Asked on Mar 23, 2018

Can you shorten bifold doors?

Mary
by Mary
Need 77” - 78” replacement bifold door. Only doors available are about 80” and are too long and will not work. How can you shorten them. Don’t know if anyone experienced this problem. House is not that old. Original door door ruined by water this fall.

  8 answers
  • Chubby58 Chubby58 on Mar 23, 2018

    If you still have an old one, center it on top of the 80” door and cut equal amounts from each end. If not, take the exact measurement and cut an equal amount from top and bottom, that should work.

  • Connie Quine Connie Quine on Mar 23, 2018

    You can trim off 1" from the top and 1" from the bottom to equal out the look of the doors if you want to trim them. The home improvement store may do them for you free of charge if you do not have the equipment to do it yourself.


  • Holly Kinchlea-Brown Holly Kinchlea-Brown on Mar 23, 2018

    Yes you can trim the doors, but trim an equal amount from the top and the bottom (especially if has panels) to maintain the equality of the panels. There should be a piece that makes the top and bottom edge, the pop out - trim the door as needed and pop those pieces back in. If your bifold is not wood (or is a very flimsy wood) place painters tape along your cut line to prevent chipping.

  • Mary Mary on Mar 23, 2018

    Thanks. Taking equal amounts from top and bottom is a good idea

  • Mary Mary on Mar 23, 2018

    Thanks for the good ideas

  • Pro7895909 Pro7895909 on Mar 27, 2018

    Make sure you glue pieces on top and bottom that fit between a good wood glue

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on May 10, 2021

    Hello Mary,

    You could take a little off top and bottom if solid timber doors. I would recommend you use a carpenter to fit your doors as it's a bit of an art!

  • Em Em on Nov 01, 2021

    Take a board and put on floor the thickness of the amount you want to remove,

    to make a straight line across door bottom so they are even, cut and install. Can do at top as well but easier to reach the bottom to measure.