Sticking to Your Budget: How Much Does a Front Door Replacement Cost?

Sticking to Your Budget: How Much Does a Front Door Replacement Cost?

January 19, 2019
By:
Martin Whitmore, President of US Window & Door

Are you interested in sprucing up the exterior of your home? Do you want to make changes that will increase your curb appeal and boost your home’s resale value?

If so, a new front door might be the perfect investment. How much does a new front door cost, though?

Front Door Replacement Cost

How much money do you need to set aside to cover the door and the installation fee?

As with any kind of home upgrade, the price of a new front door can vary quite a bit.

Read on to learn more about the average front door replacement cost and how to choose the right front door for your home.

Why Invest in a Front Door Replacement?

There are lots of reasons to consider investing in a new front door.

It increases your home’s resale value and makes your home more attractive. There are other perks, including the following:

  • Increased security: Cheap wooden doors or worn out front doors are both easy targets for burglars.
  • Increased energy efficiency: If your front door is worn or doesn’t fit in the frame properly, you could end up dealing with higher energy bills brought on by air leaks.
  • Increased durability: A new, heavy-duty front door will last longer and hold up better in harsh weather.
  • Reduced maintenance: There are lots of styles of front doors that require little maintenance and will look as good as news for years after you buy them.

Clearly, there are lots of reasons to consider a front door replacement, even if you’re not concerned with aesthetics or selling your home in the near future.

The Average Front Door Replacement Cost

Okay, you’re convinced that it might be a good idea to invest in a new front door. How much will it cost you, though?

There are a lot of factors that influence the price of your front door, including the following:

  • The material it’s made of (wood, fiberglass, steel, etc.)
  • Your hardware options (knob, hinges, etc.)
  • The addition of glass (and the type of glass used)

You’ll also need to take into account the cost of the installation fee and the potential cost of the warranty. The fees are often factored into the total cost of the door.

The national average of a new front door is just under $1,000 ($943).

On the low end, front doors can cost as little as $100, but they can also cost up to $4,500 or more depending on the materials, hardware, and other features used to make it.

How to Choose the Right Front Door for Your Home

Now that you know how much a front door will cost you, it’s time to plan your purchase so that you can find a front door that fits your personal taste and your budget.

Here are some tips that will help you find the right front door for your home:

Check for Damage

Before you start looking for a replacement front door, be sure to check for any damage to the door frame. If there is damage to the door frame (for example, if the wood has begun to rot), the new door won’t fit properly.

Consider the Material

There are lots of different types of material your front door can be made from, including the following:

  • Wood: Wood doors are highly common and very attractive; they’re often made out of materials like oak, walnut, cherry, mahogany, fir, pine, and maple.
  • Steel: Steel doors are highly durable and also very affordable — they can cost as little as $150.
  • Fiberglass-Composite: Fiberglass-composite is also very durable and requires very little maintenance; they also tend to carry long warranties, which is an added bonus.
  • Aluminum: Aluminum doors are great for keeping your home insulated, and they require very little maintenance; they are quite expensive, though.

There are pros and cons to each of these different materials.

Choose the Right Color

This is probably the most fun parts of the process of choosing a new front door.

Your front door is one of the first things people see when they show up to your home, so you want to be sure to choose a color that is eye-catching and makes your home more attractive.

When choosing a color for your front door, you can stick to the general color pallet of the exterior of your house, or you can go bold and pick something bright that really pops.

Not interested in painting your front door yourself? When you order your front door, you might be able to specify which color you want it and pay extra to have it painted for you.

Make Sure It’s the Right Size

How frustrating would it be to buy a front door, bring it home, and find that it doesn’t fit in your door frame?

The standard entryway size is 80 inches high by 36 inches wide. Be sure to measure your front entryway before ordering a new door, though.

If you want to add decorative elements like glass panels or wrought iron, you’ll need to take that into account when choosing the door size.

Factor in Special Features

Finally, think about any special features that you want to be added to your front door.

This might include things like low-e glazing, break-in resistant glazing, decorative glass. And, don’t forget to choose hinges and a doorknob that match the color and enhance the finished product!

Replace Your Front Door Today

Now that you know the average front door replacement cost and how to choose a great front door for your home, it’s time to start shopping for the perfect replacement.

If you live in the San Diego or Southern Orange County areas, we can help at US Window and Door.

Check out our work online today to see the different kinds of front doors we have to offer and what we can create for you.

We also offer installation and replacement services, too. We can take care of all the hard parts — you just have to choose your favorite front door!