Internal Bifold Doors Size & Buying Guide

Internal bifold doors are a versatile, great looking type of door that you can use for open plan living solutions, for walk-in closets, storage areas and more. These bifold doors are just coming back into fashion though, and finding the perfect design isn’t always easy. This quick guide will help to take some of the stress out of buying internal bifold doors.

Home
›
Bifold Doors
›
Internal Bifold Doors
›
Internal Bifold Doors Size & Buying Guide

How To Choose Internal Bifold Doors

Below you will find information on the different size and measurements of bifold doors.

Picking The Right Size Internal Bifold Door

As with any other interior door, the standard height of a bi-fold door is 2074mm. The doors are designed so that you can trim them down to 2040mm to fit most openings. If you need something taller or shorter than those dimensions then you will need to get a door specifically designed for your opening.

You have more flexibility with the width of the door. You’ll find that it’s quite easy to buy doors starting from 1671mm wide, and that run all the way up to 4652mm wide. Smaller, and wider, options are usually easy to find too. Usually, each individual panel can be between 700mm and 1000mm wide, and you can choose the sizes and configurations of door to suit your opening – so an opening that is 2800mm wide could have up to four 700mm doors, or two 1000mm and one 800mm, or some other configuration, depending on your preferences.

It’s a good idea to talk to the door manufacturer to get some advice about the configuration of the doors. The size of each panel, the position of the handles, and the number of panels can all make a difference to how easy the door is to open, and how smooth the pull is.

If you want custom sized bifold doors, then you can get them made. You will need to supply the manufacturer with the required size of the door. Note that this is not the size of the rough opening, but the size of the opening once the frame is in place. Make sure that the opening is plumb, and take several measurements across and down, so that you get an accurate picture of the size of the door.

Supply the biggest measurements – you can always plane down the door to make it fit (as long as the difference is just a few mm), but you can’t make a door that is too small any bigger.

Thickness and Panel Size

Internal bifolding doors come in a range of thicknesses. You can get slimline doors that have a sight-line of just 132mm, or continental style doors with 140mm sight lines. There are thicker doors that are solid wood or that are slatted. The profile you choose will depend on your budget, the material the doors are made from, and how much you care about noise-insulation, etc.

There is no hard limit on the size of a bifold door – you can get them as big as 6250mm wide if they are made out of aluminium, or even bigger with mechanical joins. However, bigger doors will be heavier.

Usually, it’s not recommended to get panels that will end up weighing more than 80-100kg, because they are simply unmanageable. Even with good, smooth runners moving a heavy door can be unpleasant. It’s usually a better option to go for smaller panels and more folds.

Avoid going too small with the panels, though – anything smaller than 700mm, and you will find that the panels start to bind when they fold, which makes them hard to operate.

two panel bifold door

Installing Internal Bifold Doors

It is quite easy to install an interior bifold door; certainly far easier than fitting an external door, where security is a greater concern. You can fit an internal bi-fold door in an hour, and it doesn’t require a lot of specialist tools – just a cordless drill, a ladder, and a hammer. Even fitting the runners is quite a simple process as long as you work slowly and systematically. We have a couple of guides on how to install them on carpet and laminate flooring.

Once the door is in place, all you need to do is keep it clean and well maintained. Take some time to vacuum clean the runners periodically, so that you don’t have to worry about debris, dust or dirt clogging them and making the door hard to open.

You can find a full guide on how to install bifold doors here.

We also have a handy guide on Bifold doors vs French doors to help you decide which will best suit your home.

View our full range of internal bifold doors and if you have any queries, get in touch with a member of our team who'll be happy to help.

In Summary

If you need any more assistance with your internal bifold doors, don't hesitate to get in touch. We also have selections of internal French doors and French folding doors if you want to shop around. Our full range of bifold doors is also not to be missed. Check them out and see if you can't grab yourself a deal.

Additional Information

Heritage Doors, Floors and Windows: Creating a Modern Heritage Style Look

Find out more about heritage style doors, windows and flooring. We'll discuss the modern heritage look and how to achieve it.

Can Fire Doors Be Propped Open?

Unsure about the legal ramifications of wedging a fire door open? Here we look at why it's always best to keep fire doors closed and how they help protect your property and those in it.

Where are Fire Doors Required?

Unsure whether you need a fire door? Here we look at where you'll need to install one and how you can check if your current internal doors are fire doors.

What Are Fire Doors?

Unsure what fire doors are or why might need them? Here we answer your fire-rated door related questions with our helpful guide.

Style Tips: Choosing Internal Door Handles

Ready to choose new internal door handles? Unsure whether to go for traditional or modern handles? Check out our style tips to help you decide.

What is an internal bifold door?

Internal bifold doors usually feature three door panels (either solid or glazed), linked together on hinges that run along a track. The doors fold in two places and alternate in direction like a concertina when moved - which is why they are called bifold doors. That is the strict definition of a bifold door. However, you will find that a lot of people – both buyers and manufacturers – refer to any door that folds as a bifold door, even if it folds in more than two places, or if it is just a two-panel door. You can learn more about how internal bifold doors work in our handy guide.

How many panels should I have in my bifold door?

The standard style of bifold door features three or five panels. You can buy folding doors which have more door panels and these are a good choice if you have a very large opening to fit a door to. It is also possible to purchase bifold doors that have an even number of door panels, however most people find that these are frustrating to operate. Whenever you want to open the door, you will find that you have to pull open two doors, which takes longer and can be a little more awkard. Systems with just three or five doors are easier to use.

Trackless or tracked internal bifold doors?

Trackless systems are good if you have a relatively small opening, with light doors. They look nicer, since all of the running gear is concealed at the head of the door. However top-hung systems with a base track are better for bigger door panels, and for larger openings, so which system you choose will mostly come down to personal preference and your requirements.

How big should the opening be for an internal bifold door?

When you measure for your bifold doors, you want to subtract around 13mm (or half an inch) from the size of the opening. This is how much smaller you need your bifold doors to be than the opening itself to allow you to fit your door in.

Can you cut bifold doors to fit?

Most intrnal bifold doors are built to allow you to trim them down up to 10mm on each side. Due to their solid timber lipping, this can be done without affecting the structural integrity of the door. This means that if you can’t find an internal bifold door that meets your exact measurements, you can always trim a door slightly to fit.

Is there a standard size for internal bifold doors?

The beauty of internal bifold doors is that they have such a broad range of sizes and configuration options, so theres no real standard. As you can customise how many panels are used in the door, as well as pick the size of the panels, you have plenty of flexibility to find a size that suits you. From slim half-doors to wide 6-panel doors, there is plenty of choice.

What size internal bifold door do I need?

Accurately measuring the width and height of your door opening is the only way to tell what size interior bifold doors you need. This information along with the type and configuration of door panels will determine what size bifold door is best.

If you need advice on how to measure your door or you want to find out what size door you need based on measurements you've taken, we're always happy to help, just get in touch to speak to a member of our friendly team of experts.