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Sliding Doors Dimensions Explained: Find the Perfect Fit

Choosing the right-sized sliding doors for your home can be confusing. With various styles, configurations, and measurements to consider, it’s important to understand your options before making a decision.

At North East Bifolds, we’ve installed countless sliding door systems over the years and have put together this straightforward guide to help you navigate sliding door dimensions.

Understanding Sliding Door Basics

Sliding doors are a popular choice for homeowners looking to connect indoor and outdoor spaces while maximising natural light. Unlike front doors or standard hinged doors, sliding doors move horizontally along tracks, making them an ideal solution for areas with limited swing space.

Standard Sliding Doors Dimensions

While our sliding doors are made to measure, it’s worth bearing in mind some standard sizes as a starting point. Typical sliding door heights in the UK usually range from 2000mm to 2500mm. For width, standard sliding patio doors typically start around 1500mm for a two-panel system and go much wider for multi-panel configurations.

At North East Bifolds, our Visoglide Plus sliding door systems can be customised to fit openings from just 1.2m all the way up to 9m wide, with heights up to 2.5m. This flexibility allows us to create solutions for modest openings and impressive glass walls.

Interlock Options and What They Mean

One aspect of sliding door dimensions that’s often overlooked is the interlock, which is the point where two sliding panels meet and lock together. The size of this interlock affects both the appearance and performance of your doors.

We offer four different interlock options for our Visoglide Plus sliding door system:

• 20mm interlocks: Our slimmest option, providing minimal visual interruption and maximum glass area. Perfect for contemporary designs where clean lines are essential.
• 35mm interlocks: A good balance between strength and slim sightlines, suitable for most residential applications.
• 74mm interlocks: Offering added strength for larger installations or areas with higher security requirements.
• 90mm interlocks: Our most robust option, providing maximum strength and security for very large door systems or exposed locations.

All these options maintain the same overall dimensions capabilities, but the different interlock sizes give you choices based on your priorities for appearance, thermal performance, and security.

Choosing the Right Size for Your Space

When deciding on the size of your sliding doors, consider these factors:

Available Wall Space

The most obvious constraint is the size of the aperture where the doors will be installed. For existing openings, this will determine your maximum dimensions. You have more flexibility for new builds or renovations but still need to consider structural implications.

Panel Configuration

The number of panels affects the width of each panel and how the door operates. More panels mean each panel can be narrower, making it easier to slide and changing the aesthetics. Common configurations include:

• Two panels (one fixed, one sliding)
• Three panels (one sliding, two fixed or two sliding, one fixed)
• Four panels (two sliding, two fixed)
• Six panels or more for vast openings

Maximum Panel Width

While our systems can accommodate openings up to 9m wide, there are practical limits to how wide each panel can be. Very wide panels can become heavy and harder to operate smoothly. Generally, the recommended maximum panel widths are around 1.5m to 2m for optimal functionality.

Threshold Options

The threshold (the bottom part of the frame) comes in different heights. Lower thresholds offer easy access but may provide less weather protection than higher options. This is a small but important dimensional consideration, especially for accessibility.

Common Sliding Door Dimensions Examples

To give you a better idea of what works in different settings, here are some common sliding door setups:

Standard Patio Door

• Width: 1800mm-2400mm
• Height: 2100mm
• Configuration: Two panels (one fixed, one sliding)

This is a great option for replacing existing patio doors and works well in most standard homes.

Large Living Room Opening

• Width: 3000mm-4500mm
• Height: 2400mm
• Configuration: Three or four panels

Perfect for creating a substantial opening to a garden or patio area without looking oversized.

Maximum Impact Glass Wall

• Width: 5000mm-9000mm
• Height: 2500mm
• Configuration: Multiple panels

This is for those looking to create a true indoor-outdoor living experience with the maximum possible opening. These types of sliding walls are becoming more popular, especially in modern homes.

The Importance of Professional Installation

Professional installation is essential for sliding door systems, regardless of your chosen dimensions. Our team has years of installation experience across the North East, ensuring your doors fit perfectly and operate smoothly. Poor installation can lead to issues with operation, security, and weather resistance.

Our Visoglide Sliding Doors

At North East Bifolds, we offer the Visoglide Plus sliding door system, which is known for its exceptional quality and smooth operation. These aluminium sliding doors combine modern design with outstanding performance, making them suitable for homes of all styles. Our doors can be customised to fit openings from 1.2m to 9m wide and up to 2.5m in height, providing solutions for everything from small patio doors to impressive glass walls.

Security is paramount in our design, which is why all our sliding door systems are fitted with the EROS 3 Star Cylinder lock. This advanced locking system has earned the Sold Secure Diamond 2024 certification, offering comprehensive protection and peace of mind against common break-in methods.

We provide several customisation options, including a huge range of colours from standard shades to any RAL colour option of your choice, various handle finishes, and threshold options to suit your specific needs.

Finding the Perfect Doors for You

Choosing the correct dimensions for your sliding doors is about balancing your space requirements, design preferences, and practical considerations.

Whether you’re looking for standard-sized sliding patio doors or a bespoke solution for larger openings, our range of options allows you to design exactly what would work best for your home, and we’d love to help you do it.

To view and use our sliding doors and to meet us in person, we’d love to welcome you to our Seaham Showroom. For more information or to arrange a free, no-obligation quote, you can:

• Phone us on 0191 581 3987
• Email us at sales@northeastbifolds.co.uk
• Use our online contact form

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you install sliding doors throughout the UK?

We install sliding doors across the North East region, including Newcastle, Durham, Sunderland, and surrounding areas. Our showroom is in Seaham, where you can see our doors in person.

What other products do you offer?

Besides sliding doors, our range includes bifold doors, aluminium and garage doors, internal doors and partitions, fixed casement windows, and roof lanterns.

What’s the difference between the interlock sizes?

The interlock size affects both appearance and performance. Our 20mm option provides the slimmest look with maximum glass area, while larger interlocks (35mm, 74mm, and 90mm) offer progressively more strength and security for bigger door systems.