What do single and double patio doors cost?
Planning patio doors
Anyone replacing a patio door or creating a new opening to the garden understandably asks about cost first. Yet one door price is not enough for a sound budget decision. The required clear opening, the connection to walls, floors and the outdoor area, and the fittings that suit daily life all matter. A single-leaf hinged door can be a straightforward solution for everyday access to the terrace. A double-leaf version creates a wider opening, but adds another leaf, more hardware and further planning. Do not compare patio door against patio door; compare identical specifications: dimensions, opening direction, glazing, leaf arrangement, threshold, hardware, installation and connection work. This turns an initial price idea into a project budget that makes quotations genuinely comparable.
Start with use, not the list price
The key budget question is not simply, “What does a patio door cost?” It is, “Which opening must work in this room every day?” Draw the floor plan with the door open, including the dining table, sofa, curtains and walking routes. Outside, check whether an outward-opening leaf could conflict with furniture, steps, planters or a narrow terrace. Only then can you decide whether one leaf is enough or a wide double opening offers real value. For direct, frequent access, a single inward-opening patio door can be a practical starting configuration if the room allows sufficient swing space. Also note how often the door is likely to be opened and whether it will mainly serve as an exit, for ventilation, or as a generous connection to the garden.
Consider the clear passage, not just the structural opening or the door’s outside dimensions. Frames and leaves take up width, and with two leaves the central meeting area affects access. If you want to move large garden furniture, pushchairs or trays through easily, test or measure those situations specifically. A double door may suit a façade that is opened wide only occasionally. For everyday individual passage, the active leaf matters more than the maximum opening used on special occasions. This priority prevents paying for rare use while living with an awkward door leaf every day. Keep essential requirements separate from desirable features; this helps reduce specification options later without losing the core function.
Single or double: what each budget option delivers
With a single-leaf hinged patio door, operation and locking are concentrated in one leaf. This can simplify the daily routine and create a calmer appearance. Door width, leaf weight and available swing space must still work together. Outward-opening versions leave the interior clear, but require careful consideration of the outside area. For this approach, you can include a single outward-opening patio door in your dimension and specification enquiry. The opening direction alone is not decisive; it must work with access routes, drainage, shading and furniture. A wide single leaf is not automatically the easiest option, and operation and structural suitability must be confirmed for the specific size.
A double patio door offers a different kind of opening: one leaf can handle daily use, while both leaves open the frontage for visitors, ventilation or access to the garden. The second leaf is not simply “double the width”. Check the leaf split, active and passive leaf, operating sequence, hardware, handing and closed appearance. A double outward-opening patio door must therefore be costed as its own configuration, rather than as an enlarged single door. Ask the quotation which leaf is used routinely, how the second leaf is released and what passage remains with only one leaf open. Also ask whether the leaves are equal or whether the active leaf is wider for easier everyday access.
Consider the whole opening
Dimensions make quotations comparable
Do not send a supplier only an approximate width and height. State whether these are structural-opening dimensions, existing outer-frame dimensions or the desired finished dimensions. Include wall construction, reveal depth, internal and external finishes, and photographs of the whole opening. For a replacement, images from inside and outside, of the threshold and upper reveal are especially useful. They can reveal early whether linings, sills, shutters, services or neighbouring components could affect the work. A site survey by a competent contractor remains essential before final ordering. Mark concealed areas and components of unknown construction in photographs, so that uncertainty does not quietly enter a fixed-price comparison.
The proportional split deserves separate attention. On a double door, equal leaves can create a symmetrical elevation, while unequal leaves can prioritise daily access. The better choice depends on furniture, façade rhythm and intended use. In the enquiry, state the desired handle side and opening direction from the room view. Vague terms such as “left” easily cause misunderstandings. A sketch showing the room as the viewpoint and the leaves drawn in is better. Ask every quotation to state the assumed widths, heights and leaf division. Only then can you see whether a price difference reflects a real product difference or merely a different dimension assumption. Always check drawings against the actual room before approving a design.
Choose glazing, bars and appearance deliberately
Glass area shapes daylight, views and the appearance of the complete façade. It also affects leaf weight and technical planning. Rather than asking only for “better glazing”, describe the setting: strong sun, overlooking from neighbouring property, views, desired light levels and cleaning requirements. The supplier can then propose a suitable configuration with clear information. Compare values and design for the complete offered element, not from one term in a brochure. If the project includes energy planning, agree target values with the responsible professional. In Malta, the applicable BCA requirements and whole-system performance should be checked for the actual project. Ask whether glazing options affect leaf division, hardware or scope of supply instead of treating them as isolated extras.
