Quick answer: A typical UK garage door installed in 2026 costs £700–£2,500 for a single (up to 2.4m wide) and £1,500–£4,500 for a double (up to 4.8m wide), depending on style and electrification. The big price drivers: style (up-and-over cheapest, sectional / roller mid-range, side-hinged premium), insulation (uninsulated cheapest, foam-filled adds £200–£500), and electric vs manual (electric adds £300–£700 for the motor + install). This guide covers realistic UK prices, security ratings, and what to verify before booking.
Style at a glance
| Style | Single cost | Double cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up-and-over | £500–£1,200 | £900–£2,200 | Cheapest; standard for older garages |
| Sectional | £900–£2,200 | £1,800–£3,800 | Insulated, smooth motion, modern look |
| Roller | £800–£2,000 | £1,500–£3,500 | Saves headroom; great for short driveways |
| Side-hinged | £700–£1,800 | £1,400–£3,200 | Period properties, partial opening when needed |
| Premium aluminium / wood-effect | £1,800–£3,500 | £3,500–£6,000 | Aesthetic upgrade for street-facing garages |
The 5 garage door styles explained
1. Up-and-over (canopy or retractable)
The classic UK garage door — single panel that tilts up and slides into the garage. Canopy models swing a portion outside (cheaper); retractable models stay fully inside (more expensive but safer for cars parked close).
- Pro: Cheapest option; familiar; good fit for older brick garages
- Con: No insulation as standard; canopy versions need driveway clearance; not as smooth as sectional
- Realistic price: £500–£1,200 single, manual, fitted
2. Sectional
Multiple horizontal panels that slide vertically into the garage ceiling on tracks. The standard for new-build and modern retrofits. Almost always foam-insulated. Smooth, quiet, secure.
- Pro: Best insulation (typically 40mm foam core); smooth electric operation; secure
- Con: Needs more headroom than up-and-over (~250mm above the opening); more expensive
- Realistic price: £900–£2,200 single, often electric, fitted
3. Roller (sometimes “roller shutter”)
Slats that roll up into a box above the opening. Saves the most headroom (only ~200mm needed) and floor space (no panels swing out). Great for short driveways or low-ceiling garages.
- Pro: Compact; can park right up to the door; good for retrofit on awkward openings
- Con: Insulation tier-dependent (cheap rollers have minimal insulation, premium have foam-filled slats); the roll-up box can be visible
- Realistic price: £800–£2,000 single, electric, fitted
4. Side-hinged
Two panels that swing outwards like a pair of large doors. Best for garages used as workshops or storage where you frequently want partial opening, and for period properties where the look matters.
- Pro: Easy partial opening; period-appropriate; can be wood-clad
- Con: Need clear space outside the door to swing; rarely electric (manual only on most models); less insulating than sectional
- Realistic price: £700–£1,800 fitted, mostly manual
5. Premium aluminium / wood-effect
Sectional or roller construction but with premium aluminium cladding or genuine wood facing. Brands like Hörmann, CarTeck, Ryterna offer these. Aesthetic upgrade — performance similar to standard sectional.
- Pro: Lifts the look of front-of-house garages significantly; can match exterior cladding
- Con: 50–100% premium over standard sectional; doesn’t perform meaningfully better
- Realistic price: £1,800–£3,500 single, electric, fitted
Insulated vs uninsulated
If your garage is detached and unheated, insulation is mostly cosmetic. If your garage is integral (shares a wall with the house) or you use it as a workshop / gym / home office, insulation matters.
- Uninsulated up-and-over: ~3.0–4.0 W/m²K — single-glazing-equivalent
- 20mm foam-filled sectional: ~1.5–2.0 W/m²K — adequate
- 40mm foam-filled premium: ~1.0–1.5 W/m²K — comparable to standard double glazing
- 60mm thermal-break aluminium: ~0.7–1.0 W/m²K — premium, used for garages converted to living space
For an integral garage with rooms above, the door’s U-value affects the rooms above more than most people realise. Worth spending the extra £200–£500 on a foam-filled door if the garage is below a bedroom.
