What are aluminium sliding doors?
An aluminium sliding door is a glazed patio door made from extruded aluminium frames, in which one or more large panels glide sideways on rollers along a track in the bottom of the frame. Aluminium is strong for its weight, so the frames and meeting stiles can be far narrower than uPVC or timber and more of the opening is glass. Modern systems are thermally broken: an insulating polyamide strip separates the inner and outer halves of every profile, which stops the metal conducting cold into the room.
Most aluminium sliders have two to four panels. Some panels slide and others are fixed, and the moving panels pass one another on parallel tracks, so a typical two-panel door opens about half its width. Nothing swings into the room or out onto the patio, which makes these doors a natural fit for kitchen-diners, rear extensions and any room where furniture sits close to the glass. Powder-coated colours, from white to anthracite grey and black, suit both modern and traditional brickwork.
Price is driven mainly by overall width and panel count, then by glass (triple glazing, solar control or laminated units), colour (single colour, dual colour or a special RAL shade), the threshold detail and any locking upgrade. Height above the standard 2.1 m adds cost, and so does structural work if the opening is being formed or widened. We survey new and replacement doors free of charge and fix the price in a written quote before anything is ordered.
Who are they for?
Best suited to
- Kitchen-diners and rear extensions
- Wide garden views with slim frames
- Homes wanting a powder-coated colour
- Openings from about 1.5 m to 6 m wide
Worth considering
- Aluminium costs noticeably more than uPVC for a door of the same size.
- A sliding door only opens part of its width, unlike a bifold that folds almost fully away.
- The very narrowest sightlines need a slimline system, which sits in a higher price band than standard aluminium.
Why choose aluminium sliding doors?
- Narrow aluminium frames and meeting stiles put more of the opening into glass, so you see more garden and less frame than with a uPVC door of the same size.
- A polyamide thermal break inside every profile separates the cold outer metal from the warm inner face, cutting heat loss and reducing the risk of condensation forming on the frame.
- Polyester powder coating is baked onto the aluminium in the factory, giving a hard, even colour that resists fading and chalking and does not need repainting in normal use.
- Panels run on adjustable tandem rollers along a hard-wearing track, so even a heavy double or triple glazed panel can be opened smoothly with one hand.
- Multi-point hook locks grip the frame at several points along the closing edge, while anti-lift blocks stop a shut panel being raised off its track from outside.
- Because the panels slide rather than swing, nothing opens into the room or across the patio, leaving space for a dining table, sofa or planters right up to the glass.
- Brush and gasket weather seals along every meeting edge, together with drainage slots in the outer track, carry rainwater away instead of letting it collect against the panels.
- Aluminium is stiff enough to carry wide panels without bowing, which keeps the number of vertical frames low even across openings of four, five or six metres.
Typical specification
| Typical panel width | Up to about 2.5–3 m per panel, depending on system and glass |
|---|---|
| Typical panel height | Standard 2.1 m; up to about 2.5–3 m depending on system |
| Overall width (our range) | About 1.5 m to 6 m, in two to four panels |
| Glazing | Double glazed as standard; triple glazing available |
| Typical whole-door U-value | Around 1.2–1.6 W/m²K double glazed, 0.8–1.1 W/m²K triple glazed, depending on system |
| Threshold | Low thresholds typically 15–25 mm; flush options need an external drainage channel |
| Security | Multi-point hook locking; systems available tested to PAS 24 |
| Finish | Polyester powder coat in standard colours or a chosen RAL shade |
Figures are typical and vary by system and size; your quote confirms the exact specification.
How much do aluminium sliding doors cost?
As a guide price, a 2.4 m wide two-panel aluminium sliding door is £4,295–£5,295 fitted, inc VAT, at standard 2.1 m height; a 3.6 m three-panel door is around £5,595.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 m | 2 panels | £3,295–£4,095 |
| 1.8 m | 2 panels | £3,695–£4,495 |
| 2.1 m | 2 panels | £3,995–£4,895 |
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £4,295–£5,295 |
| 3.0 m | 2 panels | £4,995–£6,095 |
| 3.6 m | 3 panels | £5,595–£6,895 |
| 4.0 m | 3 panels | £6,095–£7,395 |
| 4.8 m | 4 panels | £6,995–£8,495 |
| 6.0 m | 4 panels | £8,295–£10,095 |
Guide prices for a standard 2.1 m high door, supplied and fitted, including VAT and removal of an old door of similar size. Your price is fixed in a written quote after survey.
Options and extras
- Colours. Standard shades such as anthracite grey, black and white, or a special RAL colour for an extra charge.
- Dual colour. A different colour inside and outside, so the exterior can match your windows while the interior suits the room.
