Repair your letterbox.

A letterbox repair in the UK typically costs £60–£180 for the most common faults — sagging flaps, broken springs, draughty brushes, or a sticking inner cover. A full replacement letterbox runs £40–£120 for the part plus £60–£140 labour for fitting, depending on whether the door is timber, composite, or uPVC.

Letterboxes wear out faster than the door itself — the spring fatigues, the brush fills with dust and debris, and the flap rattles in the wind. A 5-minute inspection now saves a £180 callout if you catch wear early.

Common letterbox problems

• Flap won't stay closed — broken or weakened spring. Either replace the spring (£10–£25) or the whole letterbox.
• Draughty letterbox — worn or missing brush insert. Brush kits cost £8–£20 retail and slot into most modern letterboxes.
• Squeaks or rattles — loose mounting screws, or worn pivot bearings. Tighten the inner cover screws first; replace if pivot is damaged.
• Inner cover sticking — typically a design issue or distortion from heat. Often resolved by adjusting the catch or replacing the inner flap.
• Letterbox sagging out of door — screws have pulled out of timber, particularly common on older softwood doors. Repair with longer screws or wood-filler reinforcement.
• Letterbox security concerns — anti-fish bars or hood inserts to prevent letterbox key-fishing attacks. £15–£40 for the insert.

Typical UK costs

Door type matters

Each door material has its own letterbox approach:

• Timber doors — easiest. Standard letterboxes are sized for timber doors; cuts can be enlarged with a router if the new letterbox is bigger. Most common faults: screws stripping in softwood (use longer screws or T-nuts).
• uPVC doors — pre-formed letterbox cut-outs, replacement is straightforward but the new letterbox must match the cut-out size exactly. Manufacturer-specific spares may be needed.
• Composite doors — like uPVC but with extra reinforcement around the cut-out. Cuts can't be enlarged; replacement letterboxes must fit the existing aperture.
• Glazed or partial-glazed doors — letterboxes are typically in the lower half; if cracked, can sometimes be replaced without disturbing the glazing.

Security — TS008 and what it means

If you're replacing a front-door letterbox, consider a TS008-rated unit. TS008 is the British Standard for "letterbox aperture protection" — designed to prevent key-fishing, hand-reaching, and arson attacks. Many home insurance policies discount premiums for compliant front doors. £100–£250 supplied and fitted.

For period homes where TS008 looks too modern, anti-fish bars or restrictor plates fitted behind the existing letterbox are a discreet alternative — £40–£90 installed.

Things people often miss

• Brush kit refresh — most "draughty front door" callouts are just a worn brush. Buy a £15 kit, slide out the old, slide in the new — 5 minutes.
• Spring direction — letterbox springs are handed (left or right). When ordering replacements, photograph the existing one or measure the spring's wind direction.
• Anti-pick mailguard — internal cage that prevents post being grabbed back through the slot. Cheap (£20) and useful in semi-detached or terrace properties where letter theft happens.
• Period property considerations — Victorian, Edwardian or listed-building front doors often have non-standard letterboxes. Conservation officer may insist on like-for-like replacement; specialist suppliers like Willow & Stone or Croft Architectural carry period-correct designs.
• Letter-cage leaks — internal letter cages (boxes that catch incoming post) can rattle in wind, scratch the door, or trap parcels. Position carefully or use a soft-close model.

Frequently asked questions

Want a local pro to handle this? A carpenter or door-fitter will diagnose the issue, source the right replacement (especially important for composite/uPVC), and fit cleanly without damaging the door. Quick job, modest cost.