What is a 3.6 m sliding door?
A 3.6 m (3,600 mm) sliding door is usually made with 3 panels in aluminium, each about 1.20 m wide. On a standard two-track frame one panel slides, so the clear opening is roughly 1.2 m; a three-track frame lets two panels stack behind the third and opens about 2.4 m; an external pocket door opens the full width. The frame size is set slightly under the structural opening so it can be packed, fixed and sealed; a surveyor confirms the exact sizes.
3.6 m sliding door prices
| Door type | Panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC sliding patio doors | 3 | £2,895–£3,495 |
| Aluminium sliding doors | 3 | £5,595–£6,895 |
| Slimline aluminium sliding doors | 2 | £7,795–£9,495 |
| Lift and slide doors | 2 | £9,695–£11,795 |
| Timber and alu-clad sliding doors | 3 | £8,395–£10,295 |
| Three and four track sliding doors | 3 | £6,295–£7,695 |
| Large floor-to-ceiling sliding doors | 2 | £10,295–£12,595 |
| External pocket sliding doors | 2 | £9,295–£11,395 |
Standard 2.1 m height (large doors 2.7 m). Ranges run from entry to premium systems.
Which door suits a 3.6 m opening?
The lowest guide price at this width is for uPVC sliding patio doors, from £2,895 fitted, inc VAT. Aluminium costs more than uPVC but gives slimmer frames, more colours and stiffer panels, which matters more as the panels get wider. With panels this size, lift and slide hardware is worth comparing: the panel lifts off its seals to glide and drops back down to lock, which keeps heavy glass easy to move. If you want more of the wall open, a three or four track door stacks more panels to one side, and an external pocket door slides the panels into the wall for a fully clear opening.
Will it fit my opening?
Measure the structural opening — brick to brick, and floor to the underside of the lintel — in at least three places. For a 3.6 m door the opening needs to be at least 3,600 mm wide with a sound lintel or beam over it; if your opening is narrower, it can be widened with a steel beam (£4,095 guide for the building work, inc VAT). See how to measure.
3.6 m sliding door questions
How long does it take to fit a 3.6 m sliding door?
Fitting a 3.6 m door into an existing opening takes one to two days once the door has been made. If the opening has to be formed or widened, the building work comes first, typically three to five days, and the door goes in after.
Can a 3.6 m door be made taller than 2.1 m?
Yes, in most aluminium systems. Against the standard 2.1 m height, 2.4 m adds about 10%, 2.7 m adds about 22% and 3.0 m adds about 35% to the guide price. Taller doors need a lintel or beam set at the right height, which the surveyor checks.
Do all 3.6 m sliding doors have 3 panels?
No. The panel count depends on the system and how much of the width you want to open. In our guide price table at this width, uPVC sliding patio doors have 3 panels, aluminium sliding doors have 3 panels, slimline aluminium sliding doors have 2 panels, lift and slide doors have 2 panels, timber and alu-clad sliding doors have 3 panels.