What is the difference between a double swing door and a French door?

A French door is the more specific term — it refers to a double swing door with full or partial glass panels, while a double swing door is any two-panel configuration that swings open from a center point, including solid-panel versions.

Every French door is technically a double swing door, but not every double swing door is a French door. The defining feature of a French door is the glass — typically a 1-lite, 3-lite, or 5-lite configuration that runs the height or partial height of each panel. A plain double swing door uses solid panels, prioritizing privacy over light transmission. WIN STELLAR's French pivot doors use pivot hardware at the top and bottom of each panel rather than side-mounted hinges, which eliminates the center post and allows both panels to swing from an offset vertical axis.

• French doors are defined by glass panels — 1-lite, 3-lite, or 5-lite configurations are the most common formats.
• WIN STELLAR French pivot doors use top-pin and bottom floor-plate pivot hardware, not side-mounted hinges.
• A double swing door with solid panels provides full privacy; a French door with frosted glass diffuses light but blocks direct sightlines.
• Both configurations require a swing arc equal to the panel width on the room-facing side — no wall clearance is needed beside the opening.
• SGCC-certified tempered glass is the safety standard for French door glass panels — it breaks into blunt pieces, not sharp shards.