Front door cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $450 – $2,350
- Per door
- $455 – $2,368
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $1,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #169
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace a front door in Durham, plan on $450 to $2,350 for 1 door, all in. Per door, that is $455 to $2,368 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $24.78 an hour in the Durham area, 15% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 1 door in Durham, NC, standard level
$1,050 to $1,800
About $1,029 to $1,794 per door before permits. Labor is about 25% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $710 | $1,400 |
| Labor | $310 | $380 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,800 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $190 | $1,050 | $1,950 | 75% |
| Labor | $260 | $350 | $440 | 25% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $450 | $1,400 | $2,350 | 100% |
Where the Durham price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 85% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.78 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Durham is 0.87 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 25% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Durham metro is 96.6 (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 (97.6) and land at $0 to $0.
Why two Durham 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.
Planning more than one job in Durham?
Because every project leans on different trades, Durham's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, garage door runs −5% and patio door −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm door | 1 door | $320 – $890 | −7% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $560 – $5,450 | −9% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $660 – $3,500 | −5% |
How Durham compares
Same job, same size (1 door), priced for the nearest metros. Durham is the priciest of the group. Fayetteville is the cheapest at $1,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $440 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $430 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −2% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $440 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| United States | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Durham comes in at #169 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,800; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $1,300 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Durham is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Durham's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $550 – $2,550 | $1,550 | +9% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | level |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $430 – $2,300 | $1,350 | −4% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $400 – $2,250 | $1,300 | −7% |
Durham 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 Durham is 0.87 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 85%) the local median is $24.78 an hour, which is 15% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.40 and $29.03 an hour. BLS counts 520 of them working in the area, 15.1 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 $23.62 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.96 and $29.31 an hour. About 2,830 work in the metro. That is 82.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.03 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $50. At the 25th percentile ($21.40) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 3.5% or 2.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 344,020 jobs in the Durham-Chapel Hill area. That makes it the 74th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.22% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 85% | $21.40 | $24.78 | $29.03 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 15% | $21.96 | $23.62 | $29.31 | $23.84 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Climate in Durham: timing your front door job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Raleigh Durham Intl Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
August through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Durham (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Durham gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 52 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 | 52 | 32 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 34 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 63 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 5.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 69 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 63 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 50 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 55 | 34 | 3.4 | Workable |
Durham: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Durham 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
$450 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 | $450 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
| front and side doors | $910 – $2,450 | $2,050 – $3,600 | $3,200 – $4,750 |
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 Durham, NC is attached.
Detailed front door report for Durham, NC, $9
The report lays out the front door numbers for Durham, NC line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a front door in Durham?
For 1 door, expect $450 to $2,350 in the Durham 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 Durham?
About $455 to $2,368 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 Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $1,400, which is 1% less than Durham ($1,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 25% at the midpoint, or $350 out of $1,400. Materials are 75% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would front and side doors cost in Durham?
$910 to $4,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does front door need a permit in Durham?
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 Durham area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for front door compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 1% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($1,400 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Durham?
The BLS median is $24.78 an hour in the Durham area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.40 to $29.03.
+What do basic and premium front door work cost in Durham?
For 1 door, basic work runs $450 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 Durham?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. 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 Durham
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.