Updated September 2026. Cost data: 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (Zonda/JLC), installer and estimator price ranges published 2026.
Replacing a standard front door with a new prehung unit typically costs $1,200 to $6,000 installed in 2026. A basic steel door sits at the low end; fiberglass with decorative glass, sidelights and a transom can reach $8,000+. It is also one of the few home projects that national data says can return more than it costs at resale.
Front door replacement cost at a glance
$1,200–$6,000 installed
Standard prehung entry door, including removal, installation, sealing and hardware.
Build a planning range for your own door →
- Basic steel
- $1,200–$2,200
- Upgraded steel or fiberglass
- $2,200–$3,800
- Premium entry system
- $3,800–$8,000+
- National steel door benchmark
- $2,435 (2025 Cost vs. Value)
- Federal tax credit in 2026
- None for new installs
Why online door prices disagree so much
Search for front door costs and you will see figures from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. They are usually describing different jobs. What the quote supplies — and, separately, how much of the opening comes out:
- Slab only. A new door hung on your existing frame and hinges. Cheapest, but it only works if the frame is square and sound, and it does nothing for drafts at the jamb.
- Prehung door. Door, frame, weatherstripping and threshold replaced as one unit. That answers what is supplied; how much of the existing opening is removed is the separate question. The ranges on this page cover a prehung replacement.
An entry system — a prehung door plus sidelights, a transom, decorative glass and upgraded hardware — is a configuration rather than a scope, and it is priced as a small remodeling project. See the tiers below.
Two questions decide what a quote is pricing, and a quote can answer one of them while leaving the other unsaid: what unit is supplied, and how much of the existing opening is removed. A quote that names a prehung unit has answered the first; whether your existing frame, sill and trim are coming out is a separate line item that has to be written down. We set out what your quote is actually replacing in full.
That is why you will see figures as low as a few hundred dollars alongside figures in the thousands for what sounds like the same job. The low numbers are usually pricing a slab, or a door on its own before installation. Contractor-published budgets for a complete prehung replacement start around $1,200. When you compare quotes, confirm two things about each one before you compare the prices at all: whether it supplies a slab or a prehung unit, and whether your existing frame, sill and trim are coming out.
Budget tiers
| Tier | Installed | What you typically get |
|---|---|---|
| Good | $1,200–$2,200 | Solid steel prehung door, standard size, basic hardware, straightforward swap |
| Better | $2,200–$3,800 | Upgraded steel or fiberglass, better sealing package, nicer hardware |
| Best | $3,800–$8,000+ | Fiberglass with glass, sidelights or transom, premium handleset, upgraded security, finish work |
Source: Energy Home Improvements, “Entry Door Replacement Cost 2026” (September 2026).
Cost by material
Steel
The least expensive material and the strongest for security. The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report prices a standard steel entry door replacement at $2,435 nationally. The downsides: steel dents, and scratches in the paint can rust if left alone.
Fiberglass
Costs more than steel but resists dents, can convincingly mimic wood grain and needs little maintenance. It is the usual pick in the “better” and “best” tiers, especially with glass.
Wood
The most expensive and the most maintenance-heavy option, chosen for appearance. Direct sun and weather exposure shorten its life unless the door is protected by a porch or overhang.
Deciding between materials? Our doors hub compares steel, fiberglass and wood side by side, and separates the two questions a door quote has to answer: what unit is supplied, and how much of the existing opening is removed.
Already holding a quote that names Therma-Tru? The Therma-Tru entry door quote decoder shows which series, glass, frame, finish and installation lines it needs to state before you compare it with another bid. For the material choice itself, see fiberglass vs steel entry door.
Weighing a Masonite door from a home center against a contractor’s installed price? The Masonite fiberglass entry door quote decoder shows which parts of an installed job a shelf price leaves out: frame, sill, finish, trim, hardware, removal and labor.
Holding a ProVia dealer proposal? The ProVia entry door quote decoder checks the series (Signet or Ascent), any Heritage wording, sidelites, transom, frame system and install scope before you compare totals.
Add-ons that raise the price
- Glass. Decorative or full-view glass inserts add cost, and more glass generally means more.
- Sidelights and transoms. These turn a door into an entry system and are the fastest way into the premium tier.
- Hardware and locks. Handlesets, multipoint locks and smart locks.
