Front door cost in Columbia, MO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $470 – $2,350
- Per door
- $466 – $2,347
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $1,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #180
- 1 = most expensive
Columbia homeowners pay roughly $470 to $2,350 to replace a front door at 1 door, or $466 to $2,347 per door (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Columbia is 6% lower. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.2).
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Estimated cost for 1 door in Columbia, MO, standard level
$1,050 to $1,800
About $1,031 to $1,783 per door before permits. Labor is about 26% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $700 | $1,400 |
| Labor | $330 | $410 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,800 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Columbia, MO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $190 | $1,050 | $1,900 | 74% |
| Labor | $280 | $370 | $460 | 26% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $470 | $1,400 | $2,350 | 100% |
Why Columbia prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 85%, general maintenance and repair workers at 15%. Weighted together, Columbia wages are 0.93 times the national level. Labor makes up about 26% of the midpoint estimate (27% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Columbia metro is 94.2 (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 (89.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Cost by quality level and size in Columbia
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Columbia 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
$470 to $1,200
Basic steel door, same size opening
Standard
$1,050 to $1,800
Fiberglass door with sidelight trim or glass
Premium
$1,600 to $2,350
Wood or custom door, frame work needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single entry door | $470 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
| front and side doors | $930 – $2,450 | $2,050 – $3,550 | $3,200 – $4,700 |
Is Columbia cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $1,400 to $1,550 across Columbia and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MOthis page | $470 – $2,350 | $1,400 | |
| Jefferson City, MO35 miles | $470 – $2,350 | $1,400 | level |
| Kansas City, MO100 miles | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +2% |
| Springfield, MO115 miles | $450 – $2,300 | $1,400 | −2% |
| St. Louis, MO120 miles | $550 – $2,600 | $1,550 | +11% |
| Springfield, IL165 miles | $560 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +8% |
| Missouri (statewide) | $490 – $2,450 | $1,450 | +4% |
| United States | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Columbia comes in at #180 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,800; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $1,300 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Columbia is 4% below the Missouri figure.
Other Missouri metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $550 – $2,600 | $1,550 | +11% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +2% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $450 – $2,300 | $1,400 | −2% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $440 – $2,300 | $1,350 | −3% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $470 – $2,350 | $1,400 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Columbia's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Columbia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $520 – $2,600 | $1,550 | +12% |
| Hagerstown, MD | 107,170 jobs | $470 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +2% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $430 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −2% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $520 – $2,450 | $1,450 | +5% |
Planning more than one job in Columbia?
Because every project leans on different trades, Columbia's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, garage door runs −6% and patio door −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm door | 1 door | $330 – $890 | −6% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $560 – $5,600 | −7% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,200 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $660 – $3,450 | −6% |
When to schedule front door in Columbia
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Columbia U Of M (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Columbia (10 of 12 months). January and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January 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.
Columbia gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 17 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (5.2 inches in May). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.3 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 41 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 | 39 | 23 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 27 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Mar | 56 | 36 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 67 | 46 | 4.8 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 56 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 65 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 89 | 69 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 88 | 67 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 59 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 68 | 47 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 37 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 44 | 27 | 2.2 | Cold |
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 Columbia is 0.93 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 85%) the local median is $27.00 an hour, which is 7% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.95 and $33.85 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 47.4 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 $22.05 an hour, 8% below the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $16.76 and $28.13 an hour. About 1,290 work in the metro. That is 119.8 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 ($33.85 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $80. At the 25th percentile ($21.95) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 5.7% or 4.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 107,680 jobs in the Columbia area. That makes it the 194th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 85% | $21.95 | $27.00 | $33.85 | $29.12 | 0.93 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 15% | $16.76 | $22.05 | $28.13 | $23.84 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Why two Columbia quotes can differ
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).
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 Columbia, MO is attached.
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Front door in Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a front door in Columbia?
For 1 door, expect $470 to $2,350 in the Columbia 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 Columbia?
About $466 to $2,347 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 Columbia or Jefferson City?
Jefferson City is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $1,400, which is 0% more than Columbia ($1,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Columbia?
About 26% at the midpoint, or $370 out of $1,400. Materials are 74% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would front and side doors cost in Columbia?
$930 to $4,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does front door need a permit in Columbia?
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 Columbia area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Columbia expensive for front door compared with the rest of Missouri?
Columbia is 4% below the Missouri statewide estimate ($1,450 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Missouri; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Columbia?
The BLS median is $27.00 an hour in the Columbia area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.95 to $33.85.
+What do basic and premium front door work cost in Columbia?
For 1 door, basic work runs $470 to $1,200 and premium work $1,600 to $2,350. 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 Columbia?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through November. February 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 Columbia
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.