, you have the option of buying custom or universal kits. Custom kits cost more, but they’re designed for your specific make and model. Universal kits are cheaper and can be modified to fit most vehicles, but some parts may need to be welded or cut to fit your car.

Professional installation

If you don’t have advanced knowledge about butterfly doors and door installation, have the work done at a professional fabrication shop. This will cost more than doing it yourself, but they’ll be better equipped to handle the modifications that may be needed for a butterfly door conversion.

Built-in butterfly doors

If you love the look of butterfly doors but don’t want the hassle of installing them, consider buying a vehicle that has them pre-installed.

These cars usually cost more than a vehicle with standard doors, but pre-installed butterfly doors are designed to be lightweight, so they’ll be easier to open. You may also avoid some issues that can happen when you convert, like the doors sagging over time.

Some popular vehicles that come with butterfly doors include:

BMW i8
Ferrari Enzo
Ferrari LaFerrari
Maserati MC20
McLaren Artura
McLaren F1
McLaren P1
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Toyota Cera

Should I get butterfly doors?

Butterfly doors—also known as vertical doors—are a great way to jazz up your vehicle and give it that extra edge. However, they may not be the most practical modification. Opening butterfly doors requires a lot of clearance on either side of your car. That means if other cars park too close, you might not be able to access your vehicle.

Also, even though there are mod kits for most vehicles, it’s not always a seamless transition to butterfly doors. Many doors are too heavy to move up and out easily, so you could find yourself struggling to open your doors. Some butterfly door kits do account for this, adding a shock so it’s easier to lift the door.

There are also safety concerns: If your car ever flips over, it may be difficult to escape if you have butterfly doors installed.

FAQ

Can you add butterfly doors to any car?

You can buy universal butterfly door conversion kits that will work with most vehicle makes, including Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan, and Toyota. However, these universal kits may require some modifications to properly fit your car.
Are butterfly doors practical?

Butterfly doors aren’t the most practical door system. While they do make it easy to enter and exit the vehicle, you need a lot of room on either side of the car for the doors to open. If you’re in a crowded parking lot or a narrow garage, it might be difficult to access or leave your car.
What is the difference between a swan door and a butterfly door?

Butterfly doors open up and out, pivoting toward the windshield. They create a wider door opening, making it easier to access a small cabin. Swan doors open more like a traditional door, but with a slight upward angle. They’re more often used in vehicles with a very low ground clearance.

MEET OUR EXPERTS

Amy Bobinger

Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.

Kevin Berry

Kevin Berry is the Senior Director of Content at Jerry and has been working in the digital content space since 2011 across the car insurance/repair, personal finance, travel and sports industries. Prior to Jerry, Kevin was a content team lead at NerdWallet overseeing the Multimedia Production and Travel Rewards teams. Previously, he worked for NBC Sports, Comcast Cable and Nike. He has a Master`s Degree from Arkansas State and a Bachelor`s from Oregon State University.

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Editorial Note: This article was written by a paid member of Jerry’s editorial team. Statements in this article represent the author’s personal opinions and do not constitute advice or recommendations. You should consult with an insurance professional about your specific circumstances and needs before making any insurance decisions.