Should an internal screen be aluminium or steel?
For most homes and offices, a steel-look aluminium screen is the better choice: it looks almost identical from across the room, weighs far less, cannot rust, and costs less with a shorter lead time. Solid steel is worth it when you want the slimmest possible sections on very large panes, a heavier, more crafted feel, or an authentic heritage detail in a period or listed building.
Side by side
| Steel-look aluminium | Solid steel | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Slim extruded aluminium profiles, powder-coated to look like steel | Hot-rolled or cold-formed steel sections, welded and finished |
| Sightlines | Slim — typically in the 20–30mm range | The slimmest option for a given pane size |
| Weight | Light, so easier to fix to stud walls and ceilings | Heavy; needs solid fixings and more hands on the day |
| Cost | Lower — the price most people budget with | Noticeably higher for the same opening |
| Lead time | Shorter | Longer, as sections are fabricated to order |
| Rust | Cannot rust | Needs a protective coating; low risk indoors, worth noting near wet rooms |
| Finish | Any RAL colour; black is most popular | Any RAL colour; can be left with a more crafted, visible weld |
| Fire-rated options | Available as tested fire-rated systems | Available as tested fire-rated systems |
| Best for | Most homes, kitchen screens, lofts, flats and offices | Heritage buildings, very large panes, statement doors |
Can you tell the difference?
From a few metres away, rarely. Both are powder-coated, usually in black, and both use the same clear, reeded or satin glass. Up close, solid steel has crisper edges and slightly slimmer bars, and a steel door feels heavier and closes with a more solid sound. Aluminium systems designed to look like steel get very close, and most people who choose them never think about it again.
Which is easier to install?
Aluminium. Its lighter weight means screens can be carried up stairs and fixed to stud walls and ceilings with standard fixings. Steel screens need solid fixing points, more careful handling and, for large runs, extra fitters on the day. In upper-floor flats or offices without a lift, that difference shows in the price.
What about cost?
Our steel-look aluminium screens are guide-priced at £550 to £900 per m² plus VAT, fitted. Solid steel is quoted individually because section sizes, glazing-bar layout and finish vary widely — expect it to cost noticeably more for the same opening. The guide-price tool uses the aluminium rates.
Is either better for sound or fire?
For sound, the glass and the seals matter far more than the frame; laminated acoustic glass and well-sealed doors make the biggest difference in either material. For fire, neither is fire-rated just because of the metal — only a tested fire-rated system, built exactly as tested, counts. Both materials are available as fire-rated systems when a location needs one.
Our recommendation
Choose steel-look aluminium for kitchen-diners, hallways, loft conversions, flats and offices. Choose solid steel for listed or heritage interiors, statement pivot doors, or very tall panes where the slimmest bar matters most. If you're not sure, we can show you samples of both at survey. Read more on our steel-look internal screens page.
Related questions
Do steel-look aluminium screens look cheap?
Not when they're well made. Good systems use slim, sharp-edged profiles with a smooth powder-coat, and from across a room most people can't tell them from steel.
Does solid steel rust indoors?
Indoors, with a proper protective coating, the risk is low. Steel near wet rooms or in unheated spaces needs the right primer and finish, which we specify.
Can I mix steel doors with aluminium screens?
It's not usually worth it, as the sections and finishes won't match exactly. Choose one system for the whole run.