Front door cost in Lafayette, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $420 – $2,250
- Per door
- $424 – $2,269
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $1,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #285
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace a front door in Lafayette, plan on $420 to $2,250 for 1 door, all in. Per door, that is $424 to $2,269 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $22.81 an hour in the Lafayette area, 22% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 1 door in Lafayette, LA, standard level
$980 to $1,700
About $978 to $1,715 per door before permits. Labor is about 23% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $690 | $1,350 |
| Labor | $280 | $350 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $980 | $1,700 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Lafayette, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $190 | $1,050 | $1,850 | 77% |
| Labor | $240 | $320 | $390 | 23% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $420 | $1,350 | $2,250 | 100% |
Why Lafayette prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 85% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.81 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Lafayette is 0.79 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 23% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Lafayette 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 (87.2) and land at $0 to $0.
Planning more than one job in Lafayette?
Because every project leans on different trades, Lafayette's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, window replacement runs −10% and patio door −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm door | 1 door | $300 – $840 | −12% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $530 – $5,200 | −13% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,000 – $13,600 | −10% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $620 – $3,350 | −10% |
Lafayette 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 Lafayette is 0.79 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 85%) the local median is $22.81 an hour, which is 22% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $18.55 and $27.69 an hour. BLS counts 580 of them working in the area, 32.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 15% of the weighting: a median of $19.68 an hour, 17% below the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $16.12 and $23.30 an hour. About 2,100 work in the metro. That is 116.9 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 ($27.69 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $55. At the 25th percentile ($18.55) it shrinks by about $50. The total moves by 4.2% or 3.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 179,570 jobs in the Lafayette area. That makes it the 129th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 85% | $18.55 | $22.81 | $27.69 | $29.12 | 0.78 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 15% | $16.12 | $19.68 | $23.30 | $23.84 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Climate in Lafayette: timing your front door job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Lafayette Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Lafayette (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Lafayette gets about 63 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (7.1 inches in June). Inside the workable window, February and March are the driest, at 4.1 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 91 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 | 62 | 44 | 5.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 47 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 53 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 59 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 67 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 73 | 7.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 75 | 6.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 75 | 6.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 70 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 60 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 50 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 45 | 5.0 | Workable |
Why two Lafayette quotes can differ
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).
Double doors
A double front door costs $1,500-$6,500+ installed; the doors alone are $1,200-$5,000.
Lafayette: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Lafayette 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
$420 to $1,150
Basic steel door, same size opening
Standard
$980 to $1,700
Fiberglass door with sidelight trim or glass
Premium
$1,550 to $2,250
Wood or custom door, frame work needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single entry door | $420 – $1,150 | $980 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
| front and side doors | $850 – $2,300 | $1,950 – $3,450 | $3,050 – $4,550 |
Lafayette against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Lafayette. Lake Charles is the lowest at about $1,350 (midpoint, 1 door), 65 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LAthis page | $420 – $2,250 | $1,350 | |
| Lake Charles, LA65 miles | $420 – $2,250 | $1,350 | level |
| Baton Rouge, LA70 miles | $460 – $2,350 | $1,400 | +4% |
| Houma, LA90 miles | $430 – $2,300 | $1,350 | +1% |
| Alexandria, LA95 miles | $420 – $2,250 | $1,350 | level |
| Beaumont, TX125 miles | $470 – $2,350 | $1,400 | +5% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $440 – $2,300 | $1,350 | +1% |
| United States | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Lafayette comes in at #285 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,800; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $1,300 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Lafayette is 1% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $440 – $2,300 | $1,350 | +2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $460 – $2,350 | $1,400 | +4% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $430 – $2,250 | $1,350 | level |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $420 – $2,250 | $1,350 | level |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $430 – $2,250 | $1,350 | level |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $430 – $2,300 | $1,350 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Lafayette's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lafayette against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +7% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $440 – $2,350 | $1,400 | +3% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | +5% |
| Anchorage, AK | 177,050 jobs | $570 – $2,750 | $1,650 | +23% |
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Front door in Lafayette: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a front door in Lafayette?
For 1 door, expect $420 to $2,250 in the Lafayette area. A standard-spec job lands at $980 to $1,700. Small jobs usually cost more per door and large ones less.
+What is the price per door for front door in Lafayette?
About $424 to $2,269 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 Lafayette or Lake Charles?
Lake Charles is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $1,350, which is 0% less than Lafayette ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lafayette?
About 23% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $1,350. Materials are 77% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would front and side doors cost in Lafayette?
$850 to $4,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does front door need a permit in Lafayette?
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 Lafayette area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lafayette expensive for front door compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Lafayette is 1% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($1,350 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Lafayette?
The BLS median is $22.81 an hour in the Lafayette area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.55 to $27.69.
+What do basic and premium front door work cost in Lafayette?
For 1 door, basic work runs $420 to $1,150 and premium work $1,550 to $2,250. 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 Lafayette?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February and March 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 Lafayette
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.