Different types of folding doors

Bifold door costs

Bi-folding doors can come in a wide range of sizes. The larger bi-folds are often used to split rooms or connect smaller ones. Bifolds come in many styles and configurations, indoor and outdoor, including single-leaf concertina and multi-leaf room dividers. It’s helpful to know what each offers.

The cost of installing a bifold door will vary based on the size of the installation, material specifications, and the configuration of the door system. As a rough guide, for a high-quality installation, you can expect to pay £1,200 to £1,500 per linear metre of frame opening, plus VAT and installation costs.

Off-the-shelf systems are cheaper and have shorter lead times, while bespoke installations cost more and take longer to arrive. Installers typically request detailed information before providing a quote to ensure an accurate price and an installation that best meets your needs.

Concertina doors

Concertina doors, or single bi-folds, are the smallest in the bi-fold door range. They consist of two hinged panels and serve as an alternative to single- or double-door frames. Unlike a single door hinged to the frame and that swings in or out in an arc, the concertina door folds up on itself and, when fully open, sits flat against the frame or wall.

The arc is much smaller with a single opening, and a single concertina door is ideal where internal space is at a premium. Concertina doors are useful in small bathrooms and built-in wardrobes or similar closets.

Some concertinas can have two door-sized panels to fit a double-door frame. Again, the advantage is space-saving, as it avoids the double-arc opening of conventional double doors.

Room dividers

The name bi-folds can suggest only two panels are possible, but you can add many more hinged panels. It is possible to have a bifold with seven or eight panels that open and close in the same ‘concertina’ fashion as a single bi-fold.

Again, they come in various configurations, but the most important distinction is whether they have a separate access door. The standard room divider bi-folds operate the same way as a single bi-fold, but the panels are hung on tracks that keep them stable when opened or closed. When the door is opened, the panels slide over one another and stack against the frame or wall.

You can have an even or odd number of panels; it usually doesn’t matter as long as they fill the space. With an even number of panels, they can be opened from the middle, with one set sliding to the left and the other to the right. The more panels, the deeper the profile when stacked open, so bi-folds opening left and right may be a better option.

Bifold access doors

Not everyone wants to open all the panels in a bifold door each time it is used. This is why multi-panel bi-folds often include a single door on one side. This access door opens as usual, making movement between rooms much more convenient.

The single panel operates like a standard door, opening independently of the others, which concertina together as expected. You can fit access doors to the right or left of the bifold panels to match your preferred position.

Interior and exterior bifolds

You can use bifold doors internally as room dividers or externally to access a patio or garden. Most exterior bifolds are made of glass with frames in uPVC, composite wood, or aluminium.

Large glass panels raise concerns about thermal efficiency, but most modern designs use double-glazed panels and energy-efficient coatings. Exterior bifolds need robust, weatherproof seals to stay weatherproof year-round and secure locks to deter intruders.

Bifold door materials

Material choice is personal and depends on individual taste. In terms of price, uPVC bifold doors are the cheapest option. Many people were put off by uPVC's thick, chunky profiles, but technological advances have made them much slimmer.

A limited colour range was once a problem, but modern uPVC doors now come in a wide range of colours and finishes. Aluminium bi-fold doors are more expensive than uPVC but offer several advantages. As easy to clean and maintain as uPVC, they combine strength with low weight, enabling wide panel widths and ultra-thin profiles. They are also available in a wide range of durable powder-coated colours and finishes

Wooden bi-folds are typically the most expensive and are usually made of factory-finished engineered hardwood to prevent warping or twisting. They can be painted in almost any colour, but many prefer a stained finish in oak, mahogany or teak.

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