Automatic sliding door
Glass leaves slide on a header track.
- Opening
- Wide and clear
- Air exchange
- More
- Footprint
- Slide room beside the opening
- Moving parts
- Header drive and track
Comparison
Glass sliding doors or revolving doors for a lobby
A sliding door gives the widest, simplest opening and handles luggage and wheelchairs.
- Basis
- Engineering facts
- Prices
- None
- Updated
- 2026-10-17
Updated
The short answer
A sliding door gives the widest, simplest opening and handles luggage and wheelchairs. A revolving door separates inside and outside air better in a cooled lobby but needs a side door for bulky items. Many buildings fit both.
- Sliding: wide opening, easy for luggage
- Revolving: better air separation
- A revolving door usually needs a sliding door beside it
Updated
The options side by side
Automatic revolving door
Wings rotate in a drum.
- Opening
- Per quarter-turn compartment
- Air exchange
- Less
- Footprint
- Drum in the lobby
- Moving parts
- Central drive, wings, safety sensors
Yes, no or it depends
| Sliding door | Revolving door | |
|---|---|---|
| Easy for luggage and trolleys | Yes | Needs a side door |
| Accessible for wheelchairs | Yes | Needs a side door |
| Limits air exchange in a cooled lobby | Some | Yes |
| Compact footprint | Yes | No |
| Simple to maintain | Yes | More parts |
| Strong architectural feature | Some | Yes |
Make the escape route clear in the building design either way.
Flow
- Sliding
- Steady, two-way
- Revolving
- Steady, controlled
Comfort
- Sliding
- Opens fully, more air in
- Revolving
- Less draught
Upkeep
- Sliding
- Sensors, track, header
- Revolving
- Drive, seals, sensors, safety stops
What changes the quote
No figures, only what pushes a written quote up or down.
- Glass sizeLarger glass is heavier.raises
- Door typeRevolving needs more groundwork.raises
- FinishFrame finish varies.varies
- Existing frameCan simplify the job.lowers
Questions people ask
Revolving or sliding for a hotel lobby?
Many fit both: a revolving door for the main flow and a sliding one for luggage and accessibility.
Do revolving doors save energy?
They reduce air exchange compared with a sliding door. Real savings depend on traffic and the cooling system.
Is a revolving door safe?
With sensors and stop devices fitted and tested, yes. Escape routes are planned with the building design.
How much space does a revolving door need?
A circular footprint plus clear approach. We measure it at the visit.
Can I convert my sliding door to revolving?
It is a larger job because of the drum and floor. We survey first.
Who services these?
We service both. Send the brand and a photo.
No question matches. Ask us directly. Contact
Ask us which one fits
Send a photo of the site and we say what we would measure first.