Doors
Triple glazed French doors
French doors are mostly glass, so the glass spec drives how warm the room feels. Triple glazed units keep the inner pane warmer, which reduces draughts felt by people sitting near the doors. The glass is toughened or laminated because doors are always a safety-glazing zone.
Summary
French doors are a pair of doors that open together, with no fixed centre post, usually leading to a garden or patio. Triple glazed French doors fit three-pane safety glass units in both leaves, which cuts the cold-glass feel of a large glazed opening.
What you get
| Configuration | Pair of opening leaves, optional side panels |
|---|---|
| Frames | uPVC or aluminium |
| Glass | Triple safety glass units |
| Locking | Multi-point locks on the master leaf, shoot bolts on the slave |
| Thresholds | Standard or low threshold |
| Typical lead time | 4 to 7 weeks |
Guide prices
Guide prices for supply and fitting, including removal of the old door.
uPVC French doors
about 1.5 m wide
£1,295 – £1,695inc VAT · £1,080 – £1,410 ex VAT
- Triple glazed panels
- Removal of the old door or window
- Fitted, sealed and finished
uPVC French doors with side panels
about 2.4 m wide
£1,895 – £2,395inc VAT · £1,580 – £1,995 ex VAT
- Triple glazed panels
- Removal of the old door or window
- Fitted, sealed and finished
Aluminium French doors
about 1.8 m wide
£2,895 – £3,695inc VAT · £2,410 – £3,080 ex VAT
- Triple glazed panels
- Removal of the old door or window
- Fitted, sealed and finished
Guide prices, supply and fit. The written quote after your survey fixes the price for the specification shown; anything extra is agreed with you first.
Is it right for your home?
A good fit for
- Kitchen-diners and lounges onto gardens
- Replacing an old patio door
- Openings up to about 1.8 m wide
Think twice if
- Very wide openings, where sliding or bifold doors suit better
- Small rooms where open doors block space
Options
- Side panels and toplights
- Low thresholds
- Opening in or out
- Colours and woodgrains
- Integral blinds
Safety glass in doors
In England, glass in a door up to 1,500 mm above the floor, and glass within 300 mm of a door edge up to the same height, must be safety glass (Approved Document K). French doors use toughened or laminated triple units throughout.
Inward or outward opening
Outward-opening doors keep room space free and seal well against wind; inward-opening doors suit balconies and tight patios. The surveyor checks the patio level and threshold height.
Building Regulations by nation
| Nation | Replacement doors | Sign-off |
|---|---|---|
| England | 1.4 W/m²K, or a door set energy rating of band C (more than 60% glazed) or band B (other doors) | Competent person scheme or building control |
| Wales | 1.4 W/m²K, or a door set energy rating of band C (more than 60% glazed) or band B (other doors) | Competent person scheme or building control |
| Scotland | 1.6 W/m²K | No building warrant for a straight replacement; must meet the standards |
| Northern Ireland | 1.8 W/m²K | No building notice for a straight replacement; must comply |
Full regulations guide, with sources →
Questions about french doors
How much are triple glazed French doors?
Our guide starts at £1,295 fitted for uPVC and £2,895 for aluminium, inc VAT.
Can French doors be triple glazed in uPVC?
Yes, many uPVC door systems take triple units; the frame depth is checked on survey.
Do I need planning permission?
Replacing an existing door on a house is normally permitted development. Making a new opening is a structural change that may need approval; flats and listed buildings have their own rules.
Are French doors secure?
Modern French doors lock at multiple points on both leaves. We specify PAS 24 tested doorsets where available.
Related products
Sliding patio doors
From £1,895Big sliding panes in uPVC or aluminium, with heavy-duty rollers.
Learn more →
Bifold doors
From £4,295Folding aluminium doors that open the whole wall, with triple glass.
Learn more →
Composite front doors
From £1,395Solid-core front doors with triple glazed panels and multi-point locks.
Learn more →
Aluminium windows
From £1,095Slim, strong frames with thermal breaks, for big panes and modern homes.
Learn more →French doors by area
England
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- County Durham
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
Scotland
French doors: get your guide price
Use the guide-price tool, or book a free survey for a written quote that fixes the price.