CARPENTRY PRICES · DOORS · SECOND FIX
Carpentry and Joinery Costs in London
Growchance’s general carpenter budgeting rate is £225 – £315 per person per day. Standard internal-door hanging typically costs £95 – £150 per door when grouped within suitable work. All guide prices exclude VAT.
Per-item rates below £225 apply to grouped work or larger projects. Standalone visits are subject to the £225 minimum charge.
STANDARD INTERNAL DOOR
GUIDE PRICEHOW PRICING WORKS
The clearest price depends on the type of work.
Defined tasks such as hanging doors or fitting skirting can often be priced per item or per linear metre. Open-ended repairs and varied site work may be better assessed using a day rate or fixed project quotation.
Growchance normally provides a fixed quotation for a defined and measured scope once the products and relevant site conditions are confirmed.
Per item
Suitable for repeatable tasks such as hanging standard internal doors, fitting handles or installing architrave around a defined doorway.
Per linear metre
Commonly used for standard skirting-board installation or removal where the profile, wall condition and total measured length are known.
Day or project rate
Useful for varied first-fix work, open-ended repairs or a group of different carpentry tasks that cannot be represented accurately by one item rate.
A task may have a lower per-item budgeting rate when several items are completed together. A standalone visit remains subject to the £225 minimum because travel, setup, protection, tools and working time still have to be allowed for.
CARPENTRY PRICE GUIDE
Typical residential carpentry prices in London.
These Growchance working ranges provide an initial budget for common residential carpentry tasks. All prices exclude VAT and assume ordinary working conditions unless stated otherwise.
Products and selected materials are normally separate. Final pricing depends on measurements, existing condition, specification, access and the complete agreed scope.
| Carpentry work | Guide price | Pricing basis |
|---|---|---|
| Internal doors | ||
| Hang standard internal door | £95 – £150 | Per door into a suitable existing lining or frame |
| Replace existing internal door | £120 – £180 | Per standard door; products and disposal separate |
| Fit supplied handles and latch | £25 – £45 | Per door when completed with suitable door work |
| Trim, ease or adjust existing door | £55 – £90 | Per door; standalone minimum charge still applies |
| Linings, frames and trims | ||
| Prepared standard door lining | £90 – £135 | Labour during suitable first-fix work |
| Install or replace lining/frame | £135 – £225 | Labour where removal, adjustment or additional fitting is needed |
| Architrave — one side | £40 – £65 | Standard doorway; product supply separate |
| Architrave — both sides | £70 – £110 | Standard doorway; product supply separate |
| Skirting and first fix | ||
| Fit standard MDF or softwood skirting | £10 – £16 | Per linear metre on prepared walls |
| Remove existing skirting | £3 – £6 | Per linear metre; bulky disposal separate |
| Timber stud framing — labour only | £22 – £35/m² | Standard framing only; finishes and materials separate |
| Timber stud framing — supplied and installed | £35 – £55/m² | Standard timber framing; plasterboard and finishes separate |
| Repairs and general work | ||
| Local frame or timber repair | £120 – £270 | Scope dependent; standalone minimum charge applies |
| General carpenter day rate | £225 – £315 | Per person per day for suitable open-ended or varied work |
Applies to standalone visits even where the individual task rate is lower.
VAT is added at the applicable rate to the final taxable quotation.
Doors, timber, ironmongery and specified products depend on the selected specification.
They are not a quotation. Period mouldings, hardwood, fire-rated assemblies, structural timber, hidden damage, bespoke work and unusually difficult access require individual assessment.
INTERNAL DOOR COSTS
How much does it cost to fit an internal door?
Hanging a standard internal door into a suitable existing lining or frame typically costs £95 – £150 per door excluding VAT when the work forms part of a suitable grouped project.
Replacement work costs more where the existing leaf must be removed, new ironmongery fitted or the opening requires adjustment.
Hang a standard door
£95 – £150Per door into a suitable existing lining or frame. Door leaf and selected ironmongery are separate.
Replace an existing door
£120 – £180Per standard internal door. Product supply, disposal, decoration and frame replacement are separate.
Fit handles and latch
£25 – £45Per door when completed with suitable hanging or replacement work. Handles and latch products are separate.
Adjust an existing door
£55 – £90Per door for suitable trimming, easing or adjustment. The standalone minimum charge still applies.
What standard hanging includes
- Checking the supplied leaf against the existing opening
- Normal trimming required for an appropriate fit
- Forming hinge recesses and fitting supplied hinges
- Hanging and making ordinary final adjustments
- Standard screws and installation fixings
What is normally separate
- The door leaf and delivery
- Handles, latches, locks and decorative ironmongery
- New or substantially altered linings and frames
- Removal and disposal of the existing door
- Filling, priming and final decoration unless specified
A single standard door may have a £95 – £150 task rate when grouped with other work, but a separate visit for one door remains subject to Growchance’s £225 minimum carpentry charge, excluding VAT.
