--- title: How Secure Are French Doors, Really? description: Are French doors secure? A York fitter on multipoint locks, shootbolts, laminated glass and hinge bolts, and how to make French doors genuinely safe at home. --- [![SM\_Logo\_Final\_Lught](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/SM_Logo_Final_Lught.webp?width=140&height=80&name=SM_Logo_Final_Lught.webp "SM_Logo_Final_Lught")](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk) - About - [About](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/about) - Doors - [uPVC Doors](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/upvc-doors-york) - [Sliding & Bifold Doors](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/aluminium-sliding-bi-fold-doors) - [Composite Doors](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/composite-doors-york) - [Heritage Aluminium Doors](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/heritage-aluminium-windows-doors) - [Door Repairs](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-door-repairs-york) - Windows - [uPVC Windows](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/upvc-windows-york) - [Casement Windows](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/casement-windows-york) - [Sash Windows](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/sash-windows-york) - [Timber Windows](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/timber-windows-york) - [Heritage Aluminium Windows](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/heritage-aluminium-windows-doors) - [Lanterns & Roof Lights](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/korniche-lanterns-flat-roof-lights) - [Window Repairs](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-door-repairs-york) - Conservatories - [Conservatories](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/conservatories-orangeries-york) - [Orangeries](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/conservatories-orangeries-york) - Resources - [Gallery](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/gallery) - [Brochures](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/brochure-downloads) - [Blog](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/blog) - [Reviews](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/customer-reviews) - [Contact Us](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/contact) [Request A Quote](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/request-a-quote) [![SM\_Logo\_Final\_Lught](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/SM_Logo_Final_Lught.webp?width=140&height=80&name=SM_Logo_Final_Lught.webp "SM_Logo_Final_Lught")](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk) [Request A Quote](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/request-a-quote) - About - [About](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/about) - Doors - [uPVC Doors](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/upvc-doors-york) - [Sliding & Bifold Doors](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/aluminium-sliding-bi-fold-doors) - [Composite Doors](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/composite-doors-york) - [Heritage Aluminium Doors](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/heritage-aluminium-windows-doors) - [Door Repairs](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-door-repairs-york) - Windows - [uPVC Windows](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/upvc-windows-york) - [Casement Windows](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/casement-windows-york) - [Sash Windows](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/sash-windows-york) - [Timber Windows](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/timber-windows-york) - [Heritage Aluminium Windows](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/heritage-aluminium-windows-doors) - [Lanterns & Roof Lights](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/korniche-lanterns-flat-roof-lights) - [Window Repairs](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-door-repairs-york) - Conservatories - [Conservatories](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/conservatories-orangeries-york) - [Orangeries](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/conservatories-orangeries-york) - Resources - [Gallery](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/gallery) - [Brochures](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/brochure-downloads) - [Blog](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/blog) - [Reviews](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/customer-reviews) - [Contact Us](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/contact) [Regulations & Security](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/blog/tag/regulations-security) # How Secure Are French Doors, Really? By [SM Windows & Doors](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/blog/author/sm-windows-doors) Oct 8, 2026, 3:30:00 PM 3 Minutes Read French doors let a lot of light in and open your home up to the garden, but they carry a reputation for being a soft spot for burglars. So are French doors secure? A modern, well specified pair is very secure, and the old worries mostly come from the days of weak locks and single glazing. Here is what makes the difference. ## Where the old worries come from The concern with French doors is understandable. You have two opening leaves that meet in the middle, plenty of glass, and no solid wall between the pair. On older units, that middle joint and the glazing really could be weak points. The good news is that modern French doors are built to deal with exactly these issues. ## The middle joint and shootbolts The place two French doors meet is the part people worry about most, so it is worth understanding how it is protected. On a decent pair, one leaf is the main opening door and the other is a secondary leaf held shut by shootbolts, which are bolts that shoot up into the head of the frame and down into the sill. Once those are engaged, that secondary leaf is locked firmly top and bottom and cannot simply be pulled open. The main door then locks into the secondary leaf and the frame using a multipoint system. Done properly, the pair behaves like one