Bypass Barn Door Hardware Kits: A Buying and Installation Guide
If you're short on wall space beside your doorway, a bypass barn door hardware kit lets you hang two sliding doors that pass in front of and behind each other, closing off the opening without swinging into the room. This guide covers how bypass systems work, how to size them, and what to expect from Dusty's Rustic Rolling Doors.
Table of Contents
- Double sliding barn doors
- Overlapping sliding door system
- Parallel barn door track setup
- Why choose Dusty's rustic rolling doors?
- Double bypass barn door
- Double Track Bypass Sliding Barn Door Hardware
- Step-by-Step Guide: How to Properly Install a Double Track Setup
- Pricing & delivery
- How much overlap do bypass barn doors need?
- Can you lock a bypass barn door?
- Do bypass barn doors require a bottom floor guide?
- Space saving interior door options
- Sliding wall partitions for bedrooms
- Modern tracking systems for home doors
- Black industrial steel bypass barn door tracking
- 8ft bypass track kit for two doors
- Soft close bypass sliding door system
- Are you looking for a single or a double track layout?
- Do you have at least 6 inches of clearance above the opening?
- Do sliding doors provide full soundproofing?
- What size header board do I need for a bypass hardware kit?
- Can I install a dual rail setup on a standard drywall wall?
- Take the Next Step with Dusty's Rustic Rolling Doors
Double Sliding Barn Doors
"Double sliding barn doors" describes any setup using two doors on a track instead of one; bi-part doors that meet in the center, or bypass doors that overlap front and back. Homeowners usually choose a double-door setup for wider openings, like closets, pantries, and laundry rooms, where a single door would be too wide for the space.
Overlapping Sliding Door System
An overlapping sliding door system, more commonly called a bypass system, mounts each door to its own track so the doors pass in front of and behind one another. Unlike doors that meet in the middle, bypass doors can be pushed to one side to fully open the doorway, or "stacked" on one side of the doorway when there's no clearance on either side.
Parallel Barn Door Track Setup
A double-track bypass kit uses two parallel tracks: an inside track fastened to wall spacers, and an outside track cantilevered in front of it on bypass brackets. Each door rides its own track and moves independently, rather than being locked to a single rail.
Why choose Dusty's Rustic Rolling Doors?
We offer a wide range of high-quality hardware kits in different configurations, size options, finishes as well as expert advice at a fair price. Dusty's builds its bypass kits from 1/4" powder-coated steel with quiet-glide nylon wheels, rated for doors up to 250 lbs. Tracks are pre-drilled at 16" on center (on tracks up to 8’ long), and every kit ships with adjustable door stops, an anti-jump system, and floor guides. Kits carry a 5-year warranty in flat black or brushed nickel.
Double Bypass Barn Door
A "double bypass" describes the standard double-track version of a bypass kit: one door on the inside track, one on the outside, both sliding independently. Three- and four-door configurations are available for wider openings using extra hangers on the same tracks. We also offer single-track bypass kits, but usually only recommend them if there is limited clearance above the doorway as the double-track systems are more dynamic and easier to use.
Double Track Bypass Sliding Barn Door Hardware
Double-track bypass hardware splits the weight of the doors across two tracks instead of one, so it supports heavier doors than a single-track system. As each door is on its own track, each door moves independently from the other and therefore the floor guides can be foregone if desired. Sometimes customers choose to forego the floor guides if they want to avoid a tripping hazard in the center of the doorway or if they don’t want to drill into the floor. In contrast, the floor guides are mandatory for the single-track bypass, which makes the double-track system the preferred choice by many customers.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Properly Install a Double Track Setup
Installing a double-track bypass kit is best done with a second person:
- Locate wall studs; if the pre-drilled holes (16" on center) don't align, add a solid wood header board, at least 10" tall, secured to the studs.
- Measure the actual door height (not the doorway) and mark a level line 2" above it.
- Mount the inside brackets and track with the lag bolts, checking each with a level.
- Attach the outside track to the outside brackets, then connect outside to inside, leaving bolts loose for adjustment.
- Attach hangers and the anti-jump system, then lift the doors onto the tracks.
- Set the door stops, adjust bracket spacing, and install the floor guides.
Every kit ships with a detailed installation guide. We also have video instructions and offer phone, chat and email installation support.
Pricing & Delivery
Dusty's Double Track Bypass Kit start at $240 for a 4' track, two-door configuration, with longer tracks and extra doors priced accordingly. To see the price of each kit, click the product from the collection page, select your desired track length and finish option, and the price will update automatically. Orders ship via UPS Ground in 2–3 business days and typically arrive in about 1 to 1.5 weeks for a flat $29 fee. Not sure what length you need? Dusty's track length calculator on the product page can help or give us a call at 1-800-997-5085.
How Much Overlap do Bypass Barn Doors Need?
We recommend at least 2" of overlap between each door and the sides of the doorway, plus 2" where the doors overlap in the middle. As a formula for a double door setup: take the doorway width, divide by two, then add 4" — that's the recommended width per door. When in doubt, size up; it’s better to err on the side of having a door that is too wide than one that is too narrow.
Can You Lock a Bypass Barn Door?