THE COMPLETE OPENING
The door leaf is only one part of the cost.
A request to “fit a door” may involve only hanging a suitable leaf, or it may require a new lining, frame adjustments, architraves, handles, latches and making good.
Identifying the complete opening prevents a simple door-hanging rate from being applied to a substantially larger scope.
Prepared standard door lining
Install or replace lining/frame
Architrave — one side
Architrave — both sides
Fit supplied handles and latch
Older or previously altered openings may be uneven or non-standard. Final dimensions, product compatibility and door handing should be checked against the property before purchasing.
SKIRTING BOARD COSTS
How much does skirting-board fitting cost?
Fitting standard MDF or softwood skirting to prepared walls typically costs £10 – £16 per linear metre excluding VAT. Removing existing skirting normally adds £3 – £6 per linear metre.
Product supply, painting and substantial wall repairs remain separate unless the quotation specifically includes them.
Fit standard skirting
£10 – £16 / linear metreLabour and standard fixings on prepared walls. Skirting supply and final painting are separate.
Remove existing skirting
£3 – £6 / linear metreRemoval only. Bulky disposal and significant repairs revealed after removal are priced separately.
Normally included
- Normal cutting to the measured room layout
- Mitred external corners where appropriate
- Scribed internal joints for standard profiles
- Standard adhesive and installation fixings
- Normal filling of fixing holes
- Ordinary caulking at the wall junction
Normally separate
- Supply and delivery of the selected skirting product
- Priming, painting, staining or decorative finishing
- Substantial plaster repairs after removal
- Correction of badly uneven walls or floors
- Hardwood, special profiles or unusually tall skirting
- Profile matching, machining or bespoke manufacture
Victorian and Edwardian skirting can be taller, more detailed or difficult to match. Material, profile, room geometry and the condition of the walls should be checked rather than applying the standard per-metre rate automatically.
FIRST FIX · SECOND FIX
The two stages need different pricing methods.
First-fix carpentry deals with preparatory or concealed timber work. Second fix covers the visible doors, skirting, architraves and other finishing elements installed later.
Whole-project pricing should reflect the quantities, products and sequence required at each stage rather than treating all carpentry as one uninterrupted block of work.
PREPARATORY CONSTRUCTION
First-fix carpentry costs
Standard framing can use a measured rate where the construction is clearly defined. Structural repairs, joists and designed timber work require individual assessment.
- Standard timber stud framing — labour only
- £22 – £35/m²
- Standard stud framing — timber and installation
- £35 – £55/m²
- Prepared standard door lining — labour
- £90 – £135
- Timber grounds and noggins
- Project or day rate
- Joist or structural-timber work
- Price separately
Framing prices exclude plasterboard, plastering, decoration and other finishes unless the quotation states otherwise.
VISIBLE FINISHING WORK
Second-fix carpentry costs
Second fix is normally assembled from measurable items and lengths. A complete flat or house quotation combines the applicable doors, trims and finishing operations.
- Hang standard internal door
- £95 – £150
- Fit standard skirting
- £10 – £16/lm
- Architrave — one side of doorway
- £40 – £65
- Architrave — both sides
- £70 – £110
- Fit supplied handles and latch
- £25 – £45
Figures exclude VAT. Product supply, final decoration and substantial repairs or adjustment remain separate unless included expressly.
Plasterboard, services, plastering and drying may sit between the two carpentry stages. For that reason, five carpenter working days do not necessarily mean five consecutive calendar days.
Structural timber is not priced from a generic square-metre rate. Joist strengthening, load-carrying elements and timber around structural openings depend on the design and site condition.
REPAIRS AND SMALL JOBS
How much do carpentry repairs cost?
Repair costs depend on the condition of the retained timber and whether the cause is visible before work begins. Small task rates remain subject to Growchance’s £225 minimum standalone charge.
Where several adjustments or repairs are completed during one visit, the work may be quoted as a combined fixed scope or appropriate day rate.
Adjust a sticking internal door
£55 – £90Per suitable door for ordinary trimming, easing or adjustment. Standalone visits remain subject to the £225 minimum.
Repair a local frame section
£120 – £270Labour guidance for an appropriate localised repair or rebuild. Materials and concealed damage may alter the final scope.
Replace a small trim section
£90 – £180Labour when completed as part of another visit. Materials, profile matching and decoration are separate.
