Bifold doors are becoming one of the UK’s most popular home improvements, and it’s not hard to see why. Interior and exterior designers think of bifold doors as a genuine luxury-level addition to a home, and they’re becoming an increasingly affordable remodelling option.
Having the ability to open up the back of your home so that your indoor living space and outdoor garden become one beautiful, seamless area grants you the chance to create a great indoor/outdoor entertaining space, perfect for summer nights and mornings, shared with friends and family and for those quieter moments, too.
In this article, we’ll be looking at how much it costs to install bifold doors, what affects the cost of bifold doors, how to save money on bifold doors, what’s involved in installing a bifold door, how to find and hire an installer and how to ensure the professional is a good fit for you.
If you have your sights set on transforming your outdoor space in time for the warmer months, keep reading to find out the most cost-effective ways of doing just that.
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How Much Does It Cost to Install Bifold Doors?
Depending on the material you choose, alongside how many doors you want, your bifold costs can range from £2,000 up to £7,200. Let’s take a look at the most common prices you’ll encounter.
| Material | Number of Doors | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Timber | 3 | £2,000 to £2,800 |
| Timber | 4 | £3,000 to £3,400 |
| Timber | 5 | £3,700 to £4,200 |
| Aluminum | 3 | £3,200 to £4,700 |
| Aluminum | 4 | £4,300 to £5,700 |
| Aluminum | 5 | £5,300 to £7,200 |
| uPVC | 3 | £1,900 to £2,800 |
| uPVC | 4 | £2,800 to £3,500 |
| uPVC | 5 | £3,500 to £4,300 |
Timber Bifold Costs
For a three-door bifold made from timber, you can expect costs of between £2,000 to £2,800, while a four-door variation will cost between £3,000 to £3,400. If you require something larger comprising five doors, you can expect estimated costs of between £3,700 to £4,200.
Aluminium Bifold Costs
Looking at aluminium bifold costs next, for a three-door setup, you can expect costs of between £3,200 to £4,700, and a four-door variation coming in at between £4,300 to £5,700. The larger five-door design will come in at the higher end of the price spectrum at £5,300 to £7,200.
uPVC Bifold Cost
Looking at uPVC next, the three-door will come in at £1,900 to £2,800, and the four-door £2,800 to £3,500. In a contrast to our previous aluminium example, the uPVC five-door design will cost you between £3,500 to £4,300.
Click To Get QuotesWhat Affects the Cost of Bifold Doors?
If you’re wanting to install bifold doors cost-effectively it’s a good idea to get to know the areas that can bump your prices up so you know what to avoid when booking your project.
Your Choice of Door Material
As seen in our price comparison table above, the type of door material you choose impacts your price – the difference between uPVC and aluminium gives an almost £3,000 price difference for the same five-door product.
Aluminium is lauded for its durability, and that’s where the higher price comes from. They are usually coated which gives them extra protection, meaning a well-maintained aluminium bifold door can last over 40 years.
Timber bifold doors are similarly strong, but the wood can warp over time which can later lead to potential water leaks and contamination owing to the water content. If treated, timber bifold doors are a great choice but do require more upkeep to maintain their strength.
uPVC tends discolour over time due to prolonged sun exposure, and can generally degrade over time as a result of bearing the brunt of the elements. However, uPVC is said to be one of the more secure materials for a bifold door, and if well-maintained can last over 20 years.
The Number of Doors You Need
As with all home renovation jobs, the larger your project, the higher your cost – and the same is true for the number of doors you need on your bifold.
While this isn’t necessarily a factor you can change, if something is proving costly, you may want to consider shortening the space for the bifold by having a wall built instead, or opting for a standard patio door if the original project is out of your price range.
The Quality of Doors You Choose
No two bifold door configurations are the same, and with this comes a price difference.
Top hung bifold doors essentially ‘hang’ from the top track, and glide along the bottom track. They require a substantially strong lintel or beam to ensure the weight of the doors can be supported, and dirt and debris from the outdoors are less likely to get trapped in the mechanism as opposed to a bottom rolling bifold.
Bottom rolling bifold doors are the antithesis of top hung, using the bottom track to support the weight of the door and using the top track to guide the opening and closing of the door. They require less structural strength from the lintel or beam as their weight is concentrated on the bottom runner, and are easier to install as a result.
Ease of Access
A non-negotiable impacting your home renovation prices is the ease of access to your home. If you are on the main road with no driveway or roadside parking, you’ll be expected to cover the costs of a parking permit for your workers.
Bifold doors are large structures, so adequate side access to your garden and home is required in most cases to get them into your property. If this isn’t available, your tradespeople will have to survey the space and let you know of their plans ahead of time to plan for the delivery – if this is particularly tricky, it might end up incurring you extra fees.
Your Location
Finally, one more non-negotiable is your geographical location. Those living in capital cities are likely to pay more for the same job when compared to someone in a more rural location.
