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Patio door cost in Lake Charles, LA

Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.

Typical range (1 door)
$530 – $5,200
Per door
$535 – $5,212
before permit
Versus US midpoint
−13%
US $3,300
Rank of 300 metros
#278
1 = most expensive

A patio door in Lake Charles, LA usually costs $530 to $5,200 for 1 door. That works out to about $535 to $5,212 per door before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $430 less. Carpenters earn a median of $22.08 an hour in the Lake Charles area, 24% below the US median of $29.12.

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Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.

Quality level

Wider slider or French door with better glass

Estimated cost for 1 door in Lake Charles, LA, standard level

$1,950 to $3,800

About $1,938 to $3,809 per door before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.

Cost breakdown
PartLowHigh
Materials$1,100$2,100
Labor$830$1,750
Permits and fees$0$0
Total$1,950$3,800
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Cost breakdown for 1 door in Lake Charles, LA

Part of the jobLowMidpointHighShare
Materials$370$1,600$2,80055%
Labor$160$1,300$2,40045%
Permits and fees$0$0$00%
Total$530$2,850$5,200100%

What is behind the Lake Charles 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, Lake Charles wages are 0.80 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (48% at national prices).

Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Lake Charles is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,700 nationally becomes $1,600 here (midpoint, 1 door). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.9: $0 to $0.

Patio door: what moves the price in Lake Charles

  • Old door removal

    Removing and disposing of the old door is $100-$500 extra.

  • 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).

What local crews earn in Lake Charles

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 Lake Charles the blend is 0.80.

Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $22.08 an hour, 24% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $16.13 and $28.48 an hour. About 630 work in the metro. That is 62.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.

Glaziers (47-2121), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.07 an hour, 16% below the US median of $27.44. The middle half of them earn between $17.28 and $28.47 an hour. About 40 work in the metro. That is 3.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.8 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.

For general maintenance and repair workers (49-9071, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.20 an hour, which is 7% below the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $17.30 and $32.79 an hour. BLS counts 1,350 of them working in the area, 132.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 98.4), so the local bench is deeper than average.

A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $210 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $200. That is a swing of roughly 6.8% to 7.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.

Lake Charles has 101,690 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 202nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.

Median hourly wages behind the labor line (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
TradeWeight25th pctMedian75th pctUS medianRatioLevel used
Carpenters (47-2031)60%$16.13$22.08$28.48$29.120.76metro
Glaziers (47-2121)30%$17.28$23.07$28.47$27.440.84metro
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071)10%$17.30$22.20$32.79$23.840.93metro
Blended100%0.80

Lake Charles: what basic, standard and premium work costs

The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Lake Charles. 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

$530 to $2,400

Standard vinyl slider, same opening

Standard

$1,950 to $3,800

Wider slider or French door with better glass

Premium

$3,350 to $5,200

Multi-panel or custom door, new opening

Cost by size and quality level
SizeBasicStandardPremium
one sliding door$530 – $2,400$1,950 – $3,800$3,350 – $5,200
two doors$1,050 – $4,800$3,900 – $7,600$6,700 – $10,400

Lake Charles 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, Lake Charles (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.

For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Lake Charles are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.

Lake Charles gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, June and August (6.5 inches in June). Inside the workable window, February and March are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 88 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.

Monthly normals, Lake Charles (NOAA, 1991-2020)
MonthAvg high °FAvg low °FPrecip (in)For this job
Jan63435.9Workable
Feb67473.3Workable
Mar73533.7Workable
Apr79594.4Workable
May85675.4Workable
Jun91746.5Hot
Jul92765.7Hot
Aug93756.2Hot
Sep89715.2Workable
Oct82604.8Workable
Nov72514.1Workable
Dec65454.6Workable

Lake Charles against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana

Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Lake Charles. Alexandria is the lowest at about $2,850 (midpoint, 1 door), 95 miles away.

Comparison with nearby areas
AreaRangeMidpointvs. here
Lake Charles, LAthis page$530 – $5,200$2,850
Beaumont, TX60 miles$560 – $5,550$3,050+7%
Lafayette, LA65 miles$530 – $5,200$2,850level
Alexandria, LA95 miles$530 – $5,200$2,850level
Baton Rouge, LA125 miles$550 – $5,500$3,000+5%
Houston, TX130 miles$570 – $5,550$3,050+6%
Louisiana (statewide)$540 – $5,300$2,900+2%
United States$600 – $6,000$3,300+15%

Out of the 300 metros we cover, Lake Charles ranks #278 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Lake Charles is 2% below the Louisiana figure.

Elsewhere in Louisiana

Louisiana metros compared with Lake Charles
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
New Orleans, LA445,550 jobs$540 – $5,350$2,950+2%
Baton Rouge, LA409,690 jobs$550 – $5,500$3,000+5%
Lafayette, LA179,570 jobs$530 – $5,200$2,850level
Shreveport, LA162,750 jobs$540 – $5,250$2,900level
Slidell, LA98,240 jobs$540 – $5,250$2,900level
Monroe, LA87,500 jobs$540 – $5,250$2,900+1%

Metros of a similar size

Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lake Charles against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.

Metros closest to this one by total employment
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Lafayette, IN102,200 jobs$590 – $6,000$3,300+14%
Springfield, IL100,810 jobs$610 – $6,350$3,500+21%
Clarksville, TN103,220 jobs$550 – $5,400$2,950+4%
Santa Cruz, CA98,500 jobs$660 – $6,700$3,700+28%

Planning more than one job in Lake Charles?

Jobs that often go together with patio door are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Lake Charles wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, garage door comes out highest (−9%) and wood deck lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.

Related projects with local prices
ProjectSizeRangevs. US
Window replacement10 windows$4,050 – $13,600−10%
Front door1 door$420 – $2,250−10%
Storm door1 door$300 – $840−12%
Wood deck300 sq ft$6,600 – $13,300−12%
Garage door1 door$630 – $3,350−9%

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 $1,950 to $3,800 for Lake Charles, LA is attached.

A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9

Multi-page report for Lake Charles, LA: 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 Lake Charles: your questions

+How much does it cost to install a patio door in Lake Charles?

For 1 door, expect $530 to $5,200 in the Lake Charles area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,950 to $3,800. Small jobs usually cost more per door and large ones less.

+What is the price per door for patio door in Lake Charles?

About $535 to $5,212 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 Lake Charles or Beaumont?

Beaumont is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1 door there is $3,050, which is 7% more than Lake Charles ($2,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.

+How much of the bill is labor in Lake Charles?

About 45% at the midpoint, or $1,300 out of $2,850. Materials are 55% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 48%.

+What would two doors cost in Lake Charles?

$1,050 to $10,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.

+Does patio door need a permit in Lake Charles?

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 Lake Charles area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).

+Is Lake Charles expensive for patio door compared with the rest of Louisiana?

Lake Charles is 2% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($2,900 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.

+What do carpenters earn in Lake Charles?

The BLS median is $22.08 an hour in the Lake Charles area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.13 to $28.48.

+What do basic and premium patio door work cost in Lake Charles?

For 1 door, basic work runs $530 to $2,400 and premium work $3,350 to $5,200. 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 Lake Charles?

Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February and March 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 Lake Charles

Patio door: all pricesPatio door in LouisianaAll projects in Lake CharlesLouisiana cost hub

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.

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.