If you have been quoted wildly different prices for an automatic door, you are not alone. Costs vary hugely depending on the door type, the state of your existing opening and the level of safety compliance required. This guide sets out realistic UK figures so you can judge quotes with confidence.
For a standard single automatic sliding door on a commercial premises, most UK installations fall somewhere between £3,500 and £7,000 supplied and fitted. A bi-parting sliding door (two leaves opening from the centre) tends to sit at the upper end of that range or beyond, particularly if the opening is wide or the glazing needs to meet enhanced security specifications.
Automatic swing door operators, which motorise a new or existing hinged door, are usually the cheaper route. Fitting an operator to a suitable existing door typically costs between £1,500 and £3,000 per leaf. Revolving doors are a different league altogether, often starting around £10,000 and climbing well past £25,000 for larger diameter units, which is why they only make sense for high-footfall entrances.
The single biggest variable is builders' work. If your existing opening needs widening, a new lintel, or making good around the frame, that can add £500 to £2,000 or more before the door itself is even considered. Power supply is another common surprise: automatic doors need a fused spur nearby, and running new electrics across a shop front or foyer adds labour and materials.
Specification matters too. Toughened or laminated safety glass, manual fail-safe options for fire escape routes, access control integration (keypads, fobs, or intercom release) and heavier-duty operators for windy or exposed sites all push the price up. In Staffordshire and much of the Midlands, exposed retail park and forecourt locations often need higher wind-load rated doors than a sheltered high street unit, and that difference shows in the quote.
Any automatic pedestrian door installed in the UK must comply with BS EN 16005, the safety standard covering sensors, safety distances and finger protection. A compliant installation includes activation and safety sensors on both sides, and these sensors account for a meaningful chunk of the price, often £300 to £800 of the total. If a quote comes in dramatically cheaper than others, check whether the sensor package actually meets the standard.
If the door serves a public building, the Equality Act effectively expects the entrance to be accessible, and an automatic door is one of the most reliable ways to achieve that. Getting the specification right first time is far cheaper than retrofitting after a complaint or an access audit.
Electricity usage is modest. A typical sliding door operator draws in the region of 100 to 250 watts while moving and far less on standby, so running costs are usually a few pounds a month even on a busy entrance.
Servicing is where the real ongoing cost sits. BS EN 16005 recommends at least one service per year for automatic doors, and busier entrances warrant two. Expect £150 to £300 per visit per door, with parts extra. A planned service contract usually works out cheaper than emergency call-outs, which commonly start at £150 to £250 before any parts, and more out of hours.
Ask each installer to break the quote into door and operator, sensors, glazing, builders' work, electrical work and commissioning. That makes it obvious when one quote excludes something another includes. Also ask what warranty covers labour as well as parts; twelve months on both is a reasonable baseline, and some manufacturers offer longer on the operator itself.
Finally, ask who will service the door afterwards and what their response time is for breakdowns. A local firm within reach of your premises can usually attend a failed door the same day, which matters a great deal when your entrance is your only entrance.
Yes, and it is increasingly common for accessibility reasons. A swing door operator fitted to an existing front door typically costs £1,500 to £3,000, and if it is needed for a disabled resident you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant through your local council.
A swing door operator on an existing door is usually fitted in half a day to a day. A new sliding door system typically takes one to two days on site, longer if structural work to the opening is needed first.
If the operator is under 15 years old and parts are still available, repair is usually the economical choice. Once parts become obsolete or breakdowns become frequent, replacement often costs less over five years than repeated call-outs.
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