Cost intelligence · Updated July 2026
Wrought iron gate prices: what drives the number
Bespoke wrought iron driveway gates cost £3,000–£8,000 supply-only for a pair, £5,000–£10,000 installed manually, and £9,500–£16,000 installed with automation in Surrey. The price is driven by four factors in order: leaf size, bar weight and density, hand-worked ornament, and the corrosion protection system.
The four cost drivers, quantified
| Driver | Example | Cost effect |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Each extra 0.5m of width | +8–12% (material + labour scale together) |
| Bar weight | 16mm solid bars vs 12mm tube | +20–35%, and the gate rings solid for decades |
| Ornament | Forged scrolls, collars, finials vs plain verticals | +15–60% — hand time is the money |
| Protection | Hot-zinc + powder coat vs paint-only | +£450–£900 per pair, +20 years of life |
The ornament line is where budgets are made or broken. A plain estate-bar pair and a full Victorian scroll pair can share identical steel cost and differ by £3,000 of forge time — which is why we design to a stated budget rather than drawing first and pricing after.
Price bands by design tier
| Design tier (3.5–4m pair) | Supply only | Installed manual | Installed + automation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estate / plain bar with finials | £3,000 – £4,200 | £5,000 – £6,500 | £9,500 – £11,500 |
| Classic scroll top, dog bars | £4,000 – £5,500 | £6,200 – £8,000 | £11,000 – £13,500 |
| Full ornamental / heritage replication | £5,500 – £8,000+ | £8,000 – £10,500 | £13,000 – £16,000+ |
Automation adds £3,500–£5,500 to an iron pair because heavy leaves want underground or hydraulic operators and upgraded bearing hinges — the honest comparison is on the motor comparison page.
Where not to save — and where you genuinely can
Never save on: the zinc layer (paint-only iron gates in Surrey's climate are a 3-year proposition), hinge specification, or post foundations. These three decide whether the gates outlast the mortgage.
You can legitimately save by: choosing plain bars with one signature element (a fine top scroll or good finials read as 90% of the full-ornament effect), keeping height at 1.5–1.8m rather than 2m+ (steel mass grows fast with height), phasing automation later with ducting installed now, and matching a standard finial pattern rather than commissioning castings.
Free site survey & fixed quotation
Get a precise price for bespoke iron gates
Tell us the opening width, whether power is nearby and the style you have in mind. We measure on site, confirm a fixed price in writing, and never sell door-to-door.
Prefer to talk? Call 01483 000 000.
Frequently asked questions
Why are wrought iron gates more expensive than steel?
The metal is similar; the hand-working isn't. Forged scrolls, tapered ends and collared joints are hours of skilled labour per element. Fabricated steel gates deliver similar strength without the craft premium.
Are cheap 'wrought iron' gates online worth it?
Import catalogue gates at £800–£1,500 a pair are thin tube, spot-welded and paint-only. They look acceptable installed and rust at every joint within two to three winters. As repairers, we meet them constantly.
How much does it cost to restore old iron gates?
Blast, repair and re-coat of a sound pair runs £1,200–£2,800 — often excellent value against replacement, and the right answer for period originals. We assess restorability on survey.