Choosing the right automatic door isn’t just about convenience – it’s about safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, first impressions, and long-term cost savings. Whether you’re designing a hospital, upgrading a retail store, planning a corporate office, or constructing a commercial facility, the door you choose affects everything: how people enter, how smoothly operations run, how safe the building stays, and how modern it feels.
But with dozens of automatic door options in the market-sliding, swing, telescopic, revolving, hermetic, and more – the decision can quickly feel overwhelming.
This guide breaks everything down in a simple, human-friendly flow so you can confidently pick the right automatic door for your building.
1. Start With Your Building Type and Traffic Flow
The first and most important step is understanding who will use the door, how often, and in what way.
Different doors are engineered for different needs.
If your building has heavy foot traffic…
Places like malls, metro stations, airports, hospitals, and busy retail stores require:
- High-speed opening and closing
- Smooth movement
- Strong sensors
- Durable motors that never slow down
For this environment, sliding doors and revolving doors perform best.
If your building has moderate traffic…
Corporate offices, clinics, banks, hotels, and schools need:
- Smooth entry
- Hands-free convenience
- Space-efficient movement
Here, swing doors or two-panel sliding doors work well.
If your building has low traffic…
Warehouses, small shops, and private offices don’t require high-speed systems. Automatic swing doors or small sliding doors are enough.
Traffic flow decides 70% of the door you should choose. If you get this wrong, users will feel stuck, slow, or unsafe.
2. Understand the Space You Have
Not every building has the space to support every door type.
Sliding Doors Need:
- Wide horizontal wall space
- Enough room for leaf movement
- A clear path on both sides
They’re perfect when you have wide entrances.
Swing Doors Need:
- Free space to open inwards or outwards
- Enough clearance for wheelchairs
They fail if the corridor is narrow.
Revolving Doors Need:
- Large entrance area
- Stable floor structure
- A centrally located lobby
They give a premium look but cannot fit in small spaces.
Telescopic Sliding Doors Need:
- Wide opening but limited wall space
- Narrow corridors but high traffic
They’re ideal for small areas that still need fast movement.
If you choose a door without checking space requirements, you may end up with:
- Doors hitting walls
- Confusing entry flow
- Reduced accessibility
- Expensive redesigns
3. Consider Who Will Use the Door
Every building has different user needs. Your automatic door should match them.
If people with disabilities or wheelchairs will use the entrance…
Prioritize:
- Low-energy swing doors
- Wide sliding doors
- Sensors that detect wheelchairs
- ADA-compliant movement
For hospitals and clinics…
You need:
- Fast opening
- Touchless operation
- Easy passage for wheelchairs and stretchers
- Hermetic doors for cleanrooms and ICUs
For offices and hotels…
Look for:
- Aesthetic appeal
- Smooth and silent operation
- Long-lasting mechanism
For retail stores and malls…
You need:
- Fast-opening automatic sliding doors
- Sensors that detect high footfall
- Safe anti-collision features
For industrial buildings…
Focus on:
- Rugged build
- Weather resistance
- Blast-proof or fire-rated options
User type decides the door’s width, speed, and safety features.
4. Think About Safety Needs
Safety is one of the most important factors in choosing an automatic door. A low-quality door can accidentally hit customers, jam during peak hours, or fail to detect movement.
Your door MUST have:
- Motion sensors
- Safety sensors
- Anti-pinch protection
- Emergency opening system
- Obstacle detection
For high-sensitivity buildings like hospitals:
You may need additional safety features like:
- Microbial-resistant surfaces
- Hermetic sealing
- Fire-rated protection
- Anti-smoke sealing
For industrial and outdoor locations:
Look for:
- Weather-proof materials
- Dust-proof sensors
- Stronger motors
- Impact-resistant glass
Safety compliance is not optional-it protects your building from accidents and liability.
5. Check the Aesthetic Requirement
Automatic doors directly influence how professional, premium, and modern your building looks. The style says a lot about your brand.
Sliding Doors give a modern, clean look.
Perfect for retail stores, malls, clinics, hotels, and showrooms.
Revolving Doors give a premium, luxury feel.
Best for hotels, corporate towers, and large malls.
Swing Doors blend into modern and classic architecture.
Great for offices and residential spaces.
Glass choices matter too:
- Clear glass = minimal, modern look
- Frosted glass = privacy
- Tinted glass = heat reduction
- Tempered glass = safety
Good design enhances your building’s psychology and first impression.
6. Consider Energy Efficiency
Automatic doors can help reduce electricity costs significantly if chosen correctly.
Revolving doors are the most energy-efficient.
They prevent air loss and maintain indoor temperature.
Sliding doors should be paired with:
- Fast motors
- Tight sealing
- Energy-efficient sensors
Swing doors need:
- Low-energy operators
- Proper closing speed
- Weather-stripping for sealing
If your building depends on AC heavily, a poor-quality door can increase energy loss by up to 30%.
7. Decide Your Budget
Automatic doors come in different price ranges depending on:
- Type
- Size
- Sensors
- Motor strength
- Safety features
- Glass type
- Customisation
Basic swing doors:
Affordable, ideal for small spaces.
Standard sliding doors:
Moderately priced and suitable for most commercial entrances.
Revolving doors and hermetic doors:
Premium pricing due to advanced technology.
Choose a door that fits your long-term operational needs-not just your installation budget. Often, a slightly higher upfront investment saves huge money later.
8. Know the Maintenance Requirements
Automatic doors require periodic maintenance to work smoothly.Before choosing one, understand its servicing needs.
Low-maintenance options:
- Standard sliding doors
- Low-energy swing doors
Moderate maintenance:
- Telescopic sliding doors
- High-speed sliding systems
High-maintenance:
- Revolving doors
- Hermetic ICU doors
If your team cannot manage high-end maintenance, choose simpler, more reliable systems.
9. Choose a Trusted Supplier
A good automatic door is 50% about the product and 50% about the installer.
Choose a supplier who offers:
- High-quality motors and sensors
- Reliable installation
- AMC and service support
- Emergency repair response
- Custom design and fabrication
A poor installation can ruin even the best door. Leading suppliers-like Automatic Doors who specialize in:
- Sliding doors
- Swing doors
- Revolving doors
- Telescopic systems
- Hermetic hospital doors
- Fire-rated doors
Always check their past projects.
10. Match the Door With Your Future Needs
Think long-term. Will your building see more visitors later? Do you plan to expand entry points? Do you expect to upgrade interiors?
Choosing a flexible, future-ready system ensures:
- Smooth scalability
- Compatibility with new sensors
- Easy motor replacement
- Smart integration
Smart buildings now integrate door systems with:
- Access control
- Biometrics
- Security systems
- Energy management
Picking a future-ready automatic door protects your investment.
Conclusion
Choosing the right automatic door for your building isn’t a technical decision-it’s a strategic one. The ideal door should align with:
- Your traffic flow
- Your space
- Your user needs
- Your safety expectations
- Your aesthetics
- Your energy goals
- Your long-term plans
When everything fits, your building becomes safer, smoother, more modern, and more efficient.