Glazing bars change more than style. They may be applied to the surface or divide the glass, and each approach gives a different appearance and maintenance requirement. Use unambiguous terms in the quotation, such as applied bars, through-glazing bars or no bars, and request an elevation drawing. In refurbishment projects, a historic-style design can form part of the overall concept. A historic-style double outward-opening patio door names that configuration, but does not replace checking dimensions, leaf split and details on the actual building. Coordinate visible widths, handle height and adjacent windows early, so the door does not look like an unrelated individual element. Record whether the drawing is viewed from inside or outside, as leaf handing and handle sides reverse with the viewpoint.
Test opening direction and hardware in daily use
Hinged doors need a clear arc. With inward-opening doors, this affects the living space; with outward-opening doors, it affects the terrace. Do not picture only the fully open position. The half-open position when passing through, ventilation in wind, carrying items and cleaning also matter. Check whether rugs, curtains or radiators restrict movement. With a double-leaf door, establish whether the second leaf will open regularly or mainly for occasional situations. Mark the swing arc on the floor with tape as a trial; conflicts with chairs, doors and walking routes usually become visible faster than on a small plan.
Hardware and handles are not minor accessory lines. They determine operating feel, the closing sequence and how the door can be used in different positions. Describe who will use the door and how: young children in the home, limited hand strength, frequent carrying, pets or a terrace used only seasonally all create different priorities. Ask which handles, locking arrangements and opening restrictors are included, and how they operate. A sample handle or demonstration can provide more clarity than a photograph. Put special requirements in writing before ordering. Later changes to hardware or opening direction can be considerably more involved because they affect construction, manufacture and installation. Also decide whether operation from outside is required, and have the proposed solution named clearly.
Plan threshold, floor junction and water management together
The junction between the internal floor, door threshold and external finish has a major effect on whether a patio door fits the overall project properly. Different floor build-ups, terrace falls, canopies and existing steps are not minor finishing tasks. They belong in the quotation stage. Record the planned finished floor levels inside and outside, and whether finishes will still be renewed. A photograph with a ruler is helpful, but does not replace precise measurement. The installation contractor should know which junction surfaces will actually be present when work is carried out. If landscaping is completed later, door installation and terrace work still need one agreed reference level.
Discuss junction sealing, fixing and protection of the lower area specifically. The terms alone do not guarantee a suitable solution; what matters is which work is included in each quotation and who coordinates the interfaces. During refurbishment, removing the old door can expose reveals or floor junctions that were not visible before. Agree how newly identified work will be handled and who authorises it. If the external works are completed by another trade, both parties should receive the same level drawings. This reduces the risk that the door is installed correctly but the later finish cannot meet the threshold properly. Before linings are closed, document completed junctions where this can be agreed with the contractor involved.
Consider the whole opening
Do not treat installation as a flat-rate extra
A product quotation and an installation quotation may be structured differently. That is not a problem provided the scope remains clear. Request separate information for survey, removal and disposal of an existing door, delivery, fitting, fixing, connection work, sealing materials, internal and external linings, and reinstatement of adjacent areas. Also ask who provides protection inside the home and whether work to floors, plaster, painted surfaces or external finishes is included. A low total without this breakdown is difficult to assess. Explicit exclusions matter too: a short list of work not included often makes the real budget clearer than a general description of a complete service.
Integrating a door into the building envelope requires coordinated responsibility. Alterations involving a changed opening can introduce structural, planning and design questions. In Malta, have a perit assess the proposed work and the applicable Planning Authority route rather than drawing conclusions from a door quotation. The same applies to coordination with shading, electrical connections, alarm systems or ventilation concepts. If work is phased, establish the sequence: structure and opening, dimensions, order, removal, installation, connections, internal and external works. Bloomcabin states a five-year guarantee for windows and doors. Delivery is stated as four to six weeks, subject to order confirmation. Include both points in the project plan alongside your intended installation date. Also decide who will inspect the element on handover and where visible discrepancies should be reported.
Read quotations using a fixed checklist
Before making enquiries, prepare a sheet of essential criteria and optional points. Essential criteria include number of leaves, dimensions, opening direction, leaf arrangement, desired appearance, glazing target, handle side, threshold and installation situation. Optional points may include a particular bar style, finish preference or additional operating features. Send this sheet unchanged to every supplier you approach. You will then compare line items rather than descriptions. If information is missing, mark it as open instead of silently assuming it is included. Add one column for differences and one for questions; this makes it clear whether a cheaper quotation describes the same design or simply lists fewer services.
