Front door cost in La Crosse, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $480 – $2,350
- Per door
- $484 – $2,370
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $1,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #157
- 1 = most expensive
A new front door in La Crosse, WI usually costs $480 to $2,350 for 1 door. That works out to about $484 to $2,370 per door before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $75 less. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 1 door in La Crosse, WI, standard level
$1,050 to $1,800
About $1,050 to $1,804 per door before permits. Labor is about 28% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $690 | $1,350 |
| Labor | $360 | $430 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,800 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in La Crosse, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $190 | $1,050 | $1,900 | 72% |
| Labor | $300 | $400 | $490 | 28% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $480 | $1,450 | $2,350 | 100% |
What is behind the La Crosse number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 85%, general maintenance and repair workers at 15%. Weighted together, La Crosse wages are 0.99 times the national level. Labor makes up about 28% of the midpoint estimate (27% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. La Crosse is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,100 nationally becomes $1,050 here (midpoint, 1 door). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.8: $0 to $0.
La Crosse: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to La Crosse. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from single entry door to front and side doors.
Basic
$480 to $1,250
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 | $480 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
| front and side doors | $970 – $2,500 | $2,100 – $3,600 | $3,250 – $4,750 |
What local crews earn in La Crosse
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For La Crosse the blend is 0.99.
Carpenters (47-2031), 85% of the weighting: a median of $28.34 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.93 and $36.95 an hour. About 450 work in the metro. That is 53.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For general maintenance and repair workers (49-9071, weighted 15%) the local median is $25.56 an hour, which is 7% above the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.29 and $30.66 an hour. BLS counts 920 of them working in the area, 109.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 98.4), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $100 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 3.6% to 7.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
La Crosse-Onalaska has 84,380 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 228th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 85% | $23.93 | $28.34 | $36.95 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 15% | $21.29 | $25.56 | $30.66 | $23.84 | 1.07 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Planning more than one job in La Crosse?
Jobs that often go together with front door are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same La Crosse wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, patio door comes out highest (−2%) and storm door lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm door | 1 door | $340 – $910 | −4% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $580 – $5,850 | −2% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $690 – $3,600 | −3% |
La Crosse against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
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 $1,450 across La Crosse and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WIthis page | $480 – $2,350 | $1,450 | |
| Rochester, MN65 miles | $510 – $2,450 | $1,450 | +3% |
| Dubuque, IA85 miles | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | level |
| Eau Claire, WI85 miles | $490 – $2,350 | $1,450 | level |
| Madison, WI85 miles | $510 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +2% |
| Waterloo, IA105 miles | $470 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $500 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +2% |
| United States | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, La Crosse ranks #157 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, La Crosse is 2% below the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $510 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +2% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $510 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +2% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +1% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $500 – $2,400 | $1,450 | +2% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $600 – $2,550 | $1,600 | +10% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $490 – $2,350 | $1,450 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is La Crosse against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $440 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −3% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $470 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −1% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $490 – $2,350 | $1,450 | level |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $430 – $2,300 | $1,350 | −5% |
Why two La Crosse quotes can differ
Double doors
A double front door costs $1,500-$6,500+ installed; the doors alone are $1,200-$5,000.
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.
La Crosse weather and the front door calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, La Crosse Wfo (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in La Crosse are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November 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.
La Crosse gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 54 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 4.0 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 3 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24 | 8 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 29 | 13 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 24 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 36 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 48 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 58 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 62 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 60 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 52 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 40 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 42 | 28 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 29 | 15 | 1.5 | Cold |
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 La Crosse, WI is attached.
Detailed front door report for La Crosse, WI, $9
Multi-page report for La Crosse, WI: 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 La Crosse: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a front door in La Crosse?
For 1 door, expect $480 to $2,350 in the La Crosse 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 La Crosse?
About $484 to $2,370 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 La Crosse or Rochester?
Rochester is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $1,450, which is 3% more than La Crosse ($1,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in La Crosse?
About 28% at the midpoint, or $400 out of $1,450. Materials are 72% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would front and side doors cost in La Crosse?
$970 to $4,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does front door need a permit in La Crosse?
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 La Crosse area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is La Crosse expensive for front door compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
La Crosse is 2% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($1,450 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in La Crosse?
The BLS median is $28.34 an hour in the La Crosse area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.93 to $36.95.
+What do basic and premium front door work cost in La Crosse?
For 1 door, basic work runs $480 to $1,250 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 La Crosse?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October 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 La Crosse
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.