Composite Front Door Cost UK 2026: Prices, Brands & What to Expect

Composite front doors have overtaken uPVC as the UK’s most popular front door choice – and for good reason. They are more secure, better insulated, and significantly more attractive than uPVC alternatives. A mid-range composite door costs £1,500–£2,000 installed, which is roughly double a uPVC front door but a worthwhile upgrade for most homes.

Prices range from £850 for a basic supply-and-fit to £3,000+ for a premium Solidor or Rockdoor with decorative glass and high-security hardware. The biggest cost variables are the brand, door style, glass design, and colour – plus regional labour rates, which can add 15–20% in London and the South East.

This guide covers verified 2026 pricing, compares the leading UK composite door brands, and explains the difference between GRP, timber-core, and solid-core constructions. All prices include the current 0% VAT rate on energy-saving materials.

How Much Does a Composite Front Door Cost?

A composite front door costs £850–£3,000 installed in the UK. The typical mid-range price is £1,500–£2,000 including supply, fitting, and disposal of the old door. Supply-only prices start at £400.

Composite front doors in the UK cost between £850 and £3,000 fully installed, with the typical mid-range price falling between £1,500 and £2,000 including supply, fitting, and disposal of the old door. The price depends primarily on the manufacturer, door style, glazing options, and hardware specification. Budget doors from companies like Everest start around £850 to £1,200, while premium brands such as Solidor, Endurance, and Rockdoor command prices from £1,500 to £3,000. Side panels add £450 to £800 per panel.

Composite doors combine a solid timber or foam core with a Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) outer skin, delivering significantly better thermal insulation and security than uPVC alternatives. Most achieve an energy rating of A or higher and include multipoint locking systems as standard. A 10-year manufacturer guarantee is typical, with some premium brands offering up to 15 years of cover against warping, cracking, and discolouration.

Installation labour alone costs £300–£500 for a straightforward like-for-like replacement. If the existing frame needs replacing (common with older wooden frames), add another £200–£400 for a new outer frame and additional finishing work.

A standard front door replacement takes 2–4 hours for an experienced fitter. The installer removes the old door, checks the frame condition, fits the new door with adjustable hinges and multi-point locking, seals the perimeter, and tests all locking points. If the outer frame is being replaced too, allow a full day. A FENSA-registered installer can self-certify compliance with Building Regulations Part L, saving you the cost of a separate building control inspection.

Lead times vary by brand: stock colours in popular styles ship in 1–3 weeks, while bespoke colours or premium brands like Solidor can take 4–8 weeks from order. Plan ahead if you need the door before a specific date.

Composite Door Brands Compared

The five leading UK composite door brands are Solidor, Rockdoor, Endurance, Apeer, and Composite Door Group. Solidor and Rockdoor are the most widely available and offer the broadest range of styles and colours.

All five brands exceed minimum Building Regulations requirements for thermal performance and security. The choice usually comes down to budget, colour preferences, and whether you want the thicker 48mm doors (Solidor, Endurance) or the lighter 44mm options (Rockdoor, CDG). Rockdoor is the standout for security – their carbon fibre reinforced core makes them one of the strongest residential doors on the UK market.

Anthracite grey has become the most popular composite door colour in the UK, followed by black and dark green. If you want a non-standard colour, Solidor offers over 200 options including dual-colour (different colour inside and outside). Most other brands offer 15–30 standard colours with bespoke RAL options available at an additional cost of £100–£300.

Composite Door Styles and Prices

Composite doors come in five main styles, each with different price points. The style affects both the look and the cost – solid panel doors are cheapest, while doors with decorative glazing and period features command a premium.

The most popular style in the UK is the half-glazed composite door in anthracite grey – it accounts for roughly 40% of all composite door sales according to industry data. Cottage-style doors remain popular in conservation areas and rural settings, while contemporary designs are increasingly specified on new-build estates. If you are replacing a door in a conservation area, check with your local planning authority before ordering – some areas restrict colours and styles to maintain street character.

Composite vs uPVC Front Doors

Composite doors cost 2–3x more than uPVC but are more secure, better insulated, and hold their appearance for decades. uPVC front doors (£450–£800 installed) are a viable budget choice but can yellow, warp, and lack the premium feel of composite.

For a front door, composite is almost always the better investment. The front door is the most visible element of your home’s exterior, and a solid composite door adds genuine kerb appeal that uPVC cannot match. The security difference is significant too – composite cores resist forced entry far better than hollow uPVC profiles. For a back door that is less visible, uPVC remains a sensible budget choice.

Are Composite Doors Worth the Extra Cost?

Composite doors cost two to three times more than uPVC front doors, which raises a fair question about value for money. The short answer is yes for most homeowners – the premium buys you meaningful improvements in security, insulation, appearance, and lifespan that a uPVC door simply cannot match. A composite front door typically lasts 30–35 years compared to 20–25 years for uPVC, which means the per-year cost difference is much smaller than the sticker price suggests. A £1,500 composite door over 30 years works out at £50 per year; a £600 uPVC door over 20 years costs £30 per year – a £20/year difference for a substantially better product.

