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Steel Doors in the UK: Prices, Installation & Styles (2025)
- On average, steel doors cost £195–£2,200 before installation.
- Steel doors are exceptionally durable and offer superior security and resistance to forced entry, harsh weather, and general wear and tear.
- You can choose from flush, panelled, glass insert, wood-grain finish, louvred, and fire-rated steel doors.
Gone are the days when steel doors meant sacrificing aesthetics for protection. Modern steel doors in the UK offer a wide variety of styles and features, and combine a sleek design with high-security features.
This guide opens the door (pun intended) to understanding the most common steel door styles, features and costs. Yet, if after reading this guide, you're still left wondering whether a steel front door is right for your home, it's best to discuss this with an experienced installer.
Searching for a trustworthy door installer yourself can take hours of reading reviews, calling up various installers and comparing their fees. And there's no guarantee that you will find an expert available in your area!
Fortunately, WhatCost can relieve your stress and provide you with up to 4 free quotes within 48 hours. Simply fill in our short form below, and we'll do the rest. Our service is hassle-free and non-binding.
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Steel door styles
- Flush doors: These doors have a smooth, flat surface and have no panels or designs. They best suit homeowners seeking minimalist design and are perfect for exterior use due to superior insulation and soundproofing.
- Panelled steel doors: These are designed to mimic the traditional wood door design (4- or 6-panel styles) with embossed steel. They suit homes needing classic aesthetics with modern security, similar to the looks of composite front doors, but with the added strength of steel.
- Glass insert doors: For those needing more natural light in entryways without sacrificing security, steel doors with incorporated glass panels or sidelights is the way to go. Double-glazed units with argon gas improve insulation. This style is a popular alternative to French door designs, offering both elegance and protection.
- Wood-grain finish doors: These doors offer a wood-grain finish engineered with protective coatings and the durability of steel. This style is best for coastal or high-humidity areas where wood warps.
- Louvred doors: These doors feature angled horizontal slats (louvres) for 35-50% ventilation. The slats are usually made from 1.2-2.0mm galvanised steel, have integrated bird/insect mesh options, and have anti-jemmy features to protect from forced entry. This is a perfect solution for homeowners needing airflow, humidity, or odour control without sacrificing security.
- Fire-rated doors: These are specifically designed to withstand fire for 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes. For the 30-, 60-, 90-, or 120-minute fire resistance, search for FD30, FD60, FD90, FD120 ratings, respectively. This style has intumescent seals which expand at 200° to block smoke and ceramic fibre cores that reduce heat transfer. Fire-rated doors are typically used in garages, home offices, and shared building walls.
Are steel doors and metal doors the same?
No, they are not the same. Steel doors are made specifically from steel – iron and carbon blend. Metal doors, in turn, are a broader category, which includes steel, aluminium, stainless steel, or bronze doors. Based on this, there's a number of differences between the two categories.
| Feature | Steel doors | Metal doors |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Steel | (Stainless) steel, aluminium, copper, bronze |
| Strength | High, very resistant to break-ins | Varies by metal; Moderate for aluminium (dent-resistant) |
| Security | High; up to 10+ forced entry attempts | Aluminium: standard; 4-6 forced attempts |
| Durability | 20-30+ years | Aluminium: 10-15 years; Stainless steel: 50-60 years |
| Weight | 45-100 kg | Aluminium: 18-36 kg; Stainless: 36-72kg. |
| Insulation | Energy-efficient; blocks cold and heat 2 times better than aluminium | Basic |
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- Prioritise security? Opt for steel doors as they are burglary-resistant and fireproof.
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- Want lightweight? Choose aluminium door options.
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- Want to avoid rust? Stainless steel won’t rust, especially in coastal areas.
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- Budget-conscious? Basic steel is the best value for most homes.
Steel door prices in the UK
The steel door cost in the UK typically ranges from £195–£2,200 without installation. Labour costs can be anywhere between £200–£1,100 and depend on your preferred styles and structural modifications.
Fire-rated doors require a certified technician for installation and compliance checks, which costs on average £200–£500+.
| Style | Supply cost | Price with installation | Key features influencing cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush | £195–£600 | £395–£1,700 | Steel thickness, core insulation |
| Panelled | £250–£1,000 | £450–£2,100 | Panel count, wood-grain finishes |
| Glass insert | £375–£2,000 | £575–£3,100 | Glazing type, PAS24 certification* |
| Wood-grain | £400–£2,200 | £600–£3,300 | Custom colours, architectural finishes |
| Louvred | £370–£1,200 | £570–£2,300 | Airflow rating, BR3 features** |
| Fire-rated | £500–£2,200 | £700–£2,700+ | Fire resistance duration, certified installer fees |
It's important to note that these steel door prices are not set in stone and are approximate estimates. The final cost for your particular situation will vary depending on your preferences and desired modifications. The best way to know the exact price is by consulting an experienced door installer.
