Disclosure: FMB Home Picks is committed to delivering independent advice and reviews on home products and services. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Contact us.
When it comes to energy efficient upgrades for your home, new doors and windows are a great place to start. In our handy guide, we explore the benefits and costs of this home improvement, as well as the styles and materials offered by the most popular installers.
When replacing your double glazing windows, you might also be wondering if it is worth replacing your doors too. There’s a lot to consider when it comes to installing new doors and windows in your home, and the top of that list is cost. It would first be helpful to know how much double glazing windows cost and how much doors cost separately. This way you can decide if you’d like to install both simultaneously or at different times.
In our guide, we’ll look at the various styles and types of doors on the market, as well as the materials used to make them and the benefits of installing doors and windows at the same time.
In this guide we’ll explore the following:
Double glazing windows are a worthwhile energy-efficiency investment for your home. Most people don’t seem to consider the benefits of installing new doors as well as windows. However, installing new doors also comes with a wealth of benefits.
Benefits of new doors:
Installing new windows and doors is one great option to improve the energy efficiency of your home. But don’t forget there may be other factors that contribute to your home’s heat loss that might also need to be considered or upgraded to create an energy efficient house.
Double glazing windows and doors can be installed separately from one another, which is why we’ve researched what the costs for new doors would be.
This table outlines an average cost of what you can expect to pay for installing new doors in your home, according to our research. We gathered these prices by contacting the UK’s top installers, many of which told us prices are bespoke because their doors and windows are made to measure. The best way to get an accurate price for your project is to contact several installers for quotes.
| Windows supplier | Composite Front door | uPVC Back door | Patio | French | Bifold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Britannia | £1,500–£2,500 | £960–£1,050 | £1,300–£1,400 | £1,500–£1,600 | £3,500–£4,000 |
| Britelite | POA | POA | POA | POA | POA |
| Anglian | POA | POA | POA | POA | POA |
| Everest | POA | POA | POA | POA | POA |
The below table is the average cost of double glazing windows in the UK for 2022 including installation costs.
| House type | Amount of windows | Cost of all windows | Installation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat | 4–5 | £1,240–£2,480 | £190–£370 |
| Terrace | 6–10 | £1,860–£4,960 | £190–£370 |
| Semi-detached | 11–15 | £3,410–£7,440 | £190–£370 |
The average cost you can expect to pay for doors and windows in 2022 is around £5,000 to £6,000. Some companies also offer a discount for installing the two together.
Find out more about double glazing windows, or read our guides to find out more about uPVC windows and how double glazing works.
There are a few things to consider when choosing which company you’d like to install your doors and windows. You’ll want to have a general idea of which styles, materials and how many doors and windows you need to install. Your geographical location is also important too, as not all installers cover all areas of the UK.
Installation cost is another factor here too; generally, installation costs are based on the number of days that it takes to install your doors and windows. This is why having both your doors and windows installed at the same time may help you save on costs.
Companies who offer doors and windows:
Our research found that Britannia offers a discount of 20% to customers who wish to install doors and windows. This means that you would save on installation costs as well as product cost, so it is worthwhile considering installing the two simultaneously.
Customised front doors and windows are a great way to add character to your home. (Image credit: Adobe)
When it comes to installing new doors in your home, you might be wondering what types of doors are available. Typically, every UK home has a front and back door, and companies offer different types and styles for both of these. The main things to consider when choosing new doors is the material, how durable the door is and the appearance, all of which we discuss below.
Doors that have glass panes could allow for a large amount of heat loss in your home if double glazing is not used. Double-glazed doors are energy efficient and help to minimise heat loss. This in turn will work to keep your energy bills low. Another benefit of double-glazed doors is noise reduction and increased security for your home.
Triple glazing is becoming a more popular glazing option in recent years. It’s similar to double glazing, but with a third pane of glass and an extra air gap. Triple-glazed doors will keep your home energy efficient, reduce noise and add security. However, it would be more costly than double glazing and the difference in benefits is very minimal.
Two of the most important doors in your home are your front and back doors. First and foremost they add a level of security to your home. Secondary to this, they should keep your home well-insulated since most households’ heat loss is through doors and windows.
A bit like double glazing windows, front and back doors come in four different materials – uPVC, aluminium, timber and composite.
How they work: front and back doors can open inwards or outwards and are fixed on one hinge.
| Material type | Benefits |
|---|---|
| uPVC | Wide range of colour options available, easy to maintain, practical, long-lasting |
| Aluminium | Strong and durable, modern, easy to maintain, slim frame, long-lasting and maintenance-free |
| Timber | Natural, timeless and elegant, durable, long-lasting |
| Composite | Natural looking woodgrain, customisable, long-lasting and low maintenance |
Most front and back doors are available in different colour options and finishes. Choosing a different coloured door can add character to your property. Some companies offer dual-coloured doors so that the inside can match your interior decor.