Period timber or moulding repair
Price separatelyExisting profile, timber condition, retained details and the required repair method must be assessed individually.
Why a minimum applies to small repairs
A short repair still requires travel, access, protection, setup, suitable tools, working time and cleanup. The minimum prevents a small task from being priced as though those project costs do not exist.
Several suitable tasks can often be combined into the same visit, provided they are described and assessed before the quotation is agreed.
Decay, moisture damage, unsuitable previous repairs or concealed movement may only become apparent after access or removal. Any work beyond the agreed visible scope should be explained and treated as a variation rather than added silently.
SPECIALIST DOOR INSTALLATION
Fire doors, heavy doors and non-standard work.
Door weight, construction, frame condition and performance requirements can change both the installation method and the price. These jobs should be assessed against the exact door, frame and ironmongery proposed for the property.
LABOUR GUIDANCE
FD30 door leaf
£160 – £270
Labour guidance for fitting an FD30 leaf into an existing frame only where that frame has first been confirmed as suitable for the proposed certified assembly. The door, compatible ironmongery and other required components are additional.
LABOUR GUIDANCE
Heavy or glazed internal door
£140 – £225
A heavier door may require additional handling, suitable hinges, more detailed frame preparation and careful adjustment. Particularly heavy or unusual products are assessed and priced separately.
PROJECT-SPECIFIC
Oversized or bespoke doorsets
Price separately
Oversized doors, specialist sliding systems, unusual openings and bespoke doorsets need product information and site conditions reviewed before a reliable installation price can be prepared.
What affects specialist door pricing?
- Door weight, construction and overall dimensions
- Condition, dimensions and suitability of the existing frame
- Number, type and positioning of hinges
- Locks, closers, handles and other compatible ironmongery
- Fire, acoustic or other specified performance requirements
- Manufacturer instructions and the proposed installation method
Pricing note: all guide prices exclude VAT. Growchance’s £225 minimum job charge normally applies where the work requires a separate standalone visit. Final suitability, specification and price are confirmed from the actual product information and site conditions.
FITTED STORAGE AND BESPOKE JOINERY
Why bespoke carpentry needs a project-specific price.
Fitted storage cannot be priced reliably from room width alone. Materials, internal layout, access and finishing all affect the amount of workshop and installation time required.
PRICING BASIS
Designed and quoted for the actual space.
Price separately
Growchance does not use a standard wardrobe or fitted-storage price without understanding the proposed design. A useful quotation needs the dimensions, intended layout, material specification and required finish.
What shapes the quotation?
-
01
Size and configuration
Overall dimensions, alcoves, sloping ceilings, corners and awkward access all influence construction and installation.
-
02
Internal storage layout
Shelves, drawers, hanging rails, compartments and specialist fittings change the material and labour requirement.
-
03
Doors and ironmongery
Hinged, sliding or open storage, together with the selected hinges, handles and mechanisms, affects the price.
-
04
Material and finish
Sheet material, timber, decorative details and whether the joinery is supplied unfinished or prepared for decoration must be defined before pricing.
Measure
Record the available width, height, depth and any restrictions within the proposed installation area.
Define
Confirm what the storage must contain and the practical internal arrangement required.
Specify
Select the preferred material, door style, ironmongery and finished appearance.
Quote
The agreed scope can then be priced against the actual space and installation requirements.
TYPICAL PROJECT EXAMPLES
What common carpentry packages may cost.
These examples combine the relevant labour items into recognisable project scopes. They are useful for early budgeting, but door condition, room dimensions and preparation requirements must still be checked before quotation.
Hang three standard internal doors
Labour for hanging three standard internal doors into suitable existing frames. Door leaves, ironmongery, decoration and significant frame repairs are not included.
£285 – £450
Three doors with handles and latches
Labour for hanging three standard internal doors and fitting a compatible handle-and-latch set to each door. Materials and additional frame repairs are excluded.
£360 – £585
Replace five internal doors
Labour for replacing five standard internal doors and fitting handles and latches, assuming the existing frames are suitable.
£725 – £1,125
Skirting and architrave in one room
A typical labour allowance for fitting skirting and architrave in an average room, subject to measured lengths and opening details.
£250 – £400
Complete one internal doorway
Labour for a new lining, standard internal door, architrave to both sides and compatible handles and latch.
£325 – £530
Small-flat second-fix carpentry
A planning range for a coordinated package of internal doors, skirting and architraves in a small flat. Final cost depends on the number of rooms and openings.
£1,100 – £1,900
Typical-house second-fix carpentry
A broader planning range for internal doors, skirting and architraves across a typical house, subject to measured quantities, details and site condition.
