How Much Does Exterior Door Replacement Cost in Washington?
Exterior door replacement cost runs $500 to $2,500 and up for a basic single front door. That range comes from one national cost guide, for a new door the same size as the old one. A second national cost guide puts the national average for exterior door installation at $1,456. It says most homeowners pay between $547 and $2,374.
Double doors and patio doors cost more. The first guide prices double front doors at $1,500 to $6,500 and up, doors and installation included. It puts a patio door replacement at $700 to $6,500.
These are market numbers, not our price list. We price exterior door replacement after a free look at your door and the opening around it.
What does each type of exterior door cost to replace?
The two guides price each door type a little differently, so the table shows both. Each range covers the door and the installation.
| Door type | One national cost guide | A second national cost guide |
|---|---|---|
| Single door | $500 to $2,500 and up | $230 to $3,630 |
| Double doors | $1,500 to $6,500 and up | $1,250 to $6,030 |
| Sliding glass patio door | $1,200 to $4,000 | $600 to $5,000 |
| Exterior French doors | $1,300 to $5,500 | $900 to $5,800 |
| Storm door | $350 to $950 | $175 to $1,100 |
Glass and size drive patio door prices. In the first guide, a sliding door’s cost follows its size, panel count, glass type and frame material. Traditional French doors are a pair of hinged doors that meet in the middle.
A storm door sits at the low end. In the first guide, a mid-view storm door costs $350 to $700 installed. A full-view storm door has a full-length glass panel and costs $425 to $950.
How much of the cost is the door, and how much is labor?
Labor is a big share of an exterior door job. The second guide says labor typically makes up 30 to 35 percent of the total project cost. The first guide puts the door alone at $150 to $1,000 on average, and install labor at $230 to $800. It says exterior doors need extra framing, flashing and load-bearing headers, which raise the install cost.
| Cost item | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior door alone | $150 to $1,000 | First guide |
| Install labor, exterior door | $230 to $800 | First guide |
| Labor, basic single-door swap with no framing issues | $300 to $500 | First guide |
| Door installer | $30 to $90 per hour | Second guide |
| Removing and disposing of the old front door | $75 to $200 | First guide |
| Removing the old door | $40 to $200, plus $60 for disposal | Second guide |
| Removing and disposing of an old patio door | $100 to $500 | First guide |
The first guide says some contractors include removal and disposal in their initial estimate. Ask each installer whether haul-off is in the price.
Which door material costs the most?
Before labor, the first guide starts at $200 for a basic steel single door. Its high end is $5,000 and up for an ornate solid wood double entry. Both guides price the door alone in this table, so add labor on top.
| Material | First guide, single door | First guide, double door | Second guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel | $200 to $600 | $1,200 to $4,000 | $150 to $1,400 |
| Fiberglass | $300 to $2,000 | $1,600 to $4,500 | $150 to $3,000 |
| Solid wood | $500 to $2,500 | $1,500 to $5,000 | $500 to $3,000 |
The first guide calls solid wood high maintenance and susceptible to moisture damage. That matters on a wet island. It rates fiberglass as low maintenance and energy efficient, and it says steel may rust without proper maintenance.
What can a door swap uncover on an island house?
Pulling an old door shows what years of rain did to the opening. Soft wood at the sill, the threshold or the jambs has to come out first. That work is wood rot repair, and it adds to the cost.
When an old frame stays but needs work, the first guide puts the repair at $75 to $200 and up. Rebuilding the opening for a new door runs $7 to $20 per linear foot of framing. The same guide puts replacing a door frame and jamb at $113 to $382 on average.
Exterior trim comes off for the swap. Cracked or soft siding beside the door gets patched, which is siding repair work. Many new doors come unfinished, too. The first guide puts painting the door and trim at $150 to $400.
Does exterior door replacement cost more in Washington?
By the second guide’s numbers, Seattle runs above the national figures. Its Seattle page puts door installation and replacement at $2,981 on average. It says most Seattle homeowners spend $1,018 to $5,039 for the entire project.
That page lists a local door installer at $33 to $99 per hour. The national page lists $30 to $90. Neither figure is for Whidbey or Camano Island.
What pushes the price up on Whidbey and Camano?
Weather comes first. WSU Extension says Island County sees some measurable precipitation on about 120 days a year. The Olympic Mountains create a rain shadow over Whidbey and part of Camano Island. Even so, Whidbey’s south end still averages 30-some inches of rain a year.
Wind pushes that rain at doors on water-facing walls. A door there needs its flashing and sill seal done right, or water reaches the floor framing. A door that leaked for years may need rot repair first, and that adds cost.
Size is next. The first guide says large and non-standard door sizes can add hundreds more to the cost. The second guide says a door that fits your current opening and frame saves money.
A bigger opening costs more. For French doors cut into an exterior wall, the first guide adds $600 to $1,200 to rough frame the opening. It says modifying a load-bearing wall may require a building permit. The same guide says sidelights add $500 to $1,500 and up per side, materials and labor included.
Can a handyman install an exterior door?
Yes, if the handyman is a registered contractor. Washington requires all construction contractors to register with the Department of Labor and Industries. State law also requires them to be bonded and insured.
Registered contractors can perform construction work, the department says, including remodeling and repairing buildings. Specialty contractors can only perform work in the specialty they are registered in.
Look up any installer in the state’s Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson, or Business tool. A contractor must put its registration number on its ads and estimates. On residential jobs of $1,000 or more, contractors must also give you a disclosure statement. We are licensed, bonded and insured, under Washington contractor license CULVEL*828N4.
How do you get a real number for your door?
Published ranges help you plan. Your price depends on the door you choose and the condition of the opening under it. We are based in Langley, on the south end of Whidbey Island, and our island crew has no ferry wait. Read how we replace exterior doors, then call or text (360) 544-9655 for a free estimate.