For many disabled people, the front door is the hardest part of leaving the house. Reaching the handle, turning a key, pulling the door and getting through before it swings back can be impossible from a wheelchair or with limited grip. An automatic opener takes all of that over, and the door still closes and locks behind you.
We fit openers to front and back doors, to internal doors such as bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens, and to patio or French doors onto the garden. They are controlled by whatever suits the person using them: a wall button, a remote fob, a wristband, a pendant or a switch on a wheelchair.
Every job starts with a free home survey, where we look at the door and talk through how it will be used, followed by a fixed written quote with prices including VAT. If an occupational therapist has already assessed the home, their recommendations are a good place to start.
- Doors it suits
- Front, back, internal and patio doors
- Typical lead time
- typically 2 to 4 weeks
- Prices shown
- Including VAT
- Safety reference
- BS EN 16005
How does a home door opener work?
A home door opener is a compact operator fixed to the top of the door or frame, with an arm that pushes or pulls the door open and then closes it again. It runs gently and slowly, so it suits a home where children, pets and visitors are about, and most run from an ordinary plug-in or wired supply.
When you press a button or a fob, the opener releases the lock if one is fitted, opens the door, waits while you go through and then closes it. If the door meets something on the way, it stops or reverses. The speed, the time it stays open and the force are all set to suit the person using it.
Which doors at home can be automated?
Almost any door that hangs properly on sound hinges can have an opener, including uPVC, composite, timber and aluminium doors. The front door is the most common, but bedroom, bathroom and kitchen doors are often done too, so someone can move around the house without waiting for help.
- Front and back doors: usually paired with an electric lock so the door is secure whenever it is closed.
- Internal doors: bathroom, bedroom and living room doors, often on a wall button or wristband.
- Patio and French doors: double doors can take two openers working together, giving access to the garden.
- Porch doors: an inner and outer door can open in sequence from a single press of the fob.
Will the door still lock and stay secure?
Yes, a home opener is fitted so the door locks as it does now, or more securely. On front and back doors, the usual approach is an electric lock or electric keep that releases when the opener is triggered and locks again as the door closes. The door can still be locked and opened with a key as normal.
Fobs and wristbands use coded radio signals, and a lost one can be removed from the system. Some households link the opener to a video doorbell or intercom so the person indoors can let a carer in without going to the door. We look at your current locks at the survey and recommend the simplest secure option.
What happens if there is a power cut?
In a power cut, the door can be opened and closed by hand like a normal door, and electric locks are chosen so nobody is locked in. If getting in and out during a power cut matters, a battery back-up can keep the opener working for a limited number of openings.
It is worth agreeing a plan with carers or family for a longer power cut, such as leaving a key with a neighbour. We explain exactly how your door behaves without power when we hand it over, and leave written instructions.
A home opener should be serviced regularly to keep it running smoothly and safely. We suggest a check by a trained engineer at least once a year, and we explain at handover what else suits your door.
Can I get help paying for a door opener?
Help is sometimes available. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Disabled Facilities Grants can sometimes help pay for door openers in the home, and in Scotland councils help through their Scheme of Assistance. Your local council or housing authority decides, the help is means-tested, and approval is needed before any work starts. The process usually begins with an occupational therapist's assessment.
Eligible disabled people may be able to have the installation zero-rated for VAT where HMRC's conditions are met. We can explain what information HMRC asks for, but we cannot promise the relief will apply. If you rent, speak to your landlord or housing provider first, as they may arrange or fund the work themselves.
Our guide to home automatic door openers covers grants, choices and costs in more detail.
What happens at the home survey and on fitting day?
At the free survey we look at the door, frame, hinges, lock and where power can come from, and we talk to the person who will use the door, with their carers if they wish. We also check the space around the door, so it does not swing awkwardly into a narrow hallway, a step or a ramp.
Lead time is typically 2 to 4 weeks once you accept the quote, and most single doors are fitted in a day with very little mess. Before we leave, the opener is set up, tested and shown to everyone who will use it. As a home customer you have cancellation rights, which are set out with your quote along with the warranty terms.
Which control suits the person using the door?
| Option | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Wall button | A large push button inside and out | People who can reach a fixed point easily |
| Remote fob | A small keyring transmitter | Opening the door on approach, from the car or the garden |
| Wristband or pendant | A wearable transmitter with one large button | People with limited grip who may drop a fob |
| Wheelchair-mounted switch | A transmitter fixed to the chair | Power chair users who want the control within reach |
| Intercom or video doorbell link | Opens the door for a visitor from indoors | Letting carers in without going to the door |
| Smart-home link | Opening from a phone app or voice assistant | Households already using smart-home controls |
How much does a home automatic door opener cost?
A home door opener, supplied and fitted to one door with its controls, is typically £1,495 to £2,995 inc VAT as a guide. The table shows what moves the price; your written quote is the price you pay.
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Door opener for one door, with wall button and remote fob | £1,495 – £2,995 | fitted, inc VAT |
| Opener plus electric lock or hands-free proximity tag | £2,495 – £3,995 | fitted, inc VAT |
| Openers on two doors, for example front door and one internal door | £2,795 – £5,495 | fitted, inc VAT |
| Battery backup for power cuts | £295 – £595 | fitted, inc VAT |
Prices include VAT at 20%. If you are eligible for VAT relief as a disabled person, the installation work may be zero-rated under HMRC rules; we will tell you on the quote if we think it applies and ask you to sign an eligibility declaration. Your council (or, in Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive) can sometimes help with the cost through a grant, but it must be approved before work starts.
Standards and the law
Grants and VAT relief for home door openers differ across the UK. Disabled Facilities Grants are up to £30,000 in England, up to £36,000 in Wales and up to £25,000 in Northern Ireland (through the Housing Executive). Scotland does not have Disabled Facilities Grants; councils help through their Scheme of Assistance. All grants are means-tested and need approval before work starts, so check with your council.
Eligible disabled people may be able to have the installation zero-rated for VAT under HM Revenue and Customs rules. We will tell you on the quote if we think it may apply.
Each county and town page carries the grant and VAT relief details for its own nation.
Questions about home automatic door openers
Will an opener work with our uPVC front door?
Usually, yes. Most uPVC and composite doors can take an opener if they hang well and the multipoint lock is in good order. The opener is often paired with an electric lock or keep so the door locks itself as it closes. We check the door and lock at the free survey before recommending anything.
Can my carer still get in?
Yes. Carers can have their own fob, a key or a code, depending on the lock. Some families link the opener to a video doorbell or intercom so the person indoors can let a carer in from their chair. If you already use a key safe, it carries on working as it does now.
Do we need an occupational therapist's assessment first?
Not to buy an opener privately. If you are applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant or similar help, the council or housing authority will usually want an occupational therapist's assessment first. Even without a grant, an assessment can help decide which doors matter most and which controls will suit.
Is VAT charged on home door openers?
Our home prices include VAT. Relief from VAT is possible on some work and equipment for disabled people, but only where HMRC's conditions are met, and the price would then change. We can explain what HMRC asks for, but whether relief applies depends on your circumstances, so we never promise it.
Is a home door opener safe with children and pets?
Home openers run slowly and with limited force, and they stop or reverse if the door meets something. A safety sensor can be added where small children or pets are often near the door. Controls can be placed out of children's reach, and the opener can be switched to manual whenever you need.
What if we move house?
An opener can often be removed and refitted at a new home if the new door suits it, though fixings and controls may need changing. If the opener was paid for with a grant, check with the council first. We can quote for removal and refitting once you know which door it will go on.
Can you fit openers to internal doors?
Yes. Bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and living room doors are common, usually on a wall button, wristband or the same fob as the front door. Internal doors are often lighter, so the opener can be smaller and the work quicker. Thresholds and door widths are checked at the survey too.
How noisy is a home door opener?
Quiet enough for a home. You will hear a soft motor sound while the door moves and a click from an electric lock. If an opener becomes louder over time, it usually needs adjusting or a service, so let us know rather than putting up with it.
