Burglar bars are one of the oldest and most effective ways to protect windows and doors, and a good set is made to measure for each opening. Prices are quoted per window, and the material, bar spacing and fixing method change the figure a lot. Send one request with the number of windows and doors, what they are made of and whether you want bars that open, and installers who work near you quote you directly, free and with no obligation.
Steel, aluminium or clear bars
Steel bars are the strongest and cheapest, are powder-coated against rust and come in hundreds of patterns. Aluminium bars are lighter, do not rust and suit coastal homes, but need thicker sections to match steel's strength. Clear polycarbonate bars let in light and keep a view, which suits modern homes and shops, though they cost more per window and should be rated for security, not decoration.
Bar spacing matters more than the pattern. As a general rule the gaps should be too narrow for a person to squeeze through and for a hand to reach in and unlock the window. Ask the installer how they decide this for each opening.
Fixed, opening and security gates
Fixed bars are bolted into the wall or frame and never move. Windows with a hinged bar section let you open the frame for cleaning, and a lock holds it shut. For doors, a steel or aluminium security gate sits in front of the door and lets you leave it open for air.
Do not make every room a cage. In a fire, at least one window or door in each sleeping area should open from the inside without a key, or have a quick-release bar. Discuss the escape route with your installer and keep keys where everyone can find them. Do not rely on a key hidden in another room.
Fixing, measuring and finish
Bars fixed to brick or concrete should use proper masonry anchors set into the wall, not just the thin window frame. For steel or aluminium frames, the installer may weld or bolt to a strong section. Poor fixing is the usual failure, not the bars themselves.
Measure the opening, not the glass, and ask the installer to do a final measure on site. Repaint steel bars every few years, and touch up chips right away, since rust spreads under paint. Near the sea, ask for a heavy coating or choose aluminium.
What it costs
As a rough 2026 guide, burglar bars cost R500 to R2,500 per square metre, made and fitted: steel at the low end, aluminium in the middle and clear polycarbonate or a custom pattern at the high end. A small bathroom window is well under a square metre, while a wide sliding door is several. Add a quote for gates on doors, locks and painting. Burglar bars work well with an alarm system and outdoor beams, and our price guide shows the full picture.
What to include in your request
- Number of windows and doors to protect
- Wall and frame type: brick, steel or aluminium
- Steel, aluminium or clear polycarbonate
- Which openings must open for fire escape
- A rough size of each opening, or photos
Burglar Bars for different sites
- Homeowners and families: steel or aluminium bars on ground-floor windows and a gate on the back door
- Estates, complexes and body corporates: bars that match the estate's colour rules, with an opening bar in each bedroom
- Offices, shops and retail centres: bars or roll-down gates on shopfronts, back doors and storeroom windows
- Factories, warehouses and yards: heavy-gauge bars on offices, stores and windows at the loading bay
- Building sites and contractors: bars on site offices, containers and tool stores
- Farms and smallholdings: bars on the farmhouse, sheds and workshops where tools and fuel are kept
- Events, venues, hotels and lodges: neat bars with a quick release in guest rooms and a gate on the kitchen door
- Schools, clinics and churches: bars on school classrooms, admin blocks and clinic pharmacies
Frequently asked questions
Are burglar bars a fire hazard?
How long do burglar bars last?
Can burglar bars be fitted to aluminium windows?
Do I need burglar bars if I have an alarm?
Burglar Bars 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