What are the different prices for front and back doors?
Doors are like a portal between a home and the outside world. Doors allow the family members to enter while keeping strangers out. In the UK, there are many varieties of exterior doors (both front and back doors) to choose from.
So to give you a 5-minute guide to the different types & prices for front and back doors we have divided them primarily into three categories: Composite, uPVC and timber.
| Average standard doors size UK | |
| Height | Width |
| 6 feet 6 inches High (or 1981mm) | 2 feet 6 inches (or 762mm) |
| 6 feet 6 inches High (or 1981mm) | 2 feet 9 inches (or 838mm) |
| 6 feet 8 inches High (or 2032mm) | 2 feet 8 inches (or 813mm) |
1Composite Doors (Glass reinforced Plastic and Timber Core)
Blue Composite Door
As the name suggests, composite doors are made up of a combination of different materials embedded together to boost the strength, security and appearance.
The outer skin of the composite door is manufactured from Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) which is the same material modern boat hulls are constructed from, so it’s very tough and hard wearing.
There are mainly 2 types and they differ as to what is used in the core of the door. One uses a dense, insulating material, the other uses engineered timber.
The colours, of which there are many, are not applied to the surface, it’s the GRP itself that is coloured, and so it goes all the way through the outer skin, unlike a coat of paint or a “foil”. The coloured surfaces can also be manufactured with a timber replicating surface, so that the doors are almost indistinguishable from timber doors in their appearance ( 5 good reasons to go composite).
Standard specifications
- Average door sized from 6ft 6ins / 1.981m x 2ft 6ins / 0.762m
- Double glazed (tempered glass)
- Coloured or wood-grain finish
- Multipoint locks / 3 or 5-cylinder mortice lock
- Hardwood, composite or uPVC frames
- Side or top panels
- Low threshold options
How much do composite front & back doors cost?
Composite doors work equally well at the front or the back of the property and will broadly be priced the same.
- Composite front door designs include 4 or 6 panel, part glazed, with side or top panels.
- Composite back door designs include, half glass, full glass, stable and cottage doors.
There may be some minor differences in the door furniture used, or the amount of glass used which will have a minor effect on pricing.
How much do composite doors cost?
| Approximate size | Specification | Price Guide |
|---|---|---|
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | 4 panel white composite door | £540 to £600 supply only |
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | 4 panel black composite door | £600 to £650 supply only |
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | 4 panel red composite door | £850 to £1,150 fitted |
2uPVC front and back doors
Back Door – stable design
Essentially manufactured from rigid vinyl and with a reputation for being cost effective and long lasting, they can be cheaper and just as thermally efficient as composite doors.
These doors easily withstand the elements and require low annual maintenance. The basic UPVC front or back doors will come with multi-point locks as standard, double glazing for glazed sections.
Door panels and frames carry steel reinforcing for added strength and the doors themselves can be found in up to 20 solid or wood-effect finishes.
A large majority of uPVC front doors will be mainly solid, with maybe a small section or two which is glazed. Back doors tend to feature more glass.
How much do uPVC front and back doors cost?
As stated earlier, these doors are usually much cheaper than their hardwood or composite counterparts. The front and back door prices will be slightly different, depending on the design chosen. Upgrading the Door Energy Rating (WER / DER) will increase the cost.
UPVC front door designs can feature 4 or 6 panel, part glazed, with side or top panels. UPVC back door designs include, half glass, full glass, stable or cottage doors.
Standard specifications
- Typical door sized from 6ft 6ins / 1.981m x 2ft 6ins / 0.762m
- Double glazed (tempered glass)
- Coloured plain, smooth or wood-grain finish
- Multipoint locking / 3 or 5-cylinder mortice lock
- Hardwood or uPVC frames
- Side or top panels for oversize openings
- Low threshold options for wheelchair access
How much do uPVC Front doors cost?
| Approximate size | Specification | Price Guide |
|---|---|---|
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | 6 panel uPVC White | £650 to £700 |
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | Solid 6 panel uPVC Black | £850 to £900 |
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | Solid Cottage Style Irish Oak | £900 to £950 |
How much do uPVC Back doors cost?
| Approximate size | Specification | Price Guide |
|---|---|---|
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | 2 panel top panel glazed in White | £650 to £690 |
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | 2 panel top panel glazed in Black | £900 to £950 |
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | Stable Door, mid rail, White | £690 to £750 |
3Timber front and back doors:
4 Panel Oak Front Door
These are what could be called traditional front and back doors made from hardwood or softwood. There is a marked difference in performance and lifespan between softwood & hardwood doors.
Whilst both need more maintenance than a UPVC or composite door, softwood has the highest maintenance requirement and shortest working lifespan if not looked after well. However, a softwood door will be the lowest priced of the range.
As we all know, wooden front and back doors are subject to the usual “weak points” of timber, namely shrinking or expanding during very dry or wet periods and attack from wood damaging insects. Hardwood doors are less susceptible that softwood doors and if you take care of them, they can look great and last for a very long time. Timber is a natural insulator, so the doors are quite energy efficient.
How much do timber front and back doors cost?
Wooden doors can be either made from 1 type of timber (soft or hard) or have a softwood or engineered timber core with a hardwood veneered surface.
Some “high-end” hardwood doors are bespoke made to order products that can be manufactured to special widths and/or heights. These bespoke hardwood front and back doors are significantly more expensive than the average timber door.
Wooden front door designs can feature solid hardwood such as Oak, Beech or Mahogany, hardwood veneers, or softwood.
Standard specifications
- Typical door sized from 6ft 6ins / 1.981m x 2ft 6ins / 0.762m
- Double glazing where required
- Bare, factory painted or pre-stained finishes
- Multipoint locking / 3 or 5-cylinder mortice lock
- Hardwood or softwood frames
- Side or top panels for oversize openings
- Low threshold access options for elderly, infirm or wheelchair bound persons
| Approximate size | Specification | Price Guide |
|---|---|---|
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | solid oak front door | from £900 |
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | solid oak stable door (back) | from £900 |
| 762 mm x 1981 mm | engineered wood front or back | £250 to £400 |
Bottom Line
All three materials have their advantages and disadvantages and there can be quite a wide variation in cost from the cheapest front and back door to the “top of the range” door.
Timber doors have a place in the heart, but can many times be outperformed by both UPVC and composite doors in terms of security and energy efficiency.
There is obviously the look of the door and the property to take into account, maybe fitting a cheap white Upvc door to a rustic country cottage is not a good idea for example.
It’s really about finding the combination of price, appearance, energy efficiency and security that suits your home and your pocket.
Door Comparison Table
Related Articles
