How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Front Door?
Replacing a front door costs $500 to $5,000 installed, averaging about $1,800. That covers the door, the hardware, the labour to fit it, and the trim and sealing that keep out draughts and rain. It is the first thing visitors touch and the first thing buyers see — and it is also a security and insulation job, not just a style choice.
The price range is famously wild: small sites quote $500 to $2,000, one installer averages $1,800, and an outlier puts the top at $18,800. The spread is real, and it comes from three choices — the material, the install type, and the hardware. This guide reconciles the spread, prices each option, and works through a full example.
Front Door Replacement Prices at a Glance
The table below shows typical installed prices in the United States, checked Nov 7, 2026 (sources: AProDoor, Homenetics, Rooster Windows and Doors, Remodel Your Home, and HomeBuddy).
| Job | Typical installed cost |
|---|---|
| Budget replacement (steel slab, basic) | $500–$1,000 |
| Standard replacement (pre-hung) | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Average replacement | About $1,800 |
| Premium replacement (wood, full-frame) | $3,000–$5,000 |
| High-end custom (oversized, glass) | $5,000–$10,000+ |
AProDoor gives $500 to $10,000. Homenetics gives $500 to $2,000. Remodel Your Home gives $1,100 to $6,600. Rooster Windows and Doors averages about $1,800. HomeBuddy gives $4,700 to $18,800 — an outlier at the top, driven by custom and oversized doors. The honest centre of the range is $1,000 to $2,500 for a standard pre-hung door fitted properly, with $1,800 as the working average.
Why do the figures disagree so much? Because "replace a front door" means different jobs. A steel slab swapped into a sound frame is a $500 job. A full-frame replacement with a new wood door, sidelights, and smart hardware is a $5,000 job. Most quotes online do not say which one they mean — this guide does.
Cost by Material
Material is the biggest price driver after the install type. Prices below are for the door plus standard installation, checked Nov 7, 2026 (sources: AProDoor, Homenetics, and Rooster Windows and Doors).
| Material | Door cost | Installed cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel | $200–$600 | $500–$1,500 | Security, low budget |
| Fibreglass | $400–$1,500 | $1,000–$3,000 | All-round value, looks like wood |
| Wood | $800–$4,000 | $1,500–$5,000+ | Traditional look, custom sizes |
| Aluminium | $500–$1,500 | $1,000–$2,500 | Modern style, mild climates |
Steel is the cheapest and the strongest. A steel door resists forced entry better than any other material, needs little maintenance, and insulates well when foam-filled. Its weakness is dents — a steel door that is kicked or hit shows it — and rust if the finish is scratched.
Fibreglass is the best all-rounder. It can be moulded to look like wood grain, it never rots, rusts, or warps, and it insulates well. At $1,000 to $3,000 installed it costs more than steel, but it is the material most installers recommend for a standard replacement.
Wood is the most expensive and the most beautiful. A solid wood door with panels and glass costs $1,500 to $5,000 or more installed, and it needs regular sealing and painting. It suits period homes and custom openings where no standard door fits. Aluminium is light, modern, and rust-proof, but it dents easily and insulates poorly — best for mild climates and contemporary designs.
Slab vs Pre-Hung vs Full-Frame: The Install Types
The install type is the second price driver, and it is the one most quotes hide. There are three ways to replace a door, and they are three different jobs.
| Install type | Typical cost | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Slab only (door leaf) | $100–$300 door, $200–$500 labour | Frame is sound, same size |
| Pre-hung (door + frame) | $500–$2,000 installed | Frame is damaged or wrong size |
| Full-frame (door + frame + trim) | $1,500–$5,000 installed | Rot, major damage, resizing |
A slab is just the door leaf — the flat panel with no frame, hinges, or hardware. It is the cheapest option, $100 to $300 for the door plus $200 to $500 in labour, but it only works when your existing frame is square, solid, and exactly the right size. The installer must cut the hinge mortises and the lock hole by hand, so the labour is skilled work.
