The cost of fitting an armoured door generally ranges between €250 and €900, depending on the type of work involved.
A new installation into an opening that is already prepared has a lower cost, while replacing an existing door can take more time and therefore call for a bigger investment.
If instead we look at the overall cost, that is to say the armoured door plus installation, the prices change significantly.
An armoured door starts at around €2,500 + VAT for entry-level models, sits at about €3,000 + VAT for an RC3 internal door and easily exceeds €4,000 + VAT for an RC4. More advanced solutions, such as doors with glass or electronic components, can even reach €10,000 to €12,000.
The price difference does not depend on the product alone, but also on the type of installation.
In particular, it is essential to distinguish between installation with a subframe and installation without a subframe, two very different situations in terms of complexity, time and cost.
In this guide we look at how much it really costs to fit an armoured door, what the price depends on and which factors can push it up, so you have a clear picture before requesting a quote.
How much does it cost to fit a front door?
If you want to find out how much it costs to have an armoured door fitted, you should know that the price varies according to the type of work and the complexity of the installation.
There is no single price, but fairly precise ranges that help you get your bearings.
Here are the current average prices:
| Type of installation | Price range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New installation | €250 – €350 | Opening already prepared, only the frame and leaf are fitted |
| Replacing an existing door | €400 – €900 | Includes removing and disposing of the old door |
| Armoured door with glass | €500 – €1,000 | Greater care needed during installation |
| Flush-to-wall or made-to-measure door | €500 – €1,000 | Calls for precision and possible building work |
These figures refer to labour only and can vary depending on several factors, such as the condition of the masonry, whether a subframe is present and how easy it is to access the home.
One aspect that is often underestimated is that installation is not a standard operation.
Even a high-quality door, if fitted badly, can lose much of its performance in terms of security, acoustic insulation and airtightness.
This is why it is essential to rely on specialist technicians.
At Ariete, for example, every installation is carried out by in-house staff, trained at the Accademia della Posa in Opera (the Italian Accademia della Posa in Opera), one of the most advanced institutions in Italy for training window and door fitters.
This approach makes it possible to guarantee a precise installation that matches the performance of the door.
Cost of fitting an armoured door with or without a subframe
When we talk about the installation cost of an armoured door, there is one element that matters more than any other: the subframe.
If you have never heard this term before, that is perfectly normal.
The subframe is a metal structure fixed into the wall, inside the door opening.
It is the base on which the armoured door is then mounted and its job is to connect the door securely to the masonry.
To understand better why it matters so much, it can help to have a general idea of how an armoured door is made.
Put simply, an armoured door is made up of three main parts: the subframe, the frame and the leaf (the door itself).
- The subframe is the base fixed into the wall (in the photo above, it is the second element from the right, the grey metal one);
- the frame is the structure the door hooks onto (in the photo above, it is the element to the left of the subframe, the white one);
- the leaf is the part that opens and closes (it is made up of a shell and the inner and outer panels).
It is the subframe that supports the whole system. For this reason, whether or not it is present completely changes the type of work to be carried out.
In the first case, the subframe is already in place.
This often happens in new builds or renovations, when it is installed directly by the building firm.
In these situations the work is simpler: the frame is mounted onto the existing subframe, the leaf is fitted and the final adjustments are made.
This is therefore a quicker and less invasive installation, with generally lower costs.
In the second case, however, the subframe is not there or has to be replaced.
This is what happens in most homes that are already lived in, when the decision is made to replace an existing armoured door.
In these situations the work is more involved because it includes removing the old door, installing the new subframe and fixing it with chemical anchors before the new door can be fitted.
This type of work calls for more time, greater precision and more careful handling of the masonry, which is why the costs go up.
To understand better what this stage involves, below you can see a real example of a subframe being installed.
The subframe, in fact, is not a technical detail but a key element for the door to work properly.
If fitted badly, it can cause problems over time such as difficulty closing, draughts, noise leaking through or a drop in security performance.
To achieve a reliable result it is important that the fixing is done with suitable systems, such as threaded bars and chemical anchors, which guarantee a stable, long-lasting hold.
In this kind of work, the quality of the installation is decisive.
Relying on specialist technicians allows the armoured door to keep the performance it was designed for over time, both in terms of security and insulation.
How much it costs to fit an armoured door: several real cases
To understand better how much you really spend on fitting an armoured door, it helps to look at a few concrete situations.
In the simplest case, that is to say when the opening is already prepared and the subframe is present and in good condition, the cost generally falls between €250 and €350. In these situations the work is quick and requires no intervention on the masonry.
When it comes to replacing an existing door, however, the cost rises because the old structure has to be removed, the opening checked and adapted to the new door. In these cases it easily reaches €400 to €900, depending on the complexity.
If the subframe has to be redone or the masonry needs work, the job becomes longer and more delicate. Here the price depends very much on the specific situation and can go above the standard ranges.
The type of door also makes a difference. A door with glass, made to measure or with special features calls for more care during installation and longer times, with a direct impact on the cost.
These examples help to explain why it is hard to give a single price valid for every case: the real cost always depends on the state of the opening and the type of work required.
Is building work needed to fit an armoured door?
One of the most common questions is whether installing an armoured door means breaking into the wall.
The honest answer is: yes, the wall is almost always affected, but in most cases this is not visible once the job is finished.
