Bifold Door Sizes: Chart + Rough Opening Dimensions
A bifold door, also known as a folding sliding door, is a door that slides open – it can fold inwards or fold outwards to open up space. Usually constructed from a layer of panels that fold up against the wall like an accordion, a bifold door can be incredibly convenient for homeowners who want to create more space in their homes. They can be installed outside as a gateway to your garden or inside your home to divide large rooms.
Are there standard bifold door sizes?
There are standard sizes for internal and external bifold doors. Standard bifold door sizes you can install inside your home varies depending on the manufacturer. However, there are basic guidelines that manufacturers must follow when designing standard bifold doors.
Standard bifold doors for internal installation
When it comes to height, standard bifold doors for internal installation measure around 2078mm (6.8 feet). Their width varies depending on the number of door options you want to use – the common options being two or four-door options.
However, some manufacturers design bifold doors with three, five, or six door options of varying widths.
The width of door panels of standard bifold doors meant for internal installation ranges between 700mm (2.3 feet) and 1000mm (3.3 feet) wide.
Standard bifold doors for external installation
Bifold doors for external use are generally taller and wider compared to internal bifold doors. They usually measure 2090mm (6.85 feet) or 2100mm (6.89 feet) in height, which is slightly taller compared to internal standard bifold doors. Their widths vary widely depending on where you want to install them and could range from 1800mm (5.9 feet) with two-panel door options to 4800mm (15.7 feet) with up to six door options.
Another thing you have to keep in mind about standard external bifold doors is the material they are made of. For instance, aluminum bifold doors are 6250mm wide, slightly larger compared to other bifold doors.
Another thing about bifold doors is that they can be extended through a mechanical join. The door panels of aluminum bifold doors range between 1000mm to 1200mm wide. These doors are commonly used for commercial purposes.
What is the rough opening for a bifold door?
The rough opening of a bifold door is approximately 50.8 mm higher and 50.8 mm wider than the door itself, regardless of the size of the bifold door. Most bifold doors do not come with a doorjamb kit or lumbers. So, a good-sized opening will allow you to install a jamb extension or lumber on your door.
You may also be wondering how much smaller should a bifold door be than the finished opening. Well. For the proper opening of the bifold door, the actual size should be always 12.7 mm smaller in width compared to the finished opening. When it comes to height, the doors should be 38.1 mm shorter in height compared to the finished opening.
What is the rough opening of a 48-inch bifold door?
The rough opening of a 48-inch bifold door is 82-inch (2082 mm) higher and 50-inch (1270 mm) wider. This rough opening allows you to install 0.21 mm-thick drywall at the top and on both sides of the door, a 38.1 mm space under the door, and 2032 mm for the doors and hardware.
How To Measure For Bifold Doors
Bifold doors are easy to install even if you are a novice. The only thing you need to know for a successful installation is the size of the door. You will need a few tools to measure for bifold doors. The actual measuring takes only a few minutes. Below are simple steps you need to follow when measuring for bifold doors:
Step 1: Remove the old bifold door
If you have an old bifold door already installed, you won’t be able to measure the space accurately. So, the first thing you need to do is to remove it to create space for measuring. You will need to remove all the assemblies from the door that might interfere with your final readings.
Step 2: Choose preferred bifold door
The next step is to determine the type of bifold door you want to install to replace the old one you had removed. As stated easier, bifold doors are made of different materials including aluminum, plywood, MDF among other materials.
Bifold doors also come in different styles and a set of features. For instance, we have two-panel bifold doors, six-panel bifold doors, French bifold doors with glass inserts among other styles. Not all bifold door styles come in all sizes.
The type of bifold door you would like to install in your home will determine the size of your finished opening. Also, keep in mind that different styles of bifold doors may require different spacing for bracing, which vary between 152.4 mm to 304.8 mm. For instance, a 30-inch or 36-inch bifold door requires a 48-inch wide finished opening depending on the bracing system and style used.
Step 3: Measure for door height
Put the metal edge of your measuring tape on the floor inside the frame at the bottom of the door opening. Pull the tape measure slowly until you reach the top of the door opening. Take your readings. The standard bifold door requires around 2051.05 mm of the door opening. If your door opening is smaller or larger than the readings above, you will need to choose a custom-made bifold door.
Step 4: Measure the door width
The next step after measuring the height is to measure the width. The type of bifold door you want to install in your home will determine how you will measure the door width.
Place the edge of the measuring tape on one side of the edge of the doorway. The exact point you place your measuring tape will depend on whether you are left-handed or right-handed.
Usually, left-handed people feel more comfortable placing their tape measures on the left side of the finished edge and pulling the tape towards the right of the door opening. They will begin measuring the width from the top left finished edge.
You will get the correct readings regardless of the direction start measuring. Once you are through with the top of the door opening, go ahead and measure the bottom of the opening using the same procedure. Your main target here is to ensure the opening is square for proper door fitting.
Step 5: Measure again
Don’t settle for the first readings. You have to measure the door width and height again to ensure you have the correct final readings. It’s important to have accurate readings when measuring for bifold doors because any slight mistake could cause problems during installation. Wrong readings might also lead to wrong door selection.
What sizes of custom-made bifold door sizes are available?
All custom-made bifold doors are designed by manufacturers to measure and can be installed in any door space opening you might have. In most cases, manufacturers of bifold doors tend to be flexible. If you want a bifold door that exceeds the manufacturer’s minimum or maximum sizes, it’s advisable to contact the company to see if they have your custom options.