Which rollers does my sliding door need?
Panel size, glass and frame give an estimated weight. From that: single or tandem, steel or nylon, and what to measure before anyone orders parts.
Estimated
Single rollers
Estimate — the old roller decides the pattern
Panel weight
~119 lb
96–142 lb range
Glass alone
~100 lb
20.0 sq ft
Load per roller
~60 lb
two carriages, each end
At roughly 119 lb a single-wheel roller at each end carries this panel comfortably, as long as it is rated for the load (see below).
Nylon or steel — either works
Under this weight both last. Nylon is quieter and lighter; steel carries more and shrugs off sand. Match whatever the door maker fitted if you can see it.
What to measure on the old roller before ordering
- Wheel diameter — most are 1 in, 1-1/4 in or 1-1/2 in. Measure across the wheel, edge to edge.
- Wheel profile — flat, concave (grooved) or V-shaped. It has to match the rib on your track.
- Housing height and width, and whether the housing is flat or stepped. The housing is what has to fit the pocket in the bottom rail.
- Mounting style — adjustment screw from the end of the rail, from the face, or from underneath; and whether the housing clips in or screws in.
- Load rating — ask for rollers rated above 60 lb each (or 119 lb per pair, depending on how the maker rates them). Check your manufacturer.
- Take a clear photo of the roller beside a tape measure, and of any name or number stamped on the door frame.
Do not
- Don't lift the panel out to get at the rollers yourself. The weight above is the reason — it is a two-person job with the right grip.
- Don't buy by brand of door alone; the same maker used several roller patterns over the years. The old roller is the pattern.
Glass weight is taken as about 13 lb per square foot per inch of thickness; frames as roughly 1 to 1.5 lb per foot of perimeter. Makers differ, so treat this as a range.
Want them matched and fitted? The estimate is free.
How this works
The weight is estimated from the glass area and thickness — float glass is about 13 lb per square foot per inch — plus a pound to a pound and a half per foot of frame. That decides whether one wheel per end can carry the panel or whether it wants two.
The pattern of the roller is a different question, and only the old roller answers it: wheel diameter and profile, housing size, and how the adjustment screw reaches it. The list of measurements is there so the first set of parts is the right one.
It runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent anywhere. It is a guide, not a diagnosis — door makers differ, so check your manufacturer where it says to, and the technician confirms what has actually worn when they see the door.
Questions people ask
- How do I know which rollers fit my sliding door?
- By the old roller, not the door's brand. Measure the wheel diameter, note the wheel profile (flat, grooved or V), measure the housing height and width, and note how the adjustment screw reaches it. Most makers used several patterns over the years.
- What is the difference between single and tandem rollers?
- A single roller has one wheel in its housing; a tandem has two, sharing the load. Heavy panels — large insulated glass, impact glass, wide panels — want tandem rollers so the wheels do not flatten and groove the track.
- Nylon or steel wheels?
- Nylon runs quietly and does not rust, so it suits coastal homes and lighter panels. Steel and stainless carry more weight. Under a heavy panel choose steel or stainless; near salt air choose stainless or nylon over plain steel.
- How much does a sliding glass door panel weigh?
- Roughly 13 lb per square foot per inch of glass thickness, plus the frame. A 36 by 80 inch insulated panel is usually around 100 lb; an impact panel the same size can be 160 lb or more.
Other free tools
Rather have someone look at it?
Phones answered around the clock. Free estimate — the price is agreed before work starts.