What does a new shopfront cost in Melbourne? (2026)
Published market figures for shopfront glass, board-ups and automatic doors, what actually moves the price of a new shopfront, and how to compare quotes in Melbourne.
By Glassy Slide teamPublished 3 min read
"How much for a new shopfront?" is the first question every shop owner asks, and the hardest to answer from a website. A shopfront can be one replacement pane or a whole new frontage with automatic doors. Here are the published market figures we could find, what actually moves the price, and how to compare quotes.
All figures below are other companies' published market figures, not Glassy Slide prices. They're labelled with their source and year. We price every shopfront once it's measured, in writing.
Published market figures
| Item | Market figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Whole shopfront, small shop to large frameless system | about $15,000 to $200,000+ | Absolute Glaziers, 2026, Sydney |
| Large replacement pane, such as shopfront glass | about $500 to $1,500+ | Level & Square Glass, 2026, NSW |
| Emergency board-up or repair, after hours, Melbourne | about $150 to $600 | What's the Damage, homeowner guide |
| Commercial automatic sliding door, installed | about $5,000 to $20,000+ | Action Auto Door, Melbourne; Digital Home Systems |
We found no Melbourne glazier publishing a price for a complete shopfront, and the one whole-shopfront figure is from Sydney. Treat the table as a sense of scale, not a quote.
What moves the price
Size and number of panes. Bigger panes cost more to make, handle and fit. Very large panes may need extra people or lifting gear.
The glass. Glass must be selected for each opening and its safety requirements; a glazier assesses the location, size, framing and human-impact risk, including AS 1288, and toughened or laminated safety glass may be required. Toughened glass is strong; laminated glass stays in the frame when it breaks, which matters for security. Thicker glass, laminated glass and performance glass all add cost. See shopfront security for which glass does what.
Framed or frameless. An aluminium-framed shopfront is usually the more economical choice and takes standard doors and locks. Frameless glass, with thicker toughened panels and patch fittings, gives a cleaner look and usually costs more.
Doors. A standard swing door, a pair of doors, or an automatic sliding door are very different prices. Automatic doors add the operator, sensors and power, and they need regular servicing.
Insurance and the lease. Who pays for broken glass depends on the law, your lease and your policy; see who pays for a broken shop window.
The site. Access, footpath protection, after-hours work so you can keep trading, removing the old shopfront, and any building or planning permit all add to the job. A new opening or a change to the structure costs more than reglazing an existing frame.
Urgency. A board-up at 2 am costs more than a scheduled visit. The permanent glass is quoted afterwards either way.
Repair before you replace
A tired shopfront doesn't always need replacing. Closers, pivots, patch fittings, locks and seals on aluminium and frameless shop doors can often be repaired, and a single broken pane can be reglazed in the existing frame. We do both, and we'll tell you honestly when a repair is the better buy. If the front is worn out, see replacing an old shopfront.
How to compare shopfront quotes
- Does the quote name the glass type and thickness for each pane?
- Does it include removal and disposal of the old shopfront?
- Are the doors, hardware and locks specified?
- Is after-hours work included, if you need to keep trading?
- Who handles any permit, and is it included? See shopfront permits in Victoria.
- Is it a written quote, with GST shown?
Get a measured price
Every shopfront is different, so we measure first and price in writing, with the glass named for every pane. See shopfronts and entry doors, automatic sliding doors or ask for a shopfront quote.
Questions
How much does a new shopfront cost in Melbourne?
It varies too much for one figure. A published Australian guide puts a whole shopfront at about $15,000 for a small shop up to $200,000 or more for large frameless systems, but that is a Sydney market figure. Size, glass, frame, doors and access decide the real price, so every shopfront is measured and quoted.
Is a frameless shopfront more expensive than an aluminium one?
Usually, yes. Frameless glass needs thicker toughened glass and more precise fittings. How much more depends on the size and the doors.
How much does an automatic sliding door cost?
Published installer guides from 2025 and 2026 put a commercial automatic sliding door at roughly $5,000 to $20,000 or more installed, depending on size, operator and sensors. These are market figures, not our prices.
Does replacing a shopfront need a permit?
Like-for-like repairs are often exempt from a building permit, but new openings, structural changes and work in a heritage area usually need one. The registered building surveyor and your council decide; see [shopfront permits in Victoria](/blog/shopfront-permit-victoria/).
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We supply and install double-glazed aluminium windows and doors, alfresco enclosures and glass partitions, and repair timber windows across Melbourne from our base in Bundoora. 5.0 ★ on Google.
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