A front door with side panels (also called sidelights) is one door set: the door leaf plus one or two fixed panels sharing the same frame, colour and finish. It brings daylight into the hall, makes a narrow entrance look wider and, when specified properly, is as secure as a solid door. The decisions that matter are the layout, the glass, the security rating and the measurements. This guide takes them in order, so you can order the right set first time.
TL;DR
- A side panel is a fixed, non-opening panel built into the same frame as your door. Most homes use one panel on one side, two panels for a formal, symmetrical look, or a top light added above.
- Choose toughened or laminated glass, and look for a doorset tested to PAS 24, the UK security standard for doorsets.
- Measure the opening, not the old door. Allow for the frame, the sill and the wall build-up, and confirm the set is made to measure.
- Replacement combination frames in England and Wales must be registered, and the glazed area next to the door counts as a window.
- We supply composite doors with side panels supply-only or fully fitted: 10 working days for supply only and 3 to 4 weeks for fitted.
Table of Contents
- What entrance door side panels are
- Who side panels suit
- Layouts: one panel, two panels or a full screen
- Materials and glazing
- Security: a fixed panel is not a weak point
- Energy efficiency
- Measuring for a door with side panels
- Fitting and registration
- Choosing between supply-only and fitted
- Our view on side panels
- Browse composite doors with side panels
- FAQ
- Sources
What entrance door side panels are
A side panel is a narrow, fixed section, usually glazed, that sits beside the door leaf. It does not open, has no hinges or handle, and sits inside the same outer frame as the door. A composite door with side panels is therefore ordered as a single made-to-measure set, with the leaf and panels matching in colour and finish, as one UK guide to the product explains.
You will see the same thing described as sidelights, side windows, side screens or flanking panels. A panel above the door is a fanlight or top light. A door with panels either side and a light above is often called a full entrance screen.
The set arrives ready to install, with no joining of separate frames on site. The finishing touches can come after the install: a pair of large planters at the threshold suits a glazed entrance well, and entrance planter ideas show how frost-resistant pots can frame the door.
Who side panels suit
Side panels earn their place in four situations.
- A dark hallway. A solid door in a porchless terrace or a deep hall can leave the space gloomy. A glazed panel brings in light without changing the door.
- A wider opening. If the brickwork is wider than a standard single door, a panel fills the gap neatly, where an oversized leaf would be heavy and awkward.
- A period or formal frontage. Matching panels on both sides give the symmetry that Victorian, Edwardian and 1930s houses were built around.
- A new build or extension. The opening can be planned around a door set from the start, which is the simplest way to get the proportions right.
For interior designers and property managers, the benefit is consistency: one frame, one colour and one finish across a run of properties, with a visible lift to kerb appeal.
Layouts: one panel, two panels or a full screen
Three layouts cover almost every front door with side panels.
One side panel
A single panel on one side is the most common choice. It suits an opening wider than standard, but not dramatically so, and it works well where the door sits off-centre in the house front. The panel goes on the side where it brings in the most light, or away from a neighbouring wall or drainpipe that would shade it.
Panels on both sides
Matching panels either side of the door create a symmetrical, formal entrance. It is the classic choice for period properties and for wide openings. The door is centred, the panels mirror each other and the proportions feel settled.
Side panels with a top light
Adding a glazed panel above the door, as well as the sidelights, creates a full screen. This gives the most daylight, and suits a high ceiling in the hall or a tall opening. It does mean more glass, so the glazing specification matters more (see below).
More glass is not automatically better. UK design guidance on side panels and fanlights makes the point that scale, sightlines and the character of the building need to be resolved together, rather than adding divisions for their own sake. A simple test: look at the window proportions on the rest of the façade and echo them in the panel.
| Layout | Best for | What you gain | What to think about |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door and one side panel | Slightly wider openings, off-centre doors | Light on one side, easy fit | Which side gets more light and less shade |
| Door with two side panels | Period homes, wide openings | Symmetry, formal look | Needs a wide opening, often built to order |
| Door, side panels and top light | Tall hallways, new builds | Most daylight | More glazing to specify for privacy and security |
| Door with top light only | Standard-width openings | Light without extra width | Less effect on a dark hall than side panels |
Materials and glazing
The door leaf and the panels should be the same material so that colour, texture and ageing match. Composite is a popular choice because it combines a solid, insulated door leaf with a low-maintenance outer skin, and the panels are made to the same specification. Colour and finish choices apply across the whole set, so it is worth browsing the composite door colours before you settle on a layout.
Safety glass
Glass beside a door is at the height where people can collide with it, so it must be safety glass. UK glass front doors use glass either toughened to BS EN 12150-1:2015 or laminated to BS EN 14449:2005, and a door sold in the UK should carry a CE or UKCA mark to show it meets the relevant product standards. In plain terms:
- Toughened glass is heat-treated to be much stronger than ordinary glass, and breaks into small blunt pieces rather than sharp shards.
- Laminated glass has a plastic interlayer that holds the pane together even when cracked.
A double or triple glazed sealed unit is standard in modern sets, and the choice between them affects warmth and noise.
Privacy options
Privacy is the most common worry with side panels: will passers-by see straight into the hall? The answer is in the glass pattern, not in leaving the panel out.
- Clear glass gives the most light and a view out, suited to a porch or a long front garden.
- Satin, frosted or obscure glass lets the light in and blurs the view. This is the usual choice for a house that opens straight onto the pavement.
- Decorative or leaded glass adds period character and gives privacy through the pattern itself.
If the panel sits beside a staircase, a downstairs toilet or a living room, choose obscure glass for that side. Matching the glass in the door leaf and the panels keeps the entrance looking planned.
