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Sliding patio door

One glass door panel glides horizontally past a fixed panel on rollers without taking up swing space.

Sliding 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

The door has two large glass panels in one frame: one is fixed, and the other rolls on wheels along a track in the sill and slides past it. Weatherstripping along the edges and where the panels meet closes the gaps, and a handle with a latch or a lock holds the moving panel shut.

The door opens in the plane of the wall, so it needs no room to swing inside or out, and the screen, if there is one, slides in its own track. The low sill with the track is what you step over. In the 3D model above you can check how the panel slides open.

Why you'd want it

A sliding patio door gives a wide glass wall to a deck or a garden and a way out to it without losing floor space to a swinging door. Furniture can stand close to it inside, and it opens even onto a narrow deck.

A hinged patio door opens the full width and has a classic look, but needs room to swing. An entry door is built as the main way into the house, with little or no glass.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • It needs no room to swing, so furniture and a narrow deck are not in the way.
  • Large glass panels give a wide view and a lot of daylight.
  • It is easy to open with one hand, and the panel stays where you leave it.

Cons

  • Only about half of the opening opens, because one panel is fixed.
  • The track and the rollers collect dirt and need cleaning and occasional adjustment.
  • A worn bottom seal or track lets drafts and water in at the sill.

It's for you if…

  • The door leads to a deck or a patio, and you want to see the yard from the room.
  • Furniture stands close to the door, or the deck outside is narrow.
  • You want a door that is easy to open many times a day, for example to let a dog out.

Don't overpay if…

  • You want the full width open for parties or to carry in large items: a hinged patio door opens wider.
  • It is the main way into the house: an entry door is built for that, with a solid panel and a lock.
  • You only want more light and no way out: a large window in the wall costs less.

How it affects the price

A sliding patio door is usually less expensive than a hinged patio door of the same width: one panel rolls on a track and the other is fixed, so there are no hinges carrying the weight of two swinging panels. It usually costs more than a sliding window, because it is a full-height door with a sill, a lock and much more glass.

Within the type the width, the number of panels, the glass and the frame material move the price the most.

All window types and their impact on the price →

Lifespan and care

Every season, vacuum the bottom track, wipe it clean and keep the drain holes open. Once or twice a year check the weatherstripping and the bottom seal and lubricate the track if the maker advises it. If the panel drags or jumps, the rollers need adjusting or replacing, which is a small repair rather than a new door.

Figures with sources

Glass compared with windows
even doors with lots of glass (like a sliding patio door) have lower glass-to-frame ratios than windows or skylightsSource: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)
Which category it belongs to
This category includes sliding doors common for yards and patiosSource:Window Types — NFRC Consumer Guide to Windows (Efficient Windows Collaborative)

What it pairs with

A sliding patio door is mostly 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 how well the sill sheds water and how smoothly the panel runs. The frame material and the hardware — the rollers, the handle 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

How do I clean the bottom track?

Vacuum out the dirt, wipe the track with a damp cloth and clear its drain holes so water can leave. Do it every season, and more often if the door is used a lot or faces a garden.

How much of the opening opens?

About half, because one panel slides over the fixed one. A door with three or four panels can open more, but some of the width always stays closed.

Is the glass of a large door safe?

Glass in doors falls under safety glazing rules. They depend on your area, so check that the estimate names the type of glass in the door and ask the installer which rules apply.

Can I replace it with a hinged patio door?

Often yes, if the opening and the sill suit it and there is room for the panels to swing. The installer checks the opening, the sill and the floor before you choose.

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