Patio door cost in Boulder, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $590 – $6,000
- Per door
- $591 – $5,987
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $3,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #94
- 1 = most expensive
A patio door in Boulder, CO usually costs $590 to $6,000 for 1 door. That works out to about $591 to $5,987 per door before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
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Estimated cost for 1 door in Boulder, CO, standard level
$2,200 to $4,350
About $2,210 to $4,368 per door before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $2,150 |
| Labor | $1,100 | $2,250 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,200 | $4,350 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Boulder, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $1,650 | $2,900 | 50% |
| Labor | $210 | $1,650 | $3,100 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $590 | $3,300 | $6,000 | 100% |
Why Boulder prices look the way they do
Labor is 50% of the midpoint bill here, against 48% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (60%), glaziers (30%), general maintenance and repair workers (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Boulder the blended ratio comes out at 1.04.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Boulder is at 96.1 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,700 nationally becomes $1,650 here (midpoint, 1 door). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.2: $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 Boulder. The wage table below marks each row.
How Boulder compares
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Boulder. Cheyenne is the lowest at about $3,150 (midpoint, 1 door), 90 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, COthis page | $590 – $6,000 | $3,300 | |
| Fort Collins, CO40 miles | $580 – $5,900 | $3,250 | −2% |
| Denver, CO55 miles | $620 – $6,300 | $3,450 | +5% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $590 – $5,900 | $3,250 | −1% |
| Cheyenne, WY90 miles | $570 – $5,700 | $3,150 | −5% |
| Colorado Springs, CO95 miles | $580 – $5,850 | $3,200 | −3% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $610 – $6,100 | $3,350 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $6,000 | $3,300 | level |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Boulder ranks #94 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Boulder is 2% below the Colorado figure.
Elsewhere in Colorado
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $620 – $6,300 | $3,450 | +5% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $580 – $5,850 | $3,200 | −3% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $580 – $5,900 | $3,250 | −2% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $590 – $5,900 | $3,250 | −1% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $590 – $5,950 | $3,250 | −1% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $580 – $5,800 | $3,200 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boulder against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $540 – $5,200 | $2,900 | −13% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $550 – $5,400 | $3,000 | −9% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $650 – $6,650 | $3,650 | +11% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $550 – $5,350 | $2,950 | −10% |
Related projects, priced for Boulder
Jobs that often go together with patio door are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Boulder wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, window replacement comes out highest (−1%) and front door lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,450 – $14,800 | −1% |
| Front door | 1 door | $500 – $2,450 | −3% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $350 – $930 | −2% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,350 – $14,800 | −2% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $690 – $3,650 | −2% |
Boulder weather and the patio door calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Boulder (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Boulder: 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.
Boulder gets about 21 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 93 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and September (3.2 inches in May). The station averages about 33 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 | 47 | 22 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 48 | 22 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 29 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 35 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 51 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 57 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 56 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 48 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 37 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 28 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 21 | 0.8 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Boulder bid
Glass
Low-E, tempered and hurricane-rated glass cost more than basic single-pane glass.
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.
What local crews earn in Boulder
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 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 Boulder the blend is 1.04.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $28.73 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.92 and $35.50 an hour. About 540 work in the metro. That is 28.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Glaziers (47-2121) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Boulder metro, so we used the Colorado statewide median: $29.97 an hour against $27.44 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $26.93 and $35.68 an hour.
For general maintenance and repair workers (49-9071, weighted 10%) the local median is $27.52 an hour, which is 15% above the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $22.65 and $32.23 an hour. BLS counts 1,090 of them working in the area, 56.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 98.4), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $220 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $160. That is a swing of roughly 4.8% to 6.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Boulder has 192,390 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 119th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $23.92 | $28.73 | $35.50 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 30% | $26.93 | $29.97 | $35.68 | $27.44 | 1.09 | state |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $22.65 | $27.52 | $32.23 | $23.84 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Boulder
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Boulder. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from one sliding door to two doors.
Basic
$590 to $2,750
Standard vinyl slider, same opening
Standard
$2,200 to $4,350
Wider slider or French door with better glass
Premium
$3,850 to $6,000
Multi-panel or custom door, new opening
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one sliding door | $590 – $2,750 | $2,200 – $4,350 | $3,850 – $6,000 |
| two doors | $1,200 – $5,500 | $4,400 – $8,750 | $7,650 – $12,000 |
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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 $2,200 to $4,350 for Boulder, CO is attached.
Detailed patio door report for Boulder, CO, $9
The report lays out the patio door numbers for Boulder, CO 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 Boulder: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a patio door in Boulder?
For 1 door, expect $590 to $6,000 in the Boulder area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,200 to $4,350. Small jobs usually cost more per door and large ones less.
+What is the price per door for patio door in Boulder?
About $591 to $5,987 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 Boulder or Fort Collins?
Fort Collins is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $3,250, which is 2% less than Boulder ($3,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boulder?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $1,650 out of $3,300. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would two doors cost in Boulder?
$1,200 to $12,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does patio door need a permit in Boulder?
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 Boulder area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boulder expensive for patio door compared with the rest of Colorado?
Boulder is 2% below the Colorado statewide estimate ($3,350 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Boulder?
The BLS median is $28.73 an hour in the Boulder area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.92 to $35.50.
+What do basic and premium patio door work cost in Boulder?
For 1 door, basic work runs $590 to $2,750 and premium work $3,850 to $6,000. Basic means: standard vinyl slider, same opening. Premium means: multi-panel or custom door, new opening.
+Is there a bad season to install a patio door in Boulder?
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.
Patio door near Boulder
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.