Just like on double glazing windows, you can also add Georgian bars to doors. The bars are customisable and can be placed in your chosen arrangement. They add a traditional period look to homes and the edges of the bars can be smooth or classically contoured. They are available in all different material types.
SmartLock is a modern way to lock and unlock your door from Yale. It allows you to unlock your door using your mobile phone or through a key fob.
Doors can have glass panes that are available in different decorative glass options. You can opt for double glazing or triple glazing; this will ensure your door is still energy-efficient and minimises heat loss.
French doors and windows are a popular way to bring lots of natural light into a room. (Image credit: Adobe)
French doors are typically chosen by homeowners as back doors. They create a stylish entrance into your back garden and are a great way to add security to your home without compromising on appearance. French doors open outwards, which means you won’t lose any indoor space, and since these doors are made up of multiple panes of glass you’ll maximise light in your home too.
According to our extensive research, French doors come in three different materials – uPVC, timber and aluminium.
How they work: doors open outwards and allow in lots of light and ventilation and maximise indoor space.
| Material type | Benefits |
|---|---|
| uPVC | High energy efficiency, won’t rot or rust, large colour range |
| Timber | Traditional and authentic aesthetics, modern security features, different paint finishes available |
| Aluminium | Minimal framing for maximum light, naturally strong and easy to maintain, different colour choices available |
Patio doors can save space in smaller homes because they slide against each other rather than opening in and out. (Image credit: Adobe)
Patio doors are designed to seamlessly connect your home to the garden. Patio doors can also be a great choice for small homes where space is limited as they slide along into themselves rather than opening inwards or outwards. Since these types of doors are mostly made from glass, they can give your home a larger appearance. They’re also one of the most popular types of back doors in the UK, most likely because they’re stylish and easy to use.
After researching the top glaziers in the UK we found that patio doors usually come in just two different material types – aluminium and uPVC.
How they work: doors are made to measure and slide along into themselves, allowing in a lot of natural light.
| Material type | Benefits |
|---|---|
| uPVC | Easy to maintain, won’t rot or rust, customisable, secure |
| Aluminium | Stylish, modern colour options, slim frame to let in lots of light |
Bifold doors are becoming popular because they can connect the inside of your home with the outside. (Image credit: Adobe)
Bifolding doors have gained a vast amount of popularity in UK homes. They’re one of the most stylish back door types that you could install and work to connect your home to the garden in a way that’s a little different to other door types.
Made entirely of glass, this is an appealing feature for those who wish to bring the outside in.
Our research suggests that bi-folding doors usually come in two different material types – aluminium and uPVC.
How they work: made up of several panes of glass that fold back against the wall
| Material type | Benefits |
|---|---|
| uPVC | Low maintenance, durable, long-lasting |
| Aluminium | Durable, energy-efficient, stylish |
This will depend on the material and type of doors and windows you choose to install. The average cost in the UK for new doors and windows is £5,000 to £6,000, according to our market research.
There is a grant available for new doors and windows – the Energy Company Obligation – but it’s only available to those who meet the eligibility criteria. There’s also the Green Deal loan scheme that offers a loan to those who wish to make energy-efficiency improvements to their home, though this money must be paid back, usually as an extra charge on your energy bills.
For more information on government grants for double glazing, read our guide.
The lifespan of new doors and windows depends on the materials used and the quality of the installation, but in general you can expect most doors and windows to last at least 20-25 years. uPVC is the most popular material for doors and windows because it is typically cheaper and easier to maintain within the average 20-year lifespan. Wood requires more regular maintenance, but if it’s taken care of it can last upwards of 50 years in some cases. Aluminium can last around 30-40 years if maintained properly.
There are some circumstances where external doors will need to have a fire safety rating to meet building regulations. This is usually the case if your external door shares a communal space in a building, such as a hallway or lobby in a block of flats. If this applies to your doors, you will need to ensure any replacement doors you choose match the fire rating of the building. For doors, fire safety ratings are often given by the British Woodworking Federation, which classify the rating based on how long the door can stop the spread of fire and smoke. These are usually FD30, FD60, FD90 and FD120. If your external doors do not share a communal space, they are considered exit points and do not need to meet any fire ratings, though you can choose a fire door for peace of mind.
If you’re considering replacing internal doors at the same time as external doors and windows, it’s important to ask your installer about the necessary fire ratings, as certain types of buildings require fire-rated doors in specific areas of the building, such as rooms adjoining a stairwell in a home with three or more storeys and doors separating an integral garage from the rest of a house with two or more storeys.
Whether they’re required or not, fire-rated doors offer an extra layer of protection for your property in the event of a fire, giving residents time to escape and fire rescue services more time to save your house from extensive damage, according to the London Fire Brigade.