solid, well locked door. ## Multipoint locking and the cylinder As with any modern door, the locking system does the heavy lifting: - **A multipoint lock** throws several hooks and bolts around the frame when you lift the handle and turn the key. - **An anti-snap cylinder**, ideally to TS007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond, guards against the cylinder being snapped. If your French doors are stiff to lock, drop on their hinges or no longer bolt firmly, that is worth sorting. We handle [door repairs across York](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-door-repairs-york), including French door alignment and worn locking gear. ## Glass, hinges and beading Three more details finish the job: - **Laminated or toughened glass** makes the large glazed area far harder to break through. Laminated glass in particular holds together even when cracked, so it cannot be pushed out quietly. - **Internal beading** keeps the strip that holds the glass on the inside, so it cannot be prised off from outside. - **Hinge bolts or dog bolts** on the hinge side stop the doors being levered off their hinges, which matters on an outward opening pair. Get these right and the glass and hinges stop being the weak points people imagine. ## What a secure pair of French doors looks like Pulled together, a genuinely secure set has: - Shootbolts locking the secondary leaf top and bottom - A multipoint lock on the main leaf - An anti-snap cylinder to a recognised standard - Laminated or toughened glazing with internal beading - Hinge bolts on the hinge side - Ideally, a recognised accreditation such as Secured by Design Whether your French doors open onto a garden or a courtyard, that combination makes them a confident, secure choice. If you are also weighing up wider glazed openings, our [aluminium sliding and bi-fold doors](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/aluminium-sliding-bi-fold-doors) offer similar security in a different style, and our [uPVC doors in York](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/upvc-doors-york) range includes French door sets. ## York homes and older French doors Around York we often replace French doors fitted twenty years ago, and the pattern is familiar. The frames may still look fine, but the shootbolts are worn, the cylinder is a basic type and the glass is only single or early double glazing. A modern replacement, or in some cases a lock and glazing upgrade, brings them right up to date without a huge outlay. Security accreditations are useful guidance rather than a guarantee, and the standards behind them are updated over time, so treat any rating as a helpful sign. If certainty matters for insurance, check your policy and the current standards directly. ## Rough 2026 costs Prices vary with size, material, glazing and hardware, so treat these as broad 2026 guides. A supplied and fitted pair of uPVC French doors often lands somewhere around 1,200 to 2,500 pounds, with aluminium sets costing more. Upgrading the cylinder or shootbolts on an existing pair is usually a modest job. For a figure based on your opening, [ask us for a quote](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/request-a-quote). ## FAQs ### Are French doors easy to break into? Not when they are modern and well specified. Shootbolts on the secondary leaf, a multipoint lock, an anti-snap cylinder and laminated glass make a pair of French doors very secure. Older units with basic locks are the ones to watch. ### How is the middle of French doors secured? The secondary leaf is held by shootbolts that lock into the top and bottom of the frame, and the main leaf then locks into it and the frame with a multipoint system. Together they hold the pair firmly shut. ### Should French doors have laminated glass? Laminated glass is a strong choice, especially given the large glazed area. It holds together when cracked and cannot be pushed out quietly, so it is well worth asking about on ground floor French doors. ### Can French doors be lifted off their hinges? Not if they have hinge bolts or dog bolts on the hinge side, which is standard on good outward opening doors. These stop the leaves being levered off even if the hinges are attacked. ### Do French doors need special locks for insurance? Insurers usually accept a good multipoint lock, often with an anti-snap cylinder. Policies vary and standards are updated, so check your own wording and confirm the current requirements with your insurer. Want to see French doors across the full range of styles? [Download our latest brochure](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/brochure-downloads), or [request a free quote](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/request-a-quote) and we will pop out for a look. #### SM Windows & Doors Author ## Phone: 07833387823 Email: [Sam@smwindowsanddoors.co.uk](mailto:Sam@smwindowsanddoors.co.uk) Opening times: Mon - Fri: 09:00 - 17:00 Sat-Sun: By Prior Appointment [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/people/SM-Windows-Doors/100093013267883/) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/smwindowsanddoors/) ![x59dcc190ea7d320001f0083a\_logoAsset-2-1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.lk8k-280iY](https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/x59dcc190ea7d320001f0083a_logoAsset-2-1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.lk8k-280iY.jpg?width=300&height=106&name=x59dcc190ea7d320001f0083a_logoAsset-2-1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.lk8k-280iY.jpg "x59dcc190ea7d320001f0083a_logoAsset-2-1.jpg.pagespeed.ic.lk8k-280iY") ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "SM Windows & Doors", "url" : "https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/blog/author/sm-windows-doors" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-08T14:30:00.527Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-08T14:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "How Secure Are French Doors, Really?", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/blog/sm-windows-doors-blog/how-secure-are-french-doors-really", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://smwindowsanddoors.co.uk/hubfs/SM_Logo_Final_Lught.webp" }, "name" : "SM Windows & Doors" } } ```