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Hinged (French) patio door

One or both glazed door panels swing on side hinges like a traditional door.

Hinged (French) patio door

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Pick a window or door type, drag or use ← / → to rotate the 3D model, and press the mechanism buttons to see how it opens.

How it opens and how it is built

One or two glazed panels hang on hinges along the sides of the frame and swing open, inward or outward depending on how the door is ordered. With two panels, one is usually held in place by bolts at the top and bottom and the other opens with the handle, and both can be opened together for the full width.

Weatherstripping around the panels and a sill with a bottom seal close the gaps, and a lock holds the door shut. The panels need clear floor space to swing. In the 3D model above you can check how a panel swings open.

Why you'd want it

A hinged patio door opens the whole width of the doorway, which makes it easy to carry things through or to open the room to a terrace, and it has a classic look with a lot of glass. Closed, the panels press against their seals like any door.

A sliding patio door saves floor space but opens only about half the width. An entry door is built as the main way in, with a solid panel and little or no glass.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • With both panels open, the whole width of the doorway is free.
  • Closed, the panels press against their weatherstripping, like an ordinary door.
  • A classic look with a lot of glass and light.

Cons

  • The panels need clear floor space to swing, inside or outside.
  • The hinges and the sill carry the weight of large glass panels and may need adjustment.
  • It usually costs more than a sliding patio door of the same width.

It's for you if…

  • You want to open a dining or living room fully to a terrace in summer.
  • There is clear floor space in front of the door for the panels to swing.
  • You like the classic look of glazed panels with a center meeting stile.

Don't overpay if…

  • Furniture stands close to the door or the deck is narrow: a sliding patio door needs no room to swing.
  • You rarely open both panels: a sliding patio door gives the same view and usually costs less.
  • It is the main way into the house: an entry door is built for that, with a solid panel and a lock.

How it affects the price

A hinged patio door usually costs more than a sliding patio door of the same width: two panels on hinges need stiff frames, strong hinges, bolts and a lock that holds both panels. It is usually close to or above an entry door, depending on how much glass and what hardware each has.

Within the type the width, one or two panels, the glass, the frame material and whether it opens inward or outward move the price.

All window types and their impact on the price →

Lifespan and care

Once or twice a year, check that the panels close evenly and do not rub the frame or the sill, and adjust the hinges if a panel sags. Clean the sill and keep its drain path clear, check the bottom seal and the weatherstripping, and lubricate the hinges and the bolts as the maker advises.

Figures with sources

How ENERGY STAR sets its criteria for doors
Performance criteria for doors are based on the amount of glass they have (called glazing level) and ratings certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)Source:ENERGY STAR Key Product Criteria: Residential Windows, Doors and Skylights (U.S. EPA)
Products whose glazing the federal safety standard covers
storm doors or combination doors, doors, bathtub doors, and enclosures, shower doors and enclosures, glazed panels and sliding glass doors (patio-type)Source:16 CFR 1201.1 Scope — Safety Standard for Architectural Glazing Materials, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)
Fenestration products in the energy code glossary
windows, sliding glass doors, french doors, skylights, curtain walls, dynamic glazing, garden windows and glass blockSource:Glossary: Fenestration Product — Energy Code Ace, Reference Ace 2013 (California Building Energy Efficiency Standards)

What it pairs with

Most of a hinged patio door is glass, so the glass unit and its Low-E coating decide much of how warm the room is, and the glass in a door has to be safety glass under the rules of your area. The installation decides whether the heavy panels stay square and whether the sill sheds water. The frame material and the hardware — the hinges, the bolts and the lock — are chosen as for any door.

How a door and its sill are installed →The glass in a door →

Compared with similar types

Frequently asked questions

Does it open inward or outward?

Either, depending on how it is ordered. An inswing door needs free floor space inside, an outswing door needs room on the terrace and hinges suited to the outside; the installer helps choose by the room and the climate.

Does it need a sill, and how do I look after it?

Yes, the sill with its bottom seal keeps water and drafts out under the panels. Keep it clean, make sure water can drain from it and replace the bottom seal when it wears.

What is heavier, the glass or the frame?

It depends on the size of the panels, the glass unit and the frame material. Look at the specification in the estimate: large panels with thick glass are heavy, and the hinges and the installation must suit them.

How is it different from an entry door?

A hinged patio door is mostly glass and opens onto a terrace or a garden. An entry door is built as the main way in, with a solid panel, a stronger focus on the lock and little or no glass.

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