Blinds for sliding glass doors
Wide, tall and used every day: a patio door needs a blind that moves out of the way.
Short answer: vertical blinds and sliding panel tracks are the usual picks for patio and sliding doors.[1 · Oct 29, 2026][2 · Oct 29, 2026] Most are outside mounted: Levolor's vertical guide says to overlap the opening by at least 4 in on each side, mount at least 3 in above it, and take ½ in off the height if the blind goes to the floor.[3 · Oct 29, 2026]
Which type
- Vertical blinds: for large windows and sliding doors; the vanes stack to one side so you can walk through.[1 · Oct 29, 2026][4 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Panel track (sliding panels): wide fabric panels for patio doors and large windows; many can be trimmed to fit.[1 · Oct 29, 2026][2 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Horizontal blinds: possible, but the blind has to be raised fully to walk through. Bali's guide has you measure to within ¾ in of the floor and check that the raised stack clears the doorway.[5 · Oct 29, 2026]
Sizing a vertical blind (outside mount)
| Step | Rule | Example: 72 × 80 in opening |
|---|---|---|
| Width | Opening + at least 4 in each side[3 · Oct 29, 2026] | 80 in (203.2 cm) |
| Above | At least 3 in above the opening[3 · Oct 29, 2026][6 · Oct 29, 2026] | +3 in |
| To the floor | Measure to the floor, then take off ½ in[3 · Oct 29, 2026][6 · Oct 29, 2026] | 80 + 3 − ½ = 82½ in (209.6 cm) |
The example assumes 80 in from the top of the opening to the floor. Allow for thick carpet when you measure to the floor.[3 · Oct 29, 2026] Think about the stack, too: it sits beside the opening when open, so a wider blind lets it clear the glass.[3 · Oct 29, 2026]
Which side should it stack?
Stack the vanes away from the opening. If your door slides open from the right, a left stack works best; if it opens from the left, stack right.[7 · Oct 29, 2026]
Inside mount
If the door has a deep enough recess, measure the width across the top where the headrail goes, rounded down to ⅛ in, and the height at left, center and right, ordering the shortest; vertical blinds need at least 2½ in of depth.[3 · Oct 29, 2026] The factory sizes the vanes to clear the sill by about ¼ to ½ in.[3 · Oct 29, 2026]
Handles, heaters and trim
- Door handles: use extension brackets or spacer blocks so the vanes clear them.[7 · Oct 29, 2026][8 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Heaters: Levolor says vertical blinds near baseboard or wall heaters should clear them by at least 12 in above and 6 in to the side.[3 · Oct 29, 2026]
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Sources: 1. Levolor, The quick-start guide to choosing blinds and shades. 2. The Home Depot, Blinds category and buying notes. 3. Levolor, Vertical blinds technical guide (PDF). 4. Hunter Douglas, Buyer's guide to window blinds. 5. Bali, Wood, composite and faux wood blinds measuring guide (PDF, hosted by a retailer). 6. The Home Depot, Measuring the right way for window treatments (PDF). 7. Levolor, Vertical blinds side-stack installation instructions (PDF). 8. Blinds.com, How to measure. Checked Oct 29, 2026. Trademarks belong to their owners; figures are restated in our own words and tables, not reproduced.