Patio door cost in Iowa City, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 door)
- $550 – $5,500
- Per door
- $553 – $5,481
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $3,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #193
- 1 = most expensive
Iowa City homeowners pay roughly $550 to $5,500 to install a patio door at 1 door, or $553 to $5,481 per door (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Iowa City is 9% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $23.89 an hour in the Iowa City area, 18% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 1 door in Iowa City, IA, standard level
$2,050 to $4,000
About $2,031 to $4,003 per door before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $2,100 |
| Labor | $930 | $1,900 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,050 | $4,000 |
Cost breakdown for 1 door in Iowa City, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $1,600 | $2,800 | 53% |
| Labor | $180 | $1,400 | $2,650 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $550 | $3,000 | $5,500 | 100% |
Why Iowa City prices look the way they do
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, Iowa City wages are 0.89 times the national level. Labor makes up about 47% of the midpoint estimate (48% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Iowa City 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 (91.5) 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 Iowa City. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Iowa City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Iowa City 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
$550 to $2,500
Standard vinyl slider, same opening
Standard
$2,050 to $4,000
Wider slider or French door with better glass
Premium
$3,500 to $5,500
Multi-panel or custom door, new opening
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one sliding door | $550 – $2,500 | $2,050 – $4,000 | $3,500 – $5,500 |
| two doors | $1,100 – $5,050 | $4,050 – $8,000 | $7,000 – $11,000 |
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 Iowa City is 0.89 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $23.89 an hour, which is 18% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.98 and $29.70 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 38.4 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 Iowa City metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $27.56 an hour against $27.44 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.13 and $30.17 an hour.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.96 an hour, 4% below the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $18.61 and $28.99 an hour. About 710 work in the metro. That is 75.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.70 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $190. At the 25th percentile ($21.98) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 6.3% or 2.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,760 jobs in the Iowa City area. That makes it the 214th 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% | $21.98 | $23.89 | $29.70 | $29.12 | 0.82 | metro |
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 30% | $23.13 | $27.56 | $30.17 | $27.44 | 1.00 | state |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $18.61 | $22.96 | $28.99 | $23.84 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Iowa City against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Iowa City. Waterloo comes closest at about $3,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IAthis page | $550 – $5,500 | $3,000 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA40 miles | $570 – $5,800 | $3,200 | +5% |
| Davenport, IA60 miles | $580 – $5,850 | $3,200 | +6% |
| Dubuque, IA75 miles | $580 – $5,850 | $3,200 | +6% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $570 – $5,700 | $3,150 | +4% |
| Des Moines, IA110 miles | $580 – $5,950 | $3,250 | +8% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $570 – $5,750 | $3,150 | +5% |
| United States | $600 – $6,000 | $3,300 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Iowa City comes in at #193 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $4,250; the cheapest is Laredo, TX at $2,650 (midpoints, 1 door). Statewide, Iowa City is 4% below the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $580 – $5,950 | $3,250 | +8% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $580 – $5,850 | $3,200 | +6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $570 – $5,800 | $3,200 | +5% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $570 – $5,700 | $3,150 | +4% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $560 – $5,600 | $3,100 | +2% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $580 – $5,850 | $3,200 | +6% |
Cities with a workforce like Iowa City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Iowa City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $570 – $5,700 | $3,150 | +4% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $630 – $6,650 | $3,650 | +21% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $660 – $6,950 | $3,800 | +26% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $640 – $6,500 | $3,550 | +18% |
Why two Iowa City quotes can differ
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.
Related projects, priced for Iowa City
Because every project leans on different trades, Iowa City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, window replacement runs −7% and storm door −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,200 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Front door | 1 door | $440 – $2,300 | −9% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $310 – $860 | −10% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,800 – $13,700 | −10% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $640 – $3,400 | −8% |
When to schedule patio door in Iowa City
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Iowa City Muni 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 Iowa City (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.
Iowa City gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year. 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 2.2 inches. The station averages about 19 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 | 15 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 36 | 19 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 50 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 40 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 73 | 52 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 63 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 54 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 42 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 36 | 20 | 1.4 | Cold |
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 $2,050 to $4,000 for Iowa City, IA is attached.
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Patio door in Iowa City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a patio door in Iowa City?
For 1 door, expect $550 to $5,500 in the Iowa City area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,050 to $4,000. Small jobs usually cost more per door and large ones less.
+What is the price per door for patio door in Iowa City?
About $553 to $5,481 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 Iowa City or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $3,200, which is 5% more than Iowa City ($3,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Iowa City?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $1,400 out of $3,000. Materials are 53% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would two doors cost in Iowa City?
$1,100 to $11,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does patio door need a permit in Iowa City?
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 Iowa City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Iowa City expensive for patio door compared with the rest of Iowa?
Iowa City is 4% below 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 Iowa City?
The BLS median is $23.89 an hour in the Iowa City area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.98 to $29.70.
+What do basic and premium patio door work cost in Iowa City?
For 1 door, basic work runs $550 to $2,500 and premium work $3,500 to $5,500. 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 Iowa City?
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 Iowa City
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.