Sliding or hinged shower doors: how they differ

Draft — not yet approved by the owner. Nothing on this page may be relied on. It stays a draft until the owner reviews and approves it.

On this page

The shower doors GLASSCORE lists are sliding doors. This guide explains how sliding and hinged doors differ, so you can judge whether a sliding door suits your bathroom.

How each one opens

A sliding door has panels that move along a rail, past each other, so it opens without taking up floor space in front of the shower. A hinged door swings out on hinges, so it needs clear floor in front of the opening, wide enough for the door to open fully.

Where a sliding door works well

Over a bathtub, where a swinging door could not open. In a narrow bathroom, where a toilet, a vanity or a wall sits close to the shower. In a wide opening, where two or more panels cover the width.

What to check

The finished opening width and height, and whether the walls are plumb. A sliding door is listed by the range of widths it is made for, so measure the opening at the top, the middle and the bottom and use the smallest width. Go over the measurements with your installer: nothing on this site confirms that a door fits your bathroom.