Prehung Door Installation Cost: $546–$2,374 (Average $1,456) in 2026
Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·5 min read·5 sources Quick answerQuick answer: Installing a prehung exterior door typically costs $546 to $2,374, averaging about $1,456 nationally. Fixr and Bob Vila report slightly lower averages ($1,353 and $1,160). Door material, frame condition, and add-ons like sidelights push costs toward the high end.
- ✓The national average cost to install a prehung exterior door is $1,456, with most projects falling between $546 and $2,374 (HomeAdvisor, Angi).
- ✓Labor alone runs $30 to $90 per hour, averaging about $70 per hour, for roughly 2 to 4 hours of work (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila).
- ✓Steel and fiberglass doors are the cheapest materials at $150 and up, while wrought iron doors run $1,500 to $13,000 (HomeAdvisor).
- ✓Double doors, French doors, and sidelights add significantly to cost — sidelights alone can add $1,600 to $4,600 (HomeAdvisor).
How much does prehung door installation cost?
National average
$1,456
per unit
Typical range
$546–$2,374
Most projects
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Cost by material / type
| Type | Low | High |
|---|
| Single prehung door (all-in) | $230 | $3,630 |
| Steel door | $150 | $1,400 |
| Fiberglass door | $150 | $3,000 |
| Wood door | $500 | $3,000 |
| Wrought iron door | $1,500 | $13,000 |
| French door (pair) | $900 | $5,800 |
| Double door | $1,250 | $6,030 |
| Patio door | $500 | $4,500 |
| Screen door | $125 | $600 |
What affects the cost?
- Door material — steel and fiberglass run cheapest, wood and wrought iron cost the most (HomeAdvisor)
- Door configuration — single vs. double, French, or patio doors change both material and labor cost (HomeAdvisor)
- Labor rate, typically $30-$90 per hour (avg. ~$70/hr for a licensed pro), with 2-4 hours of work for a standard replacement (HomeAdvisor, Fixr, Bob Vila)
- Whether the frame needs replacing — a new frame adds roughly $130-$380 (HomeAdvisor)
- Removal and disposal of the old door and frame (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila)
- Add-ons like sidelights, glazing, transoms, or smart locks — sidelights alone can add $1,600-$4,600 (HomeAdvisor, Fixr)
- Permit fees, which can run a couple hundred dollars depending on the jurisdiction (Fixr)
- Whether it's new construction vs. a replacement — replacements typically cost more due to demo and frame-matching work (Fixr)
Why does prehung door installation cost so much?
A prehung door comes pre-set in its own frame, which cuts installation time compared to a slab door but still involves removing the old unit, fitting and shimming the new frame, insulating gaps, and sealing it against weather. HomeAdvisor and Angi both put the national average at $1,456, with a typical range of $546 to $2,374 (HomeAdvisor, Angi). Fixr reports a tighter, slightly lower band of $975 to $1,773 averaging $1,353, while Bob Vila’s broader door-installation dataset averages $1,160 with a $496 to $1,872 typical range (Fixr, Bob Vila). Most of that spread comes down to door material and size: steel and fiberglass doors start around $150, wood runs $500 to $3,000, and wrought iron can reach $13,000 (HomeAdvisor). Labor itself is a smaller piece of the total, at $30 to $90 per hour and 2 to 4 hours of work (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila).
What affects the cost?
- Door material. Steel and fiberglass are the cheapest options at $150 and up; wood runs $500-$3,000; wrought iron runs $1,500-$13,000 (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila).
- Door configuration. A single door runs $230-$3,630 all-in, while a double door costs $1,250-$6,030 and a French door pair costs $900-$5,800 (HomeAdvisor).
- Frame condition. If the existing frame is damaged, a replacement adds roughly $130-$380 (HomeAdvisor, Angi).
- Labor rate. Contractors typically charge $30-$90 per hour, averaging about $70; a handyperson may charge $30-$40 per hour for simpler jobs (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila).
- Add-ons. Sidelights can add $1,600-$4,600, and smart locks or upgraded hardware add further to the total (HomeAdvisor, Fixr).
- Removal and disposal. Taking out and hauling away the old door and frame is part of most quoted labor costs (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila).
- Permits. Depending on your jurisdiction, permit fees can run a couple hundred dollars (Fixr).
- New construction vs. replacement. Replacing an existing door typically costs more than installing one in new framing, since it involves demo and frame-matching work (Fixr).
How to lower your prehung door installation cost
- Stick with steel or fiberglass. Both materials start around $150 for the door itself and hold up well for most climates, avoiding the $500+ starting price of wood or the $1,500+ starting price of wrought iron (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila).
- Keep the existing frame if it’s in good shape. Skipping a frame replacement avoids the added $130-$380 (HomeAdvisor).
- Skip sidelights and extra glass if budget is tight. These add-ons alone can add $1,600-$4,600 to the project (HomeAdvisor).
