The cost to automate an existing door is usually far lower than replacing the whole entrance, and for most swing doors in South Africa the operator is the largest single line on the quote. This guide sets out what you are actually buying and what decides whether your door is a candidate at all.
The operator anchors the cost to automate an existing door
Two published figures anchor almost every retrofit quote we issue:
- MCW-100 swing door operator — R15 900, fitted to a suitable existing hinged door. This is the usual route for an entrance that already swings.
- MC-125 sliding door system — R27 590, where a sliding track is being introduced rather than an existing leaf automated.
Those are supply prices from our shop. Installation is quoted per site, because the cost to automate an existing door depends heavily on what is already there.
Cost to automate an existing door: what decides whether your door can be automated
Not every door is a candidate, and an honest assessment early saves a wasted site visit:
- Door weight and width — the leaf has to be within the operator’s working range, which we confirm against your measurements.
- Frame and hinge condition — an operator drives the door thousands of times; a frame that is already loose will not survive it.
- Power at the head — an operator needs a supply at the door head. If there is none, an electrician is a separate line on the job.
- Swing direction and clearance — push-arm and pull-arm configurations suit different openings and available headroom.
- Escape route duties — if the door forms part of an escape route, its behaviour on power failure has to be agreed before anything is ordered.
Cost to automate an existing door: what else lands on the quote
Beyond the operator itself, the cost to automate an existing door normally includes some combination of:
- Activation sensors, and safety sensors to hold the door open when someone is in the opening — the principle behind EN 16005.
- Access control integration if the door is to be tied into card readers, keypads or an intercom.
- A battery backup so the door behaves predictably during a power failure.
- Commissioning: setting opening and closing speeds, hold-open time and reversal behaviour for your traffic.
Sensor prices are published alongside the rest of our automatic door spare parts, so that portion of the quote is checkable rather than bundled.
Cost to automate an existing door: retrofit or replace?
Automating what you have is the cheaper path when the existing door and frame are sound. When the frame is tired, the glazing is dated or the opening is the wrong width for the traffic it now carries, a new entrance often costs less over its life than an operator bolted to a door that was already at the end of its own. Our automatic door vs manual door comparison covers the operational case, and the installation cost guide covers new-build pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Can any hinged door be automated?
No. The leaf has to be within the operator’s working range and the frame and hinges must be sound. We confirm suitability from your measurements before quoting.
What is the cost to automate an existing door in South Africa?
The MCW-100 swing operator is R15 900 and the MC-125 sliding system is R27 590 as published supply prices. Sensors, access control and installation are quoted against your site.
Do I need an electrician as well?
Only if there is no power supply at the door head. Where a supply already exists, it is part of the same job.
Will the door still open in a power failure?
With a battery backup unit the door continues to operate for a period, or can be set to fail safely open. In South Africa we recommend backup on every installation.
Planning a retrofit. Send us the door type, leaf width and a photo of the head detail, and see our automatic door installation page for how the work runs.
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