Ideas
Types of patio doors
How big can a patio door be? What's a bi-folding door? A MultiGlide™ Door? We'll explain it all so you can find the perfect patio door for your home. You'd be surprised at all your options!
From traditional hinged and sliding doors to bi-folding doors and moving glass wall systems — patio doors can take many forms. Whether you want a space-saving solution, something energy efficient that helps improves the comfort of your home, or a statement piece that also offers expansive views, there’s a patio door that will meet your needs.
Before we get into the details of patio door selection, we encourage you to take a minute to imagine what your new door could do for your home. How could it make your home flow better? What space will it connect you to? What kind of experience do you want to create? This will help you get into the right mindset before diving into the details. Once you have some ideas in mind, read on to see which door best fits your vision.
Our wide variety of patio door options, customizations, and styles means that you will find something to suit your needs no matter what they may be.
What are the different types of patio doors?
Our patio doors include hinged doors (the type of doors you might know as a “French doors”) and gliding doors (commonly called “sliding glass doors”). Additionally, we offer a collection of oversize patio doors, which we call Big Doors. Our Big Door options include: Folding Outswing Doors (you might know these as bi-folding doors), Multi-Slide Doors, MultiGlide™ Doors, and Liftslide Doors.
Patio doors differ in the amount of glass they use, the way they operate, sizing, and style. Some doors, like our gliding patio doors, are better for small spaces where there’s no room for the doors to swing in and out. Other doors, such as our Big Doors, are ideal for large spaces where you want seamless indoor/outdoor experiences. To determine the best patio doors for your home, keep reading to learn about the benefits of each type.
Our patio doors at a glance
The best patio door for your home will come down to factors like cost, style, materials, and energy efficiency. Get to know the patio doors we offer and quick facts about where each works best, pros and cons, and estimated cost for each type.
| Door type | Where it works best | Pros | Cons | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gliding patio doors (aka sliding glass doors) |
Sliding glass doors are best for small patios without a lot of room for a door to swing inward or outward. Their sleek and narrow frames work well with modern home styles. |
Their ability to open flush with the wall makes sliding glass doors convenient for saving space. | Because some of the glass panes are fixed, these doors have less opening width than other patio door options. |
$$ to $$$$ Gliding doors range in cost. The price you pay will depend on the product line you select. |
| Hinged patio doors (aka French doors) | Hinged doors often go well with traditional home styles. They have wider frames, particularly on the bottom rail, which paired with a colonial grille pattern can create the classic French aesthetic. | A hinged door with double operable panels creates a wide and dramatic opening that will help maximize air flow in nice weather and help increase natural light. | These doors need plenty of space to open, so they might not work in areas with a lot of furniture or obstructions |
$$ to $$$$ Hinged/French doors range in cost. The price you pay will depend on the product line selected |
| Multi-Slide Door | The Multi-Slide Door is an oversize patio door from our Andersen Aluminum product line. | The Multi-Slide Door brings a high-end look to your home at an exceptional value. The sleek hardware design allows panels to be stacked, which creates a wide-open view and accommodates large openings. | Although we offer a thermally improved option, this door is made completely of aluminum, which means it's not ideal in all locations. It's best suited to warmer climates, which is why it's only available in select geographic regions. | $$$ |
| Folding Outswing Door (aka a bi-folding door) | Bi-folding doors work well in areas meant for entertaining guests because of their ability to make a seamless indoor/outdoor flow. |
The large unobstructed openings created by bi-folding doors essentially create a disappearing wall effect |
These are premium products with a price tag to match. | $$$$+ |
| MultiGlide™ Door | These doors can offer a luxurious modern look or a more traditional design depending on the style you're looking for. They work best in spaces that allow for large openings. |
Due to their huge size and sleek framing, you can count on expansive views and ample natural light wherever you decide to install a MultiGlide door. They are also able to disappear into the wall (pocketing) so you can create a completely unobstructed path. |
Due to their large size, a MultiGlide™ Door might require some complex installation, which means it's not the best choice for a project with a tight budget. | $$$$+ |
| Liftslide Door | Liftslide Doors come in straight, curved, corner, and pass-through designs, so they can fit almost any configuration. Add one of these doors to your home for a sleek and luxurious statement. | These doors use fewer and bigger panels, making them great for framing a view. They are also available with thermally controlled frames and panels if you're after energy efficiency. | These are premium products, and their price will reflect that. | $$$$+ |
French door
This hinged patio door opens inward, so the homeowner had to take that into account when choosing furniture for the space around the door.
