French Doors Cost UK 2026: Prices by Material & Style

French doors cost £950–£1,750 installed in the UK in 2026, depending on material and installation complexity. uPVC french doors are the most affordable at £950–£1,250 installed, while aluminium costs £1,300–£1,500 and softwood timber £1,250–£1,750. These prices are for a standard like-for-like replacement – converting a window to french doors or creating a new opening in a wall costs significantly more.

We compared pricing from UK door installers and manufacturers, cross-referencing quotes with trade cost databases. This guide covers french door costs by material and size, installation scenarios, how french doors compare to bifold and patio doors on price, planning permission rules, and how to get the best value from your quotes.

The biggest cost variable is not the door itself but the installation. A straight replacement where a door already exists costs £950–£1,750 total. Creating a new opening in an external wall costs about £3,100–£3,400 in total on MyJobQuote’s figures, including the doors, and Checkatrade puts a uPVC french door in a new or enlarged opening at about £3,125.

French Door Costs by Material

French door prices vary significantly by frame material. uPVC is the budget choice, aluminium offers slim modern sightlines, timber suits period properties, and composite provides a timber-look with lower maintenance. All prices below include supply, professional fitting, and disposal of old doors.

uPVC is the most popular choice for budget-conscious buyers. Modern uPVC french doors are available in woodgrain foil finishes that closely mimic timber, and they require virtually no maintenance beyond occasional cleaning.

Aluminium is growing in popularity because it allows much slimmer frame profiles than uPVC – maximising the glass area and light. Powder-coated finishes are available in any RAL colour, with anthracite grey (RAL 7016) the current favourite.

Timber is the premium option, offering the best aesthetics for period and traditional properties. Softwood (typically Scandinavian redwood) is more affordable but requires periodic repainting. Hardwood (oak, meranti, accoya) is a more durable heritage choice; MyJobQuote prices solid oak laminate at £2,100–£2,400 installed. Timber french doors are often required in conservation areas where uPVC would be refused.

Composite uses a timber or foam core with a GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) skin. The result looks like timber but requires only uPVC-level maintenance. We found no published composite french door price, so ask installers to quote it.

French Door Costs by Size

French doors are available in standard widths from 1,200mm to 1,800mm. Standard sizes are significantly cheaper than bespoke because they use stock profiles and glass units. Prices below are MyJobQuote’s installed ranges for all materials.

Height is typically 2,100mm (standard door height). Taller doors for high-ceiling properties are available as bespoke orders. If your opening is a non-standard size, check whether a slightly smaller standard door with an infill panel would work – this is often cheaper than a fully bespoke door.

French Door Installation Costs

The installation scenario is often the biggest cost variable – a like-for-like replacement costs far less than creating a new opening. Labour for a like-for-like replacement runs £250–£350, with structural modifications adding significantly more.

Creating a new opening in a load-bearing wall requires a steel or concrete lintel (around £400 on Checkatrade), temporary support during construction (Acrow props), and making good to the surrounding brickwork and render. A structural engineer’s report (MyJobQuote cites £50–£90 an hour) is needed to specify the correct lintel size. Building Regulations approval is mandatory for any new opening – your installer can handle this via FENSA/CERTASS, or you can apply directly to your local authority (£200–£400).

Additional French Door Costs

Beyond the door and installation, several common extras can add £200–£1,500 to your project depending on your choices and property.

For triple glazing, the main benefit for doors is noise reduction and thermal performance. Standard double glazed french doors already meet Building Regulations (Part L requires a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better), so triple glazing is an upgrade rather than a necessity. It is most worthwhile for north-facing doors or properties near busy roads.

French Doors vs Bifold Doors vs Patio Doors

French doors are the more affordable option, costing far less than bifold doors for a similar opening width. The trade-off is that french doors provide a narrower clear opening – the two leaves swing open to give roughly 80% of the frame width, versus almost 100% for a fully-opening bifold.

Choose french doors if you want the best value, a traditional look, and a standard-width opening (1.2–1.8m). Choose patio doors if you want wide views without losing floor space (they slide rather than swing). Choose bifold doors if you want the maximum possible opening and are willing to pay considerably more. For a full comparison, see our guides to patio door costs and bifold door costs.