Electric vs manual — what you actually pay
- Electric motor + standard remote control: +£300–£500 over manual
- WiFi / smartphone control (e.g. SOMweb, Hörmann BiSecur): +£100–£200 on top
- Backup battery (door works in a power cut): +£80–£150
- Photoelectric safety beam (auto-stop if obstacle detected): standard on most modern motors
- Smart home integration (Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa): often free with WiFi-capable openers
Electric is worth the £300–£500 premium for daily use — particularly in the rain. Manual is fine for occasional-use garages.
Security ratings to look for
- Secured by Design (SBD) — police-backed accreditation; the gold standard. Insurers often discount if your door has it.
- PAS 24:2022 — Publicly Available Specification for enhanced security performance. Required for new-build doors and a strong indicator otherwise.
- Anti-lift devices — sectional and roller doors have lift-up vulnerability; check the spec includes anti-lift bars or hooks.
- Tested locks — preferably Sold Secure Diamond rated for high-risk areas, Gold for most homes.
What to verify before signing
- Measure your opening accurately — width, height, headroom inside the garage (above the opening), depth (front to back of garage), and any obstructions (lights, beams, pipes). The fitter should re-measure, but knowing your numbers prevents nasty surprises.
- Confirm Building Regs status — replacing a like-for-like garage door is exempt from Building Regs notification; converting a garage to living space (with door changes) requires full notification.
- Get the U-value for an integral or insulated garage
- Check the warranty — typically 5 years for the door, 2 years for the motor. Look for an insurance-backed guarantee like our IBG explainer covers.
- Confirm fitter membership of a trade body — DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) is the main UK garage door trade body; Checkatrade verification is also useful.
- Ask about removal of existing door — should be quoted explicitly, not bundled vaguely
- Insist on a written quote — the door market has its share of pressure tactics, see our 7 lies salespeople tell guide
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying a sectional door without checking headroom. A standard sectional needs ~250mm of headroom above the opening for the panels to slide up. Older brick garages often don’t have it.
- Skipping insulation on an integral garage. The room above will always be the coldest in the house if you do.
- Choosing electric without a backup battery in areas with frequent power cuts.
- Going for the cheapest motor. The cheapest motors are the noisiest and have the shortest lifespan (5–8 years vs 12–15 for premium brands like Hörmann or Liftmaster).
- Forgetting safety beams. Required by EN 13241 standards on automated doors; some cheap installs skip them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I retrofit electric to an existing manual door?
Often yes — universal motor kits exist for most up-and-over and sectional doors. Cost: £200–£500 for the kit, £100–£250 for installation. Not always feasible for older or non-standard doors.
How long do garage doors last?
Door panels: 15–25 years. Motors: 8–15 years. Springs and cables: 10 years on average and are the most common replacement item — budget £100–£250 for a spring/cable refresh in the door’s middle years.
Are garage doors covered by FENSA?
Garage doors aren’t covered by FENSA — that scheme is for windows and external doors that are part of habitable rooms. Garage door installers should be DHF members instead. Check via Checkatrade or the Door & Hardware Federation directory.
Do I need planning permission for a new garage door?
Replacement of an existing door: no. Significantly enlarging the opening, or converting a garage to living space: yes. Listed buildings and conservation areas always check with the council first.
Will a new garage door reduce my home insurance?
Not directly, but Secured by Design or PAS 24-rated doors can earn small discounts (5–10%) with some insurers. Worth mentioning to your insurer at renewal.
Can I finance a new garage door?
Most installers offer 0% finance over 12 months on installs above £750–£1,000. Beyond that, see our finance guide for general home-improvement loan options.
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Sources: Hörmann UK price catalogue 2026, CarTeck product datasheets, Door & Hardware Federation member guidance, Secured by Design garage door specification, PAS 24:2022, Checkatrade garage door cost guide (2026), MyJobQuote garage door price data. Last reviewed: April 2026.
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