Patio door cost in Merced, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $660 – $6,750
- Per door
- $659 – $6,730
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $3,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #21
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a patio door in Merced, plan on $660 to $6,750 for 1 door, all in. Per door, that is $659 to $6,730 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% higher than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $35.94 an hour in the Merced area, 23% above the US median of $29.12.
Estimate your patio door cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1 door in Merced, CA, standard level
$2,500 to $4,900
About $2,480 to $4,908 per door before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,250 | $2,350 |
| Labor | $1,250 | $2,550 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,500 | $4,900 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $420 | $1,800 | $3,150 | 48% |
| Labor | $240 | $1,900 | $3,550 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $660 | $3,700 | $6,750 | 100% |
What is behind the Merced number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: carpenters at 60%, glaziers at 30%, general maintenance and repair workers at 10%. Weighted together, Merced wages are 1.19 times the national level. Labor makes up about 52% of the midpoint estimate (48% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Merced metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 door comes to $1,800, compared with $1,700 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.3) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 30% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Merced. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Merced
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Merced 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
$660 to $3,100
Standard vinyl slider, same opening
Standard
$2,500 to $4,900
Wider slider or French door with better glass
Premium
$4,300 to $6,750
Multi-panel or custom door, new opening
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one sliding door | $660 – $3,100 | $2,500 – $4,900 | $4,300 – $6,750 |
| two doors | $1,300 – $6,150 | $4,950 – $9,800 | $8,600 – $13,500 |
Planning more than one job in Merced?
Because every project leans on different trades, Merced's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, wood deck runs +12% and window replacement +8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,900 – $16,200 | +8% |
| Front door | 1 door | $580 – $2,700 | +10% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $400 – $1,050 | +12% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,500 – $17,000 | +12% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $780 – $4,050 | +10% |
Is Merced cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $3,450 to $3,950 across Merced and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $660 – $6,750 | $3,700 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $650 – $6,650 | $3,650 | −1% |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $690 – $7,200 | $3,950 | +7% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $650 – $6,550 | $3,600 | −3% |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $630 – $6,300 | $3,450 | −6% |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $660 – $6,700 | $3,700 | level |
| California (statewide) | $670 – $6,800 | $3,750 | +1% |
| United States | $600 – $6,000 | $3,300 | −11% |
Across 300 US metros, Merced comes in at #21 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $4,250; the cheapest is Laredo, TX at $2,650 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Merced is 1% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $670 – $6,800 | $3,750 | +1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $710 – $7,450 | $4,100 | +11% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $630 – $6,450 | $3,550 | −4% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $670 – $6,750 | $3,700 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $690 – $7,200 | $3,950 | +7% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $660 – $6,700 | $3,700 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Merced's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Merced against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $570 – $5,750 | $3,150 | −14% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $650 – $6,650 | $3,650 | −1% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $560 – $5,550 | $3,050 | −18% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $670 – $6,950 | $3,800 | +3% |
Merced labor market for patio 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 Merced is 1.19 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $35.94 an hour, which is 23% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.11 and $39.05 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the area, 44.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Glaziers (47-2121) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Merced metro, so we used the California statewide median: $30.79 an hour against $27.44 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.69 and $44.25 an hour.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 10% of the weighting: a median of $27.26 an hour, 14% above the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.94 and $33.28 an hour. About 930 work in the metro. That is 117.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($39.05 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($27.11) it shrinks by about $290. The total moves by 2.8% or 7.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 79,510 jobs in the Merced area. That makes it the 240th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $27.11 | $35.94 | $39.05 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 30% | $27.69 | $30.79 | $44.25 | $27.44 | 1.12 | state |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $21.94 | $27.26 | $33.28 | $23.84 | 1.14 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.19 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Merced bid
Door type
Sliding glass doors run $1,200-$4,000 installed; exterior French doors $1,300-$5,500; telescoping doors $1,500-$5,000 (HomeGuide).
New opening versus replacement
Cutting a new opening in a wall adds framing, header and finish work compared with a like-for-like swap.
Old door removal
Removing and disposing of the old door is $100-$500 extra.
Climate in Merced: timing your patio door job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Merced Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Merced (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Merced gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.4 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 100 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 | 56 | 37 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 42 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 45 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 58 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 57 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 49 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 36 | 1.9 | Workable |
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 $2,500 to $4,900 for Merced, CA is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the patio door numbers for Merced, CA 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.
Patio door in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a patio door in Merced?
For 1 door, expect $660 to $6,750 in the Merced area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,500 to $4,900. Small jobs usually cost more per door and large ones less.
+What is the price per door for patio door in Merced?
About $659 to $6,730 per door for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $600 to $6,000.
+Is patio door cheaper in Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $3,650, which is 1% less than Merced ($3,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $1,900 out of $3,700. Materials are 48% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would two doors cost in Merced?
$1,300 to $13,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does patio door need a permit in Merced?
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 Merced area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for patio door compared with the rest of California?
Merced is 1% below the California statewide estimate ($3,750 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Merced?
The BLS median is $35.94 an hour in the Merced area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.11 to $39.05.
+What do basic and premium patio door work cost in Merced?
For 1 door, basic work runs $660 to $3,100 and premium work $4,300 to $6,750. Basic means: standard vinyl slider, same opening. Premium means: multi-panel or custom door, new opening.
+When is the best time to install a patio door in Merced?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May 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.
Patio door near Merced
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 It Cost to Install or Replace Patio Doors? (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 $400-$3,000 for the sliding door itself, matched to the lower part of the $600-$6,000 installed range; labor is the remainder and sits above HomeGuide's $200-$1,000 labor-only figure because the installed range also covers trim, flashing and haul-away.