How much does a new shopfront cost?
A new aluminium shopfront up to 3 m wide has a guide price of £2,450 to £3,995 plus VAT. Steel, timber, frameless glass and bi-fold fronts cost more, and every material rises with width.
5 minute read. Last updated November 2026.
How much does a new shopfront cost?
A new shopfront has a guide price from £2,450 plus VAT for aluminium up to 3 m wide, up to £13,995 plus VAT for the largest timber or bi-fold front in our bands. The table shows the five materials we fit.
| Material | Up to 3 m | 3 to 4 m | 4 to 5 m | 5 to 6 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | £2,450 to £3,995 | £3,195 to £5,195 | £3,995 to £6,495 | £4,795 to £7,995 |
| Steel | £3,600 to £5,995 | £4,695 to £7,795 | £5,895 to £9,695 | £7,195 to £11,995 |
| Timber | £3,995 to £6,495 | £5,195 to £8,495 | £6,595 to £10,995 | £8,495 to £13,995 |
| Frameless glass | £4,995 to £6,995 | £6,495 to £8,495 | £7,995 to £10,295 | £9,495 to £11,995 |
| Bi-fold | £5,195 to £7,295 | £6,795 to £9,295 | £8,295 to £11,495 | £9,995 to £13,995 |
All figures are guide prices plus VAT for a height of up to about 3 m. The low end of each range suits a plain layout on a sound opening. The high end covers more complex layouts. If you also want a shutter, see our package guide.
Which shopfront material costs the least?
Aluminium is the lowest-priced shopfront material in every width band, and timber costs more than steel in every band. Frameless and bi-fold fronts start higher than timber in every band, because the glass and the moving parts make up more of the cost.
| Material | What drives the cost | Lead time after drawing sign-off |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | Stock sections, powder coating, standard door sets | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Steel | Heavier sections, fabrication, coating, more handling on site | 5 to 6 weeks |
| Frameless glass | Large toughened or laminated panes, patch fittings, precise openings | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Timber | Joinery made to the drawing, mouldings, paint finish | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Bi-fold | Folding leaves, tracks and hardware that must stay in line | Confirmed on the quotation |
Material is rarely a free choice. A listed building or a conservation area can push you towards timber, and a unit with a break-in history can push you towards steel. Read aluminium vs steel if those are your two options.
How much does a shop door add?
A single aluminium door set with frame and closer has a guide price of £1,295 to £3,495 plus VAT when you replace the door on its own.
- Automatic door on a new frontage. Adding an automatic sliding entrance door to a new shopfront has a guide price of £2,495 to £4,495 plus VAT.
- Automatic entrance on its own. A separate automatic sliding or swing entrance has a guide price of £3,895 to £11,995 plus VAT. The range is wider because it covers the whole entrance and not just the added door.
A door is also where the access rules bite. New work is measured against current guidance on clear width and thresholds, so check our door access guide before you settle the layout. The itemised quotation shows the door allowed for.
How much does shopfront glass cost?
Laminated security glazing has a guide price of £195 to £495 per m² plus VAT, supplied and fitted.
| Glass work | Guide price (plus VAT) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Laminated glass upgrade | £695 to £1,495 | Added to a new shopfront or package |
| Laminated security glazing | £195 to £495 per m² | Supplied and fitted |
| One replacement pane | £295 to £1,495 | One pane, measured, made and fitted |
Pane size matters as well as area. A very large pane may need special handling, and the safety rules change with its position in the frontage. Our safety glass guide sets out where each type is needed.
What does it cost to replace a whole frontage?
Stripping out an old frontage and fitting a new one has a guide price of £3,895 to £15,995 plus VAT. The range is wide because it follows the size and material of the new frontage.
Before you compare quotes, check that each one answers the same questions:
- Who removes the old frames, glass and shutter, and who disposes of them.
- Who makes good the stallriser, the pilasters and the head after strip-out.
- Who clears the old fascia sign, and who refits it or orders a new one.
- How the shop stays secure if the work runs past one day.
- What happens if the structure behind the old frontage is not sound.
What would a 4.5 m aluminium front with an automatic door cost?
A 4 to 5 m aluminium shopfront with an automatic sliding door has a combined guide price of £6,490 to £10,990 plus VAT.
| Item | Low (plus VAT) | High (plus VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium shopfront, 4 to 5 m | £3,995 | £6,495 |
| Automatic sliding entrance door | £2,495 | £4,495 |
| Combined guide price | £6,490 | £10,990 |
The same front in steel would be £5,895 to £9,695 plus VAT before the door. Lead time would also move from 3 to 4 weeks to 5 to 6 weeks after drawing sign-off.
Should I repair my shopfront or replace it?
Repair first if the frame is sound, because a repair call-out has a fixed price of £165 plus VAT. That covers attendance and the first hour of labour for door adjustments, dropped leaves, closer replacement, and hinge and glazing bead repairs.
Replacement makes more sense when two or more of these are true:
- The frame is rotten, rusted or out of square.
- The door cannot be made to meet today's access guidance.
- The glass is unmarked and sits in a critical location.
- You want a shutter and the fascia has no room for a box.
- The frontage has been patched so often that it no longer keeps the weather out.
What is not in a shopfront price?
Council planning fees and building control fees are charged by the body that handles the application, so treat them as a separate cost. The same goes for any fee your landlord's surveyor or solicitor charges for a licence to alter.
Three other items depend on the shop and appear as their own lines on the quotation if they apply:
- A new fascia sign or lettering.
- Electrical work for lighting, an automatic door or a shutter.
- Repairs to structure found once the old frontage is off.
Use the quote tool for a guide figure, then book a free survey for new work. We send one itemised quotation, valid for 90 days.
Common questions
What is the cheapest shopfront material?
Aluminium has the lowest guide price in every width band, starting at £2,450 to £3,995 plus VAT up to 3 m wide.
Does a bigger shopfront cost proportionally more?
Roughly, yes. An aluminium front at 5 to 6 m has a guide price of £4,795 to £7,995 plus VAT, against £2,450 to £3,995 plus VAT up to 3 m.
Can I replace only the door or one pane?
Yes. A single aluminium door set has a guide price of £1,295 to £3,495 plus VAT, and one replacement pane has a guide price of £295 to £1,495 plus VAT.
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Find out what your frontage will cost
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