When an existing door is replaced, in fact, the technician has to remove the old structure, which is fixed to the masonry.
This operation inevitably involves a small amount of damage to the wall around the door opening.
The difference lies in how it is managed.
In the vast majority of installations, after fitting the new subframe, the frame and the leaf, the architrave trims are applied, that is to say finishing elements that fully cover the affected area.
This way the final result is clean, with no need for further work.
For this reason, in most cases, there is no need for a builder or a decorator.
There are, however, some particular situations, even if less common, where the damage is more extensive.
This happens above all when the old frame is set deep into the masonry, or in very old homes or in historic settings.
In these cases, in order to remove the old door correctly and install the new one, more invasive work may be needed.
Sometimes it is still possible to cover everything with wider architrave trims, but if this is not enough, or if you want a more precise finish, a builder may be useful to make good the wall and repaint it.
This is, in any case, a minority of cases (around 10%), but it is important to know in advance so you have the right expectations about the job.
How an armoured door is fitted (explained simply)
At this point it helps to understand, in simple terms, how an armoured door is actually fitted.
This makes it easier to understand what the time, cost and quality of the final result depend on.
The first step is removing the existing door, when there is one. At this stage the old structure is fully dismantled and the opening is prepared for the new installation.
Next the work moves on to the subframe, which may already be in place or need installing. This element is fixed to the masonry and is the base on which the whole door will be mounted.
Once the structure is prepared, the frame is fitted, and it must be positioned with precision. At this stage it is essential to check that it is perfectly level and plumb, because even small misalignments can compromise how the door works.
At this point the leaf is fitted, that is to say the door itself.
After fitting, it is time for the adjustments: the door must close smoothly, without friction, and all the locking points must line up perfectly.
Finally the finishing touches are completed, applying the architrave trims and the seals, which serve to cover the affected masonry and to ensure good insulation from air and noise.
Every stage has a direct impact on the final result. An installation done correctly allows the armoured door to work precisely and to keep its performance over time.
On the other hand, a sloppy installation can cause problems within a short time, such as difficulty closing, draughts or loss of insulation.
This is why it is important that the work is carried out by qualified staff.
At Ariete, for example, installation is entrusted exclusively to in-house technicians, trained at the Accademia della Posa in Opera (the Italian Accademia della Posa in Opera), following standardised procedures that guarantee a precise, long-lasting result.
Can the cost of installing an armoured door be deducted?
Yes, both the purchase and the installation of an armoured door can qualify for tax relief, but only under certain conditions.
The most common case is the Italian security bonus, which allows you to deduct 50% of the cost for work aimed at preventing criminal acts, which includes armoured doors.
The relief applies to the whole project, so not only the cost of the door, but also transport, installation and any disposal of the old door.
Provided that everything is properly documented on the invoice.
To be able to claim the relief, the following are required:
- the work is carried out on an existing property (not a new build);
- the door is certified as burglar-resistant;
- payment is made by traceable bank transfer (the Italian “bonifico parlante”).
Alternatively, the cost can also fall under the Italian Renovation Bonus, if the work is part of a wider building project.
One important point concerns the ENEA submission (to Italy’s energy agency).
This is required only in certain specific cases, for example when the door separates a heated space from an unheated one, such as a flat and the stairwell, because the work also has an impact on thermal insulation.
In all other cases, it is not needed.
Frequently asked questions
The cost of fitting an armoured door generally ranges between €250 and €900, depending on the type of work. The simplest installations, into an opening that is already prepared, fall into the lower ranges, while replacements or more complex installations take more time and therefore cost more.
In most cases yes, especially when it comes to a replacement. However, it is always wise to check in the quote that both the removal and the disposal of the old front door are included, to avoid extra costs.
In most cases no. During the replacement of the armoured door the wall is slightly affected, but this part is covered by the architrave trims. Only in particular situations, such as deeply set frames or old masonry, may a builder be needed.
A standard installation of an armoured front door generally takes between 2 and 4 hours. If the subframe also needs replacing, the whole replacement can take up to 6 hours. In very complex cases, such as armoured front doors with glazed components or electronic accessories, the installation can take up to 8 hours.
They are generally professional technicians, window and door fitters, joiners or locksmiths. At Ariete, every armoured front door is installed by in-house, specialist fitters, trained at the Accademia della Posa in Opera in Genoa (the Italian Accademia della Posa in Opera). Usually, when you decide to buy, you rely on a company that handles the supply, the transport and the installation of the armoured door.
Conclusion
The cost of fitting an armoured door does not depend only on the price of the door, but above all on the type of installation and the condition of the opening it has to go into.
In most cases it is a quick and manageable job, with clear costs and no need for additional work.
In some situations, however, factors can come into play that increase the time and complexity, such as replacing the subframe or particular conditions of the masonry.
This is precisely why the best way to get an accurate price is to always start from a real assessment of the situation. Only then can you avoid surprises and choose the solution best suited to your needs.
Beyond the numbers, the most important aspect remains the quality of the installation.
An armoured door, even a top-quality one, can lose much of its performance if fitted incorrectly.
On the other hand, an installation carried out with care guarantees security, insulation and durability over time.
If you would like to replace your armoured door, fill in the form below and get a real indication of the costs for buying and installing your new Ariete front door.
