Front door cost in California
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (1 door)
- $580 – $2,750
- Per door
- $584 – $2,741
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $1,500
- Metros covered
- 23
What does it cost to replace a front door in California? Plan on $580 to $2,750 for 1 door. Wages (1.24x the US blend), materials (price index 106.1) and permit costs (110.7) put the state above the national midpoint by 11%.
Inside California, the metros we cover range from $1,600 (Fresno) to $1,750 (San Francisco) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your front door cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1 door in California (statewide), standard level
$1,250 to $2,100
About $1,231 to $2,094 per door before permits. Labor is about 30% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $790 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $450 | $540 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,250 | $2,100 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in California
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $210 | $1,150 | $2,100 | 70% |
| Labor | $370 | $500 | $620 | 30% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $580 | $1,650 | $2,750 | 100% |
Why two California quotes can differ
Door material
Basic steel doors run about $200-$600 for the door; fiberglass and wood go to $2,000 (HomeGuide).
Double doors
A double front door costs $1,500-$6,500+ installed; the doors alone are $1,200-$5,000.
Frame
Frame repair adds $75-$200+; rebuilding the opening for a new size costs $7-$20 per linear foot for framing.
Paint
Painting an unfinished door adds $125-$225; door and trim together are $150-$400.
How California compares with nearby states
California ranks 2 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for front door, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $1,800 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $1,350, both for 1 door at the midpoint. California sits at $1,650. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
What carpenters and the other trades earn in California
California's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.24 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 85% of the weighting: a median of $36.50 an hour, 25% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.72 and $46.07 an hour. About 100,750 work in the state. That is 55.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For general maintenance and repair workers (49-9071, weighted 15%) the local median is $27.41 an hour, which is 15% above the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $22.28 and $34.24 an hour. BLS counts 143,060 of them working in the state, 78.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 98.4), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($46.07 an hour) would add about $110 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($28.72) would take off about $90. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 18,213,700 jobs across California (May 2025), which is 11.7% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 85% | $28.72 | $36.50 | $46.07 | $29.12 | 1.25 | state |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 15% | $22.28 | $27.41 | $34.24 | $23.84 | 1.15 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.24 | |||||
Related projects, priced for California
Each project weights the trades differently, so California's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, storm door is +13% and window replacement +9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm door | 1 door | $400 – $1,050 | +13% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $670 – $6,800 | +13% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,950 – $16,400 | +9% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $790 – $4,100 | +11% |
California metro-by-metro prices
4 of the 23 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $1,650, and the top-to-bottom gap is 12%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (1 door) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $650 – $2,900 | $1,750 | +7% |
| Napa, CA | $610 – $2,750 | $1,700 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | $610 – $2,750 | $1,700 | +1% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $600 – $2,750 | $1,700 | +1% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $580 – $2,750 | $1,650 | level |
| San Diego, CA | $570 – $2,750 | $1,650 | level |
| Vallejo, CA | $590 – $2,750 | $1,650 | level |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $580 – $2,700 | $1,650 | −1% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $580 – $2,700 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Merced, CA | $580 – $2,700 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Sacramento, CA | $580 – $2,700 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Modesto, CA | $570 – $2,700 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Santa Maria, CA | $570 – $2,700 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Oxnard, CA | $570 – $2,700 | $1,650 | −1% |
| El Centro, CA | $570 – $2,700 | $1,650 | −2% |
| Chico, CA | $560 – $2,700 | $1,650 | −2% |
