The best patio doors add light and beauty to your home, and provide easy access to the outdoors. Finding the best patio door or set of doors will depend on your home’s architectural style, your budget, and your functional desires. Don’t forget to take a look at our publications on the best windows and best siding if you’re sprucing up your home.
This guide provides information about patio doors and the features they offer, including materials, style, and general cost. We cover topics we’re often asked about: What are the best patio doors? Best sliding patio doors? Best French patio doors?
Best Patio Door Types
There are two main types of patio door: sliding patio doors, and hinged or French patio doors. Below is a short description of each type.
Did you know? Many manufacturers, like Andersen for example, also call French patio doors hinged patio doors. This is because some styles are available in a single panel, or door, and we think of French doors as being a set of two doors.
Sliding Patio Doors
The most common type of patio doors are sliding patio doors. They have a narrow frame that allows plenty of natural light into the home, and they are good for small spaces, because the door slides along a track to open and close, rather than swinging open into the house. The best sliding patio doors provide an attractive, low-key entrance to the outdoors. Sliding patio doors are also generally less expensive than French patio doors, making them a popular choice for many homeowners.
Average cost: $800-$4,950 plus installation
French Patio Doors / Hinged Patio Doors
French patio doors add beauty and elegance to any home. They have a thick frame and typically feature a decorative grille on the glass panels. Hinged patio doors require a generous amount of space to open and close properly. They are a very popular choice for homes with a more traditional architectural style. The best French patio doors offer a grand and inviting path outside.
Average cost: $1,100-$5,400 plus installation
Best Patio Door Materials
Sliding doors and French or hinged patio doors both come in a wide range of materials.
Below is a list of the most common patio door materials and their features:
Wood Patio Doors
Wood is considered the most beautiful material for patio doors. It is traditional and elegant, but wood’s natural qualities also require a good bit of upkeep. Wooden doors tend to be more high-maintenance than other materials because wood can fade in the sun, swell and shrink with weather changes, and can be easily scratched. Water damage is also a greater risk with wood than with your other patio door material options. However, with good care, wooden doors are a beautiful patio door option.
Average cost: $780-$6,000+
Fiberglass Patio Doors
Fiberglass is one of the strongest materials there is for patio doors. Fiberglass can endure extreme cold and extreme heat without warping or cracking, so it is a great option for people who live in a climate that has dramatic weather changes. Fiberglass is also a budget-friendly patio door option, and requires minimum upkeep. It can be made with a smooth surface or textured to look like light wood graining. Fiberglass is a solid choice if you like the look of painted wood, but want to avoid the maintenance wood patio doors require.
Average cost: $335-$2,800
Vinyl Patio Doors
Vinyl is the most common material for patio doors, combining affordable cost and low-maintenance longevity. It comes in many design options that mimic wood, so you don’t have to sacrifice beauty. Like fiberglass, smooth and wood-grain texturing are available. Vinyl is also energy-efficient by being a great thermal insulator. It does not conduct much heat, so it is a smart option if you’re looking for a patio door that won’t negatively impact the indoor climate of your home.
Average cost: $475-$2,400
Aluminum Patio Doors
Aluminum is a lightweight patio door option. It is an affordable material that will not corrode with outdoor exposure. However, its lightness makes it susceptible to dents. Aluminum is also a thermal conductor, so it will heat up and transfer heat into the house from outside. For this reason, aluminum patio doors are best used in temperate climates. They’re popular along seacoasts too because the aluminum develops a patina that protects it against corrosion from salt spray.
Average cost: $450-$3,650
Composite Patio Doors
This is a newer material, and one worth looking at if you like a wood appearance with less maintenance and a very green pedigree. Composite patio doors are made from a combination of materials that vary slightly from one manufacturer to the next, but wood dust, resins/plastics and fiberglass are common. Composite doors tend to be strong and low-maintenance. Their most appealing quality for many homeowners is their eco-friendliness. A lot of materials used in a composite door are reclaimed or recycled. Most composite offers decent insulation, so help to prevent indoor temperature swings and high energy bills.
Average cost: $380-$3,150
Patio Door Accessories
You can buy off-the-shelf hinged, French and sliding doors at any home improvement or building supply center.
