How much do French doors cost in the UK?
French doors cost £1,800 on average in the UK. Most jobs fall between £1,100 and £4,000 supplied and fitted. Frame material: uPVC French doors £1,100 to £1,800; Aluminium French doors £1,800 to £3,000; Hardwood or premium £2,500 to £4,000. Prices reviewed June 2026.
French doors are priced by the frame material and whether you are replacing an existing set or forming a new opening. uPVC is the budget option, with aluminium and hardwood costing more.
French doors cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your French doors in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
French doors cost breakdown
Typical French doors costs, by option:
| Frame material | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| uPVC French doors | £1,100 to £1,800 |
| Aluminium French doors | £1,800 to £3,000 |
| Hardwood or premium | £2,500 to £4,000 |
| + Form or widen the opening (structural) | add £800 to £2,500 |
| + Side panels or integral blinds | add £300 to £800 |
What's included in the price?
Typical French doors prices include:
- The French door set and frame
- Double glazing and multipoint locking
- Fitting into an existing opening
- Sealing and making good
What changes the price?
The things that move French doors prices most:
Frame material: uPVC, aluminium or hardwood
Whether you are replacing like for like or forming a new opening
Size, side panels and glazing spec
Security and any integral blinds
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, French doors typically cost around £2,300 supplied and fitted, about 30% above the UK average of £1,800. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £1,700.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £1,100 | £1,800 | £4,000 |
| London | £1,400 | £2,300 | £5,200 |
| South East / South West | £1,300 | £2,100 | £4,600 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £1,000 | £1,700 | £3,700 |
Guide prices supplied and fitted, scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
French doors cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £940 | £1,500 | £3,400 |
| Birmingham | £1,100 | £1,800 | £3,900 |
| Bristol | £1,200 | £2,000 | £4,400 |
| Cardiff | £1,000 | £1,700 | £3,800 |
| Edinburgh | £1,100 | £1,800 | £3,900 |
| Glasgow | £990 | £1,600 | £3,600 |
| Leeds | £1,000 | £1,700 | £3,700 |
| Liverpool | £1,000 | £1,700 | £3,700 |
| London | £1,400 | £2,300 | £5,200 |
| Manchester | £1,100 | £1,700 | £3,800 |
| Newcastle | £990 | £1,600 | £3,600 |
| Sheffield | £1,000 | £1,700 | £3,700 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for French doors, not quotes.
The gap is in the fitting. The doors cost much the same everywhere.
Common questions
How much does it cost to fit French doors?
French doors cost roughly £1,100 to £4,000 supplied and fitted in the UK, typically around £1,800. uPVC French doors are £1,100 to £1,800, aluminium £1,800 to £3,000, and hardwood or premium sets £2,500 to £4,000. That assumes fitting into an existing opening; forming a new or wider opening adds structural cost on top.
Do I need planning permission for French doors?
Replacing existing doors like for like is normally permitted development and needs no planning permission. Forming a brand new opening in an external wall is usually still permitted, but it needs building regulations approval for the lintel and structural work, not planning. The exceptions are listed buildings and conservation areas, where you should check before ordering.
Why are French doors expensive?
You are paying for two full door leaves, the frame, double glazing and a multipoint locking system, plus the fitting, which is more than a single door. The biggest extra is structural: if the opening has to be created or widened, a lintel and the associated brickwork and making good add £800 to £2,500 before the doors themselves. Aluminium and hardwood frames also cost considerably more than uPVC.
Are French doors cheaper than bifold or patio doors?
French doors are usually the cheapest way to open up a wall to the garden. A uPVC set from £1,100 undercuts aluminium bifolds, which typically start around £2,000 and rise quickly with each panel. Sliding patio doors sit in between. French doors suit openings up to around 1.8 metres wide; for a wider span, bifolds or sliders make more sense. See our bifold doors cost guide for that comparison.
How much are uPVC French doors supplied and fitted?
uPVC French doors are typically £1,100 to £1,800 supplied and fitted, which makes them the value choice for a back or garden doorway. Coloured or woodgrain finishes, side panels and Georgian bars add to that. Aluminium versions of the same size run £1,800 to £3,000 and are slimmer and stronger, which is why people pay the premium for larger or more exposed openings.
Does the price include widening the opening?
Usually not. A standard quote assumes the doors drop into an existing opening. If you are turning a window or single door into French doors, or widening what is there, budget £800 to £2,500 on top for the lintel, the structural work and building control sign-off. Always get the quote to state clearly whether the opening work is included, as it is the item most often left out.
Can I fit French doors myself?
You can if you are experienced with joinery, but it is harder than it looks. A supplied and fitted price runs £1,100 to £4,000, so doing the install yourself saves the labour, though you still pay for the doors and frame. Getting the opening square, the frame plumb and the doors weathertight is the tricky part. A poorly fitted set that lets in draughts or drops on its hinges is a common result, so it suits only confident DIYers.
How long do French doors last?
A uPVC set is generally put at 20 to 30 years, with 20 plus the common expectation even without much attention, while timber and aluminium last longer and timber trades that for repainting. As with any glazed door it is the sealed units rather than the frames that usually decide the timing, and a misted pane is a unit replacement rather than a new set of doors. The mechanical side is simpler than the alternatives, which is a real advantage of French doors over bifolds or sliders: no bottom track and no running gear to collect grit, just two hinged leaves, so there is much less to go wrong and much less to keep clean. What does want attention is the hardware. Screws, hinges and seals loosen with daily use, and the usual advice is to check and adjust them every three to six months and put a silicone lubricant on the hinges and the multipoint lock. A door that has dropped and started catching on the frame is normally an adjustment, which is worth establishing before anyone quotes you £1,100 to £4,000 for a replacement.
Do French doors add value to a home?
They help a house feel brighter and more connected to the garden, which aids a sale, but they rarely pay back pound for pound. A fitted set at £1,100 to £4,000 usually adds less to the valuation than it costs. uPVC at the £1,100 to £1,800 end is the safest spend to recoup. Fit them mainly for the light and the garden access you will enjoy while living there.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.