Prices
How much does an up-and-over garage door cost in the UK?
A manual steel up-and-over garage door installed in the UK typically costs £995, range £850–£1,900, and the electric version costs £1,500, range £1,500–£2,500, both inc. VAT and fitting against a 2290mm × 2250mm reference opening. Retractable gear, not canopy gear, is needed for reliable automation.
Up-and-over is the most common and usually the cheapest UK garage door type. This page covers real installed pricing and the canopy-versus-retractable gear distinction that actually drives cost and suitability, not the US torsion/extension framing you will see on much competitor content.
Canopy gear vs retractable gear — the price and suitability question
A UK up-and-over door is fitted with one of two gear types, and which one it has matters more to price and options than any other single spec point. Canopy gear has its springs mounted on the head of the frame, with roughly a third of the door projecting out over the driveway when open; it is limited to a maximum width of around 2438mm and automates poorly, so many installers will not recommend electrifying a canopy door. Retractable gear has springs mounted on tracks down both sides of the frame, the whole door retracts fully inside the garage when open, it handles openings up to around 5m wide, and it is the gear type required on double doors and the type manufacturers specify for electric operation.
Why up-and-over is usually the cheapest option
Up-and-over is mechanically the simplest common UK garage door — a single steel panel pivoting on a fixed track and counterbalanced by springs — which keeps manufacturing and fitting costs down compared with sectional or side-hinged doors. The trade-off is that the open door projects out over the driveway (more so with canopy gear) and insulation on a basic steel panel is typically lower than an insulated sectional or roller door of the same price bracket.
Insulated vs single-skin panels
Within the £995 manual reference figure, spec varies: a basic single-skin steel panel sits at the lower end of the £850–£1,900 range, while a double-skin insulated panel sits toward the upper end. If thermal performance matters — an integral garage used as a utility space, for example — ask specifically whether the quoted panel is insulated, because "up-and-over" alone does not tell you.
Safety note on gear and springs
Both canopy and retractable gear rely on springs under significant tension to counterbalance the weight of the door. Never attempt to adjust, remove or repair an up-and-over door's springs or gear yourself — they store enough energy to cause serious injury, and correct adjustment requires an engineer with the right winding bars and technique. A spring pair replacement typically costs £150–£350 inc. VAT when done by an engineer.
| Item | Headline | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Manual, steel | £995 | £850–£1,900 |
| Electric | £1,500 | £1,500–£2,500 |
| Manual-to-electric retrofit | £400–£650 | £400–£650 |
| Removal and disposal of old door | £200–£300 | £200–£300 |
All figures include VAT and standard installation against the 2290mm × 2250mm reference opening. London and the South East typically add 15–25%.
Questions people ask
- What is the cheapest garage door type in the UK?
- A manual, single-skin steel up-and-over door is normally the cheapest UK garage door type, with a typical installed headline of £995 inc. VAT and fitting against the reference opening, and a realistic range of £850–£1,900 depending on panel spec and access.
- What is the difference between canopy and retractable gear?
- Canopy gear mounts springs on the head of the frame with part of the door projecting outward when open, and is limited to roughly 2438mm wide; retractable gear mounts springs down both sides, retracts fully inside the garage, handles openings up to around 5m, and is required on UK double doors and for reliable automation.
- Can a canopy gear up-and-over door be made electric?
- Some canopy doors can be automated, but retractable gear is what manufacturers specify for electric operation and many UK installers will not recommend or warrant electrifying a canopy door. If automation matters, ask an installer to assess your existing gear before assuming a straightforward retrofit at £400–£650 is possible.
- How wide can an up-and-over garage door be?
- Canopy gear tops out at roughly 2438mm wide in typical UK products, while retractable gear handles openings up to around 5m and is the gear type used on double garage doors. Anything wider than a single opening should be specified with retractable gear from the outset.
UK standards and regulations referenced
- BS EN 13241
- BS EN 12453:2017+A1:2021
Related
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