- Choose a single door over double or French doors where layout allows. A single door’s $230-$3,630 range runs well below the $1,250-$6,030 for double doors (HomeAdvisor).
- Get multiple quotes. Labor rates alone range from $30 to $90 per hour, so comparing contractors can meaningfully change your total (HomeAdvisor).
Prices vary by region, door material, and frame condition, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Get two or three local quotes, and confirm whether the frame, hardware, and disposal of the old door are included before comparing bids.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install a prehung exterior door?+
The national average is about $1,456, with a typical range of $546 to $2,374 depending on door material, size, and whether the frame needs replacing (HomeAdvisor, Angi).
Is a prehung door cheaper to install than a slab door?+
Prehung doors generally cost less in labor because the door is already set in its frame, cutting installation time to about 2 to 4 hours compared to longer jobs for slab doors that require on-site framing (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila).
How much is labor alone for a prehung door installation?+
Labor typically costs $30 to $90 per hour, averaging around $70 per hour for a licensed contractor, with Fixr reporting a labor cost range of $200 to $800 for the job (HomeAdvisor, Fixr).
What's the cheapest prehung door material?+
Steel and fiberglass doors are the most budget-friendly, starting around $150 for the door itself, compared to $500 and up for wood and $1,500 and up for wrought iron (HomeAdvisor, Bob Vila).
Does replacing the door frame add to the cost?+
Yes. A new frame typically adds $130 to $380 on top of the door and labor cost, and is more likely needed if the existing frame is rotted, warped, or out of square (HomeAdvisor, Angi).
How much more does a double or French prehung door cost?+
Double doors run $1,250 to $6,030 installed and French doors run $900 to $5,800, both well above the $230 to $3,630 range for a single door (HomeAdvisor).
Sources
Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-24):
- HomeAdvisor — Installing an exterior door costs an average of $1,456; exterior door installation costs between $546 and $2,374 (simple projects from $200, complex up to $7,000). Materials: steel $150-$1,400; iron $1,500-$13,000; fiberglass $150-$3,000; wood $500-$3,000. Frame $130-$380. Labor $30-$90/hr (avg $70/hr), 2-4 hours for a standard replacement. All-in by type: single $230-$3,630; double $1,250-$6,030; screen $125-$600; patio $500-$4,500; French $900-$5,800. Sidelights add $1,600-$4,600.
- Fixr — National average $1,353; range $975-$1,773. Labor $67-$121/hr, 3-7 hours, labor cost $200-$800. Permit fees can run a couple hundred dollars depending on location. Double/French doors and add-ons (sidelights, smart locks, glazing, transoms) increase cost; replacements cost more than new-construction installs.
- Bob Vila — National average $1,160; typical range $496-$1,872. Exterior/entry door installation $550-$2,000 (some jobs reach $6,500+). Materials: aluminum $100-$2,000; composite wood $40-$500; fiberglass $150-$5,000 (avg $250-$2,000); steel $100-$1,000 (installed $500-$1,230); wood $200-$5,000; wrought iron $1,500-$7,000. Labor: licensed contractor ~$70/hr ($40-$90+ range); handyperson $30-$40/hr. New frame averages $250 ($40-$500 for a frame replacement).
- Homewyse — Estimated national average cost to install an exterior door starts at $957-$1,458 per door, based on a basic 36"x80" fiberglass slab door. Cost breakdown line items: entry door cost, installation labor, job supplies, and equipment allowance each roughly $540-$825, plus debris disposal $8.50-$9.70.
- Angi — Exterior door installation costs range from $200 to $7,000; average exterior door installation costs between $546 and $2,376, with most projects averaging $1,456. Labor accounts for 30%-35% of the bill; hanging a prehung door takes two to three hours; door installer rate $30-$90/hr (avg $70). New frame $150-$380.
Sources define 'prehung door installation' inconsistently — some price the labor-only task, others the fully installed unit (door + frame + hardware + labor), and some blend interior and exterior data. This guide focuses on exterior/entry prehung doors, the most commonly searched version. HomeAdvisor and Fixr both report installed averages in the $1,300-$1,500 range with typical spreads of roughly $550-$2,400; Bob Vila's broader door-installation guide lands lower, at $1,160 average with a $496-$1,872 typical range, because it blends more budget-friendly interior and slab-door jobs into its dataset. Homewyse's automated calculator estimates $957-$1,458 for a basic 36"x80" fiberglass slab door assembly, which sits inside the same overall band. The national_average_usd and range figures used here come directly from HomeAdvisor/Angi's stated average ($1,456) and range ($546-$2,374), which is the most consistently corroborated figure across sources for an installed exterior prehung door. Premium doors (wrought iron, oversized, glass-heavy, or French/double configurations) regularly push total cost past $3,000-$6,000+; those are captured in the by_type breakdown rather than the headline range. Figures generally include the door unit, hardware, and labor to remove the old door and install/shim/seal the new one; they typically exclude permits, structural framing repairs, and painting/staining unless a source states otherwise.