How to Measure Your Patio Doors

If you are considering new or replacement patio doors, you will want to get a cost estimate. To ensure you receive a cost estimate that is as accurate as possible, you will want to take basic measurements of your existing patio doors. If you would like to cover all of your bases, feel free to measure both the exterior and interior. Be sure to record both width and height dimensions in the guide we’ve provided you.

Taking measurements can sound like a more complicated task than it really is. It is as simple as measuring the width and height of your patio doors with a tape measure. Here are a few simple steps on how to take accurate measurements of your patio doors, specifically if you are replacing a sliding patio door or a hinged French patio door. Before you start measuring, check out our parts of a patio door guide to know exactly what parts are being referenced.

1. To measure a sliding patio door, start from the outside of your home. Measure the width of your sliding patio door in the middle. Depending on your style of home, extend your tape measure horizontally from brick to brick, siding to siding or one edge of stucco to the other edge of stucco.
2. From the outside of your home, measure the height of your sliding patio door. To do this, you’ll need to extend your tape measure vertically. Again, depending on the style of your home, measure from the top of your door to the bottom, siding to the bottom of the door sill or edge of the stucco to the bottom of the door sill.
3. Double check your measurements and make sure to record both the width and height of your sliding patio door.

1. To measure a hinged patio door, start outside your home. Begin by measuring the width. Start at the center, just as we would do for sliding patio doors, and measure horizontally from brick to brick, siding to siding or one edge of stucco to the other edge of stucco.
2. To measure for the height of the hinged French patio doors, extend your tape measure vertically from one end of the door panel to the other.
3. Double check your measurements, then make sure to record both the width and height of your hinged French patio door.

Regardless of whether you are measuring for a sliding patio door or a hinged French patio door, it never hurts to double check your work. A certified Pella professional will confirm the measurements and conduct an installation inspection of your home before we even start building your products, but accurate measurements from the start can make for a smoother process. All Pella patio doors are custom made for you and can be measured to an 1/8 of an inch to the size you need, so you get the right fit every time. If you’re interested in a new or replacement patio door, schedule your free in-home consultation or shop online to get started.