Check in particular whether prices show the same tax treatment, whether survey and installation are included, and whether delivery, disposal and finishing work appear separately. Request separately priced variants, for example single versus double doors, another opening direction or a different bar design. This shows the cost difference created by the decision without comparing two completely different quotations. A double inward-opening patio door can be a useful comparison option where the outdoor area should remain clear, but it is only fairly comparable when dimensions, glass division and installation assumptions stay the same. Decide afterwards which options genuinely belong in the budget. Compare the payment schedule, quotation validity and the process for change requests as well, without confusing these commercial points with technical quality.
Organise total costs, contingencies and follow-on work
A realistic budget has several parts: door configuration, survey and planning, delivery, installation, removal and disposal, connections, and reinstatement of adjacent areas. Add a contingency for findings that may appear only after removal. This is not a price promise but a planning discipline. It helps prevent a project being interrupted by small but necessary follow-on work. For each item, note whether it is firmly quoted, estimated, owner-provided or still unresolved. Separate necessary work from comfort and design options. If the budget becomes tight, you can then decide on bars, finishes or operating extras without accidentally cutting back threshold connections or installation scope.
Also consider costs across the whole opening area. If an adjacent window needs adjusting, shading needs moving or the terrace finish needs renewing, include this in the same decision framework. A single door can appear inexpensive while its opening direction later requires changes to furniture or the outside area. Where a large, flexibly opening frontage is the real goal, other systems such as outward-opening folding doors are an alternative, not merely a specification option on the same hinged door. Likewise, traditional sliding doors should be considered as an independent system with a different operating sequence. Compare these solutions by intended use, installation conditions and the full project scope. This prevents an attractive product idea from being combined with an unsuitable room or junction solution.
Make a structured decision from survey to order
Begin with photographs, a dimensioned sketch and a list of everyday situations. Then arrange a professional assessment of the opening. Before ordering, all visible decisions should be confirmed: dimensions, number and arrangement of leaves, opening direction, handle position, glazing, bar pattern, threshold junction, colour or finish, installation scope and responsibility at interfaces. Request an order drawing or an equivalent written summary. Check it not only for overall width but also for handing and the appearance of open leaves. Then compare quotation, drawing and order confirmation; resolve conflicting information before manufacturing approval rather than bridging it with verbal assumptions.
Allow sufficient time between ordering, delivery and the following trades. The stated delivery period of four to six weeks is subject to order confirmation, so the confirmed date for your actual order is the binding planning point. Do not wait until delivery day to organise access, a clear working area or coordination with flooring and external works. In new-build or major refurbishment projects, it is worth specifying the patio door together with adjacent windows. This helps align façade rhythm, handle heights and bar patterns. A Patio Life lift-and-slide door is a separate alternative for a project where the priority is a large sliding access point rather than hinged leaves. Make the system decision before selecting detailed options, not only after comparing individual accessory prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is a double patio door always much more expensive?
Compared with a similar single-leaf design, it needs additional components and coordination, but giving a flat price difference would be misleading. Dimensions, glazing, leaf division, hardware and installation all influence cost. Have both variants costed for the identical opening and installation setting, with ancillary work shown separately. Only then does the difference become meaningful for your project.
What dimensions does a supplier need for an initial quotation?
Give width and height, explaining whether they are structural-opening, existing or desired dimensions. Add photographs from inside and outside, of the threshold and reveals, wall thickness, finished or planned floor levels, and a sketch of the opening direction. For ordering and installation, a competent on-site survey is the more reliable basis.
Should the patio door open inwards or outwards?
The deciding factor is clear swing space on the side where the leaf opens. Indoors, furniture, curtains and circulation routes may interfere; outdoors, steps, finishes, plants or a canopy may be relevant. Draw the door on the floor plan and test everyday use with it half-open and fully open.
What should the installation quotation state explicitly?
At minimum, the survey, delivery, removal and disposal of the old door, fitting, fixing, connection work and sealing should be allocated clearly. Also clarify who reinstates internal plaster, linings, floor connections and the external finish. Open interfaces between trades belong in the written project plan, not in an informal verbal side agreement.
When is a sliding or folding door better than a hinged patio door?
Where a wide opening, a different operating method or limited swing space is the main priority, sliding or folding doors can be suitable alternatives. They should not be chosen for appearance alone. Compare actual passages, room and terrace conditions, intended opening frequency, junction details and the complete installation scope with the hinged-door option.
Next step
For budgeting a single or double patio door, the product price is only one component. A robust decision comes from a clear description of use, precise dimensions, a defined opening direction and a clearly limited installation scope. A double door is worthwhile where the wider opening and leaf arrangement create a real daily benefit; a single door often excels through simple, direct operation. Request variants on the same basis, read every line down to the threshold and connection work, and clarify responsibilities before ordering. Your quotation will then be comparable, and the chosen patio door can suit the room, terrace and the full construction process.