French Door Security

French doors are often perceived as a security weak point because they have a central meeting rail where the two leaves join, rather than a solid frame edge. Modern french doors address this with multipoint locking systems that engage bolts at the top, bottom, and middle of both leaves – making them as secure as a standard front door when properly specified.

PAS 24 is the British Standard for enhanced security doors. Doors meeting PAS 24 have been tested against physical attack (crowbars, drilling, lock snapping) and are recommended by police under the Secured by Design scheme. Not every french door meets PAS 24, so check the specification and ask for the test certificate before ordering.

Anti-snap cylinder locks, hinge bolts on the hinge side, and laminated glass on the lower panes all improve security further. If security is a priority, aluminium doors with multipoint locks and laminated glass are the strongest option – stronger than timber, which can be forced at the meeting rail with sufficient leverage.

Do French Doors Need Planning Permission?

Replacing an existing door with french doors of the same size does not usually require planning permission – it falls under permitted development rights. However, there are important exceptions.

Planning permission IS likely needed if: you are creating a new opening in an external wall (especially front-facing), your property is a listed building, your home is in a conservation area, or you live in a flat (permitted development rights are more restricted). The planning application fee is £548 in England (2026), with a typical 8-week decision period.

Building Regulations always apply to new or replacement external doors, regardless of planning permission. This covers energy efficiency (Part L – U-value 1.4 W/m²K or better), safety glass (Part K – toughened or laminated glass is mandatory in doors), and structural integrity if walls are being altered. A FENSA or CERTASS-registered installer can self-certify Building Regulations compliance, saving you the cost of a separate building control application.

French Door Energy Efficiency

Modern french doors meet or exceed current Building Regulations for thermal performance. Standard double glazed uPVC french doors achieve a U-value of around 1.2–1.4 W/m²K, while aluminium and timber options can achieve 1.0–1.2 W/m²K with thermal break technology.

If you are replacing old single-glazed or draughty timber doors, new french doors can save £100–£200 per year on heating bills simply by eliminating draughts and improving insulation. The energy savings are proportionally larger for doors than windows because doors are larger openings and old doors often have significant air leakage around the frame.

For maximum efficiency, specify argon gas fill and Low-E coated glass (standard on most quality doors), warm-edge spacer bars, and a low threshold with compression seals. Triple glazing upgrades the U-value to 0.8–1.0 W/m²K but adds £300–£800 – see our triple glazing cost guide for whether this premium is worthwhile. For available funding, check our double glazing grants guide.

How Long Do French Doors Last?

French door lifespan depends primarily on the frame material and maintenance. Ask each installer for the frame and glazing guarantee terms in writing. Aluminium doors have powder-coated finishes that need little more than cleaning, while timber doors need periodic repainting or restaining to prevent rot.

If the perimeter seal on the sealed glass unit fails, the unit mists up. Replacing a misted sealed unit costs £55–£145 per unit on MyJobQuote’s figures (average about £70) – see our double glazing repairs guide for more detail. Hardware (handles, hinges, locks) usually needs replacing or adjusting every 10–15 years, at a cost of £50–£200 per item.

How to Save Money on French Doors

French doors already represent excellent value compared to bifold and patio doors, but you can reduce costs further with these approaches.

Buy supply-only and hire a local fitter separately. Supply-and-fit quotes from national brands include a 20–30% markup on installation. Buying the doors directly from a fabricator and hiring a local FENSA-registered installer saves £200–£500 on a typical job.

Choose standard sizes. Standard widths (1,200mm, 1,500mm, 1,800mm) are stocked or quickly manufactured. Bespoke sizing adds £150–£400 and extends lead times by 2–4 weeks.

Install in autumn or winter. Most glazing companies are quieter from October to February. Some offer 10–15% discounts to fill their schedule during the off-season.

Get at least three quotes. Prices for the same specification can vary by 40% between installers in the same area. Always compare like-for-like: check whether quotes include VAT, disposal of old doors, and making good to the surrounding wall.

For a broader comparison of window and door options across your property, see our complete double glazing cost guide, or use our free cost estimator for an instant price estimate. For vetted installer recommendations, see our best window companies 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