- Glass. Double or triple glazed units in toughened or laminated safety glass, with solar-control or self-cleaning coatings.
- Panel configuration. Two, three or four panels, with the sliding panel on the left, right or both sides to suit how you use the room.
- Threshold. A standard or low threshold, or a flush finish with a drainage channel outside where floor levels allow.
- Handles and locks. Slim pull handles or lever handles in matching or contrasting finishes, with an enhanced security locking pack available.
Lead times and fitting
Lead time: Typically 4–6 weeks from survey sign-off.
Fitting: Typically 1 day for a two-panel straight swap; 1–2 days for larger doors.
Nothing is ordered until you confirm the surveyed specification in writing. See how it works.
Rules and approvals
England
In England, a replacement sliding door is a controlled fitting under the Building Regulations. In an existing home, a door with more than 60% glazing must reach a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better (or a Doorset Energy Rating of band C) under Approved Document L, and glass in doors must be safety glazing under Approved Document K. We arrange compliance through a competent person scheme installer or by notifying Building Control, and you receive the certificate.
Wales
In Wales, replacement doors are covered by the Building Regulations as applied in Wales, including the Welsh Part L energy requirements and safety glazing rules. Compliance is arranged through a competent person scheme installer or your council's Building Control, and the certificate is kept with your property records.
Scotland
In Scotland, replacing a door like for like in a house does not usually need a building warrant, but the new door must still meet the Scottish building standards for energy and safety. Forming or widening an opening is different: that needs a building warrant from the council before work starts.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) apply through your district council's building control service, with energy guidance in Technical Booklet F1. Work in Northern Ireland is by arrangement, and we confirm the approval route for your property at survey.
Aluminium sliding doors: common questions
How much do aluminium sliding doors cost?
Aluminium sliding doors start from a guide price of £3,295 for a 1.5 m two-panel door, fitted, inc VAT, at standard 2.1 m height. A 2.4 m door is a guide £4,295–£5,295, and a 4.8 m four-panel door is around £6,995. Glass, colour and threshold choices move the price within the range, and the final figure is fixed in a written quote after survey.
How wide can an aluminium sliding door be?
An aluminium sliding door in our range can span from about 1.5 m to 6 m, split into two to four panels. Each panel is usually up to about 2.5–3 m wide depending on the system and the weight of the glass. Wider openings take more panels, and beyond about 6 m a multi-track or lift and slide system is usually the more practical choice.
How long do aluminium sliding doors take to arrive?
Aluminium sliding doors typically take 4–6 weeks to make after you sign off the surveyed specification, because each door is built to measure and powder coated to order. Fitting a straight swap of a two-panel door typically takes 1 day, and larger doors 1–2 days. These are typical times rather than promises, and we confirm a date once the order is placed.
Are aluminium sliding doors secure?
Aluminium sliding doors can be very secure when they combine multi-point hook locks, anti-lift blocks and laminated glass. Systems are available tested to PAS 24, the UK enhanced security standard for doorsets, and an enhanced security locking pack can be added to your quote. Most systems are glazed from the inside, so the glass cannot be unclipped from outside.
Are aluminium sliding doors warm enough for a UK home?
Thermally broken aluminium sliding doors are warm enough for most homes, with typical whole-door U-values around 1.2–1.6 W/m²K double glazed and 0.8–1.1 W/m²K triple glazed, depending on the system. In England, a new or replacement door in an existing home with more than 60% glazing must reach 1.4 W/m²K or better, so the glass is specified to meet that. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
Do aluminium sliding doors need Building Regulations approval?
In England, replacement sliding doors are controlled fittings, so the work is either carried out by an installer registered with a competent person scheme, who self-certifies and notifies, or notified to Building Control. The glass must be safety glazing to BS EN 12600. Forming or widening an opening is structural work needing its own application and calculations. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
How do you look after aluminium sliding doors?
Aluminium sliding doors need little care: wash the frames with mild soapy water a few times a year, vacuum grit out of the bottom track and keep the drainage slots clear. A light silicone spray on the locking points once a year keeps them smooth, and rollers can be adjusted if a panel starts to drag. Manufacturer guarantees on frames, hardware and sealed units are passed to you, and our workmanship guarantee is set out in writing in your quote.
Should I choose aluminium sliding doors or bifolds?
Choose aluminium sliding doors if you want the most glass and fewest frames when the door is closed, and bifolds if you want almost the whole width open in summer. A slider keeps wide panels with slim meeting stiles but only opens part of the width; a bifold folds away but shows a frame every metre or so. Our sliding doors vs bifold doors guide compares them in detail.