Patio door cost in Des Moines, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $580 – $5,950
- Per door
- $583 – $5,929
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $3,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #103
- 1 = most expensive
Des Moines homeowners pay roughly $580 to $5,950 to install a patio door at 1 door, or $583 to $5,929 per door (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Des Moines is almost level. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 1 door in Des Moines, IA, standard level
$2,200 to $4,350
About $2,187 to $4,325 per door before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $2,100 |
| Labor | $1,100 | $2,250 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,200 | $4,350 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Des Moines, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $1,600 | $2,800 | 49% |
| Labor | $210 | $1,650 | $3,100 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $580 | $3,250 | $5,950 | 100% |
Where the Des Moines price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.50 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Des Moines is 1.04 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 51% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Des Moines metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 door comes to $1,600, compared with $1,700 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Des Moines is 1.04 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $29.50 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.03 and $35.68 an hour. BLS counts 1,810 of them working in the area, 44.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
For glaziers (47-2121, weighted 30%) the local median is $30.09 an hour, which is 10% above the national $27.44. The middle half of them earn between $24.76 and $34.51 an hour. BLS counts 180 of them working in the area, 4.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.8), so the local bench is deeper than average.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.41 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.54 and $30.29 an hour. About 3,780 work in the metro. That is 93.5 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 ($35.68 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $200. At the 25th percentile ($24.03) it shrinks by about $180. The total moves by 6.3% or 5.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 404,130 jobs in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area. That makes it the 64th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $24.03 | $29.50 | $35.68 | $29.12 | 1.01 | metro |
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 30% | $24.76 | $30.09 | $34.51 | $27.44 | 1.10 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $21.54 | $24.41 | $30.29 | $23.84 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Des Moines?
Because every project leans on different trades, Des Moines's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, wood deck runs −3% and front door −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Front door | 1 door | $490 – $2,400 | −4% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $340 – $920 | −3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,350 – $14,800 | −3% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $680 – $3,550 | −4% |
When to schedule patio door in Des Moines
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Des Moines Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Des Moines (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February 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.
Des Moines gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 37 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 2.2 and 1.9 inches. The station averages about 22 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 | 31 | 14 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 36 | 18 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 49 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 62 | 41 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 52 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 55 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 43 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 30 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 36 | 20 | 1.6 | Cold |
Des Moines against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
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 $3,000 to $3,250 across Des Moines and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IAthis page | $580 – $5,950 | $3,250 | |
| Waterloo, IA95 miles | $570 – $5,700 | $3,150 | −4% |
| Iowa City, IA110 miles | $550 – $5,500 | $3,000 | −7% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA115 miles | $570 – $5,800 | $3,200 | −2% |
| Omaha, NE120 miles | $550 – $5,500 | $3,000 | −7% |
| Sioux City, IA145 miles | $560 – $5,600 | $3,100 | −6% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $570 – $5,750 | $3,150 | −3% |
| United States | $600 – $6,000 | $3,300 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Des Moines comes in at #103 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $4,250; the cheapest is Laredo, TX at $2,650 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Des Moines is 3% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $580 – $5,850 | $3,200 | −2% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $570 – $5,800 | $3,200 | −2% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $550 – $5,500 | $3,000 | −7% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $570 – $5,700 | $3,150 | −4% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $560 – $5,600 | $3,100 | −6% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $580 – $5,850 | $3,200 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Des Moines's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Des Moines against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $610 – $6,150 | $3,400 | +4% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $550 – $5,400 | $3,000 | −8% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $570 – $5,700 | $3,150 | −4% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $560 – $5,500 | $3,000 | −7% |
Patio door: what moves the price in Des Moines
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: patio door pricing in Des Moines
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Des Moines 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
$580 to $2,700
Standard vinyl slider, same opening
Standard
$2,200 to $4,350
Wider slider or French door with better glass
Premium
$3,800 to $5,950
Multi-panel or custom door, new opening
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one sliding door | $580 – $2,700 | $2,200 – $4,350 | $3,800 – $5,950 |
| two doors | $1,150 – $5,450 | $4,350 – $8,650 | $7,600 – $11,900 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Multi-page report for Des Moines, IA: 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.
Patio door in Des Moines: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a patio door in Des Moines?
For 1 door, expect $580 to $5,950 in the Des Moines 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 Des Moines?
About $583 to $5,929 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 Des Moines or Waterloo?
Waterloo is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $3,150, which is 4% less than Des Moines ($3,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Des Moines?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $1,650 out of $3,250. Materials are 49% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would two doors cost in Des Moines?
$1,150 to $11,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does patio door need a permit in Des Moines?
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 Des Moines area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Des Moines expensive for patio door compared with the rest of Iowa?
Des Moines is 3% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($3,150 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Des Moines?
The BLS median is $29.50 an hour in the Des Moines area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.03 to $35.68.
+What do basic and premium patio door work cost in Des Moines?
For 1 door, basic work runs $580 to $2,700 and premium work $3,800 to $5,950. 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 Des Moines?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March 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.
Patio door near Des Moines
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.