Thinking of having a front door installed? In this guide, we’ll explore various cost-related topics surrounding a front door installation, such as the material costs, labour costs, potential additional costs and warranty and aftercare cost considerations.
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Having a new front door installed can give the front of your property’s exterior a new lease of life, improve your home’s security and even potentially increase your home’s resale value. Without further ado, here are the costs involved in a front door installation.
Material Costs
Note: The material costs (i.e. supply only costs) will potentially be the only applicable upfront cost if you were to install the front door DIY. However, to hire a professional, this would include the supply only costs and the price of labour. For overall cost estimates, skip two sections below for a brief summary of average total costs when hiring a professional.
There are many types of front doors on the market based on the material used. In this section, we’ll explore the supply only costs of a range of options.
Wooden Doors
Average Cost: £600 to £2,000
To start with, many households prefer to opt for a wooden door. Timber front doors are popular for a wide range of reasons, including their traditional and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
There also exists a wide range of wooden doors on the market in terms of design, colour and type. On the other hand, wooden doors require more maintenance and generally don’t last as long as other popular options.
Specific costs by type of wooden door:
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Mahogany | £300 to £1,000 |
| Oak | £700 to £2,000 |
| Pine | £100 to £500 |
| Bespoke | £2,000 to £4,000 |
uPVC Doors
Average Cost: £300 to £1,000
Another common option is that of a uPVC front door. uPVC front doors can vary in design, size, style and levels of insulation.
Along with there being many types of uPVC front doors on the market, a uPVC front door can offer a range of additional benefits including its lack of maintenance requirements, longevity, affordability and the fact this type of door is not prone to warping.
With that said, uPVC front doors may discolour over time and their appearance won’t be for everyone. Also, uPVC doors are not eco-friendly.
Specific costs by type of uPVC door:
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Solid uPVC door | £300 to £700 |
| Double-glazed uPVC door | £300 to £700 |
| Triple-glazed uPVC door | £500 to £1,000 |
Composite Doors
Average Cost: £400 to £1,500
Composite doors include a mix of timber and a human-made material (e.g. uPVC or fibreglass, a.k.a., glass reinforced plastic).
Among the benefits of composite front doors include durability and longevity, energy efficiency, a lack of maintenance requirements, strength (and therefore security) and the ability to reduce noise.
However, a composite front door’s cost can end up quite high, although it will depend on the product, brand and other factors. They are also susceptible to producing creaking sounds.
Aluminium and Steel Doors
Average Cost: £1,500 to £3,000
Aluminium and steel doors may be on the expensive side, but they offer incredible strength, security and durability. Metallic doors can also add a modern look and feel to the front of a house.
Beyond that, both doors provide solid energy efficiency. With that said, steel is arguably that bit stronger and more secure on average.
In terms of their downsides, these two metallic options are of course quite costly in most cases, and they won’t be a good match for every home or homeowner.
Specific costs by type of metallic door:
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Aluminium door | £1,500 to £3,000 |
| Steel door | £500 to £2,000 |
Installation Costs
Of course, if hiring a professional, you’ll also need to factor in the installation costs (i.e. the price of labour). Here’s what you should know about the labour costs of a professional fitting a front door.
Professional Installation vs. DIY
As a broad average, it should cost a total of somewhere in the region of £460 to £2,260 to have a professional install a front door, with the labour and supply only costs combined.
On the other hand, if you were to install your front door DIY, it might cost about £400 to £2,000 (or £60 to £260 less, with this being the price of labour).
As you can tell, though, at approximately £60 to £260 per installation, the price of labour/installation cost is likely to be a small percentage of the total cost if hiring a professional.
Therefore, unless you’re absolutely sure of what’s involved, you might want to pay that bit more for a professional installation. This can give you peace of mind knowing that you can be pretty certain of a high-quality fitting.
Labour Costs
Note: The average labour price range given below takes into account the fact that the job could take around half a day or a full work day. So, while the average daily labour cost of hiring a front door installer is around £130 to £260, the labour price of a given installation could end up below this range if the work takes less than a day to complete (e.g. 3-4 hours).
The average price of labour may be £60 to £260 for hiring a front door installer, however, this average applies to the UK as a whole. After all, it's worth noting (as some examples) that labour prices tend to be below the UK average in northern England and Scotland, but above the average in the southeast of England.
To provide some examples of average door fitting rates in the UK, here are some examples from across the UK:
| Location | Cost per day |
|---|---|
| Glasgow | £150 to £210 per day |
| Edinburgh | £180 to £240 per day |
| Birmingham | £150 to £210 per day |
| London | £190 to £250 per day |
| Manchester | £170 to £230 per day |
| Newcastle-upon-Tyne | £140 to £200 per day |
| Belfast | £100 to £160 per day |
| Cardiff | £160 to £220 per day |
Factors Influencing Installation Costs
Other key installation cost factors include the size and type of door as well as any additional structural modifications that may be needed.
