HOW MUCH DO BIFOLD DOORS COST? | GUIDE TO COSTS DEPENDING ON MATERIAL, LOCATION, AND SIZE
Author: Richard Collins - Operations Director
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If you are considering installing a bifold door in your home – you will likely be questioning how much you can expect to pay. The price of bifold doors varies depending on three main factors: material, location and size. Certain materials provide more protection, however, are often more expensive.
Bifold doors will also have different requirements based on whether they are fitted externally or internally. Additionally, the size of a bifold door will also impact cost due to manufacturing. Another factor that can impact bifold door costs is glazing, as you can expect your door to be more expensive depending on the glazing thickness.
Here, we provide a full guide to how much you can expect to pay for a bifold door, and bifold door installation. We also provide a guide to how bifold door costs compare to French door and sliding door costs.
In this guide:
- External bifold doors
This section will focus exclusively on external bifold door costs, including:
- Internal bifold doors
In this section, you will find prices for wooden internal bifold doors, including:
EXTERNAL BIFOLD DOORS
When discussing bifold doors, most people are referring to external bifold doors. It's essential to differentiate the location, as external doors will require different features and qualities than internal bifold doors.
External bifold doors are generally more expensive because they require additional qualities such as thermal efficiency, security and durability.
EXTERNAL BIFOLD DOOR LOCATIONS
Typical external locations for bifold doors include:
Click on the relevant location to visit our full guides.
Read our full guide to external bifold door locations here
THE AVERAGE COSTS OF BIFOLD DOORS
It is difficult to put an average price on bifold doors because of the huge amount of variety. The type of material, location and size all play a factor in pricing. Keep in mind that the average cost may not reflect the price you will be paying, especially if you are also paying for installation.
You can expect to pay between £1000 to £8000+ (supply only) depending on material and size.
MATERIALS AND SIZE PRICES
External bifold doors are made from one of four types of material: aluminium, timber, composite or uPVC. Prices vary depending on the type of material.
Aluminium used to be considered one of the costliest materials but has since come down in price to match even the most reasonable bifolds. Wooden bifold doors are incredibly popular due to their good quality/aesthetic and good price. Composite offers the best of both worlds combining aluminium and timber offering excellent thermal properties and low maintenance. UPVC was known to have been one of the cheapest materials for bifold doors. However, recent findings have dictated that the average price of uPVC has increased (see below.)
ALUMINIUM BIFOLD DOOR COSTS*
| Size | Number of panels | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8m (6ft) | 2 | £2,239 |
| 2.1m (7ft) | 3 | £3,009 |
| 2.4m (8ft) | 3 | £3,079 |
| 2.7m (9ft) | 3 | £3,209 |
| 3.0m (10ft) | 3 | £3,359 |
| 3.6m (12ft) | 4 | £4,129 |
| 4.0m (13ft) | 4 | £4,299 |
| 4.2m (14ft) | 5 | £4,989 |
| 4.8m (16ft) | 5 | £5,209 |
| 4.8m (16ft) | 6 | £5,759 |
| 5m (16ft) | 5 | £5,809 |
| 6m (19ft) | 6 | £6,659 |
*Based on the Vufold aluminium bifold doors range
WOODEN BIFOLD DOOR COSTS*
|
Size |
Number of panels |
Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8m (6ft) | 3 | £2,279 |
| 2.1m (7ft) | 3 | £1,979 |
| 2.4m (8ft) | 3 | £2,539 |
| 2.7m (9ft) | 3 | £2,379 |
| 3.0m (10ft) | 4 | £2,829 |
| 3.6m (12ft) | 5 | £3,999 |
| 4.2m (14ft) | 6 | £4,079 |
| 4.8m (16ft) | 6 | £4,399 |
COMPOSITE BIFOLD DOOR COSTS*
| Size | Number of panels | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8m (6ft) | 3 | £3,459 |
| 2.1m (7ft) | 3 | £4,019 |
| 2.4m (8ft) | 3 | £4,019 |
| 2.7m (9ft) | 3 | £4,659 |
| 3.0m (10ft) | 3 | £4,659 |
| 3.6m (12ft) | 4 | £5,639 |
| 4.2m (14ft) | 5 | £6,589 |
| 4.8m (16ft) | 5 | £7,519 |
| 4.8m (16ft) | 6 | £7,729 |
*Based on the Vufold composite Ultra range.
