How Much Does It Cost to Install Exterior Door In 2024? (with Pictures)

Is your front door sagging and letting cold winter air in? Or maybe you’re having a hard time opening and closing it? Wait—it’s the lock acting up, and you need to spend forever trying to put the key in, right? Yes, unfortunately, doors don’t last forever, especially if you live in a hot and humid area. Mother Nature has a huge impact on front doors.

And at a certain point, it’s better to replace it than to repair it. How much will a brand-new exterior door cost, then? Well, that’s exactly what we’re here to figure out! In this guide, you’ll learn about the average cost, how much contractors charge for the job, the price difference between wood and steel, additional expenses, and more!

The Importance of an Exterior Door

Security-wise, a front door has two jobs: to let good folks in and keep bad folks out. Even if you live in a very safe neighborhood, the exterior door still needs to be secure enough to keep potential intruders at bay. That’s why you have to make sure it’s strong, hard to break through, and doesn’t look worn-out or rotten. This way, it will also protect against weather elements like rain, snow, and wind.

Second, since the front door is always the center of attention, a lovely color, premium materials, and unusual design will attract potential buyers and increase the curb appeal of the house. And for your neighbors and friends, it will set the right mood and let them know what to expect from the rest of the house. So, yes, the entry door doesn’t only serve a security purpose but also plays an aesthetic role, and that’s why it’s so important.

How Much Does a Professional Exterior Door Installation Cost?

The average cost for a complete front door installation in the United States is $650–2K. With that said, the majority of homeowners in the States pay $1.4–1.5K. This is how much contractors tend to charge for a fiberglass (pre-hung) door with a glass inset, labor cost included. If you’re not ready to pay that much for a door just yet, choose a pre-hung (framed and hinged) steel door with basic accessories.

That will set you back $500–550, and that’s the low-end price for an entry door installation. In contrast, mahogany double doors with brand-new frames and expensive extras (knobs, locks, and hinges) will come in at $6K, which is the high-end cost. So, yes, the price range is quite large, and it’s shaped by the material, door type, hardware/accessories, and the area.

Exterior Door Installation Cost By Location

The state and the city that you live in will have a pretty big impact on how much the installation costs. As a general rule, folks on the West Coast pay more than people in the Midwest, while prices on the East Coast are higher than anywhere else. Here’s a quick breakdown of the average prices in different parts of the country:

Exterior Door Installation Cost By Type/Style

Double, sliding, pre-hung, and custom-made—these are just some of the styles that you can pick from. Take a look at how much each entry door type will cost:

• See Also: How Much Does It Cost to Install a Pocket Door? What You Need To Know!

Exterior Door Installation Cost By Different Materials

The following list includes the most common materials for exterior doors, what they have to offer, and how much the average contractor will charge both for the door and the labor:

Additional Costs to Anticipate

Finally, let’s take a look at the available extras and how much you’ll have to pay for each:

How Much Do Contractors Charge?

Labor costs vary greatly and depend on many things. The condition of your house (old/new) is checked first. Next, the contractors will consider the type, size, and material of the door. Expect the installation of a brand-new door to cost you $150–350. To remove an old door, you’ll have to pay $50–80. And if you want to try and repair it, that will set you back $150–500. Finally, inswing doors cost more to install than outswing doors.

• See Also: How to Find a Local Handyman

How Long Does It Take To Install an Exterior Door?

On average, it takes a team of professionals 2–3 hours to install a front door. Wood, fiberglass, and vinyl can be installed in 1–2 hours. If it’s a pre-hung door, the contractors will be done with it in 1–3 hours. But if it’s a brick house and a steel door, it will keep the workers busy for 3–6 hours. Pocket, French, and bi-folding doors are the hardest to install as they require expertise and at least two sets of hands.

Does Home Insurance Cover Exterior Doors?

No, regular tear/wear won’t be covered by a standard home insurance plan in the US. If the door is getting really old and you’re seeing the paint peeling off and the frame sagging, that won’t be enough for the company to cover the expenses. The same is true for lack of proper maintenance and scratches left by a pet (like a dog or a cat): you’ll have to pay for that from your own pocket.

With that said, natural hazards like a fire, storm, wind, hail, or lightning hitting the door will be taken care of by the insurance. Damages that fall into the “accident” category will be handled by the company as well. These include a kid throwing a rock or a bat at the door or a car crashing into it. In the case of a car accident, most likely, the expenses will be covered by that person’s auto insurance.

• See Also: How Many Homeowners Are There in the US?

How Long Do Exterior Doors Last?

This greatly depends on the material. Steel doors last the longest (up to 100 years) and offer added protection against fires, smoke, and impact. Wood and fiberglass are close seconds (60–70 years). Cedar doors go on for 40 years; mahogany lasts for 60–65. Oak and maple fail in 20–30 years. Screen and vinyl doors, in turn, aren’t as impressive in terms of their lifespan (on average, they serve for 20–40 years).

Now, if you have any weather stripping on the door, you will have to replace it every 6–8 years. The temperature or, rather, the climate also plays a big role here. Hot, humid, windy, and extremely cold weather is bad news for exterior doors. For example, wood and vinyl are known to deform/warp when exposed to extreme levels of moisture and heat, while iron tends to rust. Do keep this in mind when choosing a new door for your house.

Conclusion

Are you worried that installing a new exterior door will break your bank? Well, we’ve got good news: front doors aren’t unreasonably expensive. Besides, as mentioned, they only take a couple of hours to install but last for many decades. And there are lots of different options to pick from. You can go with different materials, styles, and, of course, extra hardware.

Now, entry doors are a statement, a focus point of your home. So, unless you’re on a tight budget, we highly encourage you to pay a bit more to get a high-quality door. That way, you’ll be able to make a great first impression. More importantly, that will boost the market value of the entire house.

Featured Image Credit: Odua Images, Shutterstock