Security: a fixed panel is not a weak point
A common objection is that glass beside the door invites a break-in. A well-made set answers it in three ways.
- Nothing to attack. Sidelights do not open, so there are no hinges or handles on the panel. The glass is held by internal beading, so it cannot be taken out from outside.
- Strong glass. Toughened glass is much harder to break than ordinary glass, and laminated glass stays in one piece even when it shatters.
- A tested doorset. PAS 24:2022 is the UK standard for doorset security. It covers doorsets with or without integral side panels and fanlights, and tests resistance to the attacks associated with casual or opportunistic burglars.
BSI notes that PAS 24 certification applies to the manufactured doorset before installation. It does not test the installation itself, which is why a careful fit matters as much as the product.
The lock matters as well. Our doors are supplied with advanced locking mechanisms, designed to give homeowners confidence in the security of the whole entrance.
Rules for new homes
If you are building a new home or converting a barn, Part Q of the Building Regulations in England sets security requirements for accessible doors and windows. It was introduced on 1 October 2015 and applies to new homes, including those created by a change of use, rather than to replacement doorsets. Contractors working on new builds should confirm the requirement with building control.
Energy efficiency
Glass loses more heat than a solid door, so the panels and the top light affect how warm the entrance is. Replacement doors in England are expected to meet a maximum U-value of 1.4 W/m²K, according to a 2026 summary of the rules. The U-value measures how quickly heat passes through a material: the lower the number, the better the insulation. Ask for the U-value of the whole set, not just the door leaf.
Measuring for a door with side panels
A door set is made to measure, so the measurements decide whether it fits. Work through them in this order.
- Measure the structural opening. Take the width at the top, middle and bottom, and the height on the left, centre and right. Use the smallest figure of each.
- Check the sill and threshold. Note the height of the step, and whether you need a low threshold for step-free access.
- Decide the layout. One panel, two panels or a top light, and the panel width on each side.
- Mark the hinge side and opening direction. Inward or outward, left or right, seen from outside.
- Choose the glass, colour and handle finish once, for the whole set.
- Check what is beside the opening. A drainpipe, a gas meter box or a neighbouring wall can limit the panel width.
If you are unsure about any figure, a survey before ordering removes the risk. With the fitted option, our team handles the installation, so the frame sits square and tight in the opening.
Fitting and registration
Fitting is the stage where a good door can go wrong. The frame must be level, plumb and fixed through its jambs, and the gap to the brickwork sealed so that it is weathertight.
In England and Wales, replacing doors with glazing is notifiable work under the Building Regulations. The FENSA guide states that when replacement combination frames are installed, the glazed area immediately adjacent to the door should be treated as separate windows and registered accordingly. In practice, the installer registers the work and the homeowner receives a certificate, which you will want when selling the property. Keep it with the deeds.
For contractors and property managers, this is a good reason to specify a supply-and-fit package across a portfolio: one set of paperwork per property, with the same standard of work each time.
Choosing between supply-only and fitted
| Supply only | Fully fitted | |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | 10 working days | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Best for | Contractors and trades with their own fitters | Homeowners, landlords and property managers |
| Who measures and installs | You or your fitter | Our team |
| Paperwork | Your installer registers the work | Handled as part of the fitted service |
Both options cover composite doors, French doors, stable doors, bifold doors and sliding patio doors, with customisable designs.
Our view on side panels
Most of the front doors people regret are not the wrong colour. They are the wrong proportion: a door squeezed into an opening that wanted a panel, or a panel added without thinking about the glass.
We start with the opening and the light. A single panel on the darker side of the hall changes a house more than most upgrades, and matching panels on both sides give an older frontage its balance back.
We put security first on every door we sell. Advanced locking mechanisms, safety glass and a made-to-measure frame mean the panels add light without adding risk.
And we keep the process straightforward: clear options, efficient ordering and delivery, and a choice of supply-only or fully fitted, so that the door you chose is the door that arrives and is fitted well.
the author
Browse composite doors with side panels
If you have settled on a layout, our composite front doors with side panels collection is the place to start. Supply-only orders are delivered in 10 working days, and fitted orders in 3 to 4 weeks, across the UK.
For a glazed door without panels, look at the glazed composite doors, or see the whole composite door range. Period houses may suit the 1930s style composite doors, which pair well with side panels.
FAQ
Are side panels the same as sidelights?
Yes. Sidelights, side panels, side windows and side screens all describe a fixed panel set beside the door. A panel above the door is a fanlight or top light. Together with the door they are supplied as one frame.
Are front doors with side panels less secure?
Not when the set is well made. The panels are fixed and do not open, and the glass is held by internal beading. Use toughened or laminated glass and look for a doorset tested to PAS 24, which covers doorsets with integral side panels. A good fit completes the job.
Can I add side panels to an existing door?
Usually the frame has to be replaced, because the door and panels share one frame. A new set is measured to your opening and fitted in place of the old door. The glazed area beside the door should be registered as a window.
How do I keep a glazed side panel private?
Choose satin, frosted or decorative glass for the panel, and keep clear glass for a house set back from the road. You can match the pattern in the door leaf so that the entrance looks consistent from outside.
How long does delivery take?
Our supply-only doors are delivered in 10 working days, and fully fitted orders take 3 to 4 weeks. Check the product page when you order for the current lead time.
Sources
- Composite Doors with Side Panels UK: Complete Guide
- Front Door Side Panels and Fanlights: A Design Guide
- PAS 24:2022, BSI Knowledge
- Glass front doors UK 2026: safety and styles
- Guide to Compliance, FENSA
- Building Regulations Part Q guidance, British Woodworking Federation
