The different types of handles for sliding doors

The sliding door offers an ideal solution for this redesign: easy to install, inexpensive and requiring little work, it is not only functional but also proves to be a centrepiece for your décor. For a perfect result, dress your doors with modern handles that will highlight the design of your new installation! We give you advice on which handle is best suited to your sliding door.

The different handles available for your sliding door

When thinking of a sliding partition, one immediately thinks of a recessed handle. 

However, it is possible to fit other types of handles that are applied in relief on one side of the door only. 

a. Recessed sliding door handle 

For a sliding door, the handle can be recessed or slim enough for the door leaf to slide horizontally on a rail and sit alongside or within a wall, in the case of a pocket door.

By definition, the recessed handle is hollow so as not to protrude from the door, hence its other name: cup handle. This type of handle is required for pocket sliding doors that recess into the wall. Indeed, the cup handle allows you to accompany the movement of the pocket door without any risk of collision. To facilitate handling, most of these handles are fitted with a finger pull that you pull to open the door. Whether round, oval, square or rectangular in shape, the recessed handle is hollow and therefore does not protrude from the door.

b. Surface-mounted sliding door handles

It is possible to choose a non-recessed handle, particularly for surface-mounted sliding doors. There are several models of adaptable handles available.

. The knob handle 

This type of handle is fixed to the outer face edge of the door in a surface-mounted fashion (on the side that does not slide against the wall). Whereas its predecessor, the oval white porcelain knob, was a classic product, the modern knob comes in a wide range of materials (zamak, stainless steel, brass, glass or aluminium), shapes (with varied diameter and length) and finishes (matt black, lacquered white, satin chrome…). Moreover, this type of handle is very easy to install and is very affordable in terms of price.

. The pull handle (or bar handle) 

Like the knob, this type of handle is mounted on the outer face of the door to slide it. The stainless steel bar handle pairs well with a surface-mounted frosted glass sliding door for the bathroom. The bar handle is very practical to use. Simply pull to open or close the door. Pull handles are also easy to mount on the edge of doors. 

Just like the knob-type handle, the pull handle is available in several materials: brass, stainless steel, aluminium or zamak. The bar handle fits on the edge of any type of opening as this product offers a variable length and diameter. This handle is also available in a wide range of finishes: chrome or satin steel effect, polished stainless steel or aged brass. 

For your information and from an aesthetic point of view, the bar handle does not pair well with other accessories such as a lock kit. If you are considering a privacy locking system (lock with or without key) for your bathroom, opt for a knob-type handle.

Décor info point: The advantage of the knob handle and the bar handle is that both types of handle can be fitted to the drawers of furniture or cupboards to create a coordinated interior decoration, at a reasonable price. You can even consider fitting the same knob on French doors or windows. 

The lever handle is rarely the preferred choice for a sliding partition. Indeed, even though the lever on a backplate offers a wide range of options in terms of product and finish, this handle does not provide an ideal grip for this type of closure, which only needs to be slid to the sides. Having to push down the lever works against the lateral pulling movement required. 

c. Sliding door handle with or without privacy locking system

Sliding door handles are available with or without a privacy locking system. A lock (with key or button) is a very useful product for certain rooms in the home whose doors should not be freely openable.

Sliding door handles with a privacy lock can be key-operated or button-operated. Key-operated, they are ideal for a bedroom. Button-operated, the locking system is only activated from the inside, suitable for a bathroom or toilet.

For your information: when you purchase your door handles, you generally receive the following list of parts and accessories: 

- a pair of round recessed handles – left and right with privacy lock 

- a finger pull

- A lock

- a strike plate

- the installation instructions 

This list may be supplemented by a locking system (mortise lock). The lock is offered to match the type and finish of the chosen handle. Fitting a lock provides security and peace of mind and presents no particular difficulty even for novice DIY enthusiasts!

Other useful information: handles are often designed for door leaves with a maximum thickness of 44 mm. This measurement is particularly important in the case of handles to be recessed into the door timber.