Aluminium vs steel shopfronts
Aluminium suits most shops and has a guide price of £2,450 to £3,995 plus VAT up to 3 m. Steel suits units with a break-in history or high-value stock, at £3,600 to £5,995 plus VAT, and takes 5 to 6 weeks against 3 to 4.
5 minute read. Last updated November 2026.
Is aluminium or steel better for a shopfront?
Aluminium suits most shops, and steel suits units with a break-in history or high-value stock. The difference is strength against weight, price and time.
| Aluminium | Steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Guide price up to 3 m (plus VAT) | £2,450 to £3,995 | £3,600 to £5,995 |
| Guide price 5 to 6 m (plus VAT) | £4,795 to £7,995 | £7,195 to £11,995 |
| Lead time after drawing sign-off | 3 to 4 weeks | 5 to 6 weeks |
| Weight | Light, easy to handle | Heavy, needs sound fixings |
| Rust | Does not rust | Depends on the coating |
| Stiffness | Lower for the same section | Higher for the same section |
| Usual package | Essential or Display | Security |
How much more does a steel shopfront cost?
A steel shopfront up to 3 m wide costs £1,150 to £2,000 plus VAT more than aluminium at guide price, which makes it about one and a half times the price in every band.
| Width | Aluminium (plus VAT) | Steel (plus VAT) | Steel extra (plus VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 3 m | £2,450 to £3,995 | £3,600 to £5,995 | £1,150 to £2,000 |
| 3 to 4 m | £3,195 to £5,195 | £4,695 to £7,795 | £1,500 to £2,600 |
| 4 to 5 m | £3,995 to £6,495 | £5,895 to £9,695 | £1,900 to £3,200 |
| 5 to 6 m | £4,795 to £7,995 | £7,195 to £11,995 | £2,400 to £4,000 |
The last column compares low with low and high with high. All figures are guide prices. Stronger glass and a rated shutter are separate lines, so see our shopfront cost guide for the whole picture.
Is a steel shopfront more secure than aluminium?
A steel frame is stiffer than an aluminium frame of the same section, but neither carries a security rating unless the complete product has been tested and certified. A heavy frame around ordinary glass and a basic lock is only as strong as those two parts.
If you are spending more on steel for security, check three things first:
- Glass. Ask for laminated glass rated under BS EN 356. The frame cannot help once the glass has gone.
- Door. Check the lock, the hinges and how the frame meets the wall.
- Fixings. A steel frame is only as good as what it is bolted to.
Many shops get more from an aluminium frame with laminated glass and a good shutter than from a steel frame alone. Read our security and insurance guide before you decide.
Which lasts longer outdoors, aluminium or steel?
Aluminium does not rust, while steel relies on its coating to keep moisture out, so steel needs more attention over its life. Scratches and chips on steel should be touched in quickly, particularly near the ground and at the base of door frames, where water and salt sit.
Both are usually powder coated. Powder coating is hard and even, and it comes in a very wide range of colours. Near the coast, or on a road that is gritted hard in winter, ask about the coating system and how often it should be washed.
Matching the frame and the shutter is simple when they are ordered together, which is one reason we plan them as a single job. Our guide price for a special RAL colour across both is £95 to £295 plus VAT.
Can aluminium and steel frames take laminated glass?
Yes, both can take laminated glass, provided the frame is sized for its weight and thickness. Laminated units are heavier than a single toughened pane of the same size, so the pocket, the glazing beads and the hinges all need checking. That is a design point and not a reason to pick steel on its own.
Our guide price for the upgrade on a new shopfront or package is £695 to £1,495 plus VAT. In an existing frame, laminated glass costs £195 to £495 per m² plus VAT at guide price, and we would check the frame first.
Can I use aluminium or steel on a conservation area shop?
Often not, because councils usually expect traditional materials on sensitive buildings. Newry, Mourne and Down says traditional materials should normally be used in conservation areas. Clackmannanshire strongly favours traditional materials on listed buildings. An aluminium section may be accepted on a modern building in a conservation area, but that is for the conservation officer to say.
If the shop is listed or in a conservation area, read our conservation and listed guide before you price either metal.
Which is easier to repair or alter later?
Aluminium is usually easier to alter, because it is light and sections can be cut and re-glazed on site. Steel may need welding and recoating, and that often means taking parts back to a workshop. A dropped door or a failed closer is a routine repair on either, and a repair call-out has a fixed price of £165 plus VAT. If the shop might change use or layout in the next few years, that flexibility is worth something.
Do I need a thermally broken shopfront frame?
In England, Approved Document L sets no maximum U-value for display windows and similar glazing, so a thermally broken frame is usually a comfort choice and not a compliance one. A thermal break is an insulating strip that separates the outer and inner parts of a metal frame.
CNC Building Control confirms that shop display windows do not have to meet the energy efficiency requirements. Doors and any glazing that is not a display window can be treated differently, and new buildings must still account for the glazing in their energy calculations. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own energy rules, so ask building control there.
How do I decide between aluminium and steel?
Decide on five facts about the unit: its history, its stock, its insurance, your budget and your opening date.
| Check | Points to aluminium | Points to steel |
|---|---|---|
| Break-in history | None, or low-level vandalism | Repeat forced entry |
| Stock | Ordinary retail or food | High value and easy to resell |
| Insurance | No frame requirement | Insurer has asked for heavier construction |
| Budget | Money better spent on glass and shutter | Enough left for glass and shutter as well |
| Date | Opening soon | Two extra weeks will not hurt |
Our Security package pairs steel with a solid electric shutter and starts at a guide price of £5,095 plus VAT. The Essential package pairs aluminium with a solid electric shutter and starts at £3,895 plus VAT. Compare both in the quote tool.
Common questions
Is steel always better for security?
No. A steel frame helps, but the glass, door and fixings are usually the weaker points. A rated product needs a test certificate.
How long do aluminium and steel shopfronts take?
Aluminium takes 3 to 4 weeks after drawing sign-off, and steel takes 5 to 6 weeks.
Can aluminium and steel be powder coated the same colour as a shutter?
Yes. A special RAL colour on frame and shutter has a guide price of £95 to £295 plus VAT.
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