How it works: A French door, we call ours a hinged patio door, has one or more panels that swing on a hinge and open inward or outward. It’s designed to open into a room or out onto a patio to maximize space, make a dramatic statement, and add fresh air.
Where it works best: It’s great for patios, decks, and even side entrances with plenty of space for it to open inward or outward. Hinged patio doors are often, but not always, seen on more traditional home styles such as Tudors or Craftsman Bungalows. They complement these styles with their elegant and classic aesthetics. However, by making custom choices such as black frames or no grilles, you can incorporate hinged doors into modern homes as well.
What else you should know about hinged patio doors: Two-panel hinged patio doors might be the standard, but they’re not the only option. We also have single-panel and three-panel configurations available.
Material options: All of our doors are made with durable materials, so you can depend on longer lifespans and low maintenance no matter what style you choose. Here’s what to know about the materials used to make our hinged patio doors:
- 200 Series Hinged Patio Doors and 400 Series Hinged Patio Doors are made of a wood core with a protective Perma-Shield® cladding on their exterior.
- A-Series Hinged Patio Doors have a wood interior and an exterior made of a combination of our exclusive Fibrex® material and fiberglass.
- E-Series Hinged Patio Doors are made of a wood core with a protective cladding of aluminum on the exterior.
Cost: Our hinged patio doors start at a higher price point than our gliding patio doors. This is because both panels on a hinged door are operable (open). The double opening they provide is one of their great benefits, and we do offer product lines to meet various price points, so start with our 200 Series if you’re looking for value.
Performance: If you’re looking for improved energy efficiency, consider the following options:
- Low-emissivity glass: Our doors come standard with Low-E glass, which helps improve a door’s efficiency by reflecting energy in a way that keeps heat or air conditioning in the home and outside air outside the home. However, there are climate specific Low-E coatings that might be worth considering if you want to further help improve your door's energy efficiency.
- Triple-pane glass: Our best-performing glass option includes three panes of glass with two air spaces in between. The two air spaces are usually filled with an argon-gas blend (unless you live at a high elevation). This type of glass also offers the possibility of choosing a combination of Low-E coatings that will help further boost performance. Find triple-pane glass available with our 400 Series Hinged Patio Doors, A-Series Hinged Patio Doors, and E-Series Hinged Patio Doors.
Styling: French doors easily complement a traditional home. Lean into this with our 400 Series Frenchwood® Hinged Patio Door, which has a wood interior, high bottom rail, and can include grilles. These features can help you customize it to meet your home’s style and your preferences.
If you want a more transitional look, which combines the best of tradition with fresh contemporary taste, consider out E-Series Hinged Patio Door. This door has even framing all the way around the glass and an aluminum cladding on the exterior. Both features help it lean a bit more modern.
When considering budgeting, it is important to know that hinged/French doors start at a higher cost than gliding doors. This is due to the double opening hinged/French doors allow for and the hardware needed to support a design allowing both doors to open.
Sliding glass door
Gliding patio doors are the perfect choice when you don’t have a lot of space or want a seamless indoor/outdoor transition. This door added transoms to increase natural light.
How it works: A sliding glass door, we call ours gliding patio doors, has two or more panels that slide parallel to a wall so you can gain quick access to the outdoors, even in tight spaces.
Where it works best: Sliding glass doors are great space-saving options for your backyard, patio, or deck because they open flush with the wall. When you don’t have to worry about a door swinging in or out, you can add more furniture or optimize the flow of a room however you need to. They're typically found in more modern homes or anywhere there isn’t space for a door to swing open.