A larger door may take longer to a bit longer to install, particularly if (as touched on) further structural modifications are required. However, the size of the door would be more likely to impact on the supply only cost than the labour cost, but it is possible it could affect both.
What’s more, certain types of doors may be more challenging to install for a range of reasons, which in turn could lead to a higher cost of labour. The material or design could play a role here.
That said, it’s unlikely the size and type of door will have an enormous impact on the price of labour and will more so (if not exclusively) be a concern for the supply cost.
Overall Costs
Note: In some scenarios, other costs may apply (e.g. waste removal to get rid of your existing front door).
We’ve looked at the average cost of materials and the estimated price of labour for a front door installation. So, it’s now worth taking a closer look at the estimated total new front door cost if hiring a professional for the job (i.e. labour and supply only costs combined).
As discussed, a very broad average total cost if hiring a professional to fit a front door could land somewhere in the region of £460 to £2,260
Here is how much you may pay in total for a professional installation with factoring in the labour and supply only costs:
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Mahogany | £360 to £1,260 |
| Oak | £760 to £2,260 |
| Pine | £160 to £760 |
| Bespoke | £2,060 to £4,260 |
| Solid uPVC door | £360 to £960 |
| Double-glazed uPVC door | £360 to £960 |
| Triple-glazed uPVC door | £560 to £1,260 |
| Composite | £460 to £1,760 |
| Aluminium door | £1,560 to £3,260 |
| Steel door | £560 to £2,260 |
Additional Features and Customisation
As touched on in the previous section, the overall cost could be influenced by other cost elements than the price of labour or supply only costs. Here we’ll look specifically at potential additional costs due to added features or/and customisation.
Glazing Options
For front doors featuring widows, you may be interested in opting for double- or triple-glazed options. Naturally, the higher the level of glazing, the more said windows might cost.
Here are how cost differences may apply (as a very broad/rough average) when comparing the three levels of glazing for windows:
- Double-glazing may be 50% more expensive than single-glazing
- Triple-glazing may be 30% more expensive than double-glazing
- Triple-glazing may be 100% more expensive than single-glazing (i.e. twice as much)
Again, these are very broad averages, so do take them with a grain of salt. Beyond that, should you wish to go with decorative glass (regardless of the level of glazing), this is likely to add to your overall bill.
Security Features
Note: The costs listed below are supply only costs. Depending on factors, such as how the door installer bills for their labour, having security feature(s) added may or may not also increase the price of labour.
To have additional security features for your front door, you may need to pay more too. Here are some security features you should consider (and their estimated prices):
- Reinforced Frames - £100 to £200
- Smart Locks - £50 to £250
- Multi-Point Locking System - £70 to £150
Aesthetic Enhancements
Note: If you wanted to go for something really out there, you may need approval from the council. So, if in doubt, be sure to contact them before all else.
You may also be thinking about the ideal design and look for a new front door. Whether or not you may need to pay more for a specific colour will depend primarily on the material you’re opting for and whether or not it must be painted (if suitable).
On the other hand, opting for specific designs, particularly those that are quite intricate could certainly add to your bill.
If you’d like a custom-built door, the average price range (regardless of the material used) is likely to end up somewhere in the region of £1,000 to £4,000. So, while custom-built doors can be as affordable as your average door, in many cases they are worth quite a bit more, if not a lot more.
All in all, while aesthetic enhancements can add to your bill, if within your budget, it can be a good step forward in your efforts to build the house exterior of your dreams, particularly if you’re looking for more than just a new front door in the months or years ahead.
Energy Efficiency and Insulation
We’ll now discuss the cost-implications of opting for relatively energy efficient front doors and improved insulation for the front door area of your home in general.
Costs Vs. Savings
You may recall that earlier in this guide we noted how composite, uPVC aluminium and steel doors all offer a high level of energy efficiency (i.e. they are good insulators and can keep the heat in). Arguably, out of these options, composite doors offer the most energy efficiency.
The good news is that composite doors (as well as uPVC doors) are not especially expensive, plus they can help save on your energy bills over time.
Sticking with composite doors as an example, you may end up saving about £50 to £100 on your energy bill annually. With a life expectancy of around 30-40 years, this could mean £1,500 to £4,000 in savings over the decades, likely outweighing the upfront cost by a substantial margin.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of aluminium or steel doors (unless you find a great bargain from a reliable supplier) due to their relatively high upfront costs.
