✔ uPVC doors cost 38% less than other types of door, on average
✔ A uPVC front door typically costs £800
✔ They last for up to 35 years
Doors play a crucial role in keeping out noise, heat, and cold. This is perhaps why so many homeowners opt for doubled glazed doors, alongside paying the costs for double glazed windows.
Double glazed doors made from uPVC are quite popular, in part because they are cheaper than, say, wood doors.
In this guide, we’ll outline the cost of uPVC doors, lay out their advantages and disadvantages, and tell you whether or not you should get them.
If you’re ready to see what a double-glazed uPVC door would cost you, just fill in this quick form, and our trusted suppliers will contact you with free quotes.
What type of double glazing do you need?
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How much do uPVC doors cost?
A uPVC door will typically cost you between £250 and £1,000 — potentially more if you factor in double glazing costs.
Where you fall on the scale depends on the size and design of the door, as well as the duration, location, and complexity of the installation.
Part of this total price will also be the cost of labour, which’ll typically come to £25 per hour or £200 per day, according to Checkatrade.
These rates will vary depending on where you live, with rates reaching around £40 per hour or £300 per day in London and other parts of south-east England.
Here are the average costs you can expect, with supply, removal, and installation included.
| Internal | Front/back door | Sliding patio door | French door |
|---|---|---|---|
| £250 | £800 | £900 | £1,000 |
uPVC door costs compared to other types
After deciding which doors you want to replace, your next decision is which material you want them to be made from.
As well as uPVC, the most popular door types are wood and composite.
The cheapest option is uPVC, while wooden doors are almost always the most expensive – except for aluminium doors, which is part of the reason why they’re not as common.
The mid-price option is a composite door, which is a mix of different substances. It usually has a wooden core, surrounded by materials including uPVC, cardboard, plastic, and fibreglass.
| Type | Internal | Front/back door | Sliding patio door | French door |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| uPVC | £250 | £800 | £900 | £1,000 |
| Composite | £310 | £1,100 | £1,300 | £1,500 |
| Wood | £350 | £1,200 | £1,500 | £1,700 |
What type of double glazing do you need?
Get startedWhat other factors affect the cost of a door?
The location and material of your new door are the most important factors when it comes to working out its price, but there are other elements which can influence how much you’ll pay.
Here are the most important factors for you to consider.
Aesthetics and accessories
The colour and style of your new door will play a significant part in determining its cost.
Doors made of exactly the same material can cost twice as much if you choose a certain design over others, and if it’s in any colour that’s not white, it’ll also cost more.
From aesthetic considerations like these, it’s a short jump to extra features – like how you’d like to open and close your door, for instance.
Do you want a door knob or handle? Do you need a lock? If so, which kind? Take some time to look through your options and their different price tags.
Installation
How much your installation costs will mainly depend on where you are in the UK and how long the job takes.
A simple half-day installation could cost as little as £100, but if you live in south-east England, you may have to pay £600 for a two-day job, which is the kind of price that’ll make many of you think: can I install a door myself?
With a large amount of research and care, you may well be able to install an internal door yourself – but if you get it wrong, you won’t get that time and effort back, and you’ll still have to pay an installer.
Unless you’re supremely confident, we strongly recommend hiring a professional for all installations – especially when it’s not an internal door.
But remember: get at least three quotes before you choose an installer.
Double glazing
Will your door include glass? If so, we recommend making sure it’s double-glazed glass. It’ll likely add hundreds of pounds onto the price, but it’s worth it.
Double glazing will help you to keep in all the warmth (or cold air) you need to, cutting your energy bills by £195 on average, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
It also reduces the amount of outside noise let into your home, shrinks your carbon footprint, and makes your home more secure – plus it’s more attractive to home buyers.
Find out how much double glazing could cost you by visiting our Double Glazing Cost page.
Another way to ensure your front door is well insulated is to build a double glazed porch around it. These popular home extensions also provide you with extra storage space and shelter.
Advantages and disadvantages of uPVC doors
There are many reasons to buy uPVC doors, which we’ll run through here – along with the factors which could make you reconsider your decision.
Advantages
Cheapest option
You’ll typically spend less on uPVC doors than you would on any other type of door.
On average, you’ll pay 38% less for a uPVC door than you would for a composite door – and wooden doors are usually even more expensive.
Resilient
The standard lifespan of a uPVC door is 20 years, which is around the same as other door types – and some uPVC doors last for as much as 35 years.
They also require a lot less maintenance than composite and especially wooden doors, which need to be cleaned at least twice per year.
As they’re not made of organic material, uPVC doors don’t absorb nearly as much water, meaning they don’t rot, warp, crack, or attract termites – unlike wooden doors.
Resistant to extreme conditions
You won’t have to worry about strong winds, torrential rain, or snow with a uPVC door. They can stand up to anything this country’s weather can throw at them.
They’re also fire-resistant, which is exactly what you want in your home should the worst happen.
Somewhat eco-friendly
Doors made with uPVC can be recycled up to 10 times without losing their shape. This eco-friendly attribute means it can be used for up to 350 years.
However, 43% of uPVC’s mixture consists of oil, meaning that when it’s time to get rid of uPVC, it’ll harm the Earth in one way or another.
Disadvantages
Can be less visually appealing
This is a matter of personal taste, but many don’t like the look of white uPVC as much as wood.
That’s totally fair, but fortunately, you can make uPVC look like wood with a simple woodgrain effect. Problem solved – plus, you can choose from a massive variety of uPVC colours.
For some though, there’s no beating the real thing when it comes to wooden doors.
Less long-lasting
Typically, uPVC doors will have a shorter lifespan than composite and wooden doors.
As we mentioned above, a uPVC door will usually last up to 35 years, which is a lengthy amount of time – but composite doors typically last 40 years, while wooden doors normally hang around for 50 years.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Cheapest option | Can be less visually appealing |
| Typically lasts for 20 years | Less long-lasting than other types |
| Requires little to no maintenance | |
| Weather-resistant | |
| Fire-retardant | |
| Can be recycled |
Should you get uPVC doors?
You should almost certainly get uPVC doors.
They’re cheaper than other types of door, require basically no maintenance beyond basic cleaning, and can stand up to the elements.
However, if uPVC doesn’t fit with your house’s aesthetic, or if you live in a listed building that requires specific materials be used, you should seek out a different type of door.
And if you’re planning on staying in your home for 35 years or longer, you may want to consider getting composite doors – though they will cost more.
If none of these reasons apply to you, you should absolutely get uPVC doors.
Next steps
You should now know enough to decide where you stand on uPVC doors.
They’re cheap, they’re resilient, and they can be as energy-efficient as any door out there. If you’re convinced, you should ask specialists for at least three quotes to compare.
And we can help you with that. Just answer some quick questions to get free personalised quotes from our installers.