- Custom sizing. Non-standard openings need made-to-order units or framing changes.
- Storm door. If you want one, ask for it as a separate line on the quote. We don’t publish a storm door price range yet because current sources aren’t reliable enough.
- Opening repairs. Rotted sills and subfloor at the threshold are common on older homes and only show up once the old door is out.
Labor, permits and disposal
A prehung entry door replacement usually takes a half day to a full day. Labor matters more than on windows, because a door has to be plumb, level and square to close and seal properly, and a quote that looks cheap on the unit can still be expensive on the install. Most like-for-like replacements in the existing opening don’t need a permit, but widening the opening or altering structural framing usually does, and one contractor reports permit fees of $50 to $200 when required. Confirm with your local building department. Removal and disposal of the old door should be listed on the quote rather than billed afterward.
No federal credit for 2026 doors. The Section 25C credit, which covered 30% of a qualifying exterior door’s cost up to $250 per door and $500 total, ended for doors placed in service after December 31, 2025. If a quote still describes a door as certified or energy-efficient, the criteria behind that claim are what to check it against.
Does a new front door add value?
According to national data, yes, and by more than most projects. In the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, a steel entry door replacement costing $2,435 added an estimated $5,270 in resale value, recouping 216.4% of its cost and ranking second of 28 projects. A much larger fiberglass “grand entrance” project costing $11,754 added $9,959, recouping 84.7%.
| Project | Job cost | Resale value added | Cost recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry door replacement, steel | $2,435 | $5,270 | 216.4% |
| Grand entrance, fiberglass | $11,754 | $9,959 | 84.7% |
Source: 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, Zonda/JLC, national averages.
Two cautions. First, the resale figure is an estimate from real estate professionals, not an appraisal, and it varies by market: the same steel door project was estimated to recoup 300.6% in Las Vegas and 174.9% in Virginia Beach. Second, the lesson is about cost, not luxury. The modest steel door beat the expensive entry system because it delivers most of the curb appeal for a fraction of the price.
Worth it if
- The door is dented, faded, drafty or hard to lock
- You’re preparing to list the home and want listing photos to look cared for
- You want a security upgrade (steel door, reinforced frame, better lock)
Skip it (for now) if
- The door is sound and only the finish is tired: paint and new hardware cost far less
- Drafts come from worn weatherstripping or the threshold, which can be replaced on their own
- You’re considering a premium entry system purely for resale
Not sure yet whether your door needs replacing at all? The front door repair vs replace guide puts the repairs in order, from adjusting hinges and the threshold to fixing a rotted jamb, and lists the signs that a patch is no longer the answer.
How to lower the cost
- Choose a standard size. Custom openings are the most expensive add-on to fix later.
- Put the money into the frame and seal, not the glass. A well-installed basic door outperforms a poorly installed premium one.
- Buy hardware separately if your installer allows it, and confirm the bore and backset match.
- Compare three quotes for the same scope: prehung vs. slab, trim, disposal and threshold repairs.
Before you sign, read each quote against the thirteen things a door quote has to state, so you are comparing the same job rather than the same number. What the price buys after installation is set out in what a door warranty covers, and for how long.
How we got these numbers
Budget tiers come from a 2026 contractor price guide; material notes and add-on ranges come from published 2026 installer and estimator pages, cited in the text. Resale data comes from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, which estimates job costs with remodeling estimating software and resale values through a survey of real estate professionals. Tax credit status reflects federal law as of September 2026. Read our full methodology.
FAQ
How much does a front door cost to replace, including installation?
Typically $1,200 to $6,000 for a standard prehung door, with premium entry systems reaching $8,000 or more.
Is steel or fiberglass better for a front door?
Steel costs less and has the strongest resale data. Fiberglass costs more but resists dents and needs less upkeep. Sun exposure, climate and budget usually decide it.
Can I replace just the door and keep the frame?
Yes, if the frame is square and in good condition. If the door sticks, drafts at the jamb or the sill is soft, a prehung replacement is usually the better fix.
Do I need a permit to replace a front door?
Usually not for a like-for-like replacement in the same opening. Changing the opening size or structural framing typically requires one. Check with your local building department.
How long does front door installation take?
Most prehung replacements take a half day to a full day. Custom units can add weeks of lead time before installation.