£2,100 – £3,600
COST FACTORS
What changes the price of carpentry work?
The same visible result can require very different preparation and installation work. A reliable quotation considers the existing structure, product specification and complete scope, not just the number of doors or metres of timber.
Existing condition
Uneven walls, damaged frames, loose timber and previous alterations can require corrective work before new carpentry is installed.
Measured quantity
The number of doors, openings, rooms and linear metres affects the labour required and whether the work can be completed efficiently as one coordinated package.
Material choice
Timber type, profile, product quality and availability influence material cost, handling and the installation method.
Door specification
Door weight, construction, dimensions and the selected ironmongery can make installation more demanding than a standard internal door.
Level of detail
Detailed profiles, mitres, scribes, junctions and other finishing requirements increase setting-out and cutting time.
Access and protection
Occupied rooms, restricted access, limited working space and the need to protect retained finishes can extend the programme.
Removal and disposal
Removing existing doors, linings, skirting or architraves and taking waste away should be identified separately from fitting the new work.
Finishing responsibility
The quotation should confirm whether filling, caulking, preparation and decoration are included or will be completed separately.
BETTER COST CONTROL
Confirm the complete scope before comparing prices.
A lower figure may cover installation labour only, while another may include removal, materials, ironmongery, waste handling and preparation for decoration. Comparing the same defined scope is more useful than comparing headline totals without checking what each quotation contains.
QUOTATION SCOPE
Check what the carpentry price includes.
The guide figures on this page are primarily labour allowances. A Growchance quotation will define the actual scope, including materials, preparation, disposal, finishing and VAT, so you can see what has and has not been priced.
May be included when specified
- Carpentry installation labour for the agreed items
- Setting out, cutting, fitting and normal adjustment
- Standard fixings and installation materials
- Protection of the immediate working area
- Basic cleaning of the work area after installation
Confirm separately
- Doors, timber, mouldings and decorative materials
- Handles, hinges, locks, latches and specialist ironmongery
- Removal and disposal of existing carpentry
- Repairs to damaged walls, floors, frames or surrounding finishes
- Filling, caulking, priming, painting and final decoration
VAT PRESENTATION
Prices exclude VAT
Every guide price on this page is shown excluding VAT. A formal Growchance quotation will state the applicable VAT and present the project total clearly, so the final amount is not confused with the guide’s ex-VAT planning figures.
Six details to check before accepting a quotation.
- Exactly which carpentry items and rooms are covered
- Who supplies doors, timber and ironmongery
- Whether removal and waste disposal are included
- What corrective preparation or repair is allowed for
- Whether making good and decoration are included
- Whether the stated total includes or excludes VAT
CARPENTRY TIMESCALES
How long does carpentry work take?
Programme length depends on quantities, existing condition and the amount of detailed cutting or adjustment required. The ranges below are practical planning allowances for typical London residential carpentry work.
Hang one standard internal door
Assumes a suitable existing frame and no substantial corrective work.
Hang three to five doors
Includes normal setting out, adjustment and fitting across a coordinated visit.
Skirting and architrave in one room
Subject to room size, number of openings, profile and wall condition.
Small-flat second-fix package
A coordinated package of internal doors, skirting and architraves.
Typical-house second-fix package
Programme varies with the number of rooms, doors, openings and finishing details.
First- and second-fix renovation carpentry
Carpenter time is normally divided between different project stages rather than completed as one uninterrupted visit.
What can extend the programme?
- Damaged, uneven or unsuitable existing frames
- Waiting for doors, timber or ironmongery to arrive
- Detailed profiles, scribes, mitres or specialist cutting
- Restricted access or work in occupied rooms
- Coordination with plastering, flooring or decorating
- Changes to the agreed scope after work begins
PREPARING FOR A QUOTATION
What to send for an accurate carpentry price.
Clear information helps separate a simple installation from work that also needs repairs, materials or finishing. Start with the scope, quantities, photographs and product details; final measurements can then be confirmed where required.
USEFUL FIRST INFORMATION
Show the existing condition and the result you need.
Two projects with the same number of doors or metres of skirting can require different preparation, adjustment and finishing work.
Initial enquiry checklist
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01
Photographs
Include the complete opening, room or installation area, together with close-ups of visible damage or awkward junctions.
-
02
Quantities
State the number of doors, openings and rooms, or the approximate linear metres of skirting and architrave.
-
03
Approximate dimensions
Provide door-opening sizes or the width, height and depth of the area where fitted work is proposed.
-
04
Product information
Send links or specifications for doors, timber profiles, ironmongery or storage components already selected.
-
05
Required finish
Explain whether the work should be installed unfinished, prepared for decoration or coordinated with separate painting work.
