Aluminium French doors have made a significant comeback in UK homes over the past decade, and it is not difficult to see why. They are more affordable than bifold or sliding doors, suit a wider range of openings, and the rise of steel-look and heritage styling has given them a contemporary relevance they lacked for a generation. For many homeowners, they remain the most practical and cost-effective way to connect a living space to the garden.
This guide covers everything you need to know before buying aluminium French doors, including how they compare to other patio door types, configuration options, opening direction, thresholds, security, and cost.
Why French Doors Are Popular Again
French doors fell out of fashion in the 1990s and 2000s as bifold doors dominated the market. That trend has now reversed, for several reasons.
The growing appetite for heritage French doors, steel-look, industrial, and Art Deco interiors has driven demand for slim-framed doors with grid glazing bars. Aluminium black French doors deliver that aesthetic more affordably than genuine steel.
French doors also provide a more functional door instead of a two panel sliding door because when both doors are open you get the entire opening. A sliding door in a small opening only provides half.
There is also a practical dimension. Replacement French doors work in smaller openings where bifolding or sliding doors are either impractical or disproportionately expensive. For straightforward replacement projects, an existing patio door opening being upgraded rather than enlarged, French doors are often the obvious choice.
Aluminium French Doors vs Other Patio Door Types
| Door Type | Best For |
|---|---|
| French Doors | Smaller openings, replacement projects, traditional or heritage styling, everyday ease of use |
| Sliding Doors | Maximum glass and unobstructed views, where opening width allows |
| Bifold Doors | Opening up the largest possible wall to the outside |
| Slide and Turn Doors | Frameless appearance, commercial-style aesthetic, flexible configuration |
Aluminium vs Steel French Doors
The steel-look aesthetic is one of the main reasons homeowners seek out French doors, but there is an important distinction between aluminium doors that replicate the steel look and genuine steel doors.
| Feature | Aluminium French Doors | Steel French Doors |
|---|---|---|
| Sightlines | Slim frames with large glass areas, although generally wider than steel | The slimmest sightlines available |
| Weight | Lightweight and easy to operate | Significantly heavier and requires more robust structural support |
| Thermal Performance | Thermally broken frames designed to meet current Part L requirements | Varies by system. Modern thermally broken steel performs well, but older steel systems can struggle to meet current standards |
| Maintenance | Durable powder-coated finish requiring very little maintenance | Some systems may require periodic repainting or touch-ups over time |
| Availability | Widely available from most aluminium manufacturers and installers | Usually supplied through specialist steel door companies |
| Design Options | Available in contemporary, heritage and steel-look styles with extensive colour choices | More limited choice but offers the most authentic industrial and heritage appearance |
| Lead Times | Generally shorter due to wider availability and manufacturing capacity | Often longer because of specialist manufacturing and lower production volumes |
| Best For | Most replacement projects, extensions and new-build homes | Premium architectural projects where authentic steel styling is the priority |
If the steel look is your primary motivation, aluminium systems such as those from Aluco, Smart Systems, Cortizo, Aluk, and other brands can recreate the style. However, only steel French doors provide you with the genuine article. Crittall® is undoubtedly the brand most homeowners know and aspire to, with FABCO, RK Steel, Metherm and others also highly desirable. Expect to pay a significant premium and plan your project timeline accordingly, as lead times tend to be longer.
One of the best steel-look French door systems currently available, in our view, is Aluco Elite which you can read the full review.
Aluminium vs uPVC and Timber French Doors
| Material | Best For | Typical Installed Cost | Main Advantages | Main Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PVCu French Doors | Budget-conscious replacement projects | £1,500–£3,500 | Lowest cost, good thermal performance, low maintenance, widely available | Thicker frames, fewer design options, can look less refined |
| Aluminium French Doors | Most homes, extensions and new builds | £2,000–£8,000 | Slim frames, strong, durable, extensive colour choices, larger glass panels | More expensive than PVCu |
| Timber French Doors | Period homes, cottages and heritage properties | £4,000–£10,000+ | Natural appearance, authentic detailing, ideal for traditional architecture | Requires ongoing maintenance and periodic redecoration |
For most homeowners, aluminium provides the best balance of appearance, performance, durability and cost. It is one of the reasons aluminium French doors have become so popular over the last decade. PVCu remains an excellent choice for straightforward replacement projects where budget is a priority, whilst timber continues to suit period properties where authenticity matters. Steel occupies a niche at the top end of the market where the slimmest sightlines and genuine industrial styling justify the additional cost.
