Measuring a patio door for blinds
A patio door is a wide opening you walk through several times a day. The blind must cover it, stack on the right side and never rub on the floor. Here is how to measure, with a diagram.
The patio door is the most used opening in the house, and often the largest. Its blind must let people through as well as light. This guide explains how to measure it for vertical blinds or sliding panels. To choose between the two, read our guide to blinds for patio doors first.
Why it is almost always an outside mount
A patio door’s frame is rarely deep enough to take the headrail of a vertical blind or panel track. Mounted on the wall or ceiling, the blind overlaps on each side, covers the glass better and, above all, stacks beside the door rather than in front of it. You keep the walkway and the view.
The measurements to take
- A: overlap on each side of the opening (outside mount).
- B: clearance above the floor so vanes or panels never rub.
- C: handle and threshold, to note so the blind does not catch.
- D: stacking side, on the side the door opens.
- Width of the opening, frame edge to frame edge, measured at the top and the bottom.
- Overlap (A) on each side: the wall space the blind takes beyond the opening. It depends on the product; the advisor confirms it.
- Height, from where the headrail will be fixed (above the opening, or the ceiling) to the floor, at the left, centre and right. Keep the smallest figure if the floor is not level.
- Floor clearance (B): vanes and panels must stop above the floor, the threshold and any rug.
- Handle and threshold (C): note the handle’s position and thickness, and how high the threshold sits.
- Stacking side (D): the side the door opens, to clear the walkway. Also note any return wall, furniture or neighbouring door that would limit the stack.
Measure in inches, to the 1/8 inch, and take a photo of the door with the tape in place.
What to write down
| Information | Why |
|---|---|
| Opening width (top and bottom) | Basis for the blind’s width |
| Overlap wanted (A) | Covers the glass and stacks the blind beside the door |
| Height (left, centre, right) | Length of the vanes or panels |
| Floor clearance (B) | Prevents any rubbing |
| Handle and threshold (C) | The blind must pass without catching |
| Side the door opens (D) | Sets the stacking side |
| Wall or ceiling mount | Changes where the height starts |
| Control | Chain, wand or motor, and on which side |
The printable measurement sheet lets you note the patio door and the neighbouring windows on one page.
When to let an advisor measure
Always, for a patio door, if you can: a tape sags over a wide span and the floor clearance depends on the product. On request, an advisor measures to the 1/8 inch, included in the quote.
What next?
Compare our vertical blinds and sliding panels, consider motorization for wide bays, then ask for a free quote. The showroom at 865 boulevard Maloney Est in Gatineau lets you compare the fabrics and the systems.
What we get asked most
Inside or outside mount for a patio door?
Outside, on the wall or ceiling, in the vast majority of cases. A patio door's frame is rarely deep enough for the headrail, and an outside mount lets the blind overlap on each side to cover the glass better and stack beside the door rather than in front of it.
How much clearance above the floor?
Enough that the vanes or panels never touch the floor, the threshold or a rug, while staying as low as possible for privacy. The value depends on the product and the flooring; your advisor sets it with you.
Which side should the blind stack on?
The side the door opens, to clear the walkway completely. If the door is in the middle of a wide bay, the stack can be split on both sides, or the blind can open in the centre.
Does the handle get in the way?
It can. Note its position and thickness: the blind, mounted on the wall, must pass in front of it without catching, and the floor clearance must leave the threshold free.
Vertical blinds or sliding panels?
Both suit patio doors. Verticals tilt to meter the light and open from the side; panels offer large, cleaner expanses of fabric and slide on a multi-channel rail. Our guide to blinds for patio doors compares the options.
Can you come and measure?
Yes, and for a patio door we strongly recommend it: a tape sags easily over a wide span and a small error shows. On request, an advisor measures to the 1/8 inch, included in the quote.
