The short answer
The price of a fitted composite front door breaks down into the door set, fitting labour, removal of the old door, sealing and trims, the hardware, and VAT. The door set, the slab, frame, glazing and locking, is usually the largest line, often more than half the total. Labour is the next biggest, with removal, sealing and trims smaller lines. Hardware upgrades and decorative glazing add to the door set, while structural changes to the opening sit outside the typical breakdown as a separate cost. Seeing the lines individually helps you judge a quote and spot where one installer differs from another.
Understanding how a fitted front door price splits into its parts makes a quote far easier to read and to compare, and shows where the money actually goes.
Quick reference
- Door setUsually 55–70% of total
- Fitting labour~£200–£600
- Removal & sealing~£100–£350
- VATAdds 20% if quoted net
The typical breakdown
A fitted composite front door price is the sum of several lines. The table shows an indicative breakdown for a like-for-like replacement into an existing opening, for guidance rather than as fixed figures, since every job differs.
The door set dominates, typically more than half the total, because it includes the slab, frame, glazing and locking mechanism. Labour is the next largest. Removal, sealing and trims are smaller but real costs. VAT, where the quote is shown net, adds twenty per cent across the whole figure. Understanding these proportions helps you see whether a quote is weighted sensibly or whether a low headline figure is leaving something out.
| Line | Indicative share / cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Door set | £800–£1,300 | Slab, frame, glazing, lock |
| Fitting labour | £200–£600 | Removing, fitting, aligning |
| Removal & disposal | £50–£150 | Old door taken away |
| Sealing, trims, making good | £50–£200 | Weather seal, reveals |
| VAT (if net quote) | +20% | Added across the total |
Indicative breakdown for a like-for-like replacement. Sources: Checkatrade and MyJobQuote door cost guides.
The door set in detail
The door set is the biggest line, and it is itself made up of several elements:
- The slab — the door leaf, with its core (foam-filled or solid) and GRP skin.
- The frame — the outer frame the door hangs in, usually replaced for a proper seal.
- The glazing — any glass panels, which add cost over a solid slab depending on size and style.
- The locking mechanism — the multipoint lock, cylinder and keep, central to security.
- The hardware — handle, letterplate, knocker and numerals.
Upgrades within the door set, such as a solid core, decorative glazing, a bespoke colour or accredited high-security locking, are where the door price rises. Because these choices sit inside one line on many quotes, asking for the door set to be itemised shows exactly what you are paying for.
Labour and the smaller lines
Fitting labour covers removing the old door, preparing the opening, fitting and aligning the new door and frame, adjusting the lock so it engages cleanly, and sealing the door against the weather. The cost varies with the job's complexity and your region, tending to be higher in London and the south-east. Removal and disposal of the old door is a small but separate line, as is sealing, fitting trims and making good the reveals.
Outside the typical breakdown sit two things that can dominate a quote when they apply: a full structural change to the opening, needing a lintel or beam and building control approval, and any significant repair to deteriorated brickwork or a rebuilt threshold. These are not part of a standard like-for-like fit, so where they apply they should appear as clearly separate lines, not buried in the labour.
Using the breakdown to compare
The value of understanding the breakdown is that it lets you get the work priced up fairly and spot anomalies. Ask each installer to itemise the door set, the labour, removal, sealing and any extras, and to state whether VAT is included. A quote that is much cheaper overall may have a smaller door set (a foam core, no new frame, basic glazing) or may exclude removal, sealing or VAT, rather than offering genuinely better value.
Equally, a higher quote may reflect a better door, a solid core, a stronger lock or a recognised brand, which can be worth paying for on a main entrance. By matching the specification and seeing the lines, you can decide where the extra cost is justified and where you can economise. Confirm the warranty on the door set and the workmanship guarantee on the fitting, and check the installer is registered with FENSA or an equivalent scheme so the glazing is self-certified. A clear, line-by-line quote is the single most useful tool for budgeting a composite front door and for comparing one installer against another on a genuine like-for-like basis.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest part of the cost?
The door set, comprising the slab, frame, glazing and locking, is usually the largest line, often more than half the total. Labour is the next biggest. Removal, sealing and trims are smaller lines.
Should structural work be in the door quote?
No. A structural change to the opening, such as a new lintel or beam, is separate from a standard door fit and should appear as its own line, with separate building control approval. It is not part of a like-for-like replacement.
Why do quotes vary so much for the same door?
Differences usually come from the door set specification (core, glazing, lock, brand), what the fitting includes (frame, removal, sealing), and whether VAT is shown. Itemising the lines reveals where the gap actually is.
Sources & further reading
- Checkatrade — door installation cost guide
- MyJobQuote — new front door cost
- HomeOwners Alliance — front doors guide
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific door and opening. They are guidance, not a quotation.