| Redding, CA | $560 – $2,700 | $1,600 | −3% |
| Stockton, CA | $560 – $2,700 | $1,600 | −3% |
| Salinas, CA | $540 – $2,650 | $1,600 | −4% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $540 – $2,650 | $1,600 | −4% |
| Visalia, CA | $530 – $2,650 | $1,600 | −5% |
| Riverside, CA | $550 – $2,600 | $1,600 | −5% |
| Fresno, CA | $520 – $2,650 | $1,600 | −5% |
Weather windows across California
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and California is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Los Angeles has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in California at 12 months; El Centro has the shortest at 6 (November through April). Rainfall runs from 3 inches a year in El Centro to 34 inches in Redding.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 48 | 78 | 14 | 12: all year |
| San Francisco | 47 | 66 | 23 | 12: all year |
| Riverside | 43 | 95 | 10 | 9: October through June |
| San Diego | 46 | 80 | 11 | 12: all year |
| San Jose | 42 | 81 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Sacramento | 41 | 94 | 19 | 10: September through June |
| Fresno | 41 | 98 | 11 | 8: October through May |
| Bakersfield | 41 | 98 | 6 | 8: October through May |
| Oxnard | 46 | 73 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Stockton | 39 | 95 | 17 | 8: October through May |
| Santa Rosa | 38 | 82 | 32 | 12: all year |
| Santa Maria | 41 | 73 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Modesto | 39 | 95 | 12 | 9: September through May |
| Salinas | 42 | 71 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Visalia | 38 | 94 | 10 | 10: September through June |
| Vallejo | 38 | 79 | 20 | 12: all year |
| San Luis Obispo | 41 | 78 | 18 | 12: all year |
| Santa Cruz | 41 | 74 | 31 | 12: all year |
| Merced | 37 | 96 | 12 | 8: October through May |
| Chico | 36 | 95 | 27 | 9: October through June |
| Napa | 40 | 83 | 27 | 12: all year |
| Redding | 38 | 100 | 34 | 8: October through May |
| El Centro | 43 | 107 | 3 | 6: November through April |
Basic, standard or premium: California prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from single entry door to front and side doors.
Basic
$580 to $1,450
Basic steel door, same size opening
Standard
$1,250 to $2,100
Fiberglass door with sidelight trim or glass
Premium
$1,900 to $2,750
Wood or custom door, frame work needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single entry door | $580 – $1,450 | $1,250 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,750 |
| front and side doors | $1,150 – $2,900 | $2,450 – $4,200 | $3,750 – $5,500 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $1,250 to $2,100 for California is attached.
Detailed front door report for California, $9
Multi-page report for California: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Front door in California: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a front door in California?
$580 to $2,750 for 1 door, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside California can sit above or below that.
+Which city in California is cheapest for front door?
Fresno at about $1,600 (midpoint, 1 door). The priciest is San Francisco at $1,750.
+Is front door cheaper in California than the US average?
It is 11% more expensive: $1,650 against $1,500 for 1 door at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in California?
About 30% ($500). Materials are 70%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.24x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in California?
The BLS statewide median is $36.50 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.72 to $46.07.
+Where does California rank for front door costs?
2nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $1,650 for 1 door. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium front door work cost in California?
For 1 door, basic work runs $580 to $1,450 and premium work $1,900 to $2,750. Basic means: basic steel door, same size opening. Premium means: wood or custom door, frame work needed.
+Does the season matter for front door in California?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the California metros we cover, Los Angeles has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Front door by city in California
- San Francisco, CA$1,750 midpoint
- Napa, CA$1,700 midpoint
- San Jose, CA$1,700 midpoint
- Santa Rosa, CA$1,700 midpoint
- Los Angeles, CA$1,650 midpoint
- San Diego, CA$1,650 midpoint
- Vallejo, CA$1,650 midpoint
- Santa Cruz, CA$1,650 midpoint
- San Luis Obispo, CA$1,650 midpoint
- Merced, CA$1,650 midpoint
- Sacramento, CA$1,650 midpoint
- Modesto, CA$1,650 midpoint
- Santa Maria, CA$1,650 midpoint
- Oxnard, CA$1,650 midpoint
- El Centro, CA$1,650 midpoint
- Chico, CA$1,650 midpoint
- Redding, CA$1,600 midpoint
- Stockton, CA$1,600 midpoint
- Salinas, CA$1,600 midpoint
- Bakersfield, CA$1,600 midpoint
- Visalia, CA$1,600 midpoint
- Riverside, CA$1,600 midpoint
- Fresno, CA$1,600 midpoint
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Front Door Replacement Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = HomeGuide's door prices, from about $200 for a basic steel door to $2,000 for higher-end fiberglass or wood.