What else you should know about gliding patio doors: Our gliding patio doors can have two, three, or four panels, so there are lots of ways to customize these doors and let in the light.
Materials: All of our doors are made with durable materials that keep maintenance to a minimum. Here’s what our various product lines are made of:
- 100 Series Gliding Patio Doors are made of our exclusive Fibrex® material inside and out.
- 200 Series Gliding Patio Doors and 400 Series Gliding Patio Doors are made of a wood core with a protective Perma-Shield® cladding on the exterior.
- A-Series Gliding Patio Doors are made of wood on the interior and a combination of Fibrex material and fiberglass on the exterior.
- E-Series Gliding Patio Doors are made of a wood core with a protective cladding of aluminum on the exterior.
- Andersen Aluminum Sliding Patio Doors are made completely of aluminum.
Cost: Our gliding patio doors range in price. If you’re looking for value, start with our 100 Series Gliding Patio Door. If you want the warmth of wood, our 200 Series Gliding Patio Door also offers great value.
Performance: Because gliding patio doors have a lot of glass, which isn’t as energy efficient as a wall, you may want to make some choices to improve energy efficiency. Low-emissivity glass coatings will help your door reflect the sun’s energy more efficiently, and triple-pane glass is more insulating and ideal for colder climates. Our 200 Series, A-Series, and E-Series gliding patio doors can be ordered with triple-pane glass. Learn more about energy efficient glass options.
Styling: We love a glassy sliding glass door in a modern home. Lean into the style by selecting a 200 Series Narroline® Gliding Patio Door, which has the thinnest framing around the glass.
Prefer a more traditionally styled sliding glass door? Our 400 Series Frenchwood® Gliding Patio Door is the answer. With its wider framing and high bottom rail, the piece of framing below the glass, it leans classic.
Big Doors size and configurations at a glance
The best patio door for your home will come down to factors like cost, style, materials, and energy efficiency. Get to know the patio doors we offer and quick facts about where each works best, pros and cons, and estimated cost for each type.
| Door type | Maximum size | Ideal scenarios | Configurations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folding Outswing Door (bi-folding) |
48' x 10' |
Best for remodels or where you don’t have space for a door that pockets into the wall but still want a large, almost completely unobstructed opening. | Pass-through window. |
| MultiGlide™ Door | 50' x 10' | When you have a stunning view that you want to accentuate with large panels of glass. | Pass-through window, pocketing, corner, curved. |
| Liftslide Door | 60' x 16' | Best for when you have a flexible budget and want to maximize luxury and door size around corners or curves. | Pass-through window, pocketing, corner, curved. |
| Multi-Slide Door | 44' x 12' |
If you’re in a warm climate and want the perfect big door for seamless indoor/outdoor living. |
Corner, double active, stacking, pocketing. |
Folding Outswing Door
The Folding Outswing Door creates large openings that can frame views when closed and can open to create seamless indoor/outdoor living.
Photography by Spacecrafting
How it works: Our Folding Outswing Door (also called a bi-folding door) is made of hinged panels that accordion open and together create a large, unobstructed view.
Where it works best: It’s perfect for remodels since it can be installed in an existing wall, but it also works anywhere you want to open up a whole wall for panoramic views. Choose a Folding Outswing Door for entertainment spaces where seamless indoor/outdoor access would be beneficial.
What else you should know about Folding Outswing Doors: These bi-folding doors can wrap around a corner for two walls of glass, open from the left, right, or center, and can be up to 10-feet tall and 48-feet wide.
Materials: Here’s what to know about the durable materials used to make our Folding Outswing Doors:
- Our Folding Outswing Doors have an aluminum-clad exterior, which means there is a low maintenance aluminum exterior protecting a wood core.
- Wood exterior are also available with our Folding Outswing Doors.
Cost: Our Folding Outswing Doors are premium products, but among our Big Doors they offer some of the best price points.
Performance: Our Folding Outswing Door has one of the highest performance grades of all of our Big Doors. They offer:
- Triple-pane glass, which is best for insulation in cold climates.
