Exterior doors are usually made of solid-core material, such as chipped or shaved wood and laminate, and are harder to kick down. Interior doors are usually made from hollow-core material like hollow wood or fiberboard. These doors usually have no insulation or security, and require minimal force to break down. [2] X Research source Solid wood doors are made of hardwood and require an average amount of force to kick in. Metal-clad doors are made from softwood with a thin metal covering and require an average to above average amount of force. Hollow metal doors are much heavier than other doors. They have a reinforcing channel around the edges and the lock mounting area, and some also have insulating material. They require maximum force; it may not be possible to kick these in.

Exterior doors for residential buildings, such as homes or apartment buildings, generally swing inward. Many commercial buildings, however, usually have exterior doors that open outward. If the door opens outward, try removing the door hinges. Keep in mind that many commercial door hinges have theft-proof hinge pins that do not allow them to be removed.

Don’t lean away from the kick, but keep your body upright as much as possible to keep from actually falling forward.

You can also aim just above the deadbolt or knob if you can’t locate a regular lock.

The main area of contact should be your heel, not the ball of your foot or your toes.