10 Best Bifold Garage Door Designs PLUS the Complete Guide

If you desire an unobstructed view of your garage, a bifold door will meet this need flawlessly. Unlike standard French or sliding doors, bifold garage doors are designed to stack out of the way neatly and provide a more extensive view of the environment.

Aluminium bifold doors are becoming a standard option for traditional homes, but more possibilities emerge in the market as time progresses. While the availability of a range of bifold doors is a good thing, it might be difficult for you to decide which one will suit your needs.

Fortunately, this article will provide you with all the information you need as well as a review of the top ten bifold garage doors that we think are worth your while. Let’s begin.

I. 10 Best Bifold Garage Door Designs

As previously stated, bifold garage doors come in different varieties, and each possesses unique features that are most suitable for certain types of rooms. This section will provide a brief description of the ten best bifold doors available in the market today.

1. Residential Vertical Bifold Garage Doors

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If you desire to use your garage as a showroom for your luxury vehicles or extra living space without the door interrupting your view, then a vertical bifold garage door is what you need.

What makes these fixtures unique is their ability to fold vertically, allowing you to grasp your garage’s visual appeal fully. Most of these doors function by using a counterbalanced system for a seamless manual or electrical operation. They also often contain optional motors to eliminate sounds and offer soft opening and closing.

Besides providing maximizing ventilation and a broad view, a bifold garage door also presents a high amount of visual appeal. You can purchase one in a colour or coating that matches the surrounding windows and door.

Ultimately, if an unobstructed view of your garage is what you need, nothing is more qualified for the job like a vertical bifold garage door.

2. Residential Horizontal Bifold Garage Doors

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Horizontal bifold garage doors possess two slats that bend outward and slide along a designated track as they open. Once fully unlocked, the doors park and are tucked at either side of the room, providing you with a beautiful unobstructed view of your garage.

Additionally, bifold doors are incredibly flexible and will accommodate almost any requirement that you have in mind. They’re also available in a wide range of materials such as aluminium, wood, and UPVC.

However, if a visual appeal is what you desire in a stage door, opt for a bifold door made from timber or aluminium. Both materials are aesthetically pleasing and a popular option for homeowners seeking a modern design. Besides, they’re available in a variety of colours to match your garage’s design.

Although the side-to-size opening of a horizon folding garage door doesn’t provide such a wide-angle view as vertical bifold doors, there is undoubtedly a recommended way to give your hike a modern appearance and an extensive view.

3. Canopy-Type Bifold Glass Garage Door

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Unlike the previously reviewed products, canopy bifold garage doors have a unique appearance as these fixtures fold upwards, creating a canopy. While the “folding up” feature is similar to vertical bifold garage doors, they produce outward after being opened and act as additional coverage.

These fixtures are aesthetically pleasing and are excellent for compact or small spaces since the door folds out of the way. However, they don’t entirely fold out of sight, therefore limiting your view of the environment.

Nevertheless, they offer a modem and stylish look to your Garage and permit you to incorporate natural light into the environment.

What makes this door unique is its ability to deflect snow, water, or moisture off the Garage thanks to its V-shaped canopy-like opening. Additionally, they are easy to operate as they open and close seamlessly through electrical and mechanical systems.

If you want to give your Garage a modern but different look and protect it from harsh snow and rainfall, this door type is for you.

4. Vertical Bifold Doors for Garage

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Vertical bifold doors for garages are fixtures that fold upwards and tuck completely away from sight when opened. When installed, they provide your home with an exceptionally modern look that’s impossible to achieve with contemporary doors.

These vertical bifold doors often use hydraulic cylinders for a seamless operation, making the need for springs, cables, and pulleys unnecessary. These systems combine to lift the doors and fold them close to the ceiling, enabling you to digest the view of your Garage fully.

This type of Bifold door comes in various materials such as wood, aluminium, and glass; however, the most popular option in most homes is the glass version due to its visual appeal and resistance to the elements.

Ultimately, if the purpose of purchasing a bifold door is to give you a comprehensive view of your beautifully designed garage, then vertical bifold garage doors are what you need.

5. Commercial Bifold Garage Doors

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Bifold doors for garages come in various styles and are ideal for commercial and residential uses. The commercial folding doors are built to fiction flawlessly, emit little to no sound when opening or closing, and blend correctly with the company’s design.

Additionally, these commercial bifold garage doors have no viable hardware, springs, door tracks, or any prominent mechanical part. The drive system is hidden within the door to give it an ergonomic design.

Besides providing maximizing ventilation and a broad view, a bifold garage door also presents a high amount of visual appeal. You can purchase one in a colour or coating that matches the surrounding windows and door.

If what you desire is a folding door in the garage of your business to give the location a contemporary look and also bring the outdoors inside, this type is what you need.

6. Wooden Bifold Awning Garage Door

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Similar to the previously mentioned canopy-type bifold glass garage door, bifold awning garage doors provide what can best be described as a shade when opened. They rise and gradually fold into a “V” shape that also doubles as a shield against moisture, snow, and rainfall.

