DoorThe door itself, hung from the track, sliding into the wall.
PocketThe hollow in the wall that the open door disappears into.
HeaderSpans the doorway and the pocket, and carries the track.
TrackThe metal channel the hangers roll along.
Hanger (roller)Wheels running in the track, carrying the door; two per door.
Split stud (split jamb)Paired thin studs, one each side of the door, framing the pocket.
The wall opened up 6
Door plateOn the door’s top, 2-3/4 in. in from each edge; the hanger hooks on.
Nailing stripGives the wall board something to be fixed to over the pocket.
End bracketHangs the header on nails in the rough jamb.
Floor bracketHolds a split stud’s foot to the floor.
BumperStops the door at the back of the pocket, 40 in. up.
Door guideKeeps the door centred between the split studs.
How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-24. (1) A sliding and pocket door hardware maker's 1500PF pocket door frame instructions, https://www.johnsonhardware.com/Content/Images/uploaded/Installation/PD/IN1500PD.pdf : header with end plates, header nailer, split steel studs midway and at the pocket, floor plate, track, hangers with wheels, door plates 2-3/4 in. from each edge, bumper 40 in. from the bottom, guides on the split jambs at the door's bottom holding it in the middle. (2) A hardware maker's pocket door frame kit instructions, https://www.ngp.com/plugins/NGPAdmin/data/products/SLAL250PDKIT_INSTR.pdf : header track assembly of header board, nailing strips and track; rough opening twice the door width plus 1-1/4 in.; end brackets on nails in the jambs; split jambs in floor brackets, a second pair midway in the pocket; ball bearing hangers; door plates; bumper on the rough jamb at the back of the pocket about 40 in. from the floor; nylon door guides on the split jambs. (3) A door maker's pocket door frame kit instructions, https://www.alliancedoorproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Pocket-Door-Installation-Instructions.pdf : header end bracket and track bracket, header nailing strip, floor bracket, door plates, wheels in the track, split guides. (4) Wikipedia, Pocket door, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket_door : a sliding door that disappears into a compartment in the wall, on rollers from an overhead track, or guides. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-24. Licence: own work
How it works
A pocket door hangs from hangers that roll in a track under the header, and slides into a pocket in the wall. Split studs frame the pocket, standing in floor brackets, with door guides at the mouth.
Read the full guide
The frame kit
The header spans the doorway and the pocket, hung on end brackets and carrying the track. Nailing strips along it give the wall board a fixing. One pair of split studs stands at the pocket's mouth, another midway along it.
Hanging the door
Two door plates screw to the top of the door, in from each edge, and clip onto the hangers' posts. A bumper at the back of the pocket stops the door, and the guides keep it centred.
Questions and answers
What are the parts of a pocket door called?
The door, the pocket in the wall, a header with a track under it, hangers on door plates, split studs in floor brackets, end brackets, nailing strips, a bumper and door guides.
What are split studs in a pocket door?
Thin studs in pairs, one each side of the door, that stand in for the normal studs where the pocket is. Also called split jambs, they stand in floor brackets under the header.
What holds a pocket door up?
Two hangers with wheels that roll in the track under the header. Each hooks onto a door plate screwed to the top of the door, so the door hangs clear of the floor.