They can assess your home and provide you with steel door options that meet your budget and preferences. But finding such a professional requires hours of scrolling through reviews and quote websites, calling up installers and comparing their fees. If this sounds like too much hassle, you can use our service instead!
Simply complete our short form, and we'll get back to you with up to 4 installer quotes within 48 hours. There are no hidden fees, and you are not obligated to accept any offers.
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- Quotes from local installers
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Factors affecting the cost of a steel door
- Material quality and thickness: Thicker steel (the one that usually has lower gauge numbers) increases security and the door's total. For example, budget doors usually use 0.8mm galvanised steel leaves, while premium, high-security models use 1.2-2.0mm steel ones, which cost more.
- Door size and configuration: Single steel doors are cheaper than double steel ones. Also, doors with non-standard dimensions can increase the price by 20%-50%. When comparing with alternatives like sliding patio doors or bifolding doors, note that large openings or custom configurations in any material will always boost the price, but steel doors are pricier due to their weight and security features.
- Core insulation and thermal efficiency: Whether your door is insulated with honeycomb paper (cheaper), mineral wood (pricier) or polyurethane (the most expensive) will define the door's total cost. uPVC doors usually have integrated insulation, which makes them a more budget-friendly option for thermal efficiency compared to steel.
- Security features: Opting for more complex locks with advanced features (19-Point Locks, anti-jemmy studs, stainless steel hinges, and anti-burglary cylinders) on the one hand ensures meeting UK police and safety standards, but on the other hand, increases the new front door cost.
- Customisation and aesthetics: Your total also depends on any finishes, glazing or decorative elements you prefer. Powder-coated colours, laminated or tempered security glass, wood-grain or wrought-iron designs raise costs by 10%-30%.
- Installation complexity: While standard installation costs around £200–£600, involving any structural modifications like frame reinforcement will lift your total to £400–£1,100. Fire door installation will be around £200–£500 as it requires certified technicians.
Steel door advantages and disadvantages
- Minimal heat transfer: Steel doors with insulated cores (polystyrene/polyurethane) reduce heat transfer and, therefore, keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer.
- Fire resistance: External steel doors can resist fire for 30-120 minutes, which makes them a safer choice than external wooden doors.
- Advanced security options: Steel is magnetic, so security options like alarm sensors or magnetic locks can be installed in the door frame or at the edge of the door's surface.
- Long-lasting powder coating: Modern steel doors have a baked-on finish which resists chipping and fading and preserves a better look for 15-20 years with minimal upkeep.
- Thin frames: Due to its exceptional strength, steel allows for minimal frames even on large doors with expansive glass panels (sliding or bifold doors). This results in maximised glass area, more natural light, and a sleek, modern design.
- Corrosion risk in coastal areas: In some regions, such as humid coastal areas, steel doors rust up to 10 times faster without special protective coatings or marine-grade materials. This is because the coastal air contains salt particles, which settle on steel surfaces and trap moisture from the humid air and speed up the rust formation.
- Dent sensitivity: In case of dents, the whole panel needs to be replaced because fixing dents can damage the protective coating.
- Sound transmission: Steel doors transmit more street or traffic noise unless you add extra soundproofing.
- Possible Wi-Fi or Bluetooth disruption: Steel door can weaken wireless signals, so you should not install your router or Bluetooth devices near the steel entryway.
Is a steel door the right choice for you?
Steel doors possess a number of outstanding features and benefits regarding security, energy efficiency, and longevity. Additionally, coming in multiple styles, they can easily suit your home's look and your family's needs.
Having steel doors installed at your home will give you peace of mind that you and your belongings are protected. Professional installation of these doors will protect you from the expenses associated with frequent repairs or fast wear and tear.
To find an experienced door expert, you need to sift through multiple websites, read the customer reviews and compare installer prices in your region. This process might take hours (and even days) when done alone!
Thankfully, WhatCost can do the heavy lifting for you. All you have to do is complete our 30-second form, and we'll take it from there. We'll connect you with up to 4 door installers from our network of trusted professionals.
Our service is free and non-binding; just click below to begin.
- Quotes from local installers
- Payment by finance available
- Save up to £150 per year
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