A replacement front or back door is a new door and frame, usually composite, uPVC or aluminium, made to fit your existing opening and fitted with multi-point locks and weather seals to improve security, warmth and kerb appeal.
Looking for a new front or back door in Edinburgh and the Lothians? We organise the whole job, bringing in the trades it needs under one agreement, and you have a single contact. We cover Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate, along with villages and suburbs nearby. The rules in Scotland decide what consents are needed, and our guide range of £950–£3,400 including VAT gives you a realistic starting point for a budget.
- Guide price
- £950–£3,400 inc VAT
- Time on site
- Usually half a day to one day per door
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Price level
- About 4% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 7
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new front or back door cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
In Edinburgh and the Lothians, guide figures for a new front or back door sit at £950–£3,400, VAT included. We set them using rates for Scotland, currently about 4% below the national guide. The table shows what pushes a project towards either end of the range; your own price is set after a free survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Edinburgh and the Lothians |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC back door | A standard uPVC back or side door with a half-glazed panel and multi-point lock. | £750–£1,450 |
| Composite front door | A made-to-measure composite door in your chosen colour, glass design and hardware. | £1,150–£2,400 |
| Aluminium or door with side panels | A premium aluminium door, or a composite door with one or two side panels. | £2,400–£4,800 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Door material: uPVC, composite or aluminium
- Side panels, fanlights and the amount of glass
- Lock, cylinder and hardware specification
- Colour, including different colours inside and out
What do you get?
- Multi-point locking with anti-snap cylinders and matching handles
- Glazing panels, side panels or fanlights where specified
- Removal and disposal of the old door and frame
- Low threshold options for level or easier access
- Weather seals, sealant and internal trims finished neatly
- Building regulations paperwork where a glazed door needs it
Homes in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh's New Town is a planned Georgian sandstone townscape within a World Heritage Site, and districts such as Marchmont and Leith have Victorian tenements. Bungalows and villas fill the suburbs, Midlothian has former mining villages, Livingston was built as a new town, and East Lothian villages often have red pantile roofs.
Listed and conservation-area homes need careful window and stone repairs. Bungalows commonly suit loft conversions and dormers, and suburban semis take extensions and garage conversions.
East-coast weather brings cold winds, haar and frost, and exposed hills around the city catch wind-driven rain.
Planning and building rules in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Planning law differs across the UK. For a home in Edinburgh and the Lothians, it is the Scotland rules below that count, and we check them with the council ahead of any quote.
In Scotland, replacing windows and doors on a house generally needs no planning permission when the style is similar, but listed buildings and conservation areas are closely controlled and often need consent for any change of material or pattern.
A building warrant is not usually needed for like-for-like replacement windows, but the new units must still meet the Scottish building standards, including energy performance and, where relevant, escape from upper floors.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Free site survey
It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about a new front or back door.
Written quote
We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.
Plan and prepare
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for a new front or back door are in place before the first day on site.
The work itself
Our trades complete a new front or back door while your point of contact keeps you updated. When everything is finished, we clear the site, take away waste and go through the result with you before handover.
How we work
Questions about a new front or back door in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Who do I deal with during the job?
One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.
Can you combine a new front or back door with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan a new front or back door alongside other work on your Edinburgh and the Lothians home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
Can I have a low threshold for wheelchair or pushchair access?
A low threshold is a flat or very shallow sill that makes a doorway easier to cross with a wheelchair, walking frame or pushchair. Most composite, uPVC and aluminium doors can be supplied with one. The outside ground level and drainage need checking, because a low threshold must still keep rainwater out. We look at this during the survey and suggest a channel drain or small ramp if needed.
How long does it take to make a new door?
Made-to-measure doors usually take a few weeks to manufacture after the survey and your order are confirmed. Bespoke colours, special glass designs and aluminium doors can take longer. Once the door arrives, we arrange a fitting date that suits you. We give you a realistic lead time with your written quote, and we keep you updated if the manufacturer's dates change.
How much does a new front door cost?
A new front door costs £950–£3,400 supplied and fitted, depending on the material, the amount of glass and whether you want side panels. A uPVC back door sits at the lower end, a composite front door in the middle, and aluminium doors or doors with side panels at the top. Locks, letterplates and dual colours also affect the figure. We confirm a fixed price in writing after measuring your opening.
Towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Looking for a new front or back door somewhere in Edinburgh and the Lothians? Start with the towns below; each links to a page with pricing for your region and coverage details.