How Can I Save Money on Bifold Doors?
Now that we understand how bifold doors can become more expensive, let’s look at how you can combat those rising prices with some clever hacks. While with some projects we offer up DIY as an option, when it comes to bifolds, we don’t recommend that option as this job requires prior experience to install properly and safely.
If we look back on our price comparison table from earlier in the article, we can see a clear correlation between the number of doors/panels and a higher cost. For those wanting a cost-effective installation, opting for fewer doors and panels can herald smaller prices – but this is a trade-off with the amount of light you’ll be able to let into your space as a result of choosing a smaller number of panels.
For homeowners planning an entire kitchen remodel, it might be worth exploring options for extra standard windows alongside the bifold door to give an idea of the price difference for an entire wall of bifold doors as opposed to the space being split with regular windows, too.
We also know aluminium holds the higher price when it comes to bifold doors, but cheaper timber and uPVC options are available. While timber requires a lot more upkeep than aluminium, it is usually a more cost-effective option, while uPVC is long-lasting but can show signs of age when becoming discoloured.
In scenarios where you know you want to opt for the higher-priced material, try to balance the extra costs out with using it for a smaller space to try to keep costs low.
You can also consider alternatives, like French or sliding doors.
Bifold doors might just be out of reach when it comes to budget, but that doesn’t mean the same look and feel can’t be achieved in different ways. You can still get that floor to ceiling window style by installing a patio or sliding door, which comes in at significantly smaller prices.
You can get hold of uPVC two-door patio doors for around £700, while an 8-foot tall two-door French door set up with two demi side panels can cost around £900. Sliding doors are more expensive than French styles but less expensive than bifolds, meaning you can have an aluminium sliding door installed for around £3,000, with an average cost per square metre being £720.
Click To Get QuotesWhat’s Involved in Installing a Bifold Door?
While we don’t suggest you attempt to fit your own bifold doors unless you’re a qualified professional with experience in doing so before, these are the general steps you’ll expect to see happen when you’re having your bifold door installed.
Measurements will be taken of the height of the aperture from three different spots to ensure consistency, and the same again for the width, and for two diagonal points to ensure the door is equal on all sides. During this, any finishes will be taken into consideration such as flooring to ensure the panels aren’t too big to open
The cill will then be installed, ensuring a level finish across the length of it
The bifold unit will then be put in place, with holes drilled to make room for the screws used to attach it to the wall. The door clearance will be checked continually during this stage to ensure smooth opening and closing, while screws won’t be overtightened as this can lead to warping of the frame
Hinges and final fixings will be fitted next, and doors will be checked again for smoothness
The windows will then be added in and fixed in place, and final checks will be made to ensure everything is as it should be, opening and closing as desired and locking properly.
How Do I Find and Hire an Installer?
A good way to find your bifold door installer is to seek out recommendations from friends, family or neighbours who have had similar work done in their homes. This route saves you the time it takes to compare and contrast different suppliers, while it almost ensures a good experience as they have worked with the professional recently and can vouch for their work ethic.
In cases where this isn’t possible, using HouseholdQuotes can help to save you up to 40% on your project’s fee, while cutting down the time it would normally take to flick between different websites to look at different tradespeople.
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
Before you lock in a project and agree to work with a specific person or company, it’s a good idea to carry out some due diligence and perform some background checks to make sure you’re getting who you think you are.
While a website can say anything about anyone, it’s important to double-check qualifications and any relevant certificates depending on the job at hand. As part of this, it’s recommended that you make sure their insurance is valid and appropriate for the intended work.
A tradesperson likely has references or previous project work listed on their website, so make sure to take a look at that and at any videos or photos that may help you decide if their work is what you are looking for. It’s important once you’ve decided on your trader to get your quote in writing to ensure there’s no confusion when it comes to settling the payment at the end of the job.
Finally, you can also see if your trader is a member of any of the following associations or has any accreditations to confirm their reliability:
Final Checklist
If you’re dreaming of that indoors/outdoors vibe and want to open out your kitchen to the great outdoors, adding in bifold doors is a great way to go. Here’s our final checklist to make sure you’ve got everything covered:
- Decide if bifolds are right for you – if you haven’t got the budget, look into patio/French door alteratives
- Choose your door material and number
- Find a suitable tradesperson using HouseholdQuotes to save up to 40% on your project
- Make sure to get a written quote before work begins
- Enjoy your newly extended outdoor view!
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
Will Bifold Doors Add Value to My House?
Are There Disadvantages to Bifold Doors?
Do I Need Planning Permission for a Bifold Door?
In listed or properties with restrictive covenants, it’s always best to check before making structural changes as you might come up against issues in these settings.
Can Any Door Be a Bifold Door?
How Much Do Patio Doors Cost?
Patio doors are traditionally cheaper when compared to bifold doors, and can be a viable solution for homeowners wanting that indoors/outdoors vibe, but for a lower cost.