Besides the canopy-like folding ability, this type of garage door is produced from high-quality wood – mostly Timber – and is 100% unique. Additionally, they come with an environmentally-friendly protective paint that ensures you enjoy your wooden bifold garage door for a long time.

This material’s benefit is its ability to resist harsh factors like heat, impact, moisture, and other elements that might prevent it from reaching the predicted life span.

Above all, including a wooden bifold awning garage door to your home or business is guaranteed to give it a boost in beauty as the item is visually appealing. It also matches perfectly with most interior and exterior designs – irrespective of colour.

7. Hydraulic Bifold Overhead Garage Doors

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This type of folding garage door folds vertically and hands overhead, a design that’s similar to the verticals and canopy bifold garage doors. What makes this door special is the usage of a more efficient lifting system – hydraulic cylinders.

Using hydraulic cylinders eliminates the need for a less efficient mechanism like cables, straps, pulleys, springs, and many more. This addition gives the fixture the cleanest and least obstructive panel face available in retail outlets.

Due to the addition of hydraulic cylinders, the doors are safer to operate. Also, the risk of them falling is significantly reduced thanks to the elimination of a cable and strap system.

In order to clear up space and remove potential obstructions from your Garage, you can position the door’s power unit anywhere in the building to provide a much quieter operation and cleaner atmosphere.

While folding garage doors come in various materials, these types are often available in a combination of steel and glass. They contribute to your place’s overall beauty by keeping the environment lit and visible – even when closed.

8. Automated Bifold Doors for Garage

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Most people open and close their folding garage doors without the aid of any electrical system. While this option is not problematic, it isn’t suitable for you if all you desire is convenience.

Fortunately, there are automated bifold garage doors that can be electrically operated with the aid of remote control and some heavy motors. Alternatively, you can also upgrade your current traditional Bifold door by purchasing a kit that allows you to operate the fixture once installed automatically.

Getting this type of garage door isn’t problematic as they’re available on various eCommerce sites; however, if you wish to upgrade your traditional garage door to become fully automatic, you need to consider an important factor – safety.

Since you’re making your garage operable via remote control, you need to consider safety-related issues carefully. One problem is the motor’s weight to be used on the door; if both items are incompatible, it might damage the garage door and leave your home vulnerable until it is rectified.

Nevertheless, this garage door type is the perfect option for you if you desire convenience and function.

9. Overhead Bifold Glazed Garage Doors

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Modern overhead bifold garage doors are becoming extremely popular, easier to maintain, and more beautiful to behold since they can be specified to include double glazed units, thermally broken frames, and Low-E glass.

These types of doors are suitable for various purposes, whether to reveal a garage containing a fleet of exotic cars or one that’s been modified to act as a luxury room or mini office.

Irrespective of the purpose, the design that these types possess will pair perfectly with your desires. They fold overhead and suspend on the ceiling, revealing a wide of the environment, and enabling you to bring the outdoors inside.

The standard material used to develop these fixtures include Steel, uPVC, and aluminium, as they are resistant to the elements and can handle a great deal of impact. Similar to the price variations in Wood, Steel, uPVC, and aluminium bi-fold doors differ in price based on style, color, insulation level, etc.

10. Bifold Fire Station Garage Doors

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If you’re deeply concerned about security issues and potentially unrealistic maintenance costs, consider looking into bifold fire station garage doors as they offer a plethora of benefits over overhead folding doors.

These doors are becoming more famous in numerous organizations because of their longevity, durability, and low maintenance requirements.

Additionally, bifold fire station doors have been observed to hold up to high wind loads and retain their integrity during natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes.

While these doors can be operated automatically, they switch to manual control immediately. After they lose power, preventing you from being stranded indoors. The manual operation is swift and opens easily without the need for r other tools.

Although they may not be the most visually appealing door type on this product list, they’re efficient, durable, and an ideal fit for most garage sizes.

So there you have it, a brief overview of these bifold garage doors and the types that are guaranteed to serve you flawlessly. Kindly go through the list thoroughly with your requirements in mind and see which one is more fit to be an item in your home.

II. Bifold Garage Door: the Complete Guide

1. What are Standard Sizes for Bifold Doors?

Typically, bi-fold doors are sold both as custom-made and off the shelf products and are installed as either interior or exterior doors. If you desire to purchase an item, the dimensions will depend on the type of door you choose.

Nevertheless, the minimum width of one door leaf is roughly 16 – 28 inches, while a three-door set of bi‑folds will have a minimum width of approximately 45–55 inches. As for the maximum width, a Bifold door leaf can range from 35 to 50 inches.

The maximum height for most bifold doors is around 95–98 inches, but some manufacturers might fortify them more, stretching their size to 120 and 145 inches.

2. What are the Pros and Cons of Folding Garage Doors?

When designing or renovating your kitchen, you probably will not give much thought to the kitchen cabinets. Kitchen cabinets, however, contribute a lot to the overall look you wish to achieve for your kitchen.