UPVC BIFOLD DOOR COSTS*
| Size | Number of panels | Average Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8m (6ft) | 2 | £2,150 - £2,850 |
| 2.1m (7ft) | 3 | £2,750 - £3,700 |
| 2.5m (8ft) | 3 | £2,900 - £3,900 |
*Average costs based on findings by Theecoexperts.
Find out more about the different material options for bifold doors.
How can types of glazing impact the cost of bifold doors?
Single glazing typically offers thin, poor insulation, and is an expensive investment considering the results. Double insulation, however, is arguably the most-effective option, sold at reasonable prices and providing average insulation thickness. Triple glazing is the most expensive option, and you can expect this option to impact the price of your bifold door significantly. However, this option does provide the thickest thickness option, and the most impressive results. It is the perfect option for keeping the cold out and heat in during winter, and is also very effective in keeping your home cool in the summer. Like double glazing, triple glazing is also effective in keeping the noise out.
Find out more about bifold door glazing here.
INSTALLATION COSTS
The cost of installing a bifold door also varies by quite a wide margin. Your location, the size of the door, and the difficulty of the job will factor into the installation costs.
Vufold supplies doors which are self-assembly. Almost all the tools are provided—all you need to source is a screwdriver, drill, tape measure and spirit level. This level of ease means there is no need to hire a professional fitter, saving you time and money.
Find out more about the benefits of ready-to-assemble bifold doors here.
WHAT AFFECTS INSTALLATION COSTS?
- Size –– the larger the bifold, the harder it will be to install and the longer it will take.
- Location –– this includes whether the door is internal or external. It also includes where you live. For example, you should expect to pay more in London than in the northern regions.
- Installation time –– bifold doors that are difficult to install will take longer to install. Most installers will charge daily rates.
AVERAGE INSTALLATION COSTS
According to job-prices.co.uk:
The average price for a small bifold door (2.7m) is approximately £600 inc. VAT.
The average price for a large bifold door (4.7) is approximately £900 - £1000 inc. VAT.
These are just average prices – bear in mind that you may find costs are higher or lower. Prices can vary depending on:
- Additional works required to the building / opening,
- Removal and disposal of existing doors
- Installers experience
- Location.
WHAT DOES BIFOLD INSTALLATION ENTAIL?
There is no average installation process as it varies depending on manufacturers. Cheaper bifold doors can be more complicated to install, which may take longer and increase costs.
For a high-end bifold door, you can expect the following steps:
- Prepare the opening
- Choose left or right opening
- Assemble the frame
- Install assembled frame
- Fit top and bottom pivot hinges
- Hang the doors
- Fit draft seals to the doors and frame
- Fit the drop bolts
- Fit lock and handles
- Adjust the door
- Fit the door holders to the doors.
This is based on the installation guide for the Vufold 3 door Master range. Your bifold door instructions may require different steps.
HOW LONG WILL INSTALLATION TAKE?
According to :
- For a small bifold door less than 3m –– you can expect to have your bifold fitted within half a day
- For larger bifold doors –– may take all day
- For extra-large custom bifold doors –– it may take up to 48 hours.
The above only provides average installation times. Consider that if you choose a bifold door set featuring the necessary installation tools, installation time will be much quicker.
Read our guide to how hard bifold doors are to install to find out more.
THE BENEFITS OF READY-TO-ASSEMBLE DOORS
Vufold’s bifold doors are ready-to-assemble, meaning they are a ‘complete package’. They include almost everything required for installation.
In a ready-to-assemble door you will find:
- The bifold door parts including frame and glass
- All hardware required for installation (including drill bits and fittings)
- Most tools for installation
- Clear and concise instructions.
Ready-to-assemble doors are designed to be incredibly easy to install. Anyone with decent DIY knowledge will be able to install these doors. This means that if you have some DIY experience, you will be able to install without paying for a professional - saving you money.
Even, if you do decide to hire a professional, the installation will be as easy as possible, meaning no unnecessary time wasted.
WILL BIFOLD DOORS ADD VALUE TO MY HOUSE?
