Garage Door Installation Prices UK: Roller & Sectional

Quick Answer: Standard up-and-over manual garage door (canopy or retractable) supply £200–£450, fit £180–£300. Insulated sectional door £600–£1,400 supply, £280–£450 fit. Roller door £550–£1,400 supply, £300–£500 fit. Electric motor add-on £350–£700 fitted. Premium insulated remote-controlled installs total £1,200–£3,500. All installations must comply with BS EN 13241:2003+A2:2016 (industrial garage door safety) for safety devices (force limiters, photocells) on powered doors.

Summary

Garage door replacement is a steady volume trade — UK garage door market £200m+ annually, dominated by retrofit on 1960s–1980s up-and-over doors reaching end of life. The market splits between three door types (up-and-over, sectional, roller) and two control modes (manual, electric), giving six price points.

Most homeowners ask for "an electric garage door" without distinguishing types. Educate them on the differences and you'll move them up-spec to higher-margin sectional or insulated rollers. Quote on cheapest manual up-and-over and you race-to-the-bottom against online suppliers; quote on premium insulated electric with full installation service and you carve out trade margin.

This guide covers all three door types, manual vs electric pricing, the safety standards that apply (especially to powered doors), and the install detail that determines real cost.

Key Facts

Quick Reference Table

Spending too long on quotes? squote turns a 2-minute voice recording into a professional quote.

Try squote free →
Door Type Size Supply Fit Motor (if Electric) Total Installed
Up-and-over canopy steel manual Single 7×6'6" £200–£350 £180–£250 n/a £380–£600
Up-and-over retractable steel manual Single 7×6'6" £280–£450 £200–£280 n/a £480–£730
Up-and-over canopy steel electric Single £200–£350 £200–£280 £350–£600 £750–£1,230
Sectional insulated double-skin Single £600–£1,000 £280–£400 £450–£700 (often included) £1,050–£1,500
Sectional insulated double Double 14×6'6" £900–£1,500 £350–£500 £500–£800 £1,500–£2,500
Roller door (single skin) Single £550–£900 £300–£400 included £950–£1,300
Roller door (insulated) Single £750–£1,400 £350–£500 included £1,200–£1,900
Premium aluminium/cedar bespoke Single £1,500–£3,500 £500–£900 £600–£1,200 £2,800–£5,500
Side-hinged timber Double £700–£1,600 £400–£700 n/a £1,100–£2,300

Detailed Guidance

Door type — choosing for the client

Up-and-over (canopy):

Up-and-over (retractable):

Sectional:

Roller:

Side-hinged:

Manual vs electric

Manual:

Electric:

Most modern installs add electric — convenience differential is significant. Quote both; let client decide.

Insulation — when it matters

For attached garages used as gyms, workshops, or extra storage where temperature matters:

Heat-loss difference for a 7×6'6" single door:

For attached habitable garage conversion: insulated mandatory. For detached cold garage: optional luxury.

Installation steps

  1. Survey opening — Width and height at multiple points (often not square)
  2. Remove old door — 1-2 hours strip-out plus disposal
  3. Make-good frame — Repair/replace rotten frame timbers, repoint masonry
  4. Install new frame/track — Subframe square and level
  5. Fit door panel(s) — Lift into place, align
  6. Install springs — Carefully tension torsion or extension springs
  7. Install motor (if electric) — Mount, run cable, connect
  8. Programme remotes and limits — Set open/close stops
  9. Test safety features — Force limit, photocell trip
  10. Customer handover — Demonstrate operation, give docs

For a standard up-and-over replacement, allow 3-5 hours. Sectional or premium installs 5-8 hours. Always have second person for door lifting.

Spring safety

Garage door springs (torsion or extension) hold significant tension — up to 600 lb-ft for double doors. Springs in tension can cause serious injury if released suddenly.

Industry rule: spring servicing/replacement is for trained installers. Householder DIY = serious injury risk.

Powered door safety (BS EN 13241)

Powered garage doors must include:

All reputable manufacturer products comply. Don't fit a cheap "import" motor that lacks force limiting — accident risk + non-compliance.

Common installation issues

Out-of-square opening: Old garages often have skewed or sagged openings. Measure carefully — if width or height varies more than 25mm corner to corner, frame needs adjusting or bespoke door ordered.

Rotted timber frame: Pre-1990s garages often have softwood frames around door. Inspect before quoting — replacement frame adds 1-2 hours and £80-150 materials.

Insufficient headroom: Sectional doors need ~250mm headroom above the opening for tracks. Many older garages have low ceilings — measure before quoting sectional.

Floor level: Concrete garage floors often slope to outside for drainage. Bottom seal must accommodate slope without gaps. Measure from highest floor point.

Power supply for electric: Need fused spur near the motor. Most modern garages have a power point; older ones may need new circuit. Quote separate electrical work if no power available.

Selling against online and DIY supply

Online suppliers (Garage Doors Online, GDO etc.) sell direct to homeowner. Trade fitter response:

Don't compete with online supply price; differentiate on install quality and warranty.

Worked example — sectional double insulated electric

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my existing motor with a new door?

Sometimes — if the motor brand/model matches the new door's drive system. Often the answer is no; new door + new motor as a matched system is more reliable and warrantable. Don't promise "your old motor will be fine" — it usually isn't.

How long do garage doors last?

Manual up-and-over: 20-30 years typical (springs may need replacing once at 10-15 years). Sectional: 15-25 years. Roller: 12-20 years (curtain is the wearing part). Electric motor: 8-15 years; cheaper motors 5-8 years.

Do I need planning permission for a new garage door?

Like-for-like replacement: no. Changing size of opening (wider, taller): yes (Building Regulations and possibly planning). Conservation area or listed building: planning consent often required even for like-for-like.

What's the headroom requirement for sectional doors?

Standard sectional: 100-200mm above opening, depending on track type. Low-headroom sectional kits available for 80mm. Always measure ceiling height inside garage at front and back before specifying sectional.

Will a roller door fit my narrow driveway?

Roller doors are great for narrow driveways — they roll vertically only, no projection outward. But they require headroom inside the garage for the head-box (300-400mm typically). Combination of narrow driveway + tall garage = ideal for roller.

Regulations & Standards