Door Installation & Framing Cost: Carpenter Pricing Guide
Interior prehung door installation costs $150-$350 per door including labor, while exterior door installation runs $300-$800. Hanging a slab door in an existing frame costs $200-$450 per door. New door opening framing with header costs $300-$600. A typical 10-door interior job runs $1,500-$3,500 for installation plus materials.
Door installation is one of the most common and consistent revenue streams for carpenters. Every new build, renovation, and remodel involves doors — and the range from simple prehung swaps to custom solid-core installations means there is work at every price point. This guide covers every type of door installation so you can price accurately whether you are hanging one door or fifteen.
Prehung Interior Door Installation
Prehung interior doors are the fastest and most common installation. The door comes attached to the frame with hinges pre-mounted — you set the unit in the rough opening, shim, level, and secure it. Material cost for a standard hollow-core prehung door runs $80-$180 at Home Depot. Solid-core prehung doors cost $150-$400. Labor for a straightforward prehung installation is $100-$200 per door — a skilled carpenter can hang 4-6 prehung doors per day. The rough opening should be 2 inches wider and 2-1/2 inches taller than the door unit. For new construction with proper rough openings, installation is fast. For renovation work where the rough opening is oversized, undersized, or out of plumb, add 30-60 minutes per door for shimming, trimming the frame, or building out the opening. Always check rough openings during your site visit and note any that will require extra work. Casing is typically bid separately unless you are doing a package deal.
Slab Door Installation Pricing
Hanging a slab door in an existing jamb is more skill-intensive than prehung installation. You need to mortise hinges, drill for the lockset, and plane or trim the door for a perfect fit. Labor runs $200-$450 per door depending on complexity. Solid-core slab doors weigh 50-80 pounds and are more difficult to handle — price these 20-30% higher than hollow-core. Custom fitting a slab door to an out-of-square frame requires scribing and planing, adding 30-60 minutes per door. Mortising hinges with a router and template takes 20-30 minutes per door. Drilling and installing locksets and deadbolts adds 20-40 minutes. A skilled carpenter can hang 2-3 slab doors per day. Slab door installation is often required in older homes where existing jambs are non-standard sizes or have been painted multiple times. Always measure