A pre-hung door comes with its own frame, hinges, and weatherstripping already fitted. It costs $500 to $2,000 installed and is the standard replacement: the old door and frame come out together, the new unit goes in, and the installer shims it level and seals it. It is faster, fits better, and seals better than a slab.
A full-frame replacement removes everything — door, frame, trim, and sometimes part of the wall — and is needed when the frame is rotted, the opening is the wrong size, or you are adding sidelights. It costs $1,500 to $5,000 and takes a full day, but it is the only way to fix a damaged opening properly.
What Else Drives the Price
Hardware adds $100 to $500: a standard handle and deadbolt cost $50 to $150, a smart lock costs $150 to $350, and a full handle set with a smart deadbolt can pass $500. Sidelights — the narrow windows beside the door — add $300 to $1,000 each. A transom window above the door adds $200 to $800.
Glass is the next driver: a half-lite or full-lite panel adds $200 to $600, decorative or stained glass adds $500 to $2,000, and triple glazing costs more than standard double glazing.
Labour runs $200 to $500 for a standard pre-hung install, more for full-frame, and higher in the Northeast and West. Resizing an opening adds $300 to $800. Get the install type named in writing: a quote that just says "replace front door" is not a real quote.
Resale Value: Does a New Front Door Pay?
A front door is one of the best-value exterior upgrades, because buyers judge a house by its entrance. A steel entry door replacement has historically been among the highest-returning remodels in Remodeling magazine's Cost vs Value report, often recouping most or all of its cost at resale — the exact figure moves year to year, but steel doors consistently sit near the top of the list.
The reason is simple: a new door photographs well, signals that the house is maintained, and costs little compared with a kitchen or a roof. A $1,800 fibreglass door that helps sell the house a month sooner is worth far more than its price.
A Worked Example: A Pre-Hung Fibreglass Door
Take a typical suburban home replacing a 20-year-old steel door that is dented and draughty, with a sound frame and a standard 36-by-80-inch opening.
- Fibreglass pre-hung door, half-lite: $900
- Labour (remove old, fit new, seal): $350
- Handle set and deadbolt: $120
- Trim and caulking: $60
- Old door disposal: $50
Total: $1,480 — below the $1,800 average, because the frame is sound and the opening is standard. Add sidelights at $600 and a smart lock at $250, and the total becomes $2,330. Choose a solid wood door with a full-frame install instead, and the same job passes $4,000.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Accepting a quote without the install type. Slab, pre-hung, and full-frame are three different prices — get it named in writing.
- Buying the door before measuring. Standard is 36 by 80 inches, but older homes vary — measure the opening, not the old door.
- Choosing the cheapest slab for a damaged frame. A new door in a rotten frame will sag within a year.
- Forgetting the hardware budget. A smart lock and handle set can add $250 to $500.
- Ignoring the seal. A door that is not sealed properly leaks heat all winter — the energy loss costs more than the install saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to replace a front door?
About $500 to $5,000 installed, checked Nov 7, 2026, averaging about $1,800 — a standard pre-hung door costs $1,000 to $2,500, a budget steel slab $500 to $1,000, and a premium wood full-frame job $3,000 to $5,000.
What is the cheapest way to replace a front door?
A steel slab in a sound existing frame: $100 to $300 for the door plus $200 to $500 in labour, or $500 to $1,000 all-in. It only works when the frame is square and undamaged.
Should I replace the slab or get a pre-hung door?
A slab if your frame is sound and exactly the right size. A pre-hung door if the frame is damaged, the wrong size, or you want a better seal — it costs more but fits and seals better.
How long does front door replacement take?
Two to four hours for a slab or pre-hung door in a standard opening. A full-frame replacement takes a full day, longer if the opening needs resizing.
Does a new front door increase home value?
Yes — a steel entry door is historically one of the highest-returning remodels, often recouping most of its cost at resale. The return is best when replacing a damaged or draughty door.
