Shopfront security grilles

What are shopfront security grilles?

A shopfront security grille is a wide retractable or roller grille fitted behind the shop window and entrance. It protects the glass line after closing while leaving the display visible, which is why many councils prefer it to a solid external shutter.

Solid shutters protect a shop but turn the street dead after dark. An internal lattice grille behind the glazing keeps the window lit and on display, lets passers-by and patrols see inside, and stops someone getting in through a smashed pane.

Most shopfront grilles are multi-leaf retractables that park at one or both ends of the window, with a separate gate or leaf across the door. Where a shop has a deep, clear head above the glazing, an internal open-mesh roller grille is another option.

How much do shopfront security grilles cost?

Our guide range is £1,195 to £3,495 plus VAT (£1,434 to £4,194 inc VAT) per shopfront, 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

Multi-leaf retractable layouts for windows several metres wide
Door leaf or separate gate across the entrance
Internal open-mesh roller grilles where there is head space for the coil
Fitted behind the glass so the shopfront itself is unchanged
Heavier sections and extra locking for higher-risk trades
Brushed, galvanised, white, black or RAL colours
Stack positions planned around stallrisers, pilasters and display units
Fitting scheduled outside trading hours where possible

Where shopfront security grilles are used

High-street shops and boutiques
Convenience stores and off-licences
Pharmacies and opticians
Jewellers and phone shops
Cafés, restaurants and takeaways

What to decide before you order

Internal or external

Internal grilles are generally preferred by councils and rarely need planning permission. External shutters or grilles normally need consent, especially in conservation areas.

Lattice or roller

Retractable lattice suits most shop windows. An internal roller grille needs space for the coil above the window but leaves nothing at the sides.

Where the stack parks

We plan stack positions around displays, pilasters and the door so the grille folds away without blocking stock.

Risk level

Phone shops, jewellers and pharmacies may want heavier sections, more locking points or a 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 shopfront 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.

Shopfront security grilles: questions

How much does a shopfront grille cost?

Most single shopfronts cost between £1,195 and £3,495 plus VAT (£1,434 to £4,194 inc VAT) supplied and fitted, depending on width, number of leaves and the door arrangement. Very wide or corner shopfronts are priced at survey.

Do I need planning permission for a shop grille?

An internal grille behind the glass does not usually need planning permission. External shutters and grilles normally do, and listed buildings need listed building consent for internal or external works that affect their character.

Can customers see into the shop with the grille closed?

Yes. An open lattice or open-mesh roller grille keeps the display visible, which helps window shopping after hours and natural surveillance of the street.

Can you fit the grille without closing the shop?

Usually. Fitting is noisy for short spells while tracks are drilled, so we offer early-morning or after-closing slots where the installer's schedule allows.

Will my insurer accept a grille?

Some insurers specify grilles or shutters for certain stock or cash levels. Send us their wording and we will quote to it; the insurer decides whether a product meets their policy.

Can the grille cover the shop door too?

Yes. The door is covered by its own leaf, by a separate gate, or by including it in the main grille run.

Find shopfront security grilles near you

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

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