Front door cost in Merced, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $580 – $2,700
- Per door
- $577 – $2,714
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +10%
- US $1,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #16
- 1 = most expensive
Merced homeowners pay roughly $580 to $2,700 to replace a front door at 1 door, or $577 to $2,714 per door (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Merced is 10% higher. Carpenters earn a median of $35.94 an hour in the Merced area, 23% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 1 door in Merced, CA, standard level
$1,200 to $2,050
About $1,218 to $2,073 per door before permits. Labor is about 30% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $780 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $440 | $540 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $2,050 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $210 | $1,150 | $2,100 | 70% |
| Labor | $370 | $490 | $610 | 30% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $580 | $1,650 | $2,700 | 100% |
Why Merced prices look the way they do
Labor is 30% of the midpoint bill here, against 27% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (85%), general maintenance and repair workers (15%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Merced the blended ratio comes out at 1.22.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Merced metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 door comes to $1,150, compared with $1,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.3) and land at $0 to $0.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Merced is 1.22 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 85%) the local median is $35.94 an hour, which is 23% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.11 and $39.05 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the area, 44.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 15% of the weighting: a median of $27.26 an hour, 14% above the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.94 and $33.28 an hour. About 930 work in the metro. That is 117.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($39.05 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $35. At the 25th percentile ($27.11) it shrinks by about $100. The total moves by 2.2% or 6.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 79,510 jobs in the Merced area. That makes it the 240th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 85% | $27.11 | $35.94 | $39.05 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 15% | $21.94 | $27.26 | $33.28 | $23.84 | 1.14 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.22 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Merced
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Merced wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 2 common sizes.
Basic
$580 to $1,450
Basic steel door, same size opening
Standard
$1,200 to $2,050
Fiberglass door with sidelight trim or glass
Premium
$1,850 to $2,700
Wood or custom door, frame work needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single entry door | $580 – $1,450 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,700 |
| front and side doors | $1,150 – $2,850 | $2,450 – $4,150 | $3,700 – $5,450 |
Front door: what moves the price in Merced
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.
Door material
Basic steel doors run about $200-$600 for the door; fiberglass and wood go to $2,000 (HomeGuide).
Planning more than one job in Merced?
Because every project leans on different trades, Merced's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, patio door runs +12% and window replacement +8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm door | 1 door | $400 – $1,050 | +12% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $660 – $6,750 | +12% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,900 – $16,200 | +8% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $780 – $4,050 | +10% |
When to schedule front door in Merced
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Merced Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Merced (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Merced gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.4 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 100 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 37 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 42 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 45 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 58 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 57 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 49 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 36 | 1.9 | Workable |
Merced against nearby metros and the rest of California
Same job, same size (1 door), priced for the nearest metros. San Jose is the priciest of the group at $1,700. Fresno is the cheapest at $1,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $580 – $2,700 | $1,650 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $570 – $2,700 | $1,650 | level |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $610 – $2,750 | $1,700 | +2% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $560 – $2,700 | $1,600 | −2% |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $520 – $2,650 | $1,600 | −4% |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $580 – $2,700 | $1,650 | +1% |
| California (statewide) | $580 – $2,750 | $1,650 | +1% |
| United States | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | −9% |
Across 300 US metros, Merced comes in at #16 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,800; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $1,300 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Merced is 1% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $580 – $2,750 | $1,650 | +1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $650 – $2,900 | $1,750 | +8% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $550 – $2,600 | $1,600 | −4% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $570 – $2,750 | $1,650 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $610 – $2,750 | $1,700 | +2% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $580 – $2,700 | $1,650 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Merced's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Merced against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | −13% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $560 – $2,700 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $470 – $2,400 | $1,450 | −13% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $610 – $2,750 | $1,700 | +2% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Front door in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a front door in Merced?
For 1 door, expect $580 to $2,700 in the Merced area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $2,050. Small jobs usually cost more per door and large ones less.
+What is the price per door for front door in Merced?
About $577 to $2,714 per door for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $500 to $2,500.
+Is front door cheaper in Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $1,650, which is 0% less than Merced ($1,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
About 30% at the midpoint, or $490 out of $1,650. Materials are 70% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would front and side doors cost in Merced?
$1,150 to $5,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does front door need a permit in Merced?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Merced area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for front door compared with the rest of California?
Merced is 1% below the California statewide estimate ($1,650 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Merced?
The BLS median is $35.94 an hour in the Merced area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.11 to $39.05.
+What do basic and premium front door work cost in Merced?
For 1 door, basic work runs $580 to $1,450 and premium work $1,850 to $2,700. Basic means: basic steel door, same size opening. Premium means: wood or custom door, frame work needed.
+When is the best time to replace a front door in Merced?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Front door near Merced
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.