- Their aluminum-clad panels have a dual weatherstrip design at the bottom and along the panel edges, which provides a weathertight seal.
- Folding Outswing Doors are also available with Stormwatch® protection, which improves performance in coastal environments.
Styling: We offer both contemporary and traditional panels for our Folding Outswing Doors. Contemporary panels have stiles and rails (the framing around the glass) that’s of an equal width. Whereas, traditional panels have details that lean more classic, like taller bottom rails (framing below the glass). This makes the Folding Outswing Door one of our better Big Door choices if you have a more classic home style but still want to incorporate a large, unobstructed opening. It also fits well into transitional homes.
MultiGlide™ Door
The MultiGlide™ Door’s ability to disappear into the wall is what makes it a great choice for any patio.
How it works: Our MultiGlide™ Door is an extra-large sliding door that can disappear into the wall, completely opening the space — up to 10 feet tall and 50 feet wide! Our oversize sliding glass doors are engineered for smooth and easy operation, giving you design freedom with the performance and innovation you desire.
Where it works best: It’s perfect for anywhere you want to create an indoor/outdoor living area without giving up an inch of space.
What else you should know about MultiGlide Doors: They can be automated, so they open and close with the touch of a button. If you’re interested in improving the energy efficiency of a MultiGlide Door, you should know that triple-pane glass and all the Low-E coatings we offer are available. Even though they’re big, MultiGlide Doors can be used in cold climates.
Materials: Our MultiGlide™ Doors are made of durable materials, like all of our products. You have an option of:
- Completely aluminum (aluminum exterior and interior) options are low maintenance and have a sleek modern look.
- Aluminum-clad wood (an aluminum exterior with wood interior) options offer the best of both worlds with the beauty of wood on the interior and a protective coating of aluminum on the exterior.
Cost: Our MultiGlide™ Doors are between Folding Outswing Doors and Liftslide in terms of Big Door pricing. They are a premium product with a price tag to match, but if you are able to fit it into your project budget, it will be a worthwhile investment.
Performance: MultiGlide Doors have a lower performance grade than some of the other Big Doors, but they can still be customized to meet your needs and help improve energy efficiency. Triple-pane glass is offered for MultiGlide Doors, and the right combination of Low-E coatings for your climate will help improve the performance of your door. Learn more about Low-E glass options.
Styling: The MultiGlide Door can be customized to fit a modern or traditional home. There are both contemporary and traditional aluminum-clad panel options available.
Liftslide Door
This Liftslide Door expands floor-to-ceiling to merge the outdoor pool area with the indoor living area.
How it works: Our premier moving glass wall system, the Liftslide Door is precision engineered for nearly effortless operation and truly massive sizes.
Where it works best: It’s a stunning option anywhere you want the biggest or most luxurious indoor/outdoor experience — it can be up to 16 feet tall and 60 feet wide.
What else you should know about gliding patio doors: Liftslide Doors can be built straight, curved, or in a corner, while panels can slide against a jamb, into a wall pocket, or along an outside wall. All our doors are made with durable materials, so while they might have premium price tag, you can count on a low-maintenance and long-lasting luxury product in return.
Materials: There are few options for Liftslide Door material combinations. Fortunately, all are durable choices:
- Aluminum inside and out is one option for Liftslide Doors. Benefits include low maintenance and resistance to the elements.
- Wood has been at the core of our products for over 100 years, and you can choose an all-wood interior and exterior for your Liftslide Door.
- Aluminum-clad wood (wood on the inside, aluminum on the outside) offers the best of both worlds.
Cost: Our Liftslide Doors are some of our most premium and luxurious products. They are not ideal for a tight budget, but if you fit one into your project, you will be adding a showstopping addition to your home.
Performance: The Liftslide Door has the highest performance grade of all our Big Door options. It also comes with the following options:
- Triple-pane glass is an offering on our Liftslide Doors.
- Aluminum wood-clad and all aluminum doors are available as thermally controlled door systems. This means that both the frame and panels are thermally broken to help maximize energy efficiency.
