How to choose the right bifold door configuration for your home

Bifold doors can make a fantastic addition to your home, flooding a space with natural light and bringing the outside in. If you are looking to install bifold doors in your home, you need to ensure that you select the right configuration for your space and needs.

This guide offers a breakdown of bifold door configurations and the options you should consider when looking for the right door, including all of the key decisions to make before ordering your doors.

Choosing the right number of panels for your door

One of the critical decisions to make is how many panels your bifold doors will have. This decision will depend on the available panel options, as well as the purpose of your doors.

The first thing to consider is why you’re installing bifold doors in your home. If the answer is to introduce more light into your living space, you will want to consider a choice that provides you with slim sightlines, wider panels and enough panels in your door configuration to provide the effect you’re looking for.

Remember that in larger installations with more panels, more frame will be present, which can have an impact on your views. If you want to open up a space in your home by connecting the inside with your patio or garden, consider the physical opening and space you have. For example, it may be that just two or three panels will be enough.

Bifold door configurations are incredibly flexible, from a straight-line system to a bifold door that runs around a corner of your home with a traffic door. By choosing bifold doors, you’re able to create the most agile door option for you and your family.

Are you looking for a modern and durable bifold door? Shop our full range of aluminium bifold doors.

Panel options

The main panel options for bifolds include:

• 2 panel bifold doors – two panel bifold doors are a great solution if you’re simply looking to replace your existing patio doors or French doors. Both panels will slide back to provide a full opening and is the perfect way to make the most of a small space.

• 3 panel bifold doors – three panel bifold doors offer slightly more flexibility than two panel doors and provide more opening options. The key to this option is being able to include a traffic or access door which is ideal for a space where the doors are used regularly, providing access in the same way as a traditional door without having to fold all the panels back.

• 4 panel bifold doors – four panel bifold doors provide an even more versatile option and are suitable for slightly larger spaces. The doors can be split in a number of different ways to avoid all the panels folding together and taking up space either inside or outside your home.

• 5 panel bifold doors – in the same way as four panel doors, five panel doors can be split into different configurations and can include a traffic door to help you avoid having a huge number of panels folding together in one space.

• 6 panel bifold doors – six panel doors are, again, another option that offers more flexibility in the way you configure your doors to suit your space. This includes a traffic door at one end and all doors folding one way or three folding one way and three another way.

• 7 panel bifold doors – this option is great for large openings and allow a huge amount of natural light into a room. It’s important to carefully consider how you will configure these doors as not every home will suit having seven bifold doors stacked to one side.

Vufold’s ranges of external bifold doors are available in a huge range of sizes with panels from two to seven so we have something for every home. However, we also supply a bespoke service if these options are not suitable for your home.

Opening direction

The direction in which the doors open may seem like an obvious consideration but it is something that is often forgotten about when choosing bifold doors. When we refer to direction, this could be whether the doors all slide in one direction (for example, all to the left) or if they split in the middle to rest at either side of the space.

Having your doors slide to one side of the area provides a compact and sleek finish when you open the doors up. However, having a split in the middle may be more practical if you intend to have a large span of bifold doors, such as four panels across an exterior wall.

The direction that your doors move in when you open them will depend on the number of panels you have. For example, smaller numbers such as just two panels, will fold to one side but larger spans of doors can be divided in a number of ways.

Inward or outward opening

Once you have an idea of the number of panels and the direction you’d like your doors to fold in, you’ll need to decide whether or not you want the doors to open inwardly or outwardly and this will hugely depend on space and access restrictions within your home.

If you are using bifold doors as an external access point for your home, an externally opening bifold system is the best option. Outward openings have two significant benefits:

• If it has been raining, wet doors will not open into soft furnishings such as carpets or curtains
• If you are experiencing wet conditions, the doors will drip. Having them open outwardly will keep the wet droplets outside instead of in your home

Lead or traffic door

If you want to install a bifold door out to your garden or patio and connect them seamlessly with the inside of your home, you may want to consider a lead door or traffic door. A traffic door is part of a bifolding installation but also acts as a traditional door.

Traffic doors are perfect for patio and garden doors. In summer, you’ll be able to enjoy the full effect of opening your bifolds all the way but, if you need to access your garden in the winter, having a traditional door option gives you the flexibility to retain heat and access your outdoor space quickly without opening your home to the elements.

Traffic doors are best suited to installations with an odd number of doors as it allows you to install this functionality and have one door opening by itself.

Cost

The cost of the bifold doors you choose will be impacted by the number of panels you choose as well as the frame material. As we have discussed above, you can choose from larger or smaller bifold doors options, with the larger options carrying a higher price tag. Whether you choose, aluminium, wooden, uPVC or composite frames and choosing between double and triple glazing will also have an impact on the cost. Find out more about choosing bifold dooe glazing here.

To find out more about available configurations or bespoke bifold doors, please contact our team today.

LOOKING FOR A MODERN ALUMINIUM BIFOLDING DOOR?

Our pick:

STATUS ALUMINIUM BIFOLD DOORS

FROM £2,489.00

The Status is our most popular aluminium bifold door set, and it’s no mystery as to why. Not only are they fantastic value for such beautifully engineered bifolds, they’re available in a host of configurable options and feature a low threshold and slim sight lines to give you more light and a better view. In a hurry, our Supreme Express bifold doors are available on just a 3-day delivery time.

Shop our aluminium bifold doors here.

You can find a comparison of all the major materials on our guide comparing bifold door materials: wood, aluminium, composite and glass.

Frequently asked questions

What are the security features available for different bifold door configurations?

Modern bifold doors come equipped with various security features, such as multi-point locking systems and high-security hinges, to ensure safety across different configurations.

What are bifolding doors made of?

Aluminium bifold doors are highly durable, lightweight, and resistant to rust or corrosion. They offer slim frames, maximising the glass area and natural light, and are available in various finishes and colours.

Should bifold doors open inwards or outwards?

Outward opening

• Ideal for saving indoor space, making them a popular choice.

• Suits areas with plenty of outdoor clearance, like patios or gardens.

• Keeps indoor furniture and décor free from obstruction.

Inward opening

• Best for spaces with limited outdoor room, like balconies or small courtyards.

• Avoids issues with outdoor furniture blocking the doors.

• Requires careful interior planning to avoid clashing with furniture.

Which bifold door materials offer the best thermal efficiency?

Aluminium bifold doors with thermal breaks are among the most thermally efficient options. Modern aluminium frames are designed with a thermal barrier that prevents heat transfer, ensuring excellent energy performance while maintaining a sleek appearance.

Timber bifold doors also offer good thermal efficiency due to the natural insulating properties of wood. However, solid wooden doors require regular maintenance to ensure long-term performance. Engineered wooden bifold doors are resistant to warping and are a more durable option.

uPVC bifold doors are cost-effective and can provide decent insulation, but their bulkier frames and susceptibility to warping over time may reduce efficiency compared to aluminium and timber.

For the best results, pairing high-quality frames with double or triple glazing is essential to maximise thermal efficiency in any material.

Are aluminium bifold doors better than uPVC?

Yes, aluminium bifold doors are generally considered better than uPVC. Aluminium offers superior durability, a longer lifespan, and a more stylish, high-end appearance. It resists warping, is environmentally friendly due to recyclability, and requires little maintenance. While uPVC is cheaper upfront, it is more prone to wear, warping, and environmental concerns, making aluminium a better long-term investment for quality and aesthetics.

Related content

• Bifold door panel options: 2-4 panels

• Bifold door panel options: 5+ panels

• External bifold door sizes: standard sizes

• Choosing the right bifold door material

• Guide to external bifold door locations