Garage door cost in Santa Cruz, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $780 – $4,050
- Per door
- $785 – $3,843
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +10%
- US $2,200
- Rank of 300 metros
- #16
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace a garage door in Santa Cruz, plan on $780 to $4,050 for 1 door, all in. Per door, that is $785 to $3,843 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% higher than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $37.35 an hour in the Santa Cruz area, 28% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 1 door in Santa Cruz, CA, standard level
$1,750 to $3,100
About $1,702 to $2,925 per door before permits. Labor is about 33% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $620 | $960 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $150 |
| Total | $1,750 | $3,100 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Santa Cruz, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $420 | $1,500 | $2,650 | 63% |
| Labor | $360 | $790 | $1,200 | 33% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $110 | $220 | 5% |
| Total | $780 | $2,400 | $4,050 | 100% |
What is behind the Santa Cruz number
Labor is 33% of the midpoint bill here, against 30% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (60%), electricians (20%), general maintenance and repair workers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Santa Cruz the blended ratio comes out at 1.21.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Santa Cruz metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 door comes to $1,500, compared with $1,450 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (109.9) and land at $0 to $220.
Santa Cruz against nearby metros and the rest of California
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 $2,350 to $2,600 across Santa Cruz and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz, CAthis page | $780 – $4,050 | $2,400 | |
| San Jose, CA35 miles | $820 – $4,200 | $2,500 | +3% |
| San Francisco, CA55 miles | $860 – $4,400 | $2,600 | +8% |
| Salinas, CA65 miles | $760 – $3,950 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Modesto, CA65 miles | $780 – $4,050 | $2,400 | level |
| Merced, CA70 miles | $780 – $4,050 | $2,400 | −1% |
| California (statewide) | $790 – $4,100 | $2,450 | +1% |
| United States | $700 – $3,700 | $2,200 | −9% |
Across 300 US metros, Santa Cruz comes in at #16 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $2,700; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $1,850 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Santa Cruz is 1% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $790 – $4,100 | $2,450 | +1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $860 – $4,400 | $2,600 | +8% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $750 – $3,900 | $2,300 | −4% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $790 – $4,100 | $2,450 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $820 – $4,200 | $2,500 | +3% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $780 – $4,050 | $2,400 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Santa Cruz's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Santa Cruz against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $740 – $3,750 | $2,250 | −7% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $620 – $3,350 | $2,000 | −18% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $630 – $3,350 | $2,000 | −18% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $640 – $3,450 | $2,050 | −15% |
Santa Cruz labor market for garage door
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Santa Cruz is 1.21 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $37.35 an hour, which is 28% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.80 and $44.34 an hour. BLS counts 700 of them working in the area, 71.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 20% of the weighting: a median of $36.83 an hour, 21% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $29.55 and $46.35 an hour. About 330 work in the metro. That is 33.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 20% of the weighting: a median of $24.04 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.80 and $29.72 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 89.3 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 ($44.34 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $95. At the 25th percentile ($29.80) it shrinks by about $100. The total moves by 3.9% or 4.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 98,500 jobs in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area. That makes it the 204th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $29.80 | $37.35 | $44.34 | $29.12 | 1.28 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 20% | $29.55 | $36.83 | $46.35 | $30.38 | 1.21 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 20% | $21.80 | $24.04 | $29.72 | $23.84 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.21 | |||||
Climate in Santa Cruz: timing your garage door job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Santa Cruz (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Santa Cruz: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Santa Cruz gets about 31 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (6.4 inches in January). The station averages about 6 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 | 63 | 41 | 6.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 64 | 43 | 6.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 69 | 46 | 2.0 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 49 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 52 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 74 | 54 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 76 | 55 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 53 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 50 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 44 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 62 | 41 | 6.0 | Workable |
Add-ons priced for Santa Cruz
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Santa Cruz by the average of the local wage index (1.21) and goods index (1.05), a factor of 1.13. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a new opener (flat) | $340 – $1,000 |
Cost by quality level and size in Santa Cruz
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Santa Cruz 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 3 common sizes.
Basic
$780 to $2,100
Basic single door, standard steel panels
Standard
$1,750 to $3,100
Insulated double door with windows
Premium
$2,750 to $4,050
Premium insulated or wood-look door, upgraded hardware
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| single door | $780 – $2,100 | $1,750 – $3,100 | $2,750 – $4,050 |
| double door | $780 – $2,100 | $1,750 – $3,100 | $2,750 – $4,050 |
| two single doors | $1,550 – $4,100 | $3,450 – $6,000 | $5,350 – $7,900 |
Garage door: what moves the price in Santa Cruz
Door size and style
A standard door with 4-5 rectangular panels is $400-$1,400 before installation; add windows and it's $600-$2,500 (HomeGuide).
Opener
A new opener is a separate line at $300-$900 installed.
Labor
Installation labor is about $200-$500, so the door itself is most of the bill.
Planning more than one job in Santa Cruz?
Because every project leans on different trades, Santa Cruz's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, detached garage runs +13% and window replacement +7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $32,800 – $65,900 | +13% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,050 – $10,400 | +12% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $400 – $1,050 | +12% |
| Front door | 1 door | $580 – $2,700 | +10% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,850 – $16,100 | +7% |
| Patio door | 1 door | $660 – $6,700 | +11% |
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 $1,750 to $3,100 for Santa Cruz, CA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Santa Cruz, CA: 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.
Garage door in Santa Cruz: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a garage door in Santa Cruz?
For 1 door, expect $780 to $4,050 in the Santa Cruz area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,750 to $3,100. Small jobs usually cost more per door and large ones less.
+What is the price per door for garage door in Santa Cruz?
About $785 to $3,843 per door for materials and labor, plus $0 to $220 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $700 to $3,500.
+Is garage door cheaper in Santa Cruz or San Jose?
San Jose is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $2,500, which is 3% more than Santa Cruz ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Santa Cruz?
About 33% at the midpoint, or $790 out of $2,400. Materials are 63% and permits 5%. Nationally, labor is 30%.
+What would double door cost in Santa Cruz?
$780 to $4,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does garage door need a permit in Santa Cruz?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $220 for fees in the Santa Cruz area (our national range of $0 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Santa Cruz expensive for garage door compared with the rest of California?
Santa Cruz is 1% below the California statewide estimate ($2,450 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Santa Cruz?
The BLS median is $37.35 an hour in the Santa Cruz area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.80 to $44.34.
+What do basic and premium garage door work cost in Santa Cruz?
For 1 door, basic work runs $780 to $2,100 and premium work $2,750 to $4,050. Basic means: basic single door, standard steel panels. Premium means: premium insulated or wood-look door, upgraded hardware.
+Is there a bad season to replace a garage door in Santa Cruz?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add a new opener" add in Santa Cruz?
$340 to $1,000, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Garage door near Santa Cruz
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 Garage Door Replacement Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (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