- The Liftslide Door uses our patented drainage flush track system, which is tested and meets AAMA performance standards, making them reliable and secure in severe weather conditions. The tracks project only 3/16” above the finished floor, so you don’t have to worry about sacrificing a seamless transition from inside to outside.
- Stormwatch® Protection is available on our Liftslide Doors, which can add impact resistance for coastal locales.
Styling: The Liftslide Door is an ideal option for contemporary homes where you want an expansive view with fewer and bigger panels. It offers a wide range of creative possibilities with a high number of configuration options.
Multi-Slide Door
Let in natural light and incorporate a functional centerpiece with the Multi-Slide Door.
How it works: The Multi-Slide Door is our completely aluminum sliding door designed to accommodate large openings up to 12 feet tall.
Where it works best: It’s ideally suited for desert locales and contemporary homes due to its material and styling.*
What else you should know about Multi-Slide Doors: These doors come in a variety of configurations: pocketing, one and two-directional stacking, double active, and corners. Multi-Slide Doors are not the most energy efficient, but we do offer a thermally improved option.
Materials: The Multi-Slide Door is part of our Andersen Aluminum line, which means it's made from a sleek and modern aluminum exterior and interior. Aluminum doors are virtually maintenance-free and excellent at resisting the elements.
Cost: Our Multi-Slide Door is one of the most cost-effective Big Door options.
Performance: Multi-Slide Doors are designed for warmer climates, but we do offer a thermally improved option.
Styling: With its large expanses of glass and narrow profiles, the Multi-Slide Door is the perfect contemporary statement piece.
Patio door FAQs
What is a French Door?
What is a pocketing door?
A pocketing door disappears into your wall when open. It's an elegant solution for creating a completely unobstructed opening, and it can save on space. Pocketing options are available with the Multi-Slide Door, MultiGlide Door, and Liftslide Door.
Can I choose whether my patio door opens inward or outward?
You sure can! Hinged doors that open outward are called outswing, and hinged doors that open inward are called inswing. When you order your door, you can decide which way your door will open. To make the best decision, consider the flow of your home. For example, an outswing door could be a great choice if you want the double opening a hinged door provides, or when an inswing door would create an interior obstruction.
Aren’t big doors just for California homes?
Nope! Big doors can work in any climate. In fact, we see these doors installed in homes across the country. Glass, sills, and materials all play a role in equipping a door to perform in various climates. The Folding Outswing Door comes with the option to include a single panel that operates as a separate door, so you can use it when you don’t want to open up the full wall in the cold season. And, of course, insect screens are an option where needed.
How do sliding patio doors differ from French patio doors?
Sliding patio doors open flush with the wall by gliding on fixed tracks, whereas French (or hinged) patio doors swing inward or outward from the center. French doors are typically used for more traditional or elegant home styles. A sliding patio door makes more sense in areas where’s there’s not a lot of space, or you need an easy indoor/outdoor transition. They also typically have sleek frames that are better for modern aesthetics.
What is the best material for patio doors?
We only use durable materials for our doors, including wood interiors and vinyl, aluminum, and fiberglass exterior claddings. We’ve also developed a composite Fibrex® material that’s two times stronger than vinyl and is used in our 100 Series and A-Series patio doors. Learn more about the advantages of each of our materials.
How to choose the right patio doors for a small space?
If you don’t have a lot of space for a patio door, something that opens flush with the wall will be your best bet. Gliding patio doors are ideal for small spaces because they will be able to open and close no matter what furniture or other obstructions are around, whereas a hinged or bi-folding door would require space to swing in and out.
What are the installation basics for patio doors?
When it comes to installing a patio door, you should be aware that the bigger and more complex the door, the more detail and planning the installation will require. Once you have an idea of what kind of patio door you want, talk to your builder or architect to figure out how realistic it is for your scenario and what details you will need to know for your unique installation.
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**Both thermally improved and non-thermally broken corner configurations can have up to five panels for each segment.