With all that said, if you are keen on opting for a wooden door then you should go with a hardwood option as hardwood front doors generally offer better insulation than softwood doors.
Also, whether you opt for a wooden door or otherwise, there are usually additional, low-cost measures you can take to enhance the energy efficiency of a front door, including draught strips, draught excluders and brush strips.
Please ensure that any given insulation measure you’re considering is suitable for your specific type of door and home.
Certifications and Ratings
It’s also worth mentioning that certifications and energy efficiency ratings may affect the total price of any given front door.
Some of the reasons for this can include the quality of the material, how well-respected a given brand is (with proven products and positive customer reviews/feedback) and the extent and nature of the work put into producing any given front door.
Of course, even if one door costs more than the other, it does not necessarily mean you should avoid opting for it, once it’s still within your budget. Trying to find solid value for money (at any price within your budget) is arguably the best approach to take in general.
Warranty and Aftercare
When it comes to a front door warranty, this may be free with purchase, but this is not always the case. Therefore, when considering purchasing a front door from a given supplier, you’ll want to look into this.
Of course, a warranty (even with a price) could save you money over time thanks to the guarantee or/and aftercare provided by the door manufacturer or installer.
On the one hand, a front door or/and its components may come with a warranty of just a year or two or even 10-20 years in some cases. Indeed, warranties can exist below or above this range too.
With a guarantee, you could have your front door replaced or repaired for free if it were to experience damage during the guarantee period, assuming that the issue at hand fits within the specific manufacturer or installer’s terms and conditions.
As for after care in particular, this too can help keep you in the long-term by keeping certain maintenance costs down where applicable and once within their Ts and Cs.
Ultimately, all of the relevant details can vary substantially depending on the manufacturer or installer in question. Therefore, be sure to look into all of these details before making a purchase. If your installer intends to supply the door for you, you may want to discuss your concerns over the warranty and aftercare to ensure that you get an option that suits you!
Replacement Vs Repair
To repair or to replace? As a door gets old or/and experiences significant damage, either repair work or an outright front door replacement will be needed.
Determining whether a front door should be repaired or replaced entirely will depend on the nature of the damage, how old it is, and the cost of a repair vs replacement.
For example, if your door is particularly old and the repair work could set you back several hundred pounds, it’s arguably beyond economical repair at that point. After all, why spend that money fixing it up, only for it to deteriorate further in the near future?
Another scenario where a front door is arguably beyond economical repair is if (even if it’s relatively young) is if it’s suffered substantial damage that could cost close to or even more than half as much as the cost to have it installed in the first place.
You will need to compare the repair costs (in this context) to the estimated cost of having the door replaced, which could be somewhere in the region of £460 to £2,260.
Obviously, on the other hand, some repair work is low-costing (e.g. sanding a pine front door per the manufacturer’s instructions).
All in all, a door is unlikely to need replacing if the repair work is relatively simple and no more than £100 or £200, but once you go beyond that, the question of a replacement should be more on your mind. If in doubt, you can always consult with a professional about your specific situation.
Trends and Future Projections
As with various goods, the cost of front doors could change with time. On the one hand, market fluctuations can impact the cost of raw materials, leading to a knock-on effect and bringing up the prices of various products that use said materials (as has happened globally in recent years).
Moreover, climate change could also lead to a long-term and relatively consistent increase in the price of certain raw materials. However, on the plus side, this (and any other applicable factors) could be countered by advancing technology helping to bring down the cost of manufacturing various types of front doors.
Also, front doors may become a part of smart home integration in the future which in turn could lead to a rise of (at least initially) expensive premium options. Ultimately, the future pricing of front doors is yet to be seen and there could be a rise and fall in prices over time, with variations depending on the type of front doors in question too.
FAQs
Q: How do you measure for a new front door?
A: To measure up for a new front door, don't measure your current door - you need to measure the door opening instead. You will need to measure the width, height and thickness. Ensure you are taking three measurements of each to get an accurate measurement.
For example, to measure the with - take a measurement at the top, centre and bottom of the door opening. If they differ slightly - take the smallest measurement.
Q: What is a composite front door?
A: A composite door is made from a timber core that's covered in either laminate, uPVC or fibreglass. They tend to be more durable because of this.
Q: What is a standard front door size in the UK?
A: The most common door size in the UK is 762mm wide by 1981mm high.
Sources
https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/doors/cost
https://www.everest.co.uk/doors/new-front-door-cost/
https://www.windows-doors-uk.co.uk/door-prices/
https://www.aspire-doors.co.uk/blog/why-choose-wooden-doors
https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/doors/upvc/cost