Replacing French doors is one of the more straightforward upgrades you can make to a home. A like-for-like swap in the same opening typically costs £950 to £1,750 installed in the UK, depending on the material, and the job is usually finished in a day or so. The choices that matter are the frame material, the locking system, the glazing and whether your property has any heritage restrictions. This guide covers each of them, so you can order the right doors first time.
TL;DR
- A like-for-like French door replacement costs roughly £950 to £1,750 installed in 2026, with uPVC at the lower end and softwood timber at the top.
- Replacement doors must meet a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or less, and should have multipoint locking and an anti-snap cylinder.
- Measure the opening, check the frame and threshold, and confirm whether your home is listed or in a conservation area before you order.
- Using a registered installer means the work can usually be self-certified for Building Regulations.
- Supply-only composite French doors from Value Doors are delivered in 10 working days, and fitted ones in 3 to 4 weeks.
Table of Contents
- Your French door replacement options
- What French door replacement costs
- What to check before you replace exterior doors
- Security and energy efficiency
- Rules, certificates and heritage restrictions
- How French doors are replaced
- Order replacement French doors with Value Doors
- Our perspective
- FAQ
- Sources
Your French door replacement options
The main choice is the material. Each behaves differently in terms of maintenance, appearance and price, and each suits a different type of home.
| Material | Typical installed cost (2026) | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC | £950–£1,250 | Budget-conscious like-for-like swaps |
| Aluminium | £1,300–£1,500 | Slim sightlines and modern homes |
| Softwood timber | £1,250–£1,750 | Period homes and traditional styling |
| Composite | See our range | Homes wanting a solid, secure door |
The uPVC, aluminium and timber figures come from UK installed price data verified in October 2026. Composite pricing depends on the style, size and glazing you choose, so it is best checked against the specific door.
uPVC French doors
uPVC is the most common replacement material in the UK. Standard double glazed uPVC French doors achieve a U-value of around 1.2 to 1.4 W/m²K, according to the same price guide. They need little upkeep beyond cleaning, which is why they remain a popular like-for-like choice.
Aluminium French doors
Aluminium frames can be made slimmer, so you get more glass for the same opening. With thermal break technology, aluminium and timber options can reach 1.0 to 1.2 W/m²K. If you like the idea of a modern look but want a wider opening, our aluminium sliding patio doors are priced from £1,077 to £2,754, and our aluminium bifold doors from £1,756 to £3,072.
Timber French doors
Timber suits cottages and period properties where a traditional two-leaf door looks right. It brings the most character, and it is often the safest route if your home has heritage restrictions (more on that below).
Composite French doors
Composite doors are a popular choice for homeowners who want a strong, secure door with a wide choice of colours and finishes. Our composite French doors are available supply-only or fully fitted. You can see how the styling translates in the 48mm Kent composite French door and the 48mm Fife composite French door.
Should you stay with French doors or switch?
French doors open fully, giving 100% of the opening width, and they work well in cottages, period properties and anywhere a traditional pair of doors looks right. The trade-off is that they need at least 1.2m of swing clearance, according to UK patio door pricing guidance. Sliding doors need no swing space and offer wider glass panels.
So if furniture or a patio table sits close to the doors, a sliding set may fit better. If you have the room and prefer the classic look, French doors are the natural choice. Our guide to patio door replacement compares the options in more detail.
What French door replacement costs
The overall figures for the UK in 2026 are:
- Like-for-like replacement: £950 to £1,750 installed, with uPVC at £950 to £1,250, aluminium at £1,300 to £1,500 and softwood timber at £1,250 to £1,750.
- Labour: around £250 to £350 for a like-for-like swap.
- Converting a window to French doors: £1,700 to £2,650.
- Creating a new opening in a non-load-bearing wall: £3,100 to £3,400.
All of these come from the 2026 UK French doors cost guide, and structural work adds significantly to the total. Triple glazing is also an option: it brings the U-value down to 0.8 to 1.0 W/m²K for an extra £300 to £800, according to the same source.
Prices shift with size, glazing, handle and colour choices, so treat these figures as a planning range rather than a quote.
Supply-only or fully fitted
If you or your builder are comfortable fitting doors, supply-only keeps the cost down and, with us, arrives in 10 working days. If you would rather have one company handle everything, fitted doors arrive in 3 to 4 weeks. Either way, you can ask for a custom quote for unusual sizes.
What to check before you replace exterior doors
Most problems with replacement doors start with the survey, not the doors. Before ordering, check:
- Opening size. Measure the width and height of the existing frame in several places, as old openings are rarely perfectly square.
- Frame material and condition. Look for soft or rotten timber, particularly at the base of the frame.
- Threshold and drainage. The threshold detail affects water resistance and access, so decide whether you want a low threshold.
- Glazing specification. Check the glass type, including toughened or laminated panes.
- Security. Decide on the locking system before you choose a style.
- Ventilation and structure. Check whether any structural work is needed, such as a new lintel.
- Regulations and restrictions. Confirm whether Building Regulations or planning restrictions apply.
This is the kind of pre-installation checklist that avoids surprises on fitting day.
In a cavity wall, a cavity tray above the door frame head is essential to stop water tracking down to the frame, which can cause premature rot or failure. Ask your installer to confirm one is in place or will be added.
Security and energy efficiency
Locks and glazing
External doors at the back of the house are common access points, so security should be part of the specification from the start. Look for:
- A multipoint locking system that engages bolts at the top, middle and bottom of both leaves.
- An anti-snap cylinder. Lock snapping is the most common break-in method in the UK, and a TS 007 3-star cylinder resists snapping, drilling and picking.
- Hinge bolts on the hinge side.
