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How Much Does It Cost to Install a Door?
Have you planned your budget only to find out installing a door costs way more than you had anticipated? We’ve talked about budgeting projects before, but today we’re going to give you a break down of door installation costs.
Interior Doors
At the time of this writing, the average cost of an interior door ranges from $200 to $450 per door in Southern California. Why is there a range?
It depends on the door style and material you use.
1) Hollow Core vs Solid Core
2) MDF vs Wood
3) Door Styles
4) In stock doors vs custom doors
That range does not include the cost of the door, hardware, delivery, paint, or haul-away and removal of your old door.
If you factor in labor, you're looking at an additional $300 to $500 per door.
Interior door installation will vary depending on a few different factors.
1) Pre-hung vs Slab
2) Door Type (i.e. pocket door, barn door, sliding door, swing doors)
3) New opening vs Retrofit
4) The condition of the door opening
Remember, every year the cost to maintain employees, insurance, and licensing goes up. What this means for you the consumer is that the prices today will only increase tomorrow.
Cost saving tip
In-stock manufactured doors are cheaper than custom doors.
Why?
Custom doors require a skilled tradesmen days to months to manufacture one door.
The big box stores buy the in-stock doors in bulk at a discounted cost and can pass that on to their customers.
Exterior Doors
At the time of this writing, the typical cost of an exterior door ranges from $800 to $10,000. Those are door prices only. Again it doesn't include hardware, trim, or labor. Please note there are doors that are more expensive than this range would allow, but for the sake of this article we are focusing on the average residential door cost. Why such a large range in pricing?
Exterior door prices will vary depending on several factors.
1) Door Materials (Engineered Wood, Steel, Fiberglass, or Iron)
2) Type of door (Single, double, slider, pivot etc.)
3) Glass panel vs. Solid
4) Design
5) Size (6ft vs 8ft)
Labor costs can range from $1,500 up to $3,500 depending on the type of door being installed and location.
Exterior doors often have decorative features, must be properly weather sealed, and have a more labor-intensive installation and demolition process.
Front doors will usually cost more than side doors.
Double doors will cost more than single doors.
Eight-foot doors will cost more than your average six-foot doors so forth and so on.
Cost Saving Tip
Unless you’re a trained licensed professional, don’t try to install your doors yourself. It will cost you twice as much for an installation company to fix your mistakes.
Also, if you have a security system make sure you let them know you’re having a new exterior door installed. After the installation is complete, arrange for them to adjust or replace the door censors.
Choosing A Different Can Save Money
We’ve talked a lot about labor costs but we really haven’t mentioned cost saving tips for materials.
You can usually save money by choosing a different door or hardware style. Talk to you’re local designer or contractor to see if there are options similar to the style you’re interested in.
Choosing a deferent medium can also reduce the cost of the door. Fiberglass is more expensive than wood or steel doors. Hollow core interior doors are less expensive than solid core.
Warning
Remember, the longer you put off a project the more that it will cost. Usually door companies raise their prices about 1 to 3 percent each year. In 2021, door companies increased material costs 7 to 15 percent depending on the product and company. In 2022, door costs increase another 10 to 15 percent. So far in 2023, what use to cost less than $50 a few years ago, is now well over $300. Expect door installation costs to increase as well.
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