Door Frame Replacement Cost: $110–$700 (Average $400) in 2026
Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·6 min read·6 sources·US national averages, USD Quick answerQuick answer: Most homeowners pay $110 to $700 to replace a door frame, averaging around $400 (Angi, HomeAdvisor). Interior frames run $113 to $250; exterior frames cost more at $130 to $400. Material choice, labor rates, and any wall repair needed drive the final bill.
- ✓The typical door frame replacement costs $110 to $700, averaging about $400 nationally (Angi, HomeAdvisor).
- ✓Interior door frames cost $113 to $250 installed, while exterior frames run $130 to $400 because they need to be sturdier and weathertight (Angi, HomeGuide, Forbes Home).
- ✓Wood frames cost $630 to $780 installed, more than double vinyl, aluminum, or fiberglass at $325 to $495 (Angi, HomeAdvisor).
- ✓Labor runs $30 to $50 per hour for a handyman versus $60 to $125 per hour for a licensed contractor, for a typical 1 to 3 hour job (Angi, Forbes Home, Bob Vila).
How much does door frame replacement cost?
National average
$400
per door frame
Typical range
$110–$700
Most projects
High end
$700+
Premium / complex
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Cost by material / type
| Type | Low | High |
|---|
| interior door frame | $113 | $250 |
| exterior door frame | $130 | $400 |
| wood frame (material + labor) | $630 | $780 |
| vinyl frame (material + labor) | $325 | $495 |
| aluminum frame (material + labor) | $375 | $495 |
| fiberglass frame (material + labor) | $360 | $425 |
What affects the cost?
- Interior vs. exterior — interior frames run $113-$250 while exterior frames, which need to be sturdier and weathertight, run $130-$400 (Angi, HomeGuide, Forbes Home)
- Frame material — wood frames cost $630-$780 installed, more than double vinyl ($325-$495), aluminum ($375-$495), or fiberglass ($360-$425) because wood needs more careful fitting and longer install time (Angi, HomeAdvisor)
- Labor rates — a handyman charges $30-$50 per hour while a licensed contractor runs $60-$125 per hour, for a typical 1-3 hour job (Angi, Forbes Home, Bob Vila, HomeGuide)
- Specialty door types — French doors, barn doors, pocket doors, and sliding/patio doors need larger or nonstandard frames and hardware, running $170-$450 (Angi, HomeGuide)
- Wall repairs — damaged studs, drywall, or water damage around the opening are common in older homes and can add $20-$500 (Angi)
- Disposal/removal — hauling away the old frame adds $50-$100 per ton, or at least $60 for junk pickup (Angi)
- Security features — steel security door frames run $200-$900+, and standalone specialty or security frame units can run $850-$1,500 (Angi, HomeAdvisor)
Why does door frame replacement cost so much?
Door frame pricing comes down to two things: whether it’s interior or exterior, and what it’s made of. A typical replacement costs $110 to $700, averaging around $400 (Angi, HomeAdvisor) — both sources report the exact same normal range of $200 to $550 around that average. Forbes Home lands close behind with a $150 to $700 range and a $350 average, while Bob Vila cites a lower average of $250. Material is the biggest swing factor: a wood frame runs $630 to $780 installed, more than double vinyl, aluminum, or fiberglass, which land in the $325 to $495 range (Angi, HomeAdvisor). Labor typically takes 1 to 3 hours, and whether you hire a handyman ($30 to $50/hour) or a licensed contractor ($60 to $125/hour) moves the bill considerably (Angi, Forbes Home, Bob Vila).
What affects the cost?
A few factors explain most of the spread between a $110 job and a $700+ one:
- Material. Wood costs $630 to $780 installed; vinyl, aluminum, and fiberglass run $325 to $495 (Angi, HomeAdvisor).
- Interior vs. exterior. Interior frames cost $113 to $250; exterior frames, built sturdier for weather and security, run $130 to $400 (Angi, HomeGuide, Forbes Home).
- Labor rate. A handyman charges $30 to $50 per hour, while a licensed contractor runs $60 to $125 per hour (Angi, Forbes Home, Bob Vila).
- Specialty configurations. French doors, barn doors, pocket doors, and sliding/patio doors need larger or nonstandard frames, running $170 to $450 (Angi, HomeGuide).
