Door Entry System Installation Costs


Door entry intercom installation costs.


“What is the cost of installing a door entry system in Edinburgh?”

When replacing an Edinburgh tenement door entry system this will be the question all owners of properties in the block will want answered before committing to proceed.

The answer, naturally enough, is “it depends”. What it depends on we will cover below but as guidance:

  • For a six property system allow £275 to £325 per property (£1,650 to £1,950 total)
  • For a 12 property system allow £225 to £275 per property (£2.700 to £3,300 total)

Note these costs offer guidance only; they include parts and labour but not VAT when applicable.

Before getting the requisite “three quotes” for a new door entry system we’d recommend seeking agreement in principal from all property owners in a tenement to spend amounts around those shown (See “Arranging Communal Works”). Not only will you save your time but a tradesperson will be far more predisposed to providing a quote if they know a budget has been agreed AND, better still, that some of the “it depends” factors have, at least, been discussed, if not actually agreed upon.

Another “danger” with just going ahead and getting three quotes WITHOUT some sort of specification for a contractor to work towards is that your requirements are open to interpretation.

  • You cannot then compare like with like. Meaning you may actually get better value from a more expensive estimate.
  • One contractor may put in a low quote using lower quality components / systems that fail as soon as the warranty expires.

What factors affect the cost of a door entry system installation?

1. System Specification

  • The biggest impact on the cost of a new or replacement door entry system is the specification of the system you choose:
    • Audio Only or Audio & Visual
    • Privacy buttons on handsets (Stops your handset ringing when “on”)
    • Inclusion of a service button on intercom
    • Vandal resistant or not
    • Material used for access panel (Brass v’s polished steel)
    • Engraving, printing or removable labels on intercom panel
    • Level of lock security
    • Key fob or touch pad entry
    • App enabled intercoms
    • Wireless options
  • As with most things the higher specification and better quality systems have a correspondingly higher cost. For example some handsets can cost as little as £15 while others – with audio & visual – can be £250 or more.
Door Intercom Installation costs
Key Fob Door Entry System
Door Entry Installation Costs
Handset with Audio & Visual

2. Installing New OR Replacing Existing Door Entry System

  • On one hand replacing an existing door entry system can make things cheaper…
  • No need for new electrical connections, wiring or circuit breakers
  • Lines of existing cabling can be followed or even the cabling could be reused.
  • Other elements of existing system (e.g. handsets) could be reusable (though it may not always be advisable)
  • ….but some times it makes it more expensive:
    • The need to strip out an existing system can take time
    • If trying to reuse existing elements the cost saved in parts can be outweighed by the labour charged checking things will & do work.

3. Joinery Work

  • Supplying and installing a door entry system could be only one part of the cost. Consideration should also be given to any joinery work that may be required
    • Replacing or Adjusting a Door closer: – You’ll want to ensure the new door entry system closes and locks the door but does so without such a bang as to disturb ground floor flats.
    • Strengthening a door or door frame: -there’s little point spending £2,000 on a door entry system if the door or frame bursts open in the first strong breeze.
    • Lock Fitting: -Usually included in the fitting of a Door Entry System but some instances may require specialist joiner skills.

4. Moving an intercom entry panel from an inner to an outer door

  • Many tenements (particularly round Easter Road, Abbeyhill and Leith Walk) have an inner and outer door with the intercom between the two.
  • Moving the intercom to outside the outer door will affect costs but not as much as some of the other factors mentioned above.

Arrange a door entry system installation now: