How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Door?

How much a door repair will cost depends on the type of door and repair needed. Expect to pay around $228 on average, with a typical range between $120 and $335. For small dings, you might pay as little as $50, but on large jobs, the price can climb to $630.

Door Replacement Cost Breakdown

Replacing a door will involve a few costs. Here’s what you can expect:

Materials

The type of door will usually determine the price:

• Basic hollow-core doors: $40–$90 per door

• Solid oak with beveled glass doors: $1,000 and up

• Double and wrought iron doors: $3,500–$6,000

• Steel doors: $600–$1,500 per square foot

• Sidelites and transoms (narrow, vertical side windows): $600 to $2,000

Framing

Modifying or extending an entryway frame usually costs between $7 and $16 per square foot but can be much more. It also involves working with house wrap, siding, insulation and electrical work. The average electrician rate is generally $75 per hour or more for the job.

Interior & Exterior Door Removal

Removing a door will take one hour with an average of $70. Disposal varies depending on location and can cost about $25 on average. Exterior doors are more costly than interior doors due to weathering and cross-traffic over time.

Door Frame Replacement

Frame replacement and a pre-hung door with the jamb installed are typically $150 to $250. Reframing a wall can cost around $7 to $16 per square foot.

You'll need to repair or replace the frame before installing a door if there's rot. Extra maintenance costs will also add to the overall price depending on what work is required.

Labor

The cost of labor for repairing doors depends on the location and availability of contractors and the type of repair. If you have a licensed handyperson, you can expect an average rate of $30 to $40 per hour or more. But in areas with high living costs, rates for qualified contractors range from $60 to $120 hourly.

Door Repair Cost by Type

• Front/exterior entry door: $350–$1,050

• Interior door: $350–$650

• Door frame: $350–$850

• Lock replacement: $80–$480

• Door breakdown: $350–$4,000

Front or Exterior Entry Door

The cost to repair a front door varies depending on the damage. The door materials and features also impact the cost. Exterior entry doors typically have more sturdy hardware than interior doors, and maybe of reinforced steel or glass. You can expect to pay $350 to $1,000 for labor, prep and materials to repair a front entry door.

This is much less than the expected cost of a new front door, which can cost between $700 and $5,000 or more. Though, there are certainly less expensive front door options should you need to buy one.

Interior Door

Interior doors separate various rooms of a house and can be less costly to repair than an entry door. Pricing depends on the extent of work needed and the material used. Sometimes it makes more sense to opt for a replacement instead because it is usually less expensive.

The cost of repairing an interior door (including plaster, painting and trim) may range from $350 to $650. And replacing the door altogether costs around $180 ($100 for the door and a percentage of the total installation cost for labor).

Doorframe

Doorframes with damage from wood rot, accidents or wear and tear are fixable. The pricing for repairs can vary depending on the amount of existing damage, repair materials you need, and how long it will take. The cost to repair an exterior doorframe is typically more expensive than fixing interior ones. It costs between $350 and $850 for repairs on average.

Hardware and Lock

Replacing the hardware that goes into a doorframe, such as hinges, metal bottoms and locks, can also add to the overall cost of any repairs. To repair or replace door hardware, on average, one will pay about $80 to $480.

Cost to Repair a Door vs. Replacement

Door replacement costs vary but are usually more than a simple repair. If the door itself is just damaged, but the doorframe is still in good shape, the replacement costs will be lower. In this case, the door slab would just be replaced by a new one.

In other cases, the doorframe, which includes the door jambs and threshold, needs to be redone. And if the wall studs have begun to bow and settle out of square, it becomes harder to simply replace the door and the costs increase. Depending on the severity of your situation, some or all of these situations will need to be addressed, and with more repair comes higher door replacement costs.

Taking the time to pick the right door for your climate, home and needs will ensure that you won't be incurring as many door repair costs in the future. Make sure to do your research and talk to a handyperson before choosing a new door.

Door Repair Costs Near You

Typical door repair costs vary by location. Here’s what you can expect to pay for door repairs near you:

• Arizona: $150–$350

• California: $125–$330

• Colorado: $110–$260

• Illinois: $115–$315

• Maine: $100–$275

• Nebraska: $115–$260

• North Carolina: $120–$320

• Pennsylvania: $100–$350

Common Door Problems That Require Repair

Sticking and Swelling

This can be a day-to-day annoyance when it's challenging to open or shut the door. A change in temperature or humidity may cause swelling and sticking of the door. This is a relatively easy fix and just requires a little sanding and varnishing.

Sagging Issue

If a door is sagging under its weight, it can be temporarily alleviated by sanding the upper part. You may need additional repairs to ensure it doesn't happen again. This requires changing the screws from the upper hinge leaf attached to the door jam to 3-inch decking screws. It would be best to do the job with accuracy to make sure you don't distort the door's swing.

Draft in the Frame

A door that is not hung evenly can cause gaps that allow air to come into your home. The door repair cost for a drafty door depends on whether you decide to install weatherstripping or add a storm door. You can also fit storm doors with a screen for the summer. Both of these will do a great job at cutting down on drafts, and the door repair cost would be less than replacing the whole door.

DIY Door Repair vs. Hiring a Pro

Installing a pre-hung door is something that even experienced DIYers struggle with. Simple doors are easy to replace, but more complicated ones require skill to get them right. You want to make sure the door swings properly and lines up so there are no gaps. You should consult a local door repair professional for the best results.

FAQs

How do you tell if you should repair or replace a door?

If your door isn’t closing or latching correctly, you might be better off replacing the faulty part. For a smaller issue, like a dent, repairing is the way to go. For completely worn doors, large holes and anything that can’t be filled, it’s cost-effective to replace the door.

How much does it cost to fix a hole in a door?

Door repairs vary depending on the type of damage. You plug holes up to a half-inch wide with wood putty or two coats of auto body filler. It should dry then get smoothed out before painting. Removing ⅛-inch off the edge of a door for an existing frame starts at around $15.

It might cost between $100 and $1,000 depending on whether you need to replace or reframe the old door.

How much does it cost to fix a door jamb?

Fixing a door jamb will involve repairing or replacing the doorframe and door jamb. The national average for door installations is $0.60 per opening, ranging from $0.50 to $0.75 depending on what type of door and frame you have installed. The average cost per door of labor and materials is $200 or somewhere between $180 to $300.