Bypass barn doors aren't built for deadbolt-level security. The inside door can be secured with a privacy lock from the inside, but it is harder to secure the outside door as it is further away from the wall. That’s not to say that it can’t be done, but it would need to be an aftermarket solution. If privacy is an issue, then it’s recommended to have plenty of overlap between the bypass doors and between the doors and the side of the doorway.
Do Bypass Barn Doors Require a Bottom Floor Guide?
Strictly speaking, floor guides are not mandatory for double-track bypass kits, but they are for single-track bypass kits. As each door is on its own track, the guides can be foregone, but you just need to be careful when opening and closing the door as to not bang the doors into each other. The anti-jump system on the hangers will prevent the doors from coming off of the track. Guides either sit in a routed channel that must be cut along the length of the bottom of the door or, if you prefer not to cut a channel, they can mount on either side of the door in a “cradle” formation. Wider openings typically require more than one set of guides per door, depending on the range of motion of each door. You want to make sure that your door enters a guide before leaving the last one.
Space Saving Interior Door Options
Compared to a hinged door, which needs floor space to swing open, sliding barn door hardware kits, single-track, bi-part, or bypass, reclaim that space entirely. Bypass kits are especially useful for wide openings where a swinging or single sliding doors wouldn't fit without eating into usable space in a small bedroom, closet, or hallway.
Sliding Wall Partitions for Bedrooms
Bypass hardware isn't limited to closets and pantries. It's increasingly used to divide larger bedrooms into zones, separating a sleeping area from a home office nook, or closing off a walk-in closet, without the cost of building a wall. Because the doors stack to one side, most of the opening can stay exposed when full access isn't needed.
Modern Tracking Systems for Home Doors
Although flat track hardware does have a rustic style, it can also be paired with modern doors and a modern decor. The flat black finish is neutral and the brushed nickel finish lends itself well to modern designs.
Black Industrial Steel Bypass Barn Door Tracking
For an industrial look, Dusty's tracks and hangers are cut from 1/4" steel and finished in a durable flat black powder coat — sturdy enough for doors up to 250 lbs without flexing or sagging over time. It's a finish that pairs well with exposed brick and other industrial-style interiors.
8ft Bypass Track Kit for Two Doors
An 8' track is a common choice for wider bypass openings, like a large closet or a home office divider, and comfortably supports the standard two-door configuration. Our double track bypass kits in track lengths up to 8’ long have predrilled holes in the track that are 16” apart on center to line up with standard stud-framed houses. That being said, the studs may not line up with the positioning of the track, relative to your doorway, in which case you will want to mount a headerboard or install blocking behind the drywall.
Soft Close Bypass Sliding Door System
Soft-close mechanisms slow the doors as they approach the closed or open position, preventing the barn door hanger from banging against the doorstop when reaching the stop position. They're sold separately and are compatible with our bypass kits, a popular add-on for households with young children or anyone who'd rather not hear a door slam. Barn door soft close mechanisms come in a set of two (one for the open position and one for the closed position) so it is recommended that you order one set of (2) soft closes per door. The exception being the “Barn Door Soft Close for Two Doors” which already includes enough soft closes for two doors.
Are You Looking for a Single or a Double-track Layout?
With at least 7-1/8" of overhead clearance (from top of doors to ceiling, with the door sitting ½” off the ground), a double-track bypass kit gives you two independently moving doors, a cleaner "stacked" open position, and higher weight capacity. If clearance is tight, a single-track bypass kit, both doors on one rail, needs less space above the doorway, though it typically calls for wider doors to achieve the same overlap.
Do You Have to Have at Least 6 Inches of Clearance Above the Opening?
Double-track bypass hardware needs the outer track cantilevered in front of the inner one, which takes up more vertical space than a single track. Most of our double track bypass kit require 7-1/8" of clearance from the top of the door to the ceiling (with the door sitting ½” off the ground). If you have less than that, a single-track bypass kit is worth considering instead.
Do Sliding Doors Provide Full Soundproofing?
No. Bypass barn doors sit in front of the doorway rather than sealing into a frame, so there's no weatherstripping or airtight seal like a hinged interior door has. They're great for visual privacy, but if full sound isolation is the goal, a barn door isn't the right solution.
What Size Header Board do I Need for a Bypass Hardware Kit?
If your studs don't line up with the track's holes, we recommend a solid wood header board longer than the track and at least 10" tall to fit the bypass brackets. A standard 3/4" board works for most jobs, and it must be fastened securely to the studs.
Can I Install a Dual Rail Setup on a Standard Drywall Wall?
Yes, as long as the hardware is ultimately anchored into wall studs, not just drywall. The tracks are pre-drilled at 16" on center to match typical stud spacing, but if your studs don't align, a stud-mounted header board can be used for mounting the bypass brackets.
Take the Next Step with Dusty's Rustic Rolling Doors
Whether you're closing off a pantry, dividing a bedroom, or adding privacy to a home office, a double-track bypass kit from Dusty's Rustic Rolling Doors comes with everything you need except the doors, handles, and soft-close. Browse our selection of bypass kits and if you have any questions, give us a call at 1-800-997-5085 for advice before you order.