French doors vs bifold doors: which costs less?
French doors are the cheaper way to open a wall to the garden: a uPVC set starts around £1,100 and a typical pair is about £1,800, against roughly £4,000 for aluminium bifold doors. Bifolds fold right back to open a wide span almost fully, while French doors are a simpler two-leaf design best for openings up to about 1.8 metres. For a standard doorway French doors win on cost; for a wide opening you want to throw fully open, bifolds earn their premium.
French doors vs Bifold doors: the cost
| Option | Range | Typical | Priced |
|---|---|---|---|
| French doors | £1,100 to £4,000 | £1,800 | supplied and fitted |
| Bifold doors | £2,000 to £9,000 | £4,000 | supplied and fitted |
Costwise guide prices, reviewed June 2026, not quotes.
French doors vs Bifold doors: the difference
| Factor | How they compare |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | French doors about £1,800 supplied and fitted; bifold doors about £4,000, and more per extra panel. |
| Opening | French doors open as two hinged leaves, best up to ~1.8m; bifolds concertina back to open almost the whole span. |
| Frames | French doors come in cheap uPVC upwards; bifolds are usually aluminium, which is stronger but dearer. |
| Best for | French doors: lowest cost for a standard doorway. Bifolds: opening a wide span fully onto a garden or patio. |
Common questions
Yes. A uPVC French door set starts around £1,100 and a typical pair is about £1,800, while aluminium bifold doors typically start near £2,000 and average around £4,000, rising with each panel. For a standard opening French doors are the clear value choice.
For a wide opening you want to open almost fully onto the garden, yes: bifolds fold right back in a way French doors cannot. For a normal doorway up to about 1.8 metres, French doors give most of the effect for far less, so the premium is only worth it on the wider spans bifolds are designed for.
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.