Sliding patio doors are a brilliant way to bring more light into a room and open it up to the garden. They’re also one of the bigger single items you’ll buy for your home, so it’s worth knowing what makes one patio door quote higher than another before you sign.
This guide explains the main types of sliding patio door, what should be on the quote, the details that change the price, and how to compare quotes properly.
Key points
- The frame material, number of panels and which ones slide make the biggest difference to price.
- Aluminium sliders have slimmer frames and cost more than uPVC, but both can be a good choice.
- Check the glass spec, threshold, locks and fitting are the same on every quote.
- The same door systems are sold by many installers, so the same door can often be bought for less.
Types of sliding patio door
Two-panel sliders
The most common layout. One panel slides behind a fixed panel. Simple, good value and great for most standard openings.
Three and four-panel sliders
For wider openings. Three-panel doors often have a fixed centre with sliding panels either side, or two panels that slide behind a fixed one. Four-panel doors usually have the two middle panels sliding outwards to each side, giving a wide central opening.
Inline and lift-and-slide
Standard inline sliders run on rollers. Lift-and-slide doors lift slightly off their seals when you turn the handle, which lets very large and heavy panels glide easily and seal tightly when closed. They cost more, but they’re worth considering for large openings.
uPVC or aluminium sliding doors?
uPVC sliders are usually the most affordable option. They’re well insulated and low maintenance, but their frames tend to be chunkier, so you get a little less glass.
Aluminium sliders have much slimmer frames, so you see more glass and less frame. They’re strong enough for bigger panels and come in a wide range of colours, often with a different colour inside and out. They usually cost more than uPVC.
Whichever you choose, make sure every quote you compare is for the same material and the same door system.
What should be on a patio door quote
- Overall size and the number of panels, with which panels slide and which are fixed, viewed from outside.
- Frame material and system, plus the colour inside and out.
- Glass specification: double or triple glazing, energy rating or U-value, and toughened safety glass, which large glazed doors need.
- Threshold: standard or low level for step-free access.
- Locks and handles: multipoint locking, anti-lift protection and the handle finish.
- Fitting: removal of your old doors, installation, sealing, trims and making good.
- Certification: replacement patio doors need to meet building regulations, usually signed off through FENSA or CERTASS.
Things that push the price up
- Extra-large panels or lift-and-slide hardware.
- Coloured frames, or different colours inside and out.
- Triple glazing or special glass such as solar control.
- Structural work, for example a new or wider opening. If an opening is being made bigger, that usually becomes building work with its own approvals, so make sure it’s priced clearly.
- A “today only” discount on a high starting price. Always judge the final price, not the discount.
Sliding patio doors or bifolds?
Bifold doors fold back to open almost the whole width, which is great in summer. Sliding doors give you bigger panes of glass and slimmer frames when they’re closed, which is what you look at most of the year. Sliders also don’t need space to fold back into. Read our guide to bifold door quotes to compare. If you’d rather have a pair of doors that open outwards, French doors are another option, and we cover front doors in our composite door guide.
How to compare patio door quotes
- Make sure each quote has the same size, number of panels and sliding arrangement.
- Check the frame material, system and colour match.
- Check the glass, threshold and locks match.
- Check fitting, making good and certification are included in all of them.
- Then compare the final price including VAT, the guarantee and the lead time.
How BeatMyWindowQuote can save you money
Most installers buy their doors from trade fabricators, and many fabricators use the same well-known door systems. So the patio door you’ve been quoted for can often be made and fitted by other local companies too, for less.
Upload your patio door quote and we’ll pull out the exact spec, then ask vetted local installers and fabricators to price it like for like. You see the prices side by side, cheapest first. Nobody gets your name or number unless you choose them, and it’s free for you.
Don’t have a quote yet? Use our door designer to set the number of panels, colours and glass, and we’ll get you 3 quotes for exactly that. You might also like our guide to comparing window quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Do sliding patio doors need building regulations?
Replacement patio doors are mostly glass, so they need to meet building regulations. A FENSA or CERTASS registered installer can sign this off for you and you’ll get a certificate.
Are sliding doors secure?
Modern sliders come with multipoint locks and anti-lift features. Ask each company which security standard their door meets, so you compare like for like.
Can I put sliding doors into an existing window opening?
Turning a window into a door means making the opening bigger, which is building work and can need building control approval. Ask companies to price and explain this clearly. More answers are on our doors page and FAQ.