- Wall condition. Damaged studs, drywall, or water damage around the opening are common in older homes and can add $20 to $500 in repairs (Angi). Nathan Gilbert, carpenter at This Old House, says, “You can’t tell what might be hiding in the wall until you start demolition.”
- Security features. Steel security frames run $200 to $900 or more, and specialty security frame units can run $850 to $1,500 (Angi, HomeAdvisor).
- Disposal. Hauling away the old frame adds $50 to $100 per ton, or at least $60 for junk removal pickup (Angi).
Interior vs. exterior: how much difference is there?
Exterior frames typically cost more than interior ones. Interior door frames run $113 to $250 installed, while exterior frames cost $130 to $400 (Angi, HomeGuide, Forbes Home) — Bob Vila agrees with that pattern too, though it doesn’t break out a separate figure of its own (Bob Vila). The gap comes down to construction: exterior frames need to hold up to weather and often include security hardware like deadbolts, so they’re built from sturdier materials and require more precise weatherproofing during install. Specialty exterior configurations push costs even higher — steel security door frames run $200 to $900 or more (Angi), and standalone specialty security frame units can reach $850 to $1,500 (HomeAdvisor). On the interior side, standard swaps stay cheap, but specialty styles like pocket doors, barn doors, and French doors add cost for the larger or nonstandard frame and hardware they require, typically $170 to $450 (Angi, HomeGuide).
How to lower your door frame replacement cost
- Choose vinyl, aluminum, or fiberglass over wood unless you want wood’s specific look. The material alone is the difference between a $325 and a $780 job (Angi, HomeAdvisor).
- Keep your existing frame if it’s still square and plumb. Many installers can hang a new door on a sound existing frame, skipping the replacement cost entirely — see our front door replacement cost guide for how much that saves on a full front door swap.
- Compare handyman vs. licensed contractor rates. A handyman at $30 to $50 per hour can save significantly over a licensed contractor’s $60 to $125 per hour for a straightforward swap (Angi, Forbes Home, Bob Vila).
- Ask about disposal separately. If your contractor doesn’t include haul-away, dropping the old frame off yourself can undercut the $50 to $100 per ton dump fee or $60 pickup charge (Angi).
- Get multiple quotes, especially for exterior or security frames, since material and labor pricing can swing the total by several hundred dollars between contractors.
Prices vary by region, frame condition, and material, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Get two or three local quotes, and confirm whether wall repairs and disposal are included, before committing to a final number.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a door frame?+
Most homeowners pay $110 to $700, averaging around $400 (Angi, HomeAdvisor). Angi and HomeAdvisor both put the normal range at $200 to $550, with Forbes Home reporting a similar spread of $150 to $700.
Is it cheaper to replace an interior or exterior door frame?+
Interior frames are cheaper, running $113 to $250 installed. Exterior frames cost $130 to $400 because they're built sturdier for weatherproofing and security (Angi, HomeGuide, Forbes Home).
What's the cheapest door frame material?+
Vinyl is the least expensive at $325 to $495 installed, close to aluminum at $375 to $495 and fiberglass at $360 to $425. Wood costs significantly more, $630 to $780 installed, because it takes more careful fitting and longer install time (Angi, HomeAdvisor).
How much does labor cost to install a door frame?+
A handyman charges $30 to $50 per hour, while a licensed contractor runs $60 to $125 per hour, for a typical 1 to 3 hour job (Angi, Forbes Home, Bob Vila, HomeGuide).
Does door frame replacement include removing the old frame?+
Disposal is often separate. Angi notes it costs $50 to $100 per ton to haul the old frame to the dump, or at least $60 for junk removal pickup.
How much more does a security door frame cost?+
Steel security door frames run $200 to $900 or more, and standalone specialty or security frame units can run $850 to $1,500 (Angi, HomeAdvisor) — well above a standard frame.
Why do door frame cost estimates vary so much between sources?+
Angi and HomeAdvisor both cite an average of $400 with a $200 to $550 normal range, while Forbes Home reports a lower average of $350 and Bob Vila cites $250. HomeGuide's figures ($113 to $382) lean low because they emphasize basic interior swaps rather than full exterior replacements.
Do I need to replace the door frame if I'm just getting a new door?+
Not always — if the existing frame is square, plumb, and free of rot, many installers reuse it. But specialty configurations like French doors, barn doors, or pocket doors typically need frame work too, running $170 to $450 (Angi, HomeGuide).