Pros of Folding Garage Doors:

Cons of Folding Garage Doors:

• Higher Cost

Unlike standard garage doors, folding garage doors tend to cost more and require a larger budget to acquire. Therefore you need to consider the cost of renovating your Garage with a Bifold door before buying one.

• Poor Weatherproofing Performance

If your Garage possesses fragile and expensive items that will get damaged upon connection with the elements, protecting them with a bifold garage door isn’t a wise choice. This disadvantage is due to the fixture’s spacious design, making it a low option for weatherproofing.

• Tricky Operation

While the system for operating a Bifold door involves mechanical parts and remote control, some people still run into complications like poor tactile feedback on the buttons, doors not folding completely, etc. However, these problems can be rectified by contacting the manufacturer.

3. Are Bifold Garage Doors with Windows more Expensive?

If you’re considering buying a bifold garage door with windows, know that it will most likely cost a bit more than a garage door without one. This additional cost is due to the artistry attached to creating a door with glass inserts. Although the price isn’t overwhelming, it is worth considering if you’re on a tight budget.

4. How much does a Folding Garage Door Cost?

• Cost of Bifold Garage Door Itself

As previously stated, the bifold door is the most expensive piece of the entire system, but the price varies based on the manufacturer. However, you can expect the price to range between $600 – $1,500 per linear foot.

To get an accurate estimate of the price, ensure you contact a dealer or the manufacturer. But note that it might take over a week to get a response from the firm.

• Cost of Maintenance

The maintenance cost on bi-fold doors can be reasonably high because Panel-to-panel hinged doors require that the panels work together. This factor means that they’re more likely to develop issues that might affect their ability to function. Ensure you consider this element when calculating the cost of acquisition.

5. Where to Buy Folding Garage Doors in China?

If you need suggestions on the best dealers to purchase bifold garage doors for your renovation or construction needs, these three recommendations will suffice. To get some of the best deals, consider visiting:

• Alibaba

Alibaba contains some of China’s most beautiful and durable Bifold doors for garages and other chambers for a reasonable price. This platform is the most prominent hub of China door manufacturers, with over 1,000,000 businesses listed on the website.

• George Buildings

This company offers a range of indoor and outdoor fixtures, including Bifold doors for garages. They’ve been offering high-quality services for several years and have made a name for themselves in the construction industry.

6. How to Choose the Best Bifold Garage Door?

When choosing the perfect bifold door for your garage, there are two main factors to consider: your home’s capacity and the door type.

• Door Type

The next factor to consider is the type of garage door since there are two major versions: vertical and horizontal bifold garage doors. The former folds upwards and brings the outdoors inside, while the latter folds sideways and looks majestic.

Both versions have the same benefit – they don’t reduce your garage’s usable height nor obstruct the view. Unfortunately, horizontal bifold doors are more expensive to install.

7. How to Build a Folding Garage Door?

Building a bifold garage door is an easy task if you know a thing or two about engineering. The fixture might look confusing, but it operates on a straightforward principle: Linking two hinges at the ends of each garage door. This rule is what makes the door to close in a bi-fold manner.

It’s also worth noting that building. A bifold door is more comfortable than building a tri or quadruple fold door since all you need is toe panels and attached hinges. While the process is short and easy to grasp, covering the production will require more space than allocated.

8. How to Install Bifold Garage Doors?

If you purchase your product from a generous dealer, the company will install the garage door for you. Even if they don’t have such a service, it’s not recommended to install a folding garage door yourself as your lack of skill might damage the item.

Nevertheless, if you’re stuck in a sticky situation that requires you to install the folding door yourself, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to begin the project until the end. Please exercise caution while executing these steps.

9. Folding Garage Doors Ideas That will Inspire you

If you’re looking for worthwhile ideas to transform your Garage from a mere parking space to a visually appealing part of your home, these options below will point you in the right direction.

• Wooden Beauty

Instead of opting for a sizeable bifold garage door made out of metal and glass, try one that’s made of wood with some extra light decorations at the top. This design helps attract attention to your Garage and boost the overall beauty of your home.

• Driveway Reflections

If you’re going for a folding door for garage, try highlighting the exterior of your home by using reflective glass on your garage doors. This material bounces off incoming light around the lush green grass, turning your home into an eye-catching piece of art.

• Copper-Clad Entrance

Since you plan to turn your garage into one of your home’s most oversized rooms for guests or special nights, consider including copper-clad garage doors. Besides being visually appealing, this option is perfect for deflecting heat – which is an important factor – and also works well with other decorations to give you a memorable finish.

III. Conclusion

Ultimately, bifold doors are a must-have when you’re remodeling your garage and desire to give it a more modern look. Similarly, modern mirror closet doors are important elements for your home decor, which will tremendously transform the look of your bedroom.

Doors play an essential role in a home as they act as the bridge between the wall that separates two spaces. However, imported windows and doors are tricky as there are various types. Choose the door type comes with a range of functional advantages, such as improved security, easy operation, visually appealing design, and many more. It’s undoubtedly worth the price.