The Short Answer
On our estimates, a video intercom for a house costs about £450 to £1,200 installed; a simple audio intercom £300 to £750. A GSM intercom for a gate, which calls your phone over the mobile network, is £450 to £900 plus a monthly SIM fee.
The kit is often the smaller part: running cable, setting the system up and connecting a lock make up much of the bill. For a front door only, I'd look at a video doorbell first.
Intercom prices
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Audio intercom, house | £300 to £750 |
| Video intercom, house | £450 to £1,200 |
| GSM intercom for a gate or single house | £450 to £900 |
What to choose
- Wired: needs a cable from the door or gate to the handset inside; cabling is a separate line on most quotes.
- Wireless: no cable to run, so less installation work.
- GSM: the panel calls your mobile over the phone network, with no wiring beyond the door or gate. It suits gates a long way from the house and older systems being replaced, but you pay for a SIM every month.
- Gate release: pair it with an electric lock or electric gates; the lock connection adds labour.
What a door entry system includes
DC Fire & Security, an installer that fits these, lists the parts of a typical system:
- The outside panel: a call button (or one per flat), a name directory or a keypad; video panels add a wide-angle camera with night vision.
- The handset or monitor inside: audio-only, or a colour screen so you can see who's there, talk to them and release the door.
- An electric lock on the door: an electric strike, a magnetic lock or an electric deadlatch, with a door closer so the door actually shuts and locks behind people.
- The cabling: two-wire systems keep new cable to a minimum, which suits fitting into an existing building.
- Optional extras: key fobs or cards for keyless entry, and an app so you can answer the door and let people in from your phone when you're out.
The price depends on the number of handsets and entrances, how much cable has to be run and the lock hardware, which is why most installers price these after a survey.
Flats and shared entrances
In a block of flats the entrance is shared, so I'd start with whoever manages the building: installers mostly work for landlords, managing agents and housing associations on these. Upgrading an old system doesn't always mean new wiring: the same installer says existing cabling can sometimes be reused once it's been tested. Common problems it fixes are old audio-only systems that crackle or don't release the lock, doors that don't shut behind people, and systems where nobody can get parts any more.
No smartphone answering is another problem DC Fire & Security lists: with it, residents can let in a delivery while they're out. Check whether the app needs a subscription: some app-based intercoms charge a monthly plan.
Cameras too?
For recording what happens at the door, see CCTV.
Get door entry / intercom quotes
Intercoms are priced by type and how far the cable runs.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does an intercom system cost?
On our estimates, about £300 to £750 for audio and £450 to £1,200 for video, installed in a house.
How much does it cost to install an intercom system in a house?
About £450 to £1,200 for a video intercom on our estimates; installation and cabling are a big part of that.
Can an intercom open my gate?
Yes, if it's connected to an electric lock or gate motor.
Can I answer my intercom on my phone?
Yes, with an app-linked or IP system, or a GSM intercom that calls your mobile. Ask whether the app or SIM has a monthly fee.
Can an old door entry system be upgraded without rewiring?
Often. Two-wire systems are designed for fitting into existing buildings, and existing cabling can sometimes be reused once it's been tested.
What is a GSM intercom?
One that calls your phone over the mobile network instead of a cable to a handset. About £450 to £900 installed on our estimates, plus a SIM fee.
How we priced thisView sources (1)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- IndustryDoor entry and video intercom systems, DC Fire & Security. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
