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Exterior Door Replacement: Cost, Permits & Timeline

Replacing an entry, patio or French door assembly. so most jurisdictions require a permit and an approved product.

Model reviewed August 2026

Typical cost

$2,400

$900 – $6,500

per door installed

$900 – $4,200

Permit

Usually

$90 – $300

Timeline

Half a day to one day of work

Half a day to one day of work, 2-5 weeks with permitting

Do you need a permit for exterior door replacement?

Usually yes

Exterior Door Replacement is permitted and inspected work in most jurisdictions. Typical fees run $90 to $300. Homeowners can usually pull an owner-builder permit on a home they own and occupy.

What drives the cost

  • Door material: steel, fiberglass or wood
  • Impact rating and glass area
  • Whether the frame and threshold are replaced
  • Sidelights and transoms
  • Hardware and smart lock upgrades

Permit, inspections and documents

Permit statususually required
Typical permit fee$90 – $300
Licensed contractor requiredNot always
Owner-builder allowedYes, on owner-occupied homes
InspectionsInstallation and attachment, Final inspection
TimelineHalf a day to one day of work, 2-5 weeks with permitting
DIY difficulty3/5 difficulty

Documents typically required

  • • Permit application
  • • Product approval for the door assembly
  • • Contractor license

Exterior Door Replacement cost by city

Local labor and material pricing applied to the national baseline.

CityTypical rangevs national
New York$1,600 – $11,500+76%
Los Angeles$1,300 – $9,500+46%
Miami$1,200 – $8,600+32%
Chicago$1,200 – $8,500+31%
Phoenix$900 – $6,800+5%
Dallas$900 – $6,600+2%
Houston$900 – $6,700+2%
Tampa$1,000 – $7,100+9%
Denver$1,100 – $7,600+17%
Orlando$900 – $6,800+5%
Atlanta$900 – $6,700+3%
Fort Lauderdale$1,100 – $8,200+27%

Exterior Door Replacement across the country

National pricing, state-by-state pricing, and the tools behind both.

Exterior Door Replacement cost (national)Range, drivers and 50-state comparisonExterior Door cost in AlabamaLocal adoption of the IRC; statewide code applies to state-funded and manufactured housingExterior Door cost in AlaskaLocal adoption of the IRC; no statewide residential code for one- and two-family homesExterior Door cost in ArizonaLocal adoption of the IRC by city and countyExterior Door cost in ArkansasArkansas Residential Building Code, based on the IRCExterior Door cost in CaliforniaCalifornia Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5) plus the Title 24 energy standardsExterior Door cost in ColoradoLocal adoption of the IRC; no statewide residential code outside the wildfire codeExterior Door cost in ConnecticutConnecticut State Building Code, based on the IRCExterior Door cost in District of ColumbiaDC Construction Codes, based on the IRC with District amendmentsExterior Door cost in DelawareLocal adoption of the IRC by county and municipalityExterior Door cost in FloridaFlorida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023)Exterior Door cost in GeorgiaGeorgia State Minimum Standard Codes, based on the IRC

Frequently asked questions

How long does exterior door replacement take?

Half a day to one day of work, 2-5 weeks with permitting. Permit review and inspection scheduling are usually the largest source of variation.

What changes the price the most?

The largest cost drivers are door material: steel, fiberglass or wood; impact rating and glass area; whether the frame and threshold are replaced.

Sources

Sources & verification

Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.