Sliding glass doors are an excellent addition to any home. They help bring the outdoors inside your home and make it simple to let fresh air and sunlight emanate across your space. 

Of course, if you want sliding doors, it pays to plan ahead. With the correct sliding door measurements and customized options, you can get doors that perfectly fit your home.

Benefits of sliding glass doors for your home:

• Unobstructed views of scenery outside your home
• More natural light inside of your home
• More ventilation
• Durable and secure
• Easy to operate
• Low maintenance

What Are Standard Sliding Door Measurements, and What Do You Need for Them?

The standard sliding glass door size is 80 inches tall and at least 62 inches wide, but many other sizes are available. The size is based on the door frame.

For sliding glass door measurements, you need the width and height of the door frame. Taking these measurements will help get you an idea of the size and cost of a sliding glass door. Of course, when you purchase a door through a dealer/installer, they will visit your home and take exact measurements to ensure the best possible fit. 

• Height: This depends on the height of your ceiling or if you have a transom above the door. 
• Width: This varies based on the number of door panels or the size of the door panels.

What Are Two- and Three-Panel Glass Sliding Door Sizes? 

Generally, two-panel doors are 80 to 96 inches tall and come in widths ranging from 60 to 96 inches. A door’s width refers to the width of the entire unit. The actual door opening is about half of the listed total width.

Three-panel varieties are 80 to 96 inches tall and have widths ranging from 108 to 144 inches.

How to Measure for Sliding Glass Patio Doors

Measure the width and height from the outside of your home. Measure from side to side (brick to brick, stucco to stucco, etc.) for the width and from top to bottom for the height.

Measure the door opening from several points at the top, middle, and bottom. This allows you to account for any inconsistencies. You can verify that the door opening size is correct and that your sliding patio door will fit as expected.

Consider the door overlap and jamb when choosing sliding glass doors. A window and door dealer/installer can help you make sound decisions about sliding glass doors and choosing the right one for your home. 

Tips to Help You Choose the Right Size for Your Sliding Glass Doors

Look at the sliding glass door choices available. Manufacturers offer many options, so pick one that’s in line with your measurements.

Use the overall measurements of your frame to determine the door dimensions beyond the opening. This helps ensure your doors will fit properly into your space.

Examine the thickness of the wall where your door will be installed to determine the width of the frame pockets you’ll use to affix the frame to the wall. In many instances, this width is 10 or 12.5 cm.

Should You Get Custom Sliding Glass Doors?

Unfortunately, standard sliding glass doors won’t always fit your home. Thankfully, custom sliding glass doors are available. These work well if your door opening is a unique size or shape. They can also fit great if you have a curved or angled wall. Additionally, custom sliding glass doors can offer you the colors, laminates, hardware, options, and glass packages you want. Other items to consider are transom windows above the door or sidelite windows on either side of the door.

Contact a window and door dealer/installer to weigh the pros and cons of standard and custom options to help you make an informed decision about which sliding glass doors will work best for your home. 

Want Standard or Custom Sliding Glass Patio Doors?

SoftLite has you covered. We offer secure, energy-efficient sliding glass doors with high-performance Low-E coatings, ultra-smart weatherstripping, and other advanced features. Find a SoftLite dealer near you for a customized sliding glass door.