Burglar bar prices depend on the window size, the bar material and how the frame is fixed. This page gives rough 2026 rand ranges for typical windows, from a small bathroom window to a wide sliding door, and shows what pushes a quote up. Use the figures as a guide, then send your measurements and we will pass your request to burglar bar installers and manufacturers near you, who quote you directly.
Typical prices by window size
Rough supply-and-install prices for powder-coated steel bars, per window or door opening:
- Bathroom window, 600 x 600 mm: R650 to R1,200
- Bedroom window, 1,200 x 1,000 mm: R1,300 to R2,800
- Large window, 1,800 x 1,500 mm: R2,200 to R4,500
- Door, 813 x 2,032 mm: R2,400 to R5,200
- Sliding door, 2,400 x 2,100 mm: R5,500 to R9,800
As a rule of thumb, steel bars cost roughly R550 to R1,400 per square metre fitted, which is the figure our estimate uses. Small windows cost more per square metre than large ones because the labour and call-out are the same.
Fixing method also matters. Bars set into a brick reveal are cheaper and stronger than bars fixed to the face of a steel or aluminium frame, which need extra brackets and neat finishing.
Aluminium and clear bars cost more
Standard steel bars are the cheapest. Bars made for aluminium windows are slimmer and need special fixing, so they run about 15 to 30 percent higher; see aluminium window burglar bars. Clear polycarbonate or perspex bars are the most expensive, around R1,600 to R3,400 per square metre, because of the material and the finishing. Read clear burglar bars for the trade-offs.
Off the shelf or made to measure
Stores such as Cashbuild and Builders sell standard-size bar panels that suit common windows. They are fine when the frame matches, but an opening that is a few millimetres off often means cutting, welding or a poor fit. A made-to-measure set costs more per panel, yet it follows your exact opening, includes proper anchors and usually carries an installer's guarantee. Mixed jobs, such as a house with old steel windows and a newer aluminium extension, are better quoted as one order, which also saves on travel. Get at least three quotes, and ask how long each price stays valid and what deposit is required.
Extras that raise the price
Several things add to the total: decorative scrolls or cottage panes, quick-release panels for bedrooms, galvanising near the coast, removing old bars and making good the plaster, and travel to a remote area. Ask for each to be listed separately so you can compare. A house with eight windows and two doors might total R15,000 to R30,000, while a flat with three windows can be done for under R5,000. For the full range of choices, see burglar bars.
What to include in your request
- Width and height of each window in mm
- Frame material: steel, aluminium or wood
- Bar type: steel, aluminium or clear
- Whether a bedroom needs a quick-release panel
- Whether old bars must be removed
Burglar Bar Prices for different properties
- Houses: bars on every ground-floor window, priced per window and matched in colour
- Townhouses and complexes: a uniform set of bars that meets the complex rules, often quoted for the whole unit
- Flats and apartments: bars on balcony and ground-floor windows, with a quick-release on one bedroom opening
- Farms and smallholdings: heavier bars on isolated houses, with galvanising and travel on the quote
- Shops and restaurants: bars on side and rear windows, with a folding gate across the front
- Offices and practices: neat or clear bars that protect without darkening the room
- Factories and warehouses: heavy bars on offices and stores, priced by steel weight
- Schools, clinics and churches: bulk bar orders for classrooms and clinics, with escape-route panels where needed
Frequently asked questions
How much do burglar bars cost per window?
Are burglar bars cheaper than a security gate?
Do I need a quick-release bar in a bedroom?
Why is a quote higher than the figures here?
Burglar Bar Prices by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg