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.
If you live in Edinburgh and are weighing up a new front or back door, the starting point is a visit to measure up and talk through what you want, which costs nothing. We cover homes across EH1, EH2, EH3 and EH7, and a typical project of this kind in Scotland lands somewhere in the £950–£3,400 bracket, including VAT. The exact figure depends on size, access and the finish you choose.
- Guide price
- £950–£3,400 inc VAT
- Time on site
- Usually half a day to one day per door
- Postcodes
- EH1, EH2, EH3, EH7 and EH8
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Local area
- City of Edinburgh
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new front or back door cost in Edinburgh?
Use the table to gauge the cost of a new front or back door in Edinburgh before we visit. Figures include VAT and are scaled for Scotland, coming out about 4% below the national guide, which gives £950–£3,400 overall. After a free survey, you receive a fixed written price.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Edinburgh |
|---|---|---|
| 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
- Lock, cylinder and hardware specification
- Colour, including different colours inside and out
- Condition of the opening, threshold and surrounding brickwork
What does the job include in Edinburgh?
- Measured survey of the opening, threshold and frame condition
- Multi-point locking with anti-snap cylinders and matching handles
- 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
Building in Edinburgh
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.
With that background in mind, here is how we typically handle a new front or back door for homes in Edinburgh, from the first visit to the finished result.
Do you need permission in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is in Scotland, so the planning and building rules set out below are the ones that apply. We confirm the details with the council before we 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.
From survey to handover
Free site survey
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a new front or back door, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Price and scope agreed
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.
Getting ready
Preparation matters as much as the build. We agree access, parking and working hours with you, order materials in good time, and confirm any permissions so the job isn't held up once it starts.
Build and hand over
On site, the agreed plan is followed and any change is put in writing first. At completion we do a final clean, go through the snagging list with you and leave you with the relevant documents.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Questions about a new front or back door in Edinburgh
Which postcodes in Edinburgh do you cover?
We cover EH1, EH2, EH3 and EH7, along with the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
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 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.
How secure are modern doors?
Modern external doors are far more secure than older designs because they lock at several points along the frame, not just at the handle. We fit anti-snap cylinders, which resist a common method of forced entry, in reinforced frames. Laminated or toughened glass panels add further protection. For extra peace of mind you can add a door chain, a viewer or a smart lock, which we can include in your quote.
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.
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.
Also covering areas around Edinburgh
From EH1, EH2, EH3 and EH7 to the edges of Edinburgh and on into Musselburgh, Bonnyrigg and Penicuik, we can arrange a site visit and a written quote for your project, planned around dates that work for you.