Side-sliding or overhead: which sectional door suits your garage?
An overhead sectional door parks under the ceiling and needs headroom above the opening and clear depth; a side-sliding sectional door parks along one side wall and needs almost no headroom but a clear wall roughly as long as the door is wide. Choose side-sliding if the ceiling is low or used for storage; overhead for everything else.
Space needed
| Feature | Overhead sectional | Side-sliding sectional |
|---|---|---|
| Headroom | About 100–235 mm on standard tracks (less on low-headroom kits) | A head track only |
| Side room | About 85–90 mm each side | A clear wall on the parking side, plus some room on the other jamb |
| Depth | Roughly door height plus the operator rail | Not critical |
| Ceiling | Used by tracks and parked door | Left clear |
Everyday use
A side-sliding door can be opened part-way to walk in, which saves needing a separate side door. Overhead doors usually open fully, though a pass door can be built into some ranges.
Cost
Side-sliding doors are a specialist product and usually cost more than an equivalent overhead door; ours are priced on survey from around £3,495.
Which is better for my garage?
If your garage has a low ceiling, loft storage, a beam just above the opening or a ceiling you want to keep clear, look at side-sliding. If the side walls have windows, doors or shelving, an overhead door is usually the practical choice.
Sources
- Manufacturer technical data for side-sliding and overhead sectional doors
This guide gives general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules change; check with your council or a qualified adviser for your situation.