8 Best External Door Companies for UK Homeowners (2026)

Choosing a new front or back door is really two decisions. The first is the door itself. The second, which people often think about too late, is the company: how you buy, who fits it, how long you wait and what happens if something goes wrong in year four.

Those differences are bigger than most brochures admit. Some companies only sell through local installers. Some send a surveyor and handle everything. Some sell direct online and leave the fitting to you. None of these is wrong, but each suits a different kind of homeowner.

There is also a legal baseline every company has to meet. A replacement external door in England should achieve a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better, according toPart L guidance summarised by Pilkington, so any company worth shortlisting should be able to show you certified figures for the exact door you are buying.

The short answer: Latham's suits homeowners who want a steel security door and are happy to arrange fitting, Anglian suits people who want one company to handle everything, and Solidor or Rockdoor are dependable choices for a fitted composite through a local installer.

At a glance

Rank	Company	Door materials	How you buy	Best for
1	Latham's	Steel	Direct online, supply only	Security-first buyers
2	Anglian Home Improvements	Composite, uPVC, timber, aluminium	Survey and full installation	Hands-off buyers
3	Solidor	Timber-core composite	Approved local installers	Composite with colour choice
4	Rockdoor	Reinforced composite	Trained local installers	Composite with extra strength
5	Apeer	Foam-core composite	Independent installers	Warm, thick composites
6	Hörmann	Steel and aluminium	Partner dealers	Contemporary designs
7	The Sash Window Workshop	Timber	Installed or supply only	Period and bespoke timber
8	Doors4Security	Steel	Direct, supply only	Outbuildings and budget steel

The best external door companies, reviewed

1. Latham's Steel Doors

• Door materials:Galvanised steel leaves on steel-reinforced uPVC frames
• Buying model:Online or by phone, delivered nationwide
• Fitting:Supply only, with a list of recommended installers
• Guarantees:Anti-burglary guarantee on front doors
• Reputation:More than 4,000 Trustpilot reviews
• Best for:Homeowners who want a steel door and are comfortable hiring their own fitter

Latham's began in 2011 making steel doors for commercial buildings and launched a residential range in 2026, covering flush, six-panel and cottage front doors plus a back door. All are Secured by Design accredited and A-rated. The Latham's security front door range lists prices and options on its website, so buyers can compare costs before speaking to anyone.

Worth knowing: Because fitting is not included, you handle measuring and booking an installer yourself.

2. Anglian Home Improvements

• Door materials:Composite, uPVC, timber and aluminium
• Buying model:Home survey, fixed fitted price
• Fitting:Included, by Anglian's own teams
• Guarantees:Insurance-backed 10 years on parts and labour, 30 years against rot on timber doors
• Reputation:3.9 on Trustpilot across roughly 40,000 reviews
• Best for:People who want one company to measure, make, fit and look after the door

Anglian has been making and installing home improvements for more than 55 years, and its doors carry the Made in Britain mark. The insurance backing means your guarantee survives even if the company does not. Finance is available from a £249 deposit.

Worth knowing: Expect a traditional sales process with a home visit, and compare the quote carefully against a local installer's price.

3. Solidor

• Door materials:Solid timber-core composite, 48mm thick
• Buying model:Design online, then get a quote from an approved installer
• Fitting:By the approved installer
• Guarantees:Ultion cylinder with a £2,000 anti-snap payment; installer guarantees vary
• Reputation:One of the most recognised composite brands in the UK
• Best for:Homeowners who want a fitted composite in a wide choice of colours

Solidor offers 23 colours inside and out, plus French doors, stable doors and a mobility threshold option. Its online door designer makes it easy to see a finished door before speaking to anyone. The company holds BSI Kitemark and ISO 9001 accreditation.

Worth knowing: Your experience depends heavily on the installer you choose, so check their reviews and the guarantee they add.