Sources
Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-28):
- Angi — Normal range $200-$550, average $400, low end $110, high end $700. Average cost includes two hours of labor at $70/hour; frame alone $80-$500. By material (labor included): wood $630-$780, vinyl $325-$495, aluminum $375-$495, fiberglass $360-$425. Labor: about 3 hours, billed $70-$125/hour, totaling $230-$380. Exterior door frames $130-$400 (sliding glass $350-$450, hinged patio $325-$450, garage $300-$395, steel security $290-$900). Interior door frames $120-$230 (pocket door frames $200-$340, barn door track kits $170-$300, French door frames $180-$240). Additional materials (fasteners, flashing, caulking, shims) $10-$20. Wall repairs: minor drywall $20-$100, water damage $50-$200, large cracks $200-$500. Disposal $50-$100/ton or at least $60 for junk removal. Security steel frames start at $200 up to $900. DIY-friendly repairs cost $50-$150.
- HomeAdvisor — Average cost to replace a door frame ranges from $200 to $550 with an average cost of $400. Wooden door frames run $630-$780 including installation; non-wood alternatives (vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass) cost $360-$510. Labor averages $70/hour, up to $125/hour in some markets. Separate frame purchases run $115-$400 each; security steel or specialty frames cost $850-$1,500.
- HomeGuide — Repairs $75-$220 (national average $125, range $40-$360, average range $82-$165); replacement $113-$382. Average cost to install a new door frame: $170 interior, $255 exterior. Basic door frame $50-$70; steel frame $99-$128+. Replacement takes 1-3 hours, handyman charges $30-$150 for labor and parts. Interior door frame replacement $113-$222, or $7-$14 per linear foot. Exterior door frame replacement $112-$382 (also stated as $131-$382), or $7-$20 per linear foot. Wood exterior door frame $212; metal $192. Sliding/hinged patio door frame $350. Pocket door frame $184-$336. Pre-hung door & frame $109-$440.
- Forbes Home — Average cost of replacing a door frame is $350, with a high of $700 and a low of $150. By type: interior $150-$250 (high-end up to $1,100 for specialty styles), exterior $200-$400, sliding $150-$300. Labor: handyman/day worker $40-$50/hour; licensed contractor $60-$100/hour. Materials (fasteners, flashing, caulking, shims) $10-$20 for one door.
- Bob Vila — A replacement door frame costs on average $250 and takes 1 to 3 hours to install; exterior frames generally cost more than interior frames. Labor to install a door typically runs $40-$90/hour, average close to $70/hour for a skilled, licensed contractor. Jambs cost $150-$250; hinges $2.50-$30.
- This Old House — Stock wood doors start at about $150; a complete solid-wood system with prehung door, hinges, locksets, sidelights, and weatherstripping can cost up to $5,000. Steel doors start at about $377, with premium glazed steel systems (e.g. the Sta-Tru line) starting about $1,200. Fiberglass-composite doors start at about $460, with a fully loaded fiberglass entry system costing about $4,000. Aluminum doors start at about $300.
Angi and HomeAdvisor report essentially identical headline figures — average $400, normal range $200-$550 — and Angi additionally publishes explicit low/high bounds of $110 and $700, which is corroborated by Forbes Home's own high-end figure of $700 and HomeGuide's interior-frame floor of $113. Forbes Home reports a lower average ($350, range $150-$700) and Bob Vila cites a lower average still ($250), while HomeGuide's replacement figures ($113-$382) sit toward the low end because they emphasize basic interior swaps. national_average_usd is anchored to the Angi/HomeAdvisor consensus ($400); range_low_usd/range_high_usd use Angi's explicit low end ($110, matching HomeGuide's $113 interior floor) and high end ($700, matching Forbes Home), representing the realistic spread from a basic interior frame swap to a premium exterior or security frame. All figures cover frame-only replacement (jamb, casing, hardware) with the existing door slab reused; Fixr's door-replacement pages price a different scope (full slab + jamb + casing, e.g. $219-$3,630) and were excluded as not comparable to frame-only jobs. by_type interior/exterior figures blend Angi, HomeGuide, and Forbes Home's ranges; material figures (wood/vinyl/aluminum/fiberglass) come directly from Angi's material cost table, which HomeAdvisor's bundled vinyl/aluminum/fiberglass figure ($360-$510) corroborates.