Yes, bifold doors have been found to increase the value of a house by a decent margin. According to thissimoney.co.uk experts have estimated a 5% – 10% value increase on properties when installing a top quality bifold door.
DO EXTERIOR BIFOLD DOORS NEED PLANNING PERMISSION?
External bifold patio doors are unlikely to need planning permission, especially if you are simply replacing other types of patio doors (such as French or sliding).
If you are building an extension on your home, you will need to include your bifold doors in the plan. Read our full guide to fitting external bifold doors here.
BIFOLD VS SLIDING DOORS VS FRENCH DOOR COSTS
Below, you can see the price differences between different types of patio doors according to sizes:
| Size | Bifold* | Sliding** | French*** |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2m | N/A | N/A | £2,019 |
| 1.5m | N/A | N/A | £2,129 |
| 1.8m(6ft) | £2,239 | N/A | £2,239 |
| 2.1m(7ft) | £3,009 | N/A | N/A |
| 2.4m(8ft) | £3,079 | £3,349 | N/A |
| 2.7m(9ft) | £3,209 | £3,499 | N/A |
| 3m(10ft) | £3,359 | £4,099 | N/A |
| 4m(13ft) | £4,299 | £3,839 | N/A |
| 5m(16ft) | £5,809 | £4,379 | N/A |
| 6m(20ft) | £6,659 | £4,899 | N/A |
* *Based on the Vufold aluminium bifold doors range **Based on the Vufold Supreme sliding range ***Based on the Vufold Status French door double glazed range
You can read our comparison guide to bifold doors, French doors and sliding doors here.
Are you ready to find the ideal external bifold door? Shop our full range of external bifold doors today!
INTERNAL BIFOLD DOORS
When it comes to bifold door prices, internal doors are generally cheaper than external bifolds. This is because they are usually smaller and don’t require the same levels of weather protection, security and thermal efficiency.
Almost all internal bifold doors are made from wood because they are lightweight, durable and aesthetically pleasing. Internal bifold doors made from aluminium or uPVC will likely be double or tripled glazed, which will increase costs.
AVERAGE COSTS OF INTERNAL BIFOLD DOORS
Like external bifold doors, internal bifold prices can vary depending on manufacturer, material and location.
The average cost of a high-quality internal bifold can range from £700 - £2000.
INTERNAL BIFOLD DOOR COSTS*
| Size | Number of panels | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2m (4ft) | 2 | £839 |
| 1.5m (5ft) | 2 | £959 |
| 1.8m (6ft) | 3 | £1,049 |
| 2.1m (7ft) | 3 | £1,259 |
| 2.4m (8ft) | 4 | £1,479 |
| 2.7m (9ft) | 4 | £1,559 |
INSTALLATION COSTS FOR INTERNAL BIFOLD DOORS
Internal bifold doors are generally less complicated to install due to less hardware required. This can make internal bifold doors cheaper to install than external.
The main factor in price is whether the internal bifold is being installed in an existing opening or not. With an existing opening, it's unlikely brickwork will be required so can be a relatively simple fit. If extra brickwork is needed, that can increase the cost by a considerable margin.
According to myjobquote.co.uk, to fit a standard internal bifold door into an existing opening, you can expect to pay approximately £250 for the labour and £650 for the material costs (if needed).
CAN I INSTALL BIFOLD DOORS BY MYSELF?
Standard bifold doors will likely require a professional for installation. This is because the installation process may be complicated due to how the doors are manufactured. Instructions that are complex and difficult to read may require a professional to decipher.
However, high-end bifold doors like Vufold are ready-to-assemble meaning they are one of the simplest kinds of doors to install. If you have moderate DIY knowledge, you will be able to install Vufold bifold doors yourself. You can find example installation instructions on our website.
Read our guide to installing bifold doors here.
Are you looking for a new internal bifold door? Shop our full range of internal bifold doors to explore your options!
About Richard Collins
Rick is an expert in lean practices and principles, and how they’re applied to manufacturing, warehouse, administration and management of the business. As an operations director he oversees all areas of the business ensuring they run as efficiently as possible and has worked his way up through virtually every department since he joined us 13 years ago.
Read more about Richard Collins