The short answer
A composite door with side panels in the UK typically costs around £1,300 to £3,000 supply-only, and roughly £1,800 to £4,000 fitted, depending on the number of panels, glazing and size. A side panel is a fixed glazed section beside the door that widens the frame and adds glass, which is why the price sits well above a single door. One side panel costs less than two, and obscured or decorative glazing adds more. Side panels suit wide openings and let in extra light, but they need a larger structural opening, so where a wall is being altered the building work adds cost on top of the door set.
Side panels widen the frame and add glazing, so they raise the price above a plain door; the cost depends on how many panels and how decorative the glass is.
Quick reference
- Supply-only, one side panel£1,100–£2,200
- Supply-only, two side panels£1,500–£3,000+
- Fitting labour only£300–£700
- Fitted (typical)£1,800–£4,000
Typical prices with side panels
A side panel is a fixed glazed section fitted beside a composite door within the same frame, used to fill a wide opening and bring in light. The table shows indicative 2026 UK ranges; the figure depends on whether you have one panel or two, the glazing, and the overall size.
A door with a single plain side panel sits at the lower end, while a door flanked by two decorative or obscured-glass panels sits at the top. Because the frame is wider and there is more glass, even a basic side-panel configuration costs noticeably more than a standard single door. The wider frame also needs a larger, well-supported opening.
| Option | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Supply-only, one side panel | £1,100–£2,200 | Door plus one fixed glazed panel |
| Supply-only, two side panels | £1,500–£3,000+ | Door flanked both sides |
| Fitting labour only | £300–£700 | Wider frame, more handling |
| Fitted (typical) | £1,800–£4,000 | Door, panels, frame, labour |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Sources: Checkatrade and MyJobQuote door cost guides.
Why side panels add cost
Side panels raise the price for several reasons:
- More material — a wider outer frame and the panel framing itself.
- More glazing — each panel is largely glass, and decorative or obscured glass costs more than plain.
- A larger opening — the door and panels need a wider, properly supported structural opening, which can mean building work if the wall is being altered.
- Heavier handling — a wide door-and-panel set is more awkward to deliver and fit, adding to labour.
Top lights, where a glazed panel sits above the door as well as beside it, add further glass and cost. Matching obscured glazing for privacy, or coloured and bevelled designs for appearance, also push the figure up.
When side panels need building work
If you are replacing a like-for-like door-and-panel set into an existing wide opening, the fitting is straightforward and the cost is mostly the door set plus labour. But if you are widening a wall to accommodate side panels where a single door used to be, the opening becomes a structural change. That needs a lintel or steel beam sized to carry the load above, plus brickwork, plastering and making good, and separate building control approval from the glazing.
This structural work can add a significant sum on top of the door set, so it is worth deciding early whether the extra light and width justify the cost. Treat the door-and-panel set and any building work as two separate budget lines.
Budgeting and comparing quotes
Decide how many side panels you want, the glazing for each, and whether you need a top light, then price that exact configuration so quotes compare like for like. Confirm whether a fitted quote includes a new frame, removal of the old door and frame, sealing, trims and VAT, and whether any structural work is in scope or excluded.
Because a door with side panels is wider and heavier, fitting usually takes longer than a plain door, so factor that into both cost and the disruption to your home. Ask about the warranty on the slab, the panel glazing and the fitting workmanship, and check that the security specification, particularly the door's multipoint lock, is not weakened by the wider, more glazed design. An installer registered with FENSA or an equivalent scheme can self-certify the glazing, while any structural opening is signed off separately. A clear, itemised quote that names the door, each side panel, the glazing, the frame, the labour and any building work is the easiest to budget against and to compare across installers, and keeps a low headline price from hiding the cost of the extra width and glass.
Frequently asked questions
What is a side panel on a composite door?
A side panel is a fixed glazed section fitted beside the door within the same frame. It fills a wider opening and lets in extra light. You can have one panel or one on each side, often with obscured glass for privacy.
Do side panels make a door less secure?
Not inherently, provided the door itself keeps a strong multipoint lock and the side panels use toughened or laminated glass. The fixed panels do not open, so the security focus stays on the door leaf and its locking.
Can I add side panels to my existing door opening?
Only if the opening is wide enough or can be widened. Enlarging a load-bearing wall is a structural change needing a lintel or beam and building control approval, which adds cost beyond the door and panels.
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.