The Short Answer
On our estimates, sliding patio doors cost £900 to £3,000 fitted in uPVC and £2,500 to £5,000 in aluminium, replacing doors in the same opening. A replacement takes from about half a day to two days.
Sliders give bigger panes and slimmer frames than bifolds (£3,600 to £5,400 for 3m of aluminium), for less money. If you want the whole wall open in summer, bifolds are the ones that fold right back.
Patio door prices
| Door | Supplied and fitted |
|---|---|
| uPVC sliding doors | £900 to £3,000 |
| Aluminium sliding doors | £2,500 to £5,000 |
| For comparison: uPVC French doors | £1,300 to £2,200 |
| For comparison: aluminium bifolds up to 3m | £3,600 to £5,400 |
| New or enlarged opening (lintel, making good) | £1,300 to £2,500 |
Choosing sliding doors
- Panels: Origin, which makes both sliders and bifolds, says sliders usually come in two, four or six panels.
- Glass and frames: sliders have bigger panes and slimmer sightlines (it quotes frames as slim as 29mm), so more glass.
- The step: sliding tracks can be recessed into the floor to minimise the step out; ask what's possible on your floor.
- Locks: I'd ask what security standard the door and its locks have been tested to.
Security
Sliding doors are a large, ground-floor way in, so the locks matter. New homes have to have doors made to a design tested to PAS 24, the police-backed security standard (Approved Document Q). A replacement door on an existing house doesn't have to, but it's the specification I'd ask for.
Where the door has a euro-cylinder lock, West Yorkshire Police recommend a 3-star cylinder to TS 007, or Sold Secure Diamond (SS312), as the minimum, because standard cylinders can be defeated. Ask the installer which standard the door, the locking and the cylinder have each been tested to.
Planning and leasehold
Replacing patio doors doesn't usually need planning permission if they look similar to the old ones. The Planning Portal notes exceptions: listed buildings need consent, some conservation areas have Article 4 directions that remove these rights, and in a flat or leasehold house you need the freeholder's permission first.
Regulations
Replacement patio doors are controlled fittings: safety glass in doors below 1,500mm, a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or the energy rating equivalent, and a certificate from a competent person scheme (FENSA, CERTASS, Assure, Blue Flame, Certsure or NAPIT) or building control. Close to a boundary, doors may need fire resistance. A new or wider opening needs new support and building regulations approval: see bifold door costs for how that works.
Get sliding patio doors quotes
Sliding doors are priced by width and frame. Tell fitters both.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost for patio doors to be fitted?
On our estimates, £900 to £3,000 fitted in uPVC, £2,500 to £5,000 in aluminium.
Which is cheaper, patio doors or French doors?
uPVC French doors are usually a little cheaper, at £1,300 to £2,200 against £900 to £3,000 for uPVC sliders, on our estimates. Aluminium sliders cost more.
Are sliding doors cheaper than bifolds?
Usually. Aluminium bifolds start at £3,600 to £5,400 for a 3m opening, while aluminium sliders are £2,500 to £5,000, on our estimates.
Do patio doors need building regulations?
Replacements are controlled fittings: safety glass, 1.4 W/m²K, and a certificate from a registered installer. A new or wider opening needs building control approval.
Are sliding patio doors secure?
They can be. Ask for a door tested to PAS 24 and, if it has a euro-cylinder, a 3-star TS 007 or Sold Secure Diamond cylinder, as police advice recommends.
Do I need planning permission to replace patio doors?
Usually not if they look similar, but listed buildings need consent, Article 4 areas can remove the right, and leaseholders need the freeholder's permission.
How long does it take to replace patio doors?
From about half a day to two days for a straight replacement; longer if the opening changes.
How we priced thisView sources (8, 7 official)
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.
- IndustrySliding doors vs bifold doors, Origin. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialDoors and windows: building regulations, Planning Portal. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialDoors and windows: planning permission and building regulations, Planning Portal. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialApproved Document Q: Security in dwellings (2015 edition), GOV.UK. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialEuro-cylinder advice (last reviewed January 2020), West Yorkshire Police. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialApproved Document K: Protection from falling, collision and impact (2013 edition), Section 5, GOV.UK. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialApproved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1 Dwellings (2021 edition incorporating 2023 amendments), GOV.UK. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Building Regulations 2010, Schedule 3: self-certification schemes (para 16, roof coverings), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
