When a Dublin homeowner opens up the back of the house to the garden, the choice almost always comes down to two options: French doors (hinged, opening outwards in a pair) or sliding patio doors (large glazed panels gliding on a track). Both are excellent products in their right place — but they suit different openings, different rooms, and different budgets.
Short answer: for openings 1.5 – 2.0 m wide on a standard Dublin semi, French doors win on character and budget. For openings 2.0 m+ (typically a rear kitchen extension), sliding patio doors win on light and unobstructed sightlines. Below is the full decision matrix — sizes, prices, security, weather rating and SEAI grant eligibility for both.
The 30-Second Comparison
| Feature | French Doors | Sliding Patio Doors |
|---|---|---|
| Best opening width | 1.5 – 2.0 m | 2.0 – 4.0 m+ |
| How they open | Two leaves hinged, swing outward | Glide horizontally on a track |
| Internal swing clearance | Not needed (outward) | None — no swing |
| Maximum opening | Full opening width | ~50% (one panel slides behind other) |
| Natural light | High (full-pane glass) | Very high (slimmer sightlines) |
| U-value (typical) | 1.4 W/m²K (double) / 1.0 (triple) | 1.4 W/m²K (double) / 1.0 (triple) |
| Fitted cost (uPVC) | €2,400 – €3,200 + VAT | €2,800 – €4,500 + VAT |
| Aluminium upgrade | €3,800 – €5,500 + VAT | €4,000 – €11,500 + VAT (lift-and-slide) |
| SEAI grant eligible | Yes (A-rated) | Yes (A-rated) |
| Best for | Kitchen-to-patio, period homes, balanced look | Kitchen extensions, modern builds, wide openings |
When French Doors Win
French doors give you a balanced, classic look that suits most Irish housing stock — Victorian terraces, 1950s–1970s semis, modern infill builds. Their advantages:
- Full opening width — both leaves release for moving furniture in and out, or for letting summer air through
- No moving track — nothing to clean, nothing to seize up after 5 years
- Better weather seal at the floor — hinged outward-opening leaves compress against the threshold; sliding tracks have a gap that needs brush seals
- Cheaper installed — typically €400–€1,300 less than the equivalent sliding spec
- Traditional kerb impression — matches period façades without looking forced
For the full buyer’s checklist before you commit, read our 7-point French door guide.
When Sliding Patio Doors Win
Sliding patio doors come into their own when the opening is genuinely wide — 2 m or more — and natural light is the priority. Their advantages:
- Slimmer sightlines — each panel can be 1 m+ wide, giving an uninterrupted view of the garden
- Zero swing clearance — critical when a kitchen island or sofa sits immediately inside the opening
- Scales to any width — 3-panel, 4-panel, even pocket-sliding configurations available in aluminium
- Lift-and-slide premium spec — for openings over 3 m, this aluminium mechanism handles huge panel weights smoothly
- Modern aesthetic — fits contemporary new-builds and architect-designed extensions
The trade-offs: only ~50% of the opening can actually be released (one panel slides behind the other), the track requires occasional cleaning, and the installed cost runs €400–€1,300 higher than French doors at the same width.
Security: Both Are PAS 24-Rated as Standard
Every French and sliding door we fit in 2026 ships with multi-point locking (3-point minimum, 5-point typical on sliding hooks), TS 007 3-star anti-snap euro cylinder, laminated glass that does not shatter into accessible shards, and reinforced hinges or anti-lift blocks on the sliding track. Both meet the PAS 24 / Secured by Design standard that Irish insurers increasingly ask about on renewal. For the wider security picture, see our secure windows & doors page.
SEAI Grant (2026): Both Qualify
The SEAI Better Energy Homes grant pays up to €800 per A-rated external door upgrade — and both French and sliding door units in modern uPVC or aluminium spec hit the qualifying U-value (≤1.4 W/m²K) as standard. Airtight is an SEAI-registered installer, which is required for your upgrade to qualify. See the SEAI grant page for the full eligibility and application process.
What It Costs Across Ireland in 2026
Prices are the same whether you are in Dublin, Kildare or Wicklow — we do not add county or travel surcharges. Everything below is supplied and fitted, old door removed, surround made good, multi-point lock included:
| Door type | Fitted price (+ VAT) | Typical opening |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC French doors | €2,400–€3,200 | 1,500–1,800 mm |
| uPVC sliding patio door | €2,800–€4,500 | 2,000–3,000 mm |
| Aluminium lift-and-slide | €4,000–€11,500 | 3,000–6,000 mm |
| SEAI door grant (deduct) | up to −€800 per door | A-rated replacements, pre-2011 homes |
Still Undecided? Follow This
- Measure the structural opening (brick-to-brick). Under 1,800 mm → French doors. Over 2,000 mm → keep going.
- Is there furniture within 1 m of the door line inside? Yes → sliding (no swing clearance). No → either works.
- Is the door on an exposed, weather-beaten wall? Yes → French doors (compression seals beat brush seals in driving rain). No → either works.
- Want the slimmest frames and most glass? Yes → sliding, ideally aluminium lift-and-slide. No → French doors win on price.
The Bottom Line
For a typical Dublin semi-detached with a 1,500–1,800 mm rear opening: uPVC French doors are the right call at €2,400–€3,200 + VAT. Better weather rating, full opening width, cheaper, and the look suits the housing stock. See current French doors Dublin prices and styles.
For a rear kitchen extension or new-build with a 2.0 m+ opening: sliding patio doors win at €2,800–€4,500 + VAT (uPVC) or €4,000+ (aluminium lift-and-slide). Slimmer sightlines, no swing clearance, scales to any width. Current sliding patio doors prices and per-width sizing are on the product page.
We will measure your opening, talk through both options against your specific house, and write a fully itemised quote — French and sliding side-by-side — within 24 hours. Call 01 822 8982 or request a free survey.