French Doors & Hinged Doors

French doors are the common name for a type of patio door that opens on hinges. We call these doors hinged patio doors. Typically, they include two panels, which both open, though single-panel and three-panel options are also available. Our hinged doors can be ordered without a post (called an astragal) between the panels for a totally clear double opening.   

It’s worth noting that “French door” can also refer to a specific style of door panel. This would be a hinged door with a full glass panel, a taller bottom rail (the part below the glass) and wider stiles (the parts to the right and left of the glass). Often this style of door would also include grilles.

Get more details on the difference between French and sliding glass doors.

Are you looking for a French door for your main entry? We offer double doors specifically designed for main entrances as well. Explore your entry door options. 

Yes. French doors start at a higher price point than sliding patio doors. This is because French doors have two moving panels, which provide the benefit of a double-wide opening. To allow smooth operation of these panels over the door’s lifetime, more expensive hardware is needed, such as multi-point locks and adjustable hinges, which prevent the door from sagging. In comparison, a sliding patio door typically has one moving panel that’s operated by a comparatively simple roller system. So, the hardware required to operate a French door is the reason these doors start at a higher price point than sliding patio doors.

Want to understand more about window and door pricing? If you’re ready for the specifics that will help you start budgeting for your project, we suggest you request a quote.  

Yes! Adding a new French door to your home can add value. Realtors and builders agree that Andersen windows and doors increase the value of a home by at least 15%.*

Increasing property value is one way to think about the benefit a new French door provides but it’s not the only way. Adding a new energy-efficient door to your home could lower your utility bills too.

The greatest value though, is the everyday experience of using a door that’s beautiful, functional, and makes your home more comfortable.  

^{*2024 Andersen brand surveys of U.S. builders and realtors}  

The answer to whether it’s better to have a French door open in (inswing) or out (outswing) will depend on your home. 

Thinking about how you’ll move through your space will help you make this decision. For example, if you are using the door to access a balcony or a deck, an inswing door that won’t take space away from your outdoor living space might be better. Similarly, if the door would create an obstruction in a well-used space, like your kitchen, or prevent easy movement through a hallway, you might opt for an outswing door. 

Inswing is an option with all our hinged patio doors, including 200 Series Hinged Patio Doors, 400 Series Hinged Patio Doors, A-Series Hinged Patio Doors, and E-Series Hinged Patio Doors.   

Outswing is an option with A-Series Hinged Patio Doors and E-Series Hinged Patio Doors. 

You can make selections that will help your French doors perform in a way that's energy efficient for your climate — here's how:

• Triple-pane glass is the best in the class. It’s the most insulating and increasingly necessary to meet the most stringent energy-efficiency standards, particularly in northern climates. Triple-pane glass is available with a variety of French patio doors, including those offered through the 400 Series, E-Series and A-Series product lines.
• Glass coatings help reflect the sun’s energy in a way that improves the energy efficiency of a home. There are a variety of options available, including the Low-E4® glass option, which works well in all climates and comes standard. Additionally, there are options designed for the harshest climates — from desert to tundra.   

Get tips to help you pick out energy-efficient products.  

We offer French doors in a variety of popular materials. Our Frenchwood® doors are all wood on the interior with an exterior cladding made of a durable material. This means you get the beauty of wood inside and low maintenance on the outside. The exterior cladding varies by product line.

Here are the materials our French doors are made of:

• Wood interior with vinyl exterior: This is the material composition of our 400 Series Hinged Patio Doors.
• Wood interior with composite and fiberglass exterior: This is the material composition of our A-Series Hinged Patio Doors.
• Wood interior with aluminum exterior: This is the material composition of our E-Series Hinged Patio Doors.

Learn more about materials. 

The hinges on an inswing French door will be visible on the interior of your home. The hinges on an outswing French door will be visible on the exterior. 

The answer to which door is a better, a sliding patio door or a French door, is really up to you. We usually suggest making this decision based on the style of your home, your budget, and your needs. Typically, French doors are considered more traditional in style. They also start at a higher price point because both panels open and need strong hardware to support them. Finally, you might appreciate the double-wide opening that a French door provides if you’re adding in a high flow area — or you might even look beyond to the big impact Folding Outswing Door.

We can walk you through everything you should consider in our Patio Door Selection Guide. 

Handing is the term used to describe the direction a door opens from when you’re standing on the exterior side. This last point is very important. Our handing is always described from the exterior perspective.

• Single French door: While standing outside, look at where the hinges are to understand if a single French (hinged) door is left- or right-handed. Hinges on the left mean the door is left-handed. Hinges on the right mean the door is right-handed.
• Double French door: Our double French doors are described as left active and right passive. This means that when you are standing outside, you’ll open the left panel (the active one) first and then open the right panel (the passive one). From the inside, you’d do the reverse and open the right first. The left active-right passive is true no matter if you have an inswing or outswing door.

Handing is a confusing topic, but it’s important for ordering the right door. If you’ve ever used a door where the handing is on the wrong side — for example, it opens opposite of the storm door — you’ll understand how awkward it can be to use a door that doesn’t open intuitively. 

Need a visual to wrap your head around handing? Find it in our Parts Store and remember your contractor will be able to help you order a door with the correct handing.