Published UK market figures place standard aluminium sliding door sets at around £1,800 to £4,200, bifolding doors at £3,000 to £7,500+, and residential curtain walling from approximately £1,750 per square metre. These are early budgeting figures rather than AGS prices. The final cost depends on the system, glass, access and installation requirements.
This guide explains what affects the price and what we need to provide a reliable quotation.
Why experience matters when pricing glazing
We are retail glazing specialists. Our work includes shopfronts and storefronts for national brands such as Apple, Beaverbrooks, Goldsmiths and Hugo Boss, where accurate planning and reliable delivery are essential. After nearly twenty years and more than 3,000 projects, we apply the same approach to commercial packages and selected domestic work.
We design, manufacture and install from our own factory in Halifax, using our own installation teams. Keeping the survey, drawings, manufacture and installation with one company helps us identify problems early and price the work properly.
We are also honest about where we sit. If price is the only consideration, we may not be the right company. If you want the project understood and delivered properly, we are worth speaking
Costs by glazing type
Aluminium bifolding doors
Aluminium bifolding doors generally cost between £3,000 and £7,500+ installed. Opening width, panel number, threshold detail, hardware and glass specification all affect the quotation. Tall or unusually wide panels may also require heavier-duty components and more involved handling.
Premium systems can sit above published market ranges. The right choice depends on the panel sizes, sightlines and performance the project actually needs.
Aluminium sliding doors
Standard aluminium sliding doors are typically priced between £1,800 and £4,200 installed, while slimline systems often start from around £5,000.
The number of moving panels, overall dimensions, sightlines and threshold arrangement have the greatest effect on cost. Oversized glass may need specialist lifting equipment and a larger installation team.
Aluminium windows
Published market prices for standard aluminium windows are commonly between £350 and £600 per unit, including installation. Bespoke shapes, large fixed panes, specialist glass and non-standard finishes increase the cost.
For a complete home, extension or commercial project, a package quotation is more useful than multiplying a standard unit price. It accounts for the actual specification, delivery and installation requirements.
Glass balustrading
Supply-only prices for glass balustrading commonly start at around £169 per linear metre and rise to approximately £338 per metre for some frameless systems.
These figures exclude installation, structural fixings and access equipment. External and elevated balustrades also have different structural and safety requirements from internal staircase installations.
Glazed rooflights
We price glazed rooflights individually because published figures often refer to standard domestic roof lanterns rather than flat structural rooflights or large architectural units.
Size, glass specification, upstand details and access to roof level all affect the price. A large single pane that requires craning or vacuum lifting will cost more to install than a smaller unit with straightforward access.
Aluminium shopfronts
A simple single-bay aluminium shopfront may cost between £2,000 and £5,000 at a standard shopfitting specification. Multi-bay elevations, frameless entrances, curtain-wall-style frontages and projects built to detailed brand standards cost considerably more.
We price shopfronts from drawings because two frontages of the same size may have very different door arrangements, glass, finishes and site requirements. Retail projects can also involve restricted access, phasing and out-of-hours installation.
What affects the cost of architectural glazing?
Size and specification
Larger panes require more material and may need thicker glass, stronger profiles and specialist handling. Moving elements also cost more than fixed glazing because they require additional hardware.
Toughened, laminated, acoustic, solar-control, low-iron and triple glazing can all increase the price. The specification should reflect the building rather than being upgraded unnecessarily.
Aluminium system and finish
Different systems suit different panel sizes, sightlines and performance requirements. We select from the systems we specify, including Schüco, Solarlux, Cortizo, Senior Architectural Systems and Exlabesa.
Premium systems, non-standard finishes and bespoke details such as curves, raking heads and frameless corners will usually cost more.
Access and installation
Scaffolding, lifting equipment, restricted access and out-of-hours working can affect installation costs. Structural openings, thresholds, drainage and interfaces with other trades must also be coordinated.
The quotation should confirm responsibility for removing existing glazing, disposal and making good, along with any thermal, safety, security, fire or acoustic requirements.
Domestic and commercial pricing
Homeowners often begin with a price per window, door set or opening. This is useful for early planning, but a quotation should confirm the specification, installation scope, exclusions and VAT treatment. A package price is usually more helpful for projects involving several glazed elements.
Commercial glazing is priced from drawings and a written specification. Project scale, structural requirements, site rules, phasing and coordination with other trades all affect the final cost, so a square-metre rate should only be used as an early budgeting guide.
Retail glazing leaves little room for error. That discipline shapes how we approach every project.
AGS Architectural Glass Systems
What a glazing quotation should include
A quotation should clearly define the system, glass, finishes, hardware, installation and any exclusions.
Our survey and drawings process confirms structural openings, access and installation requirements before manufacture. This helps explain why two apparently similar quotations may cover very different levels of work.
Frequently asked questions
Can glazing be priced per square metre?
Square-metre rates can help with early budgets for curtain walling, structural glazing and shopfronts. They should not be treated as final installed prices because the glass, profiles, openings, access and project responsibilities all affect cost.
Do published prices include fitting?
Sometimes. Consumer cost guides often quote supply and standard installation, while trade and component prices may be supply only. Always check the scope and VAT treatment before comparing figures.
Is aluminium glazing more expensive than uPVC?
Aluminium generally costs more than standard uPVC. It is chosen for its strength, slim sightlines, finish options and ability to accommodate larger panels. The useful comparison is whether each material can achieve the required design and performance.
Do I need drawings to obtain a quotation?
Drawings provide the best basis for an accurate quotation, particularly for commercial work or a complete domestic glazing package. If they are not yet available, we can still discuss the project and explain what information is needed next.
Is higher-performance glazing worth the additional cost?
It can be, where the building requires it. Thermally broken frames and insulating glass improve thermal performance, while solar-control and acoustic glass address specific comfort or location requirements.
Triple glazing costs more and adds weight, so it is not automatically the best option. Energy savings depend on the glazing, installation and wider building rather than the product alone.
