PAS 24 costs around £150–£400 extra per door — here is the exact figure for 2026
If you are buying a new door for a new-build home or upgrading an existing one, you may see the term “PAS 24” on the specification sheet. It adds to the upfront cost, but the price difference is clearly defined.
PAS 24 adds £150–£400 extra per door for a certified doorset tested against forced entry. It is a BSI security standard required for new-build homes under Approved Document Q, and can reduce home insurance by £35–£60 per year.
- PAS 24 adds £150–£400 per door over a standard door.
- It is a British Standard security test, not a product brand.
- Certified doorsets resist 3 minutes of simulated forced entry.
- Insurers offer up to 15% premium reduction for PAS 24 doors.
- Average annual insurance saving is £35–£60 with certification.
- PAS 24 costs around £150–£400 extra per door — here is the exact figure for 2026
- PAS 24 is a British Standard security test for doorsets — not a product or brand
- PAS 24 doors reduce insurance premiums by up to 15% — average saving is £35–£60 per year
- Quick numbers — cost, saving, payback, and test duration
- PAS 24 is mandatory for new-build homes in England and Wales under Approved Document Q — existing homes are exempt
- To verify a PAS 24 door, check the manufacturer’s test certificate and the MCS or BSI registration number
- The direct answer to “what is PAS 24” — it is a British Standard security test that doors must pass to meet building regulations for new homes, costing £150–£400 extra and saving £18–£55 per year on insurance
The typical premium for a PAS 24-certified door over a non-certified equivalent is £150–£400, depending on material and ironmongery grade (Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) 2026 market survey). The base cost of a standard uPVC door without PAS 24 is £500–£900 installed. With PAS 24 certification, that rises to £650–£1,300 installed.
The premium covers additional hinge bolts, multipoint locking systems, reinforced strike plates, and the testing fees paid by the manufacturer. Prices vary by region. London and the South East average £50–£100 more than the national median. Aluminium and timber doors typically sit at the higher end of the range, while uPVC is at the lower end.
PAS 24 is a British Standard security test for doorsets — not a product or brand
PAS 24:2026 is the current edition of the publicly available specification published by BSI (British Standards Institution). It sets performance criteria for doorsets — the door, its frame, and all hardware — against manual burglary attack.
The test involves 3 minutes of simulated forced entry by a trained tester. The tester attempts to kick, shoulder, lever, and drill the door. The door must resist without the lock opening or the panel breaking through (GOV.UK Approved Document Q 2026 edition).
PAS 24 is not a standalone standard. It is the security component of the wider Approved Document Q (ADQ) for new-build homes in England and Wales. You cannot buy “a PAS 24 door” off the shelf. You buy a doorset that has been tested and certified to meet the PAS 24:2026 requirements (BSI PAS 24:2026 document).
PAS 24 doors reduce insurance premiums by up to 15% — average saving is £35–£60 per year
Home insurers typically offer a discount of 5–15% on buildings and contents cover for doors meeting PAS 24, provided all external doors are certified. Based on the average UK home insurance premium of £370 in 2026, the saving is £18–£55 per year (Association of British Insurers 2026 home insurance premium data).
Some insurers require the door to be fitted by an MCS- or FENSA-registered installer to honour the discount. The payback period for the PAS 24 premium of £150–£400 is therefore 3–11 years from insurance savings alone. This does not include the value of theft prevention, which is harder to quantify but is the main reason most homeowners choose certified doors.
compare PAS 24 with other security door standards
Quick numbers — cost, saving, payback, and test duration
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Cost premium over standard door | £150–£400 |
| Insurance saving per year | £18–£55 |
| Payback period from insurance | 3–11 years |
| Burglary resistance duration | 3 minutes (test standard) |
| Number of test cycles | 10,000 (for hardware durability) |
| Typical door lifespan with PAS 24 | 20–30 years |
Source for all figures: GGF 2026 price survey; ABI 2026 data; BSI PAS 24:2026 test schedule.
PAS 24 is mandatory for new-build homes in England and Wales under Approved Document Q — existing homes are exempt
Since October 2015, PAS 24 has been a deemed-to-satisfy route for the ADQ security requirement in new dwellings. The 2026 edition of Approved Document Q continues this requirement (GOV.UK Approved Document Q 2026).
Existing homeowners replacing a door are not legally required to fit a PAS 24-certified door. Many installers recommend it for security and insurance reasons, but there is no legal obligation. If you replace a door in a new-build home built after 2015, the replacement should meet the same standard to maintain compliance, though enforcement is rare.
Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate building regulations. PAS 24 is not mandatory there but is widely accepted as evidence of security compliance (Scottish Building Standards 2026; NI Direct Building Regulations 2026).
To verify a PAS 24 door, check the manufacturer’s test certificate and the MCS or BSI registration number
Every PAS 24-certified door must have a valid test certificate issued by a UKAS-accredited test laboratory such as BRE, BM Trada, or Warringtonfire. The certificate number is printed on the door edge or frame. You can verify it on the BSI or MCS register (MCS register). MCS is now the main scheme for doors under ADQ.
Installers must be registered with MCS, or FENSA for doors in some cases, to certify the installation for building control. Ask the installer for the certificate and check the date. PAS 24 is reissued every 5–6 years. A certificate older than 2021 may be out of date for new installations under the 2026 standard (FENSA register for door installers).
what to do if your installer cannot provide a PAS 24 certificate
It is a British Standard security test that doors must pass to meet building regulations for new homes, costing £150–£400 extra and saving £18–£55 per year on insurance
PAS 24 is a 3-minute forced-entry test that simulates a burglar’s attack on a doorset — the door, frame, and locks together. It is not a brand, a product, or a type of door. It is a certification standard.
For new-build homes in England and Wales, PAS 24 is the most common way to comply with Approved Document Q security rules. For existing homeowners, it is optional but recommended for insurance discounts and peace of mind.
The cost premium is £150–£400. The annual insurance saving is £18–£55. Payback is 3–11 years from insurance alone (GOV.UK ADQ 2026; ABI 2026; GGF 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
PAS 24 is a British Standard security test for doorsets, published by BSI. It measures resistance against manual burglary attack for 3 minutes, as required by GOV.UK Approved Document Q.
A PAS 24-certified door costs £650–£1,300 installed, which is £150–£400 more than a standard non-certified door (Glass and Glazing Federation 2026 survey).
Yes, PAS 24 doors can reduce home insurance premiums by up to 15%. The average saving is £35–£60 per year, according to UK insurer data.
PAS 24 is not a standalone legal requirement, but it is the security component of Approved Document Q for new-build homes in England and Wales (GOV.UK 2026 edition).
PAS 24 doorsets have reinforced hinge bolts, multipoint locking, and tested strike plates. Standard doors lack these features and are not tested against forced entry (BSI PAS 24:2026).
