Front door cost in Des Moines, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $490 – $2,400
- Per door
- $492 – $2,382
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $1,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #137
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace a front door in Des Moines, plan on $490 to $2,400 for 1 door, all in. Per door, that is $492 to $2,382 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 1 door in Des Moines, IA, standard level
$1,050 to $1,800
About $1,059 to $1,815 per door before permits. Labor is about 28% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $690 | $1,350 |
| Labor | $370 | $450 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,800 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Des Moines, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $190 | $1,050 | $1,850 | 72% |
| Labor | $300 | $410 | $510 | 28% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $490 | $1,450 | $2,400 | 100% |
Why Des Moines prices look the way they do
Labor is 28% 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 Des Moines the blended ratio comes out at 1.01.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Des Moines metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 door comes to $1,050, compared with $1,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Des Moines: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Des Moines 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
$490 to $1,250
Basic steel door, same size opening
Standard
$1,050 to $1,800
Fiberglass door with sidelight trim or glass
Premium
$1,650 to $2,400
Wood or custom door, frame work needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single entry door | $490 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,400 |
| front and side doors | $980 – $2,500 | $2,100 – $3,650 | $3,250 – $4,750 |
Des Moines labor market for front door
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 Des Moines is 1.01 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 85%) the local median is $29.50 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.03 and $35.68 an hour. BLS counts 1,810 of them working in the area, 44.8 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 $24.41 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.54 and $30.29 an hour. About 3,780 work in the metro. That is 93.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($35.68 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $70. At the 25th percentile ($24.03) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 5.0% or 4.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 404,130 jobs in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area. That makes it the 64th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 85% | $24.03 | $29.50 | $35.68 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 15% | $21.54 | $24.41 | $30.29 | $23.84 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
How Des Moines compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 1 door range from $1,350 to $1,450 across Des Moines and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IAthis page | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | |
| Waterloo, IA95 miles | $470 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −2% |
| Iowa City, IA110 miles | $440 – $2,300 | $1,350 | −5% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA115 miles | $480 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| Omaha, NE120 miles | $460 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −3% |
| Sioux City, IA145 miles | $460 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −3% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $480 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| United States | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Des Moines comes in at #137 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,800; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $1,300 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Des Moines is 1% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | level |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $480 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $440 – $2,300 | $1,350 | −5% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $470 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −2% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $460 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −3% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Des Moines's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Des Moines against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $510 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +4% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $440 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −4% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +1% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −2% |
Front door: what moves the price in Des Moines
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).
Climate in Des Moines: timing your front door job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Des Moines Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Des Moines (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Des Moines gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 37 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 2.2 and 1.9 inches. The station averages about 22 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 | 31 | 14 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 36 | 18 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 49 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 62 | 41 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 52 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 55 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 43 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 30 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 36 | 20 | 1.6 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Des Moines
Because every project leans on different trades, Des Moines's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, patio door runs −1% and garage door −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm door | 1 door | $340 – $920 | −3% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $580 – $5,950 | −1% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $680 – $3,550 | −4% |
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 $1,050 to $1,800 for Des Moines, IA is attached.
Detailed front door report for Des Moines, IA, $9
Multi-page report for Des Moines, IA: 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 Des Moines: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a front door in Des Moines?
For 1 door, expect $490 to $2,400 in the Des Moines area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,050 to $1,800. Small jobs usually cost more per door and large ones less.
+What is the price per door for front door in Des Moines?
About $492 to $2,382 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 Des Moines or Waterloo?
Waterloo is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $1,400, which is 2% less than Des Moines ($1,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Des Moines?
About 28% at the midpoint, or $410 out of $1,450. Materials are 72% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would front and side doors cost in Des Moines?
$980 to $4,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does front door need a permit in Des Moines?
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 Des Moines area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Des Moines expensive for front door compared with the rest of Iowa?
Des Moines is 1% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($1,400 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Des Moines?
The BLS median is $29.50 an hour in the Des Moines area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.03 to $35.68.
+What do basic and premium front door work cost in Des Moines?
For 1 door, basic work runs $490 to $1,250 and premium work $1,650 to $2,400. 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 Des Moines?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and November 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 Des Moines
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.