The security improvement alone justifies the upgrade for many buyers. Composite doors with solid timber or reinforced cores resist forced entry far better than hollow uPVC profiles, and most qualify for Secured by Design police accreditation. This can reduce home insurance premiums by 5–10%, partially offsetting the higher purchase price. The thermal performance (U-value ~1.0 vs ~1.4 for uPVC) also delivers modest energy savings of £20–£40 per year in a typical UK home.

Where composite doors are not worth the premium: back doors that are rarely seen by visitors, rental properties where kerb appeal is less important, or situations where the budget is genuinely tight and the existing door is still functional. In those cases, a uPVC door at £450–£800 installed is a perfectly sensible choice.

Security and Energy Performance

Composite doors are among the most secure residential doors available. All major UK brands meet PAS 24:2016 security standards, and several hold Secured by Design police accreditation. They also offer superior insulation with U-values around 1.0 W/m²K.

Security: A solid timber-core composite door is significantly harder to force open than a uPVC or hollow-core door. The multi-point locking systems (typically 5–7 locking points) engage along the full height of the frame, not just at the handle. Rockdoor takes this further with a carbon fibre reinforced inner frame – one of the strongest residential doors available.

Look for PAS 24:2016 certification (all major brands have this) and Secured by Design accreditation (an initiative from the UK police that independently tests doors against physical attack). A Secured by Design accredited door can positively affect your home insurance premiums – check with your insurer.

Energy efficiency: Composite doors typically achieve U-values of 0.9–1.2 W/m²K – well below the Building Regulations maximum of 1.8 W/m²K for new doors. The solid core (whether timber or foam) provides far better insulation than the hollow chambers in a uPVC door.

If your current front door is original to the house (especially pre-2000 timber), replacing it with a composite door will noticeably reduce drafts and heat loss in the hallway. For the full picture on energy efficient windows and doors, see our dedicated guide. The 48mm-thick doors from Solidor and Endurance offer the best thermal performance of any composite doors on the UK market.

All composite doors installed in the UK currently benefit from 0% VAT on energy-saving materials (until March 2027). This applies automatically – your installer should not charge any VAT on the door, frame, or installation.

What Affects Composite Door Prices?

The biggest cost factors are brand, glass design, colour, hardware, and whether the existing frame needs replacing. A bespoke colour or designer glass panel can add £200–£500 to the base price.

• Brand and core type: Solid timber-core doors (Solidor, Endurance) cost more than foam-core or GRP-only options
• Glass design: A half-glazed door with decorative glass costs £200–£400 more than a solid panel door. If you are also replacing adjacent doors, see our bifold doors cost guide and patio doors cost guide
• Colour: Standard colours (white, black, grey, green) are cheapest. Bespoke RAL colours or dual-colour options (different colour inside vs outside) add £100–£300
• Hardware: Standard chrome or gold handles are included; designer hardware (e.g., black ironmongery) adds £50–£150
• Frame replacement: If the existing outer frame is damaged or non-standard, a new frame adds £200–£400
• Sidelights and toplight: Adding a glass panel beside or above the door increases cost by £200–£500 per panel
• Regional pricing: Installation costs are 10–15% lower in the North of England and 15–20% higher in London and the South East

How to Get the Best Price

Get at least three quotes from reputable double glazing companies, include a local FENSA-registered installer alongside national brands, and check whether the quote includes a new outer frame or just a slab replacement. Many online “from” prices exclude the frame.

• Get 3+ quotes – composite door pricing varies by 30–40% between installers for the same brand and specification
• Check what’s included – some quotes are for the door slab only (no frame, no installation). A genuine installed price should include door, frame, hardware, fitting, removal of old door, and FENSA certificate
• Compare like-for-like – a £900 foam-core composite is not the same product as a £1,800 Solidor. Know the brand and core type before comparing quotes
• Avoid same-day pressure – national brands like Anglian and Everest sell composite doors alongside windows. The high-initial-quote-then-discount model applies to doors too. See our Safestyle review for more on this tactic
• Consider supply-only – if you have a trusted local builder, buying the door directly from a manufacturer or trade supplier and paying for fitting separately can save 20–30%

How We Researched This Guide

Prices in this guide were compiled from manufacturer price lists, installer quotes gathered across 8 UK regions, and verified against Checkatrade, MyJobQuote, and GreenMatch cost data. Brand specifications were confirmed directly from each manufacturer’s website. All prices were last verified in February 2026 and include the current 0% VAT rate on energy-saving materials. We update this guide quarterly or whenever a major manufacturer changes their pricing.

0% VAT applies to composite doors installed in residential properties until March 2027 – your installer should not be charging VAT. You may also qualify for government help with the cost – see our double glazing grants guide. For a full breakdown of all double glazing costs including windows, see our main cost guide.

Laura Bennet

Home Energy & Sustainability Editor

Laura leads coverage on home energy, heating, and sustainable living. With over 12 years in the UK energy sector, she writes about boilers, solar panels, insulation, and eco-friendly upgrades that reduce household costs.

Reviewed by

Tom Reynolds

Business Energy Specialist