4. Rockdoor

• Door materials:Composite with an aluminium-reinforced inner frame
• Buying model:Enter your postcode to find a trained local installer
• Fitting:By the installer
• Guarantees:£2,000 security guarantee on cylinders, 10 years on the outer frame and glazed unit
• Reputation:Over 25 years in composite door manufacturing
• Best for:Buyers who want a composite with additional structural reinforcement

Rockdoor builds every door in Britain and offers an optional steel mesh for extra protection. Its 3D designer covers thousands of style, glass and colour combinations. Emergency services are trained to break through a Rockdoor with specialist equipment if they need to.

Worth knowing: Prices are not published, so you will need at least two installer quotes to judge value.

5. Apeer

• Door materials:Foam-core composite in 44mm, 70mm and 120mm thicknesses
• Buying model:Through independent window and door companies
• Fitting:By the installer
• Guarantees:Set by the installer
• Reputation:Well known in the trade for independently tested energy figures
• Best for:Homeowners who want a thick, warm composite door

Apeer manufactures in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, and its 70mm range pairs steel reinforcement with a declared U-value of around 0.9 W/m²K. Its 44mm range covers the more affordable end of the market.

Worth knowing: Apeer has a lower consumer profile, so finding a stockist may take a little more searching.

6. Hörmann

• Door materials:Steel (Thermo65) and aluminium (ThermoCarbon, ThermoSafe)
• Buying model:Through Hörmann partner dealers
• Fitting:By the dealer
• Guarantees:Vary by product and dealer
• Reputation:One of Europe's largest door manufacturers
• Best for:Contemporary homes that want sleek steel or aluminium

Hörmann's aluminium ThermoCarbon door reaches U-values as low as 0.47 W/m²K and fits RC3 five-point locking as standard, one of the lowest U-values we found.

Worth knowing: Its premium aluminium doors sit well above typical composite prices.

7. The Sash Window Workshop

• Door materials:Bespoke timber, using Accoya as standard
• Buying model:Quote and survey, or supply only nationwide
• Fitting:Installed across London and Southern England
• Guarantees:50-year anti-rot guarantee on Accoya timber
• Reputation:Around half of orders come from recommendations and repeat customers
• Best for:Period homes that need a door made to match the original

Every door is made in the company's Berkshire workshop and finished with ironmongery fitted, which suits Georgian, Victorian and interwar homes.

Worth knowing: Bespoke joinery takes longer and costs more than an off-the-shelf door.

8. Doors4Security

• Door materials:Steel security doors
• Buying model:Direct from the manufacturer in Congleton, Cheshire
• Fitting:Supply only
• Guarantees:Check at order
• Reputation:Small but positive Trustpilot profile
• Best for:Garages, workshops and practical rear or side entrances

Doors4Security holds stock for quick delivery and powder coats doors in any RAL or BS colour. Customers often mention the adjustable frame making DIY fitting easier.

Worth knowing: Its range is aimed at security and utility rather than decorative front doors.

How to choose the right door company

Match the company to how much of the project you want to handle yourself:

• Want it all done for you?Choose a company that surveys, supplies and fits, and check that the guarantee is insurance-backed.
• Happy to hire your own fitter?Buying direct from a manufacturer usually gives you clearer pricing and more control over the specification.
• Buying through an installer?The installer's workmanship guarantee is as important as the door brand. Ask who fixes problems in year five.
• Ask for paperwork.Any reputable company should provide the door's security certificate and energy rating before you pay a deposit.

How we chose

We compared UK companies selling external doors to homeowners, looking at materials, buying model, published guarantees, independent certification and customer reputation as of September 2026. We weighted security and transparency of pricing most heavily. Guarantees and prices change, so confirm current terms with each company.

The bottom line

The right door company depends on how you want to buy. Direct manufacturers suit buyers who want control over specification and price, national firms suit those who want everything handled, and local installers of brands such as Solidor, Rockdoor and Apeer sit in between. Whichever route you take, ask for the certificates first and the deposit second.