What are external pocket sliding doors?
An external pocket sliding door is a sliding door whose panels run into a cavity built within the wall beside the opening, so when open they disappear from view and the whole width of the opening is clear. A standard slider always leaves at least one panel standing in the opening; a pocket door removes that compromise, giving the open-to-the-garden feel of a bifold without a folded stack of frames on show.
To make that work, the wall next to the opening has to be at least as long as the panels that slide into it, and it is rebuilt as a pocket. A structural lintel or steel spans the opening and the pocket together, the cavity is lined, insulated and weatherproofed, and the track is drained so rainwater does not collect inside the wall. That stretch of wall must be free of radiators, sockets and pipes, and an access panel is usually built in so the rollers can be reached for adjustment. Pocket doors suit new extensions and remodels where the wall can be planned around the door.
Our guide prices include forming the pocket. Price is driven by width, panel count, whether panels slide into one side or both, the wall construction, glass and finish. Our pocket doors guide covers the planning in more depth, and we survey free and fix the price in a written quote.
Who are they for?
Best suited to
- Opening the full width to the garden
- New extensions and remodels
- Walls with clear space beside the opening
- Slider fans who dislike a fixed panel
Worth considering
- You need a clear stretch of wall beside the opening at least as long as the sliding panels.
- Forming the pocket is structural building work, so it costs more than a standard slider and takes longer on site.
- Rollers and track sit inside the wall, so an access panel is needed for adjustment and maintenance.
Why choose external pocket sliding doors?
- With every panel slid into the wall, the full width of the opening is clear, so the room and terrace join without a fixed panel in the way.
- Open panels are hidden inside the wall rather than stacked in view, keeping the opening clean-lined compared with a bifold stack at one side.
- When closed, a pocket door looks like a large-paned slider, with slim meeting stiles and plenty of glass instead of the many frames of a folding door.
- Pockets can be formed on one side or both, so a wide opening can part in the middle with panels sliding away in each direction.
- A lined and drained pocket carries rainwater running along the track out of the wall, protecting the structure as well as the rollers.
- Insulating the pocket wall and sealing the panel edges limits heat loss through the cavity, helping the wall beside the door perform like the rest of the house.
- Parked inside the wall, open panels are protected from weather and knocks, and garden furniture can sit right up to the edge of the opening.
- A removable access panel on the inside of the pocket wall lets the rollers be reached and adjusted without opening up the plaster.
Typical specification
| Overall width (our range) | About 1.8 m to 6 m |
|---|---|
| Panels | One panel up to about 2.1 m; two or three panels on wider openings |
| Clear opening | Up to the full width when all panels are in the pocket |
| Pocket length | Wall beside the opening at least as long as the panels it houses |
| Structure | Lintel or steel spanning opening and pocket, designed by an engineer |
| Typical whole-door U-value | Around 1.2–1.6 W/m²K double glazed, depending on system |
| Pocket detail | Lined, insulated and drained, with an internal access panel |
| Threshold | Low at around 15–25 mm, or flush with an external drainage channel |
Figures are typical and vary by system and size; your quote confirms the exact specification.
How much do external pocket sliding doors cost?
As a guide price, a 2.1 m single-panel external pocket door is £7,095–£8,595 fitted, inc VAT, at standard 2.1 m height, including forming the wall pocket; a 3.6 m two-panel door is around £9,295.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m | 1 panel | £6,595–£8,095 |
| 2.1 m | 1 panel | £7,095–£8,595 |
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £7,495–£9,195 |
| 3.0 m | 2 panels | £8,395–£10,295 |
| 3.6 m | 2 panels | £9,295–£11,395 |
| 4.0 m | 2 panels | £9,895–£12,095 |
| 4.8 m | 3 panels | £11,095–£13,595 |
| 6.0 m | 3 panels | £12,895–£15,795 |
Guide prices for a standard 2.1 m high door, supplied and fitted, including structural calculations and VAT. They include forming the opening and the pocket in the wall; Building Control fees are set by your council and are extra. Your price is fixed in a written quote after survey.
Options and extras
- Pocket side. A single pocket to one side, or pockets on both sides so a wide door parts in the middle.
- System type. Standard aluminium, slimline or lift and slide pocket systems, chosen to suit panel weight and sightlines.
