Front door cost in Milwaukee, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $510 – $2,400
- Per door
- $508 – $2,409
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $1,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #107
- 1 = most expensive
Milwaukee homeowners pay roughly $510 to $2,400 to replace a front door at 1 door, or $508 to $2,409 per door (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Milwaukee is almost level. 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 Milwaukee, WI, standard level
$1,100 to $1,850
About $1,078 to $1,839 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 Milwaukee, 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% |
Where the Milwaukee 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 $30.73 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Milwaukee is 1.07 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 29% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Milwaukee metro is 93.8 (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 (96.9) and land at $0 to $0.
Related projects, priced for Milwaukee
Because every project leans on different trades, Milwaukee's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, patio door runs +3% and garage door −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm door | 1 door | $350 – $940 | −1% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $600 – $6,200 | +3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,600 – $14,900 | level |
| Garage door | 1 door | $710 – $3,650 | −1% |
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 Milwaukee is 1.07 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 85%) the local median is $30.73 an hour, which is 6% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.48 and $39.60 an hour. BLS counts 3,310 of them working in the area, 40.3 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 $27.08 an hour, 14% above the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $22.06 and $31.06 an hour. About 8,270 work in the metro. That is 100.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($39.60 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($26.48) it shrinks by about $50. The total moves by 7.1% or 3.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 820,780 jobs in the Milwaukee-Waukesha area. That makes it the 38th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.53% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 85% | $26.48 | $30.73 | $39.60 | $29.12 | 1.06 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 15% | $22.06 | $27.08 | $31.06 | $23.84 | 1.14 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
When to schedule front door in Milwaukee
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Mt Mary College (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 Milwaukee (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.
Milwaukee gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 40 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (4.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.7 and 2.0 inches. The station averages about 16 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 | 30 | 14 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 34 | 17 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 26 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 36 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 48 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 58 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 63 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 62 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 53 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 42 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 47 | 30 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 35 | 21 | 1.7 | Cold |
Why two Milwaukee 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).
How Milwaukee compares
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 $1,450 to $1,600 across Milwaukee and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WIthis page | $510 – $2,400 | $1,450 | |
| Racine, WI10 miles | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | −1% |
| Kenosha, WI20 miles | $520 – $2,650 | $1,600 | +8% |
| Sheboygan, WI55 miles | $510 – $2,400 | $1,450 | level |
| Janesville, WI65 miles | $560 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +4% |
| Rockford, IL70 miles | $540 – $2,450 | $1,500 | +3% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $500 – $2,400 | $1,450 | −1% |
| United States | $500 – $2,500 | $1,500 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Milwaukee comes in at #107 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,800; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $1,300 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Milwaukee is 1% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 408,070 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% |
Cities with a workforce like Milwaukee's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Milwaukee against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $490 – $2,450 | $1,450 | level |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −4% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $490 – $2,400 | $1,450 | −2% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $450 – $2,350 | $1,400 | −3% |
Milwaukee: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Milwaukee 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
$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 |
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 Milwaukee, WI is attached.
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Front door in Milwaukee: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a front door in Milwaukee?
For 1 door, expect $510 to $2,400 in the Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee?
About $508 to $2,409 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 Milwaukee or Racine?
Racine is 10 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $1,450, which is 1% less than Milwaukee ($1,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Milwaukee?
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 Milwaukee?
$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 Milwaukee?
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 Milwaukee area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Milwaukee expensive for front door compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Milwaukee is 1% 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 Milwaukee?
The BLS median is $30.73 an hour in the Milwaukee area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.48 to $39.60.
+What do basic and premium front door work cost in Milwaukee?
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 Milwaukee?
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 Milwaukee
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.