French doors and sliding doors are the two most common ways to open a Perth home onto a patio, alfresco or backyard. They serve the same role but they look, operate and live very differently. If you are weighing up french doors vs sliding doors for a new build or a door replacement, this guide breaks down the pros, cons, costs and best uses of each so you can pick the right option for your home.
The Two Door Types at a Glance
French doors are two hinged doors that meet in the middle and swing open outwards (or inwards). They have a traditional look, plenty of glass, and a sense of occasion when both leaves swing open at the same time. Double french doors with side glass panels can frame a view beautifully.
Sliding doors use large glass panels that glide along sliding door tracks. One panel sits as a fixed pane while another slides across it. Sliding patio doors are the modern look default for most Australian homes and modern homes because they are functional, take up no floor space when open, and let in maximum natural light when closed.
The choice between the two usually comes down to style preference, available floor space, and how you actually plan to use the opening day to day.
Floor Space and Layout
This is the most practical consideration. French doors need clear swing arc room either inside the house or outside on the patio. If the doors open outwards, the alfresco area needs to stay clear of outdoor furniture in the swing arc. If they open inwards, your indoor floor space takes the hit.
Sliding doors take up zero floor space. The door opens by sliding parallel to the wall, so furniture, planters and dining settings can sit right up to the door frame on either side. For tight indoor and outdoor spaces, sliding glass doors are the practical choice almost every time. Saving space is one of the main reasons sliding systems dominate small Perth apartments and townhouses.
That said, french doors offer a different feel. When both leaves swing open the entire entry space becomes a frame, not a sliding panel. For dinner parties, garden weddings, or simply walking large items through, fully open french doors create a wider opening than a sliding door of similar overall width.
Light and Visual Appeal
Both door types deliver natural light because both are mostly glass. The difference is in the framing and what the doors look like when closed.
Sliding doors have the cleaner look. Two or three large glass panels with slim stiles between them give an uninterrupted viewing space of the backyard. Sliding patio doors suit modern homes, contemporary builds, and any architecture where you want the glass to do the talking and bring in more light.
French doors have more frame visible because each door has a full perimeter frame plus the central meeting stile where the two doors close. The trade off is character. French doors are aesthetically pleasing in a way that sliding doors are not. They suit traditional look homes, character cottages, federation builds, and any home where the door is meant to be an attractive design feature rather than a transparent slider. The home's style usually decides this one.
Both options can be specified with double glazing for energy efficiency and quieter rooms. Both can include security screens or fixed side glass panels to bring in more light.
Operation and Daily Use
Day-to-day operation favours sliding doors. A sliding door opens with one hand, lets you step through with a tray of drinks, and closes again with a flick. The smooth operation of a modern sliding panel on quality tracks is hard to beat, and easy access for daily use is one of the strongest reasons people choose sliders.
French doors involve more steps. You unlock the active leaf, pull the door, then either step through and close, or unlock the secondary leaf if you need both open. For a door you open and close ten times a day, the swinging door action is slower.
Where french doors win on operation is when both sides are open. Walking out with a large platter, carrying a paddleboard through to the pool, moving a barbecue gas bottle, or moving furniture in or out — the fully open width of double french doors is more useful than a sliding door with a fixed panel.
Security and Multi-Point Locking
Security is a real consideration on any external door, and both door types can be specified to the same standard.
Sliding doors get hooked by people because older sliders had a single latch. Modern double glazed sliding systems use multi point locking systems with two or three locking points along the height of the door, anti-lift blocks on the track, and reinforced glass. With those upgrades, a modern sliding door is as secure as any external door in the home.
French doors also use multi point locking on both leaves, with shoot bolts top and bottom on the inactive leaf. Combined with safety glass and proper hinges, modern french doors resist forced entry as well as sliding patio doors.
For both door types, double glazed laminated safety glass is the upgrade worth paying for. It hardens the door against impact, deters break-ins, and adds an extra layer of sound and thermal performance.
Cost: What Each Will Set You Back in Perth
Standard pricing for a 2.4m-wide double glazed double french door or two-panel sliding door, supplied and installed in Perth, sits in similar ranges:
- Sliding doors (2-panel, 2.4m wide, double glazed uPVC): roughly 3,500 to 5,500 dollars.
- French doors (double, 1.8m wide, double glazed uPVC): roughly 3,800 to 6,200 dollars.