- Glass. Double or triple glazed safety glass, with laminated or solar-control units as needed.
- Internal finish. Plastered, panelled or tiled finishes on the pocket wall, with the access panel set discreetly into it.
- Threshold. Low or flush thresholds, with the external drainage channel continuing past the pocket.
- Colours. Single or dual colour powder coating, so the exposed edge of the panel matches the frame inside and out.
Lead times and fitting
Lead time: Typically 6–8 weeks from survey sign-off.
Fitting: Typically 3–5 days of building work to form the opening and pocket, then 1–2 days to fit the door.
Nothing is ordered until you confirm the surveyed specification in writing. See how it works.
Rules and approvals
England
In England, forming or widening an opening is structural work that needs a Building Regulations application, structural calculations and usually a steel beam on padstones. The new door is also a controlled fitting (U-value 1.4 W/m²K or better if more than 60% glazed). If steelwork bears on a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply.
Wales
In Wales, structural work to form or widen an opening needs Building Regulations approval and structural calculations, and the new door must meet the Welsh energy and safety glazing requirements. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may apply where steelwork bears on a party wall.
Scotland
In Scotland, forming or widening an opening needs a building warrant before work starts, with structural details for the new beam. The door must meet the Scottish building standards for energy and safety glazing.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, structural alterations need approval from your district council's building control service before work starts. New openings in Northern Ireland are by arrangement.
External pocket sliding doors: common questions
How much do external pocket sliding doors cost?
External pocket sliding doors start from a guide price of £6,595 for a 1.8 m single-panel door, fitted, inc VAT, at standard 2.1 m height, including forming the wall pocket. A 3 m two-panel door is a guide £8,395–£10,295, and a 6 m three-panel door is around £12,895. Wall construction, glass and finish affect the figure, which is fixed in a written quote after survey.
How much wall do I need for an external pocket door?
An external pocket door needs a clear length of wall beside the opening at least as long as the panels that slide into it, plus a little for the frame. For a single 2 m panel that means just over 2 m of wall with no windows, radiators, sockets or pipes in it. A two-sided pocket splits the panels between both sides, so each side needs less length.
How wide can an external pocket sliding door be?
An external pocket sliding door in our range typically gives a clear opening of about 1.8 m to 6 m, using one panel at the narrow end and two or three panels on wider doors. Wider openings usually use pockets on both sides, or a multi-track pocket so the panels stack inside the wall. Sizes are confirmed after survey and the engineer's design.
How long does an external pocket door project take?
An external pocket door typically takes 6–8 weeks to make after survey sign-off, and the building work to form the opening and pocket typically takes 3–5 days before the door goes in. Fitting the door then takes 1–2 days. Engineer design and Building Regulations approval come first, so the whole project runs longer than a straight door swap.
Are external pocket doors secure?
External pocket doors are secure when the panels lock to the frame with multi-point hardware, the glass is laminated, and the pocket is closed off so the panels cannot be reached from outside. Once shut, the front edge of the panel locks into the frame just as on a standard slider. Systems are available tested to PAS 24, and the locking specification is set out in your quote.
Does a pocket in the wall cause heat loss?
A pocket in the wall does not have to cause significant heat loss if it is insulated, lined and sealed as part of the design, and the door itself typically achieves whole-door U-values around 1.2–1.6 W/m²K double glazed. In England, a new door in an existing home with more than 60% glazing must achieve 1.4 W/m²K or better. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own energy rules.
Do external pocket doors need Building Regulations approval?
External pocket doors need Building Regulations approval in England, because forming the opening and pocket is structural work needing an application, structural calculations (included in our guide prices), and usually a steel beam or lintel. If the steel bears on a party wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (England and Wales) may apply. Scotland needs a building warrant; Wales and Northern Ireland have their own building control rules.
How do you maintain rollers inside a wall pocket?
You maintain pocket door rollers through the access panel built into the inside of the pocket wall, which lets the track be vacuumed and the rollers adjusted without opening up the wall. Keep the outside drainage channel clear so water cannot back up into the pocket, and run the panels fully in and out now and then. If a panel starts to rub inside the pocket, a small roller height adjustment through the access panel usually cures it.