How to Choose a Patio Door? A Comprehensive Comparison of Sliding Doors, French Doors and Folding Doors

On summer evenings, you want to open the patio door to enjoy the breeze, and on rainy days, you want to watch the raindrops slide down the glass—choosing the right patio door is not just about picking an “entrance and exit”, but also adding comfort and texture to daily life. Many people get stuck between sliding doors, French doors and folding doors during renovation. In fact, each type of door has its own suitable scenarios; there is no absolute superiority or inferiority, only suitability. Today, combined with practical use experience, I want to talk to you in detail about these three types of patio doors.

Let’s start with the most common sliding doors. Its design of sliding left and right along the track has the biggest advantage of not taking up space—neither the indoor nor the patio side will be “disturbed” by the door leaves. In the apartment types I have come into contact with before, sliding doors are particularly suitable for small-sized patios, which will not make the already compact space more crowded. The mainstream sliding doors in 2024 all use broken bridge aluminum alloy materials, paired with double-layer insulating glass, and their sound insulation and heat insulation effects are much better than old models. STATE CROWN will also adjust the sealing strips according to the local climate during customization, which is very thoughtful in details. However, sliding doors also have small shortcomings: usually only half of the area can be opened, the ventilation effect is moderate, and the track is easy to accumulate dust, which needs to be cleaned occasionally to maintain smoothness.

Next is the French door—just the name sounds a bit romantic. The double-door opening design can be fully opened when pushed, maximizing lighting and ventilation. If the patio area at home is not small and you want to create a transparent sense of space, French doors are definitely a plus. I remember a friend’s patio was equipped with white French doors paired with screen curtains. On sunny days, the sun shines in, making the entire living room look particularly bright. But French doors have a small requirement: you need to reserve enough opening space. If there is furniture placed indoors, you have to plan the position in advance. In addition, the hinges and locks of French doors are crucial. Good custom brands will check these hardware parts to ensure smooth opening and closing and durability.

Finally, the folding door, which can be called a “space expansion artifact”. Multiple door leaves can be folded and pushed to one side, and the opening area can reach more than 90%, instantly connecting the patio and the interior into one. During friend gatherings, everyone can shuttle freely between indoor and outdoor, and the atmosphere is directly full. However, the folding door has a relatively complex structure and a slightly higher price. It also has requirements for the load-bearing capacity of the wall during installation. STATE CROWN will first conduct an on-site survey and adjust the installation plan according to the wall conditions to avoid problems later. Another thing to note is that the hardware of folding doors is used frequently. When choosing, you should pay attention to the material and quality guarantee, and daily maintenance should not be lazy.

I have sorted out a core parameter comparison table for you, which is clear at a glance:

Here are also answers to two common questions:Q: Can small-sized apartments only choose sliding doors?A: Not exactly. If you want to occasionally pursue a transparent sense of space in a small-sized apartment, narrow-frame French doors are also a good choice. They will not look crowded visually, but you need to plan the opening space in advance.Q: What material is more durable for patio doors?A: In most cases, aluminum alloy is a cost-effective choice. It is corrosion-resistant, not easy to deform, and can be matched with different colors. If your home is in a retro style, wooden frames can also be considered, but regular maintenance is required to avoid moisture and deformation.

In fact, choosing a patio door is essentially choosing your own lifestyle. If you often receive guests and like an open sense, folding doors are worth considering; if you pursue convenience and practicality in daily use, sliding doors are enough; if you want to balance appearance and transparency, French doors will not disappoint. You might as well first think about the scenes where you use the patio most often, then make a decision based on the apartment type and budget—after all, the one that suits you is the best.