Front door cost in Madison, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $510 – $2,400
- Per door
- $507 – $2,408
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $1,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #110
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new front door in the Madison area: $510 to $2,400 for 1 door. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. 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 Madison, WI, standard level
$1,100 to $1,850
About $1,077 to $1,838 per door before permits. Labor is about 29% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $690 | $1,350 |
| Labor | $380 | $470 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,100 | $1,850 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Madison, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $190 | $1,050 | $1,900 | 71% |
| Labor | $320 | $430 | $530 | 29% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $510 | $1,450 | $2,400 | 100% |
Why Madison 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, Madison wages are 1.06 times the national level. Labor makes up about 29% of the midpoint estimate (27% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Madison 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 97.3: $0 to $0.
Madison: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Madison. 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
$510 to $1,250
Basic steel door, same size opening
Standard
$1,100 to $1,850
Fiberglass door with sidelight trim or glass
Premium
$1,650 to $2,400
Wood or custom door, frame work needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single entry door | $510 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,850 | $1,650 – $2,400 |
| front and side doors | $1,000 – $2,550 | $2,150 – $3,700 | $3,300 – $4,800 |
Who does the work: Madison trade wages
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 Madison the blend is 1.06.
Carpenters (47-2031), 85% of the weighting: a median of $30.52 an hour, 5% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.71 and $39.68 an hour. About 2,320 work in the metro. That is 56.9 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 $27.56 an hour, which is 16% above the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $22.30 and $31.19 an hour. BLS counts 3,790 of them working in the area, 92.9 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 $110 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $55. That is a swing of roughly 3.9% to 7.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Madison has 408,070 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 61st 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% | $25.71 | $30.52 | $39.68 | $29.12 | 1.05 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 15% | $22.30 | $27.56 | $31.19 | $23.84 | 1.16 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
The best months for front door in Madison
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Madison Dane Rgnl Ap (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 Madison are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, 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.
Madison gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 52 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 27 | 12 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 25 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 47 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 51 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 29 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 32 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
How Madison compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Madison. La Crosse is the lowest at about $1,450 (midpoint, 1 door), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WIthis page | $510 – $2,400 | $1,450 | |
| Janesville, WI40 miles | $560 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +5% |
| Rockford, IL60 miles | $540 – $2,450 | $1,500 | +3% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | −2% |
| Oshkosh, WI85 miles | $600 – $2,550 | $1,600 | +8% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $480 – $2,350 | $1,450 | −2% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $500 – $2,400 | $1,450 | level |
| United States | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Madison ranks #110 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Madison is 0% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $510 – $2,400 | $1,450 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | −1% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $500 – $2,400 | $1,450 | level |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $600 – $2,550 | $1,600 | +8% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $490 – $2,350 | $1,450 | −2% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $480 – $2,350 | $1,450 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Madison against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $460 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −4% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | level |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −4% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $510 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +3% |
Front door: what moves the price in Madison
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.
Related projects, priced for Madison
Jobs that often go together with front door are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Madison wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, patio door comes out highest (+5%) and garage door lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm door | 1 door | $350 – $940 | −1% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $610 – $6,350 | +5% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,750 – $15,300 | +3% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $710 – $3,650 | −1% |
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 $1,100 to $1,850 for Madison, WI is attached.
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Front door in Madison: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a front door in Madison?
For 1 door, expect $510 to $2,400 in the Madison area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,100 to $1,850. Small jobs usually cost more per door and large ones less.
+What is the price per door for front door in Madison?
About $507 to $2,408 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 Madison or Janesville?
Janesville is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $1,500, which is 5% more than Madison ($1,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Madison?
About 29% at the midpoint, or $430 out of $1,450. Materials are 71% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would front and side doors cost in Madison?
$1,000 to $4,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does front door need a permit in Madison?
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 Madison area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Madison expensive for front door compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Madison is 0% above 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 Madison?
The BLS median is $30.52 an hour in the Madison area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.71 to $39.68.
+What do basic and premium front door work cost in Madison?
For 1 door, basic work runs $510 to $1,250 and premium work $1,650 to $2,400. 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 Madison?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October 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 Madison
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.