Front door cost in Rochester, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $500 – $2,500
- Per door
- $495 – $2,487
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $1,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #79
- 1 = most expensive
Rochester homeowners pay roughly $500 to $2,500 to replace a front door at 1 door, or $495 to $2,487 per door (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Rochester is almost level. Carpenters earn a median of $28.60 an hour in the Rochester area, 2% below the US median of $29.12.
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Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1 door in Rochester, NY, standard level
$1,100 to $1,900
About $1,093 to $1,889 per door before permits. Labor is about 26% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $740 | $1,450 |
| Labor | $350 | $430 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,100 | $1,900 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Rochester, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $200 | $1,100 | $2,000 | 74% |
| Labor | $300 | $390 | $490 | 26% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $500 | $1,500 | $2,500 | 100% |
Where the Rochester price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 85%, general maintenance and repair workers at 15%. Weighted together, Rochester wages are 0.99 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 Rochester metro is 99.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 door comes to $1,100, compared with $1,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.0) and land at $0 to $0.
Pick a size, pick a tier: front door pricing in Rochester
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Rochester 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
$500 to $1,300
Basic steel door, same size opening
Standard
$1,100 to $1,900
Fiberglass door with sidelight trim or glass
Premium
$1,700 to $2,500
Wood or custom door, frame work needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single entry door | $500 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,500 |
| front and side doors | $990 – $2,600 | $2,200 – $3,800 | $3,400 – $4,950 |
What nearby projects cost in Rochester
Because every project leans on different trades, Rochester's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, garage door runs +1% and storm door −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm door | 1 door | $350 – $940 | −1% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $600 – $6,000 | level |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,550 – $15,100 | level |
| Garage door | 1 door | $710 – $3,700 | +1% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Rochester bid
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.
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 Rochester is 0.99 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 85%) the local median is $28.60 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.10 and $35.00 an hour. BLS counts 2,350 of them working in the area, 47.5 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 $24.03 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.36 and $29.15 an hour. About 5,870 work in the metro. That is 118.8 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 ($35.00 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $75. At the 25th percentile ($24.10) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 5.0% or 3.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 494,280 jobs in the Rochester area. That makes it the 52nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.32% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 85% | $24.10 | $28.60 | $35.00 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 15% | $21.36 | $24.03 | $29.15 | $23.84 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Rochester against nearby metros and the rest of New York
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 $1,500 to $1,500 across Rochester and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NYthis page | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | |
| Buffalo, NY60 miles | $510 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +2% |
| Syracuse, NY70 miles | $510 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +1% |
| Binghamton, NY105 miles | $510 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +1% |
| Utica, NY120 miles | $490 – $2,500 | $1,500 | level |
| Erie, PA150 miles | $480 – $2,500 | $1,500 | −1% |
| New York (statewide) | $570 – $2,750 | $1,650 | +11% |
| United States | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Rochester comes in at #79 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,800; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $1,300 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Rochester is 10% below the New York figure.
Other New York metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $590 – $2,800 | $1,700 | +14% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $510 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +2% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | level |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $510 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +1% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $540 – $2,750 | $1,650 | +10% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $490 – $2,500 | $1,500 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Rochester's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rochester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $460 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −7% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $520 – $2,650 | $1,600 | +6% |
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −6% |
| Tulsa, OK | 458,730 jobs | $430 – $2,250 | $1,350 | −9% |
When to schedule front door in Rochester
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Rochester Gtr Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Rochester (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March 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.
Rochester gets about 35 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 102 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (3.6 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and November are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 8 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 | 33 | 19 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 20 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 27 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 37 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 48 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 57 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 62 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 61 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 54 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 34 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 39 | 25 | 2.7 | Cold |
Get 3 local quotes
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Front door in Rochester: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a front door in Rochester?
For 1 door, expect $500 to $2,500 in the Rochester area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,100 to $1,900. Small jobs usually cost more per door and large ones less.
+What is the price per door for front door in Rochester?
About $495 to $2,487 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 Rochester or Buffalo?
Buffalo is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $1,500, which is 2% more than Rochester ($1,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rochester?
About 26% at the midpoint, or $390 out of $1,500. Materials are 74% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would front and side doors cost in Rochester?
$990 to $4,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does front door need a permit in Rochester?
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 Rochester area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rochester expensive for front door compared with the rest of New York?
Rochester is 10% below the New York statewide estimate ($1,650 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in New York; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Rochester?
The BLS median is $28.60 an hour in the Rochester area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.10 to $35.00.
+What do basic and premium front door work cost in Rochester?
For 1 door, basic work runs $500 to $1,300 and premium work $1,700 to $2,500. 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 Rochester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. May 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 Rochester
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.