French Doors in Conservation Areas
The acceptance of French doors in Conservation Areas very much depends on the local authority and the area you live in, as well as what windows and doors have been fitted already, and to neighbouring houses. Many conservation officers are increasingly accepting slim-framed aluminium French doors where they closely replicate traditional steel or timber sightlines. Heritage and steel-look aluminium products are often approved where standard contemporary aluminium doors would not be appropriate.
Always contact your Planning Officer or Local Authority before you commit to any products.
French Doors for Period Homes vs Contemporary Homes
Steel-look aluminium French doors work particularly well in Victorian, Edwardian and cottage-style properties where traditional sightlines and glazing bar designs are important.
Modern aluminium French doors with larger glass panels, minimal detailing and flush thresholds suit contemporary extensions and new-build homes.
French Doors With Side Panels and Sidelights
The most commonly sold configuration in the UK today is not a simple pair of French doors but French doors with one or two sidelights — fixed glazed panels flanking the door leaves. This arrangement allows a wider glazed opening without requiring larger door leaves, which would otherwise become unwieldy.
Adding a toplight above the door or side panels further increases the glazed area and brings more light into the room. This is particularly useful where an older, smaller patio door opening is being replaced, and the homeowner wants to maximise glazing without structural alterations.
Common configurations include:
| Opening Width | Recommended Configuration |
|---|---|
| Up to 1.2m | Single door, or narrow French Doors |
| Up to 1.8 m | Single door, or standard double French doors |
| 1.8 m – 2.4 m | Double French doors |
| 2.4 m – 3.5 m | Double doors with one or two sidelights |
| Over 3.5 m | Double doors with full-width sidelights, or multiple door sets |
Door leaf widths between 700 mm and 900 mm tend to operate most comfortably. Leaves wider than this can feel heavy and may put stress on hinges over time. If your opening is wide, sidelights are usually a better solution than oversized leaves. However, this does depend on the brand you use, where most can comfortably go up to 1.2m wide. Alumil MF65, Express XP88 and Schüco AS FD 75, can all be made up to 1.5m wide in most cases.
French Doors in Hardwood Subframes
It is perfectly possible that you have older French doors fitted in an existing hardwood subframe, which was popular in the 1990s and early 2000s. There is no reason you can’t fit the new doors into the existing subframe assuming the wood remains in good condition. If not, the subframe can be removed and your new French doors fitted directly to the structure.
Opening In or Opening Out?
This is one of the most common questions homeowners ask, and the answer depends on your specific situation and your room.
Opening outwards is the more common choice for UK homes, and for good reason. Outward-opening doors do not encroach on internal floor space, which matters in smaller rooms or conservatories. They also tend to offer a tighter weather seal as wind pressure pushes the door against the frame rather than away from it. The main disadvantage is that you need clear external space , a step, a patio, or a path directly outside the door. The doors must not open onto a public area.
Opening inwards is better suited to situations where external space is limited, where there is a step immediately outside the door, or where the homeowner simply prefers the aesthetic. The drawback is the floor sweep area required internally, which can be as much as 900 mm from the frame. Inward-opening doors can also allow rain in if they are opened during wet weather before the threshold has had time to drain.
Most aluminium French door systems are available in both configurations.
Confirm your preference with your installer at the point of specification, as changing direction after manufacture is not straightforward.
One alternative solution where you must have open in French Doors, for example behind a Juliet Balcony is to consider tilt and turn windows. These tilt back for ventilation and swing inwards for cleaning of the outside pane of glass. Tilt and turn windows can easily be made up to door heights, so these may offer a better solution for some rooms. Contact us for more information and advice.
Threshold Options Explained
The threshold, the section at the base of the door, has a significant effect on both weather performance and accessibility. There are three main options:
Standard threshold. This is typically the same as the surround frame, typically 30-50mm high. The standard or ‘weathered’ threshold provides the best possible weather seal but creates a step-over and is not usually suitable for wheelchair access.
Low threshold. Typically 15 mm or under. Balances improved accessibility with weather performance. This is suitable for most domestic applications and recommended as a minimum on new installations.
Flush or Part M compliant threshold. This creates a near-level transition between internal and external floor levels. The best option for accessibility. The Flush or Level threshold requires more careful installation and detailing to maintain weather performance, particularly on exposed elevations. Part M is 15mm or less in height and suitable for wheelchair users with a small ramp design to one or both sides.
If you are laying new internal flooring as part of the project, it is worth discussing threshold height with your installer before flooring goes down. Retrofitting a flush threshold after the fact is significantly more disruptive.
Aluminium French Doors Security
Aluminium French doors are generally well-specified for security. The majority of systems from reputable fabricators include multi-point locking as standard, with shoot bolts engaging into the frame at multiple points around the door perimeter.
External key access is standard on French doors, something that is not always available on sliding door systems.
Look for doors that carry PAS 24 accreditation, which is the UK standard for enhanced security performance. Doors with Secured by Design certification are also available which are PAS 24 tested doors but with the backing and registration of a well known name in security standards.
The lead door is the one with the lock and key cylinder on aluminium French doors, the secondary leaf is usually secured by flush bolts that engage the door at the top and bottom. creating a robust combined system.
Thermal Performance
A well-specified modern aluminium French door with thermally broken frames, warm-edge spacer bars, and double or triple glazing will comfortably meet current Part L building regulations. If you are replacing older aluminium patio doors, the thermal improvement is likely to be substantial.
When comparing quotes, ask specifically about the U-value of the overall door set. Never accept just a glass centre pane U-Value. As a minimum, your doors should come with toughened safety glass, having a soft-coat low-emissivity coating, warm edge spacer bars and argon gas fill.
Some doors will only meet current U-Values with triple glazing. So do your research and ensure your doors are compliant. For most replacement doors, your installer’s FENSA or CERTASS registration covers compliance automatically.
Common Aluminium French Door Buying Mistakes
While French doors are simpler than bifolding or sliding doors it is still possible to make mistakes that affect either the user experience or you end up with the wrong types of French doors. Here is some practical advice.
- Choosing oversized door leaves. Make sure you have room for the doors to swing
- Focusing only on frame sightlines. Whilst the trend is for slim, make sure they’re suitable for the application
- Never accept just glass U-values, it is whole-door U-values that matter
- Ignoring threshold design if you have pushchairs, childrens bikes or wheelchair users
- Assuming all steel-look doors look the same, they are not
- Not considering opening direction
Always go and see the products. For example some French doors such as Origin are made out of their main bifold door system and as a result, the gaskets are visible as are the cut gasket corners when the doors are closed. This differs greatly from doors designed from the outset as French doors where no such gaskets are visible unless the doors are open.
How Much Do Aluminium French Doors Cost?
Installed costs vary considerably depending on sizes, specification, brand, and regional labour rates. The figures below are indicative for a standard French door configurations.
| Product Type | Typical Installed Cost* exclusive of VAT |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level Aluminium French Doors | £2,000 – £3,500 |
| Mid-Range Aluminium French Doors | £3,500 – £5,500 |
| Premium Aluminium French Doors | £5,500 – £8,000 |
| Steel-Look Aluminium French Doors (High Specification) | £6,000 – £10,000 |
| Genuine Steel French Doors | £8,000 – £15,000 |
*Prices are intended as a guide for a typical double French door installation in the UK. Final costs vary depending on size, glazing specification, hardware, colour, threshold design, side panels, structural alterations, installation complexity, and location.
Adding sidelights, a toplight, adds typically £500 upwards per side or top panel to the price of your doors. The price range within each tier is wide because specification varies significantly. Two quotes at similar prices can represent very different products. We will happily review your quotations and advise if you are being quoted like-for-like.
Who Makes Aluminium French Doors?
Most of the major brands provide French doors including contemporary, fully glazed, steel look or pivot doors. So there is plenty of choice.