- Laminated glass on the lower panes.
PAS 24 is the British Standard for enhanced security doors, tested against physical attack such as crowbars, drilling and lock snapping, according to the same price guide. The 2022 edition replaced the 2016 one. Secured by Design goes further, requiring PAS 24 plus a 3-star cylinder, a TS 007 multipoint lock and 10mm hinge bolts, as explained here.
Security is a particular focus for us, and our doors use advanced locking mechanisms designed to give homeowners peace of mind.
U-values and thermal performance
The U-value measures how much heat passes through a door, so lower is better. Replacement doors in the UK must achieve a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or less. For better performance, specify:
- Argon gas fill between the panes.
- Low-E coated glass.
- Warm-edge spacer bars.
- A low threshold with compression seals.
Rules, certificates and heritage restrictions
Building Regulations and FENSA
Replacement doors need to comply with Building Regulations covering thermal performance, safety glazing, ventilation, structure, security and fire escape. Where the doors are fitted by an installer registered with a competent person scheme, the installer may be able to self-certify the work.
FENSA is one such scheme. It was launched on 1 April 2002 by the Glass and Glazing Federation, and it allows registered installers to self-certify compliance with Part L. It covers the replacement of existing windows and external doors in homes in England and Wales, but not repairs, secondary glazing or new windows in extensions. Ask for your certificate after the work, as you will want it when you sell.
Listed buildings and conservation areas
If your home is listed, replacing a door is classed as an alteration rather than a repair, so it always needs Listed Building Consent. One local authority guide states that replacements are only granted where they are exact replicas of the original or of appropriate design and materials, and that uPVC and aluminium are not acceptable. Check with your own council’s conservation officer before ordering.
In a conservation area the position is less strict. In many cases homes keep their normal permitted development rights for replacing doors, unless an Article 4 Direction applies or the building is listed. Your local planning authority can confirm which applies.
Where heritage matters, the surrounding styling matters too. If you are choosing finishes to suit an older property, these natural wood decor trends show how UK homes are pairing traditional materials with current taste.
How French doors are replaced
A like-for-like replacement is usually a one-day job for a competent fitter. The typical order of work looks like this:
- Survey and measure. Accurate measurements are taken, and the old frame is checked for damage.
- Remove the old doors. The leaves, then the frame, are taken out carefully to protect the surrounding brickwork and plaster.
- Prepare the opening. The sill and reveals are checked, and any damp-proofing or cavity tray is dealt with.
- Fit the new frame. It is levelled, packed and fixed, then sealed around the edges.
- Hang and adjust the doors. The leaves are aligned so that the multipoint lock engages cleanly and the gap between the doors is even.
- Finish and certify. The handles and trims go on, and the installer provides certification.
When to use a professional
Professional installation is the safer route when the opening needs structural changes, when the doors are large or heavy, or when you want a certificate for Building Regulations without arranging building control yourself. DIY fitting can suit a confident home improver replacing a standard opening, but remember that a poorly fitted door can affect security, draughts and water resistance.
Order replacement French doors with Value Doors
We supply composite French doors, plus aluminium bifold, sliding patio and single access doors, uPVC doors and windows, and more. You can order supply-only, with delivery in 10 working days, or fully fitted in 3 to 4 weeks. You can also request custom sizes and upgrades.
Browse our composite French doors, or see the full range at Value Doors. If your opening is wide, our aluminium single access doors start from £550.
Our perspective
Most homeowners come to us thinking about style first. In our experience, the better order is security, then fit, then style. A French door that locks properly at the top, middle and bottom, and that sits square in a correctly measured opening, will look good and feel good for years.
That is why we put so much weight on locking mechanisms. Back doors are used daily and often hidden from the street, so the lock deserves as much attention as the colour. Our doors use advanced locking mechanisms to address exactly that concern.
We also believe the ordering process should be as dependable as the door. Whether you choose supply-only or fully fitted, you should know your delivery window, from 10 working days to 3 to 4 weeks, and be able to talk to people who know the products. A clear process takes much of the stress out of replacing a door.
the author
FAQ
How much does it cost to replace French doors?
For a like-for-like swap in the UK in 2026, expect £950 to £1,750 installed, depending on whether you choose uPVC, aluminium or timber. Labour is around £250 to £350. Structural changes, such as widening the opening, add significantly to the total.
Are patio doors and French doors the same?
No. French doors are a pair of hinged leaves that open fully, while patio doors usually slide. French doors need around 1.2m of swing space, whereas sliding doors need none and often offer wider glass panels, as UK price guidance explains.
Do I need planning permission to replace French doors?
Usually not for an ordinary home, and conservation area properties often keep their permitted development rights. A listed building is different: replacing a door always requires Listed Building Consent. Check with your local council if you are unsure.
Can I replace French doors myself?
A confident DIYer can fit a standard like-for-like set, and our supply-only option suits that route. Using a registered installer means the work can usually be self-certified for Building Regulations, which is useful when you sell.
How long does a replacement take to arrive?
With us, supply-only doors are delivered in 10 working days, and fully fitted doors take 3 to 4 weeks. Fitting itself is usually completed in around a day for a standard opening.
Sources
- French Doors Cost UK 2026: Prices by Material and Style
- Patio Doors Cost UK 2026: Sliding, French and Aluminium Prices
- Doors, Bifold Doors and Sliding Doors: Styles, Materials and Checks
- Composite Doors: Security, U-Values and Building Regs
- FENSA Certificate Explained
- Do I need listed building consent? Bradford Council
- Replacement Doors and Windows for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas, Hastings
- Historic environment FAQs, Shropshire Council
- Wooden Decor Trends 2026: What UK Homes Are Choosing