- French doors with side glass panels (2.4m total width): roughly 5,000 to 7,500 dollars.
French doors typically cost a little more than equivalent sliders because of the extra hardware (two locks, four hinges, weather seals around four perimeters instead of two), but the difference is smaller than most people expect. Aluminium offers a cheaper entry point than uPVC for both door types, but uPVC delivers better thermal performance and is a more practical choice for Perth conditions long term.
Best Use Cases
Here is a quick guide on when to choose each.
Pick sliding doors if you want maximum glass when the door is closed, you have limited floor space inside or outside the opening, and you want the smoothest daily operation. Sliding glass doors suit modern homes, contemporary alfresco areas, family rooms with kids running in and out, and any opening above 2.5 metres wide where a sliding system, stacker doors or bi fold layout makes more sense than hinged doors. For larger openings stacker doors deliver wider opening widths than two doors on hinges can.
Pick the french doors if you want a feature door with character, you have a smaller opening of 1.6 to 1.8 metres, the room has clear swing arc room, and the door is part of a traditional or transitional style home. French doors provide a sense of arrival that a sliding panel cannot match. They also work well as internal doors between dining and lounge, where the choosing french doors decision is about look more than function.
French Doors vs Sliding Doors Pros and Cons
Sliding doors pros: take up no floor space, larger glass panels and more light, easy to open and close one-handed, modern look, easy to add fly screens, fresh air with no swing arc. Sliding doors cons: at least one fixed panel always closed, narrower fully open width than equivalent french doors, sliding door tracks need regular cleaning.
French doors pros: fully open access when both doors open, attractive design with a traditional look, suit character homes, no track to keep clean, work as internal doors as well as external doors, more open feel when both leaves are open. French doors cons: need clear swing arc space, more hardware to maintain, slightly higher cost than equivalent sliding doors, slower for daily use.
Practical Considerations Before You Decide
A few practical considerations beyond style and price:
- Wind. Perth's strong sea breezes can grab an open french door and slam it. Specify hold-open hooks or floor stops if you want the door to stay open in a breeze.
- Insect screens. Sliding doors take retractable screens neatly. French doors need double in-swing or hinged screens which are bulkier.
- Pets. A sliding door with a built-in pet door is straightforward. Pet doors in french doors are trickier and usually go through a side glass panel.
- Cleaning. French doors need only regular cleaning of the glass and frame. Sliding doors also need the track vacuumed of sand and grit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are french doors more expensive than sliding doors in Perth?
Slightly. For an equivalent opening width, double french doors cost around 5 to 15 percent more than two-panel sliding doors due to extra hardware and seals. The gap closes when you add side glass panels for a wider french door opening.
Which is more secure: french doors or sliding doors?
Both can be specified to the same security level. Modern double glazed versions of either door type use multi point locking systems and laminated safety glass. The doors themselves are not the weak point on a properly specified product.
Do french doors let in less light than sliding doors?
A little. French doors have more frame visible when closed because of the central meeting stile and the perimeter framing on each leaf. Sliding doors have larger glass panels and less framing, so more light gets through.
Can I get double glazing on both options?
Yes. Both french doors and sliding doors are available in double glazed uPVC or aluminium frames. Double glazing is highly recommended for Perth because of the energy efficient benefits across summer cooling and winter heating.
Which is easier to keep clean?
French doors. They have no track to clean. Sliding doors need the track vacuumed regularly to keep the smooth operation, especially in sandy coastal Perth suburbs.
Can french doors open outwards onto an alfresco?
Yes. French doors can be specified to open inwards or outwards. Outwards is more common in Perth because it saves interior floor space and lets the doors swing open onto the alfresco for entertaining.
What about wider openings beyond 2.4 metres?
Past about 2.5 metres a sliding system, stacker doors or bi fold layout usually makes more sense than french doors. French doors get heavy and unwieldy beyond standard widths. For larger openings, look at multi-panel sliders or stacking sliding doors instead.
Get a Quote on French Doors or Sliding Doors
Canon Double Glazing manufactures and installs both french doors and sliding doors across Perth in double glazed uPVC and aluminium. Whether you want the traditional look of double french doors with side glass panels or the modern look of large sliding patio doors, we can quote both options side by side so you can compare for your home.
Book a free measure and quote and the team will walk through the floor space, the swing arc, the locking systems and the energy efficiency options so you end up with the right door for the way you actually live.
