Retractable security grilles

What are retractable security grilles?

A retractable security grille is a steel or aluminium lattice of vertical bars joined by scissor links that runs in a top and bottom track. Drawn across a window or door it forms a locked barrier; slid back, it folds into a narrow stack at the side so the opening is fully usable.

Retractable grilles are the most common grille in the UK because they solve two problems at once: they stop someone climbing in through broken glass, and they disappear during the day. Most are fitted inside the glass, so the building looks normal from the street and the grille is protected from weather and tampering.

Each grille is made to measure for its opening. We record the reveal width and height, the depth available for the tracks, which side the stack should fold to and where the lock needs to sit. Wide openings can be split into two leaves that meet in the middle, or into several leaves that park at both sides.

How much do retractable security grilles cost?

Our guide range is £414 to £1,554 including VAT (£345 to £1,295 plus VAT) per opening, 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

Vertical bars with diagonal scissor links that lock rigid when closed
Top-hung or bottom-running versions to suit the floor or sill
Single, double or multi-leaf layouts for wide openings
Folds into a stack typically around a sixth of the opening width
Key-operated lock box on the leading edge, with optional extra locking points
Galvanised or powder-coated steel, or aluminium for lighter duty
White, black and anthracite as standard, other RAL colours to order
Quick-release internal handle available where a window must stay usable for escape

Where retractable security grilles are used

Ground-floor windows of homes and flats
Back doors, French doors and patio doors
Shop windows and glazed shop entrances
Office receptions and glazed partitions
Stockrooms and cash offices

What to decide before you order

Inside or outside the glass

Inside is the norm: it is protected from weather, keeps the street view unchanged and usually avoids planning issues. Outside fitting suits recessed doorways and openings with no internal depth.

Which side it folds to

The stack needs a clear wall or reveal to park against. We check curtains, handles, radiators and light switches before the grille is ordered.

Bottom track or no bottom track

A bottom track gives the most rigid grille but can be a trip point across a doorway. Low-profile and removable floor tracks are available for doors.

Security level

Domestic grilles suit most homes. Shops, pharmacies and high-value stock may justify heavier sections or a third-party certified product.

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 retractable security grilles; local pages show the version for your nation.

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

Grilles inside the glass

A grille fitted inside the glass does not normally need planning permission, because it does not materially change how the building looks from outside. If the building is listed, listed building consent may still be needed.

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.

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.

Retractable security grilles: questions

How much does a retractable security grille cost?

A standard window grille usually falls between £345 and £795 plus VAT (£414 to £954 inc VAT) supplied and fitted, and a door between £595 and £1,295 plus VAT (£714 to £1,554 inc VAT). Wide shop windows, multi-leaf layouts and special colours cost more. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the free survey.

Can a retractable grille be fitted inside the window?

Yes, and that is how most are fitted. The tracks fix into the window reveal or to a timber or steel subframe, so the grille sits between the glass and the room.

Do retractable grilles need a bottom track?

Most do, because the bottom track stops the grille being pushed out of line. On doorways a low or recessed track can be used to reduce the trip hazard, and some top-hung designs work without one on smaller openings.

How much space does the folded grille take up?

The stack is roughly a sixth of the opening width, depending on bar spacing and the number of leaves. On a 1.2 m window expect around 200 mm of stack at the side.

Will a grille stop me opening my windows?

No. An internal grille sits inside the reveal, so you can open the window as normal when the grille is folded back, and usually with it closed if there is enough depth between grille and glass.

How long does a retractable grille take to fit?

Most single windows or doors are fitted in an hour or two once the made-to-measure grille arrives. A shopfront or several openings may take a day.

Find retractable security grilles near you

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

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