Types of Closet Doors and Common Questions

The most common types of closet doors are standard swinging doors, pocket doors, bi-fold doors, bypass doors, and multifold doors.

Standard Swinging Doors are just standard doors that swing either right or left. In almost every case, the doors will swing out from the closet. In cases where there is a very large closet, the doors may also swing into the closet.  When using standard doors, the doors will use either standard door knobs, or standard door levers. Standard doors are either 1 3/8” thick, or 1 3/4” thick. In cases where smaller doors are used, the door may have just a pull, and ball catches.

Pocket Doors can be used in closets, as either single doors, or as double doors. One of the most important things is to find out how much space that you have available for the pocket doors. Each door will require a total width of double the door width, to allow for the door in the wall, Most higher quality pocket door systems will have ball bearing rollers. The easiest system to install is a complete pocket pocket door frame kit., with studs, track, rollers, and headers. These are made to install with dry wall to make a complete wall. Pocket doors can have either standard rollers or ball bearing rollers. Ball bearing rollers usually can handle larger weights than standard rollers Pocket doors can also have other added mechanisms such as soft close and soft open mechanisms, or EZ closers . These mechanisms help to make sliding your door easier, and have different functions. The most common track is top hung with the track supporting all the weight. 

Bi-fold Doors are commonly used in closets, and are in sets of two. They are sold in single or double sets of two, commonly called two door or four door sets. Common width sizes are 30",32",36",48", 60", and 72" Common heights are 6'8" (80"), 7'0' (84"), and 8'0" (96") Door either fold to the left or right, and slide down the track. In 4 door units, one set will slide to the left, and one set will slide to the right. As with pocket doors, rollers can either be standard, or with ball bearing rollers, which will glide easier down the track. Hardware for bi-fold doors can be a small knob, usually attached toward the center of a pair, in order to allow easier opening and sliding. The most common track is top hung with the track supporting all the weight, and the other hardware just helps the doors slide.

Multi-fold Doors are similar to bi-fold doors, except in multi-fold doors, there are a possibility of more sections connected with hardware. There can be up to 6 sections of doors folding to the left or the right. There can be any combination, 2 one direction, or 4 another direction, as long as they are in pairs.  The hardware is slightly different than bi-fold, due to some of the doors folding the opposite direction from bi-folds.  As with bi-fold doors and pocket doors, rollers can be either with standard rollers, or with ball bearing rollers. Hardware for multi-fold doors is usually a small knob, such as for bi-fold doors. The most common track is top hung, with the other hardware just helping the doors slide.

Bypass Doors use standard doors, normally two, but there can be more. Each door is on a parallel track, and slide past each other, usually overlapping an each or more. When you want access to one side of a closet, you can slide the doors to one side or the other.  These doors can have either standard rollers, or ball bearing rollers.  Bypass doors can also use soft close and soft open devices, so that the doors do not slam into the wall.  Hardware for bypass doors will usually be some type of flush cup or pulls, since the hardware can not stick out and rub against the other door(s).  The most common track is top hung, with the other hardware just helping the doors slide.

Any of the above types of doors will work for closets, and it is your preference, which you prefer.  The most important thing is to measure everything first, and make sure you have the correct hardware for the type of doors that you are choosing.