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06
London postcode and timing
Confirm the property location, access arrangements and preferred timing or any wider renovation programme.
Existing damage
Mention loose frames, movement, rot, split timber, damaged plaster or other conditions that may require repair before installation.
Supply responsibility
Confirm whether products have already been purchased or whether Growchance should allow for supplying the agreed materials.
Related work
Identify any flooring, plastering, decorating or wider renovation work that must be coordinated with the carpentry.
CONNECTED SERVICES AND GUIDES
Continue planning your carpentry work.
Use the cost guidance for early budgeting, then explore the appropriate service or supporting trade. Each page has a separate purpose so that cost research and project-delivery information remain clear.
MAIN CARPENTRY SERVICE
Carpentry and Joinery in London.
Explore the Growchance service for internal doors, linings, frames, skirting, architraves, first- and second-fix carpentry, timber repairs and project-specific joinery. This is the correct next step when you need carpentry work assessed and delivered, rather than cost information alone.
Explore Carpentry and JoinerySmall Building Works
Explore focused property alterations, repairs and individual improvement projects that do not require a complete renovation.
Flooring Installation
Review flooring installation where skirting, thresholds, door clearances or timber finishing must be coordinated with the floor.
Painting and Decorating
Plan the preparation and decorative finish required after doors, frames, skirting or other timber components have been installed.
Plastering Services
Review plastering where altered openings, removed joinery or damaged surrounding walls require making good before final decoration.
Budget Planning Guides
Compare related London construction and renovation costs using the Growchance budget-planning hub.
Discuss Your Project
Send photographs, approximate dimensions and the project location for an initial review of the carpentry scope.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Carpentry cost questions.
Practical answers about London carpenter rates, door fitting, skirting, materials, VAT and the information needed for a quotation.
01 How much does a carpenter charge per day in London?
Growchance’s working guidance is £225 – £315 per person per day, excluding VAT. A day rate is useful for work that cannot be measured reliably in advance, but clearly defined items such as doors or measured skirting may be priced by item or linear metre instead.
02 How much does it cost to hang an internal door?
Labour for hanging a standard internal door into a suitable existing frame is typically £95 – £150 excluding VAT. Handles and latches, frame repairs, door supply, disposal and decoration are separate unless stated in the quotation.
03 Is there a minimum charge for a small carpentry job?
Yes. Growchance’s normal minimum carpentry job charge is £225 excluding VAT. This allows for scheduling, travel, setup, tools and productive working time where a small item does not justify pricing solely by the hour.
04 How much does skirting-board fitting cost?
Growchance’s labour guidance for fitting skirting is £10 – £16 per linear metre excluding VAT. Removing existing skirting is typically £3 – £6 per linear metre. Timber supply, wall repairs, detailed profiles and decoration may affect the final price.
05 Are doors, timber and ironmongery included?
Not automatically. The guide figures are primarily labour allowances. A written quotation should state who supplies the doors, timber, handles, hinges, locks and other materials, along with any removal, disposal or finishing work.
06 Can a fire-door leaf be fitted into an existing frame?
Only where the existing frame has been confirmed as suitable for the proposed certified assembly. Replacing the leaf alone does not automatically create a complete fire doorset. The leaf, frame, seals, compatible ironmongery and installation requirements must be considered together.
07 How long does second-fix carpentry take?
A small-flat package of internal doors, skirting and architraves may take around 4 – 6 working days. A typical-house package may take approximately 6 – 10 working days. Quantities, frame condition, profiles and preparation can change the programme.
08 Do the prices in this guide include VAT?
No. All guide prices on this page exclude VAT. A formal Growchance quotation will state the applicable VAT and show the project total clearly.
DISCUSS YOUR CARPENTRY PROJECT
Tell us about the carpentry work you are planning.
Send the information already available about the property, existing condition and required work. Growchance can review the enquiry and identify the appropriate next step for your London carpentry project.
You do not need final product selections before contacting us. Photographs, approximate dimensions and links to any doors, timber or ironmongery already considered will help explain the intended scope.
- Property
- London postcode, property type, access arrangements and whether the rooms are currently occupied.
- Existing condition
- Clear photographs of the doors, frames, rooms, openings or fitted storage area, including visible damage.
- Quantities
- Number of doors and openings, rooms involved, approximate dimensions or measured lengths of skirting and architrave.
- Required scope
- Removal, supply, installation, repairs, ironmongery, waste disposal, finishing and any related flooring, plastering or decorating work.
An initial enquiry or discussion is not a final quotation. Measurements, material responsibilities, site condition, availability, programme and price are confirmed separately in writing.