The quality of the finished door depends not only on the profile system but on the fabrication standard, installation quality and hardware specification. A door built to a poor standard using a premium profile can perform worse than a well-fabricated door on a mid-range system.
Here are some brands worth considering:
For what is currently one of the most authentic steel-look aluminium French door systems, Aluco Elite is difficult to beat.
For contemporary French doors with barrier free thresholds, Schuco, Reynaers and Cortizo.
For very good quality doors at a more affordable price, consider Alitherm 400, Aluk French Doors as well as Exlabesa
More information and where to buy Aluminium French Doors
For most replacement patio door projects, aluminium French doors remain one of the most sensible choices available. They are affordable, secure, thermally efficient when properly specified, and suit both traditional and contemporary homes. Bifold and sliding doors offer larger expanses of glass, but for the majority of everyday family living, French doors provide a better balance of practicality, cost, and long-term ownership.
If the steel look is important to you, aluminium systems can get you most of the way there at a fraction of the cost of genuine steel. And if sightlines and heritage styling are the priority, it is worth taking the time to understand what separates a genuinely slim-framed aluminium door from one that simply markets itself as such.
Contact us to discuss your project get free advice and information on the range of French doors available and reputable suppliers and installers near you.
What is the standard size of French doors in the UK?
There is no single standard size for French doors, but most pairs of French doors are between 1.2m and 1.8m wide and between 2.1m and 2.4m high. Individual door leaves typically work best between 700mm and 900mm wide, although some premium systems can accommodate significantly larger sizes. If your opening falls outside these dimensions, sidelights, toplights or bespoke sizes can usually accommodate it without structural alterations.
Are French Doors better than sliding doors
French doors generally work best in smaller openings and provide access to the entire opening when both leaves are open. Sliding doors offer larger glass areas and uninterrupted views but only ever open by approximately half their width. The best choice depends on your opening size, budget and how you intend to use the doors.
What is the difference between French doors and Bifold Doors
French doors are a pair of hinged doors that open from the centre, either inward or outward. Bifold doors consist of multiple panels that fold and stack to one or both sides of the opening. French doors are simpler, more affordable and often better suited to smaller openings. Bifold doors can open up a much larger section of wall but are typically more expensive and require a larger structural opening to justify the additional cost.
What are the disadvantages of French doors?
French doors require space for the leaves to swing open and can be less suitable than sliding doors where furniture is positioned close to the opening. Very wide openings may also be better suited to bifold or sliding doors. However, for many replacement projects and modest-sized openings, these disadvantages are outweighed by their simplicity, affordability and ease of use.
Do French doors let in draughts?
Not when properly made and correctly installed. Modern French door products are air, wind and water tested to various standards of weather protection. But generally, a correctly fitted and adjusted set of French doors should not let in draughts.
Are French Doors Secure?
Yes, when properly specified. Look for doors with PAS 24 accreditation, multi-point locking systems and flush bolts securing the secondary leaf at the top and bottom. Secured by Design certification provides additional reassurance. The central meeting point between the two door leaves is the most important area to examine, as this is often where cheaper doors differ from premium systems. Do not assume your doors automatically come with PAS 24 specification, remember you need to ask for it. It is not standard.
Can French doors be used as a front door?
Technically yes, as several brands use the same profiles for their front doors, rear side doors and French doors. The only difference is whether you want the doors fully glazed or with a decorative panel.
What is the difference between French Doors and Patio Doors?
Patio door is a broad term covering any door that provides access to a patio or garden. This includes French doors, sliding doors, bifold doors and slide-and-turn doors. French doors are simply one type of patio door consisting of two hinged leaves that meet in the centre.
What is the best material for French Doors?
Today’s aluminium, upvc, timber and steel all provide excellent French door solutions. They differ in cost, sightlines and size capability. uPVC is more prone to thermal expansion on south or south west elevations compared to other materials.
Who makes the best aluminium French doors?
It depends on what design you want and where the doors are located. Generally speaking steel-look French doors, products such as Aluco Elite are among the most authentic aluminium alternatives to genuine steel. For contemporary designs, brands such as Schüco, Reynaers, Cortizo and Alumil all offer excellent products. Just remember that fabrication quality and installation standards are often as important as the profile system itself.