However, if you want something tailored to your home, order your doors with the accessories you prefer. Most manufacturers offer a selection of hardware finishes, colors, and stains for their doors. Most produce different grille patterns and glazing options aka glass. Energy-efficient glass, shatterproof/security/storm glass and decorative glass options should be considered, so you can get the patio doors you want to fit your home’s style and your lifestyle needs.
Best Patio Door Brands with Top Rated Patio Doors
Below is a list of the most reliable manufacturers that offer patio doors in a variety of price ranges. Each listing shows the name of the manufacturer with the types of patio doors they manufacture and the materials they use, as well as the general price range for each brand.
| Brand | Materials | Cost |
| Andersen | Wood, Fibrex | $985 – $5,150 |
| Pella | Wood, Fiberglass | $850 – $5,250 |
| Jeld Wen | Wood, Vinyl, Fiberglass | $775 – $4,600 |
| Simonton | Vinyl | $585 – $2,300 |
| Marvin | Wood, Fiberglass | $800 – $4,850 |
| Ply Gem | Wood, Composite, Vinyl, Aluminum | $695 – $5,000 |
| Milgard | Vinyl, Fiberglass, Aluminum | $650 – $5,750 |
| Harvey | Wood, Vinyl | $485 – $2,785 |
Anderson Patio Doors
Sliding Patio Doors:
- Wood interior with aluminum-clad, fiberglass, or vinyl-clad exterior
- Wood interior with vinyl-clad exterior
- Fibrex, Anderson’s signature composite material
Hinged or French Patio Doors:
- Wood interior with aluminum-clad, vinyl-clad, or fiberglass exterior
Top Features:
- Household name for best-quality products
- Fibrex material – twice as strong as vinyl
Cost: $985-$5,150+
Pella Patio Doors
Sliding Patio Doors:
- Wood interior with aluminum-clad exterior
- Fiberglass
- Vinyl
French or Hinged Patio Doors:
- Wood interior with aluminum-clad exterior
Top Features:
- Customizable sizes
- Wide variety of color and stain options
- Multiple glass options to fit your climate
Cost: $850-$5,25
Jeld Wen Patio Doors
Sliding Patio Doors:
- Vinyl
- Wood interior with vinyl-clad exterior
Hinged / French Patio Doors:
- Fiberglass
- Wood interior with vinyl-clad exterior
Top Features:
- Energy-efficient glass options
- Tinted, textured, and protective glass options
- AuraLast pine technology exclusively from Jeld-Wen
- Extensive grille options for French doors
Cost: $775-$4,600
Simonton Patio Doors
Sliding Patio Doors:
- Vinyl
French or Hinged Patio Doors:
- Vinyl
Top Features:
- Great customizable options for color, size, and grille style
- Affordable
Cost: $585-$2,300
Marvin Patio Doors
Sliding Patio Doors:
- Vinyl-clad wood
- Fiberglass
- Wood interior with fiberglass exterior
French Patio Doors:
- Vinyl-clad wood
- Wood interior with fiberglass exterior
Top Features:
- Marvin offers different collections for a range of budgets
- Trusted brand with high-quality products
Cost: $800-$4,850
Ply Gem Patio Doors
Sliding Patio Doors:
- Wood interior with aluminum-clad exterior
- Wood composite
- Vinyl
- Aluminum
French / Hinged Patio Doors:
- Wood interior with aluminum-clad exterior
- Wood composite
- Vinyl
Top Features:
- Ply Gem offers both new construction and replacement doors
- Huge range of materials and colors
- Multiple energy-efficient glass options
Cost: $695-$5,000
Milgard Patio Doors
Sliding Patio Doors:
- Vinyl
- Fiberglass
- Aluminum
Hinged / French Patio Doors:
- Fiberglass
Top Features:
- Milgard aluminum is thermally-approved and is resistant to heat conduction
- Variety of frame options that range from exceptionally thin to thick
Cost: $650-$5,750
Harvey Patio Doors
Sliding Patio Doors:
- Wood interior with aluminum cladding on the exterior
- Vinyl
- Impact-resistance Vinyl
French Patio Doors:
- Wood interior with aluminum-clad exterior
Top Features:
- Continuous fiberglass sill keeps out any moisture or climate features
- Optional high-performance glass package offers layers of protection and energy efficiency
- Vigilance impact-resistant vinyl sliding patio door designed for coastal climates
Cost: $485-$2,785
