Front door security gates

What are front door security gates?

A front door security gate is a steel gate fitted in front of or behind a front or flat entrance door. It adds a second locked barrier that has to be defeated after the door, and most designs can be locked from outside when you leave as well as from inside at night.

Front door gates are common on flats with doors onto shared landings or walkways, on ground-floor flats, and on houses where the front door is recessed or hidden from the street.

Because a front door is usually your main way out in an emergency, the gate must be easy to open from inside. We fit locks with an internal thumb-turn or lever where appropriate, and in blocks of flats we check that the gate fits the building's fire arrangements and has the owner's consent.

How much do front door security gates cost?

Our guide range is £834 to £1,794 including VAT (£695 to £1,495 plus VAT) per door, supplied and fitted. The exact figure depends on size, type, finish and locking, and your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the free survey. See all grille prices.

Specification and options

Hinged or retractable designs
Lockable from outside with a key and from inside with a thumb-turn or key
Steel frame fixed into the opening
Mesh infill to stop reach-through to the door lock
Letterbox clearance where needed
Powder-coated finishes
Clearances for door closers and spy-holes
Low thresholds for level access

Where front door security gates are used

Flat entrance doors on landings and walkways
Ground-floor flats
Recessed front doors
Houses with doors out of sight of the street
Empty homes between occupants

What to decide before you order

Permission

In a block of flats, the building owner or managing agent usually needs to agree, and the gate must not compromise the building's fire strategy.

Escape

Choose a gate that opens quickly from inside without hunting for a key.

Appearance

A plain bar gate in a dark finish is less conspicuous than a heavy lattice.

Post

Leave a letterbox clearance or fit a separate post box.

Rules across the UK

The rules on planning, listed buildings and fire safety differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These are the points most relevant to front door security gates; local pages show the version for your nation.

England (similar principles apply in Wales, Scotland and NI)

External grilles and planning

External grilles and shutters on shops and other commercial buildings normally need planning permission from the local council because they change the building's appearance. Many councils' shopfront guides favour internal, open-lattice grilles, particularly in conservation areas.

Listed buildings and conservation areas

Listed buildings need listed building consent for works that affect their character, which can include internal grilles and their fixings. In conservation areas, councils look closely at anything fitted to the outside. We recommend speaking to the council's conservation officer before ordering.

Grilles across exits in business premises

In workplaces and other non-domestic premises, including the common parts of blocks of flats and HMOs, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes the responsible person keep escape routes and emergency exits available and easy to open while people are present. A grille across an exit should be unlocked and parked open whenever the building is occupied, and covered in the fire risk assessment.

How it works

Tell us what needs securing

Use the quote tool or form, or call. Sizes and a couple of photos help us give a guide price straight away.

Free survey

A surveyor measures every opening, checks the walls and fixings, and talks through type, colour and locks.

Fixed price in writing

You get a written quote with the grille schedule, the price and the lead time. Nothing is ordered until you accept.

Made, fitted and handed over

Grilles are made to measure, fitted by installers working under our contract with you, tested and explained.

Front door security gates: questions

How much does a front door security gate cost?

Most front door gates cost between £695 and £1,495 plus VAT (£834 to £1,794 inc VAT) supplied and fitted, depending on design, locks and finish.

Can I fit a security gate to my flat door?

Usually, with the building owner's permission. Flat entrance doors often form part of a building's fire safety arrangements, so the gate must not obstruct escape or compromise the door.

Can the gate be locked from outside?

Yes. Front door gates normally lock with a key from outside and a thumb-turn or key from inside.

Will I still get post?

We can leave a letterbox clearance in the gate or suggest a wall-mounted post box.

Does a front door gate need planning permission?

Gates in front of a house's front door can need planning permission, especially on listed buildings or in conservation areas. Gates behind the door usually do not.

Is a gate better than a stronger door?

They do different jobs. A certified door resists attack on its own; a gate adds a second barrier. Many people choose both.

Find front door security gates near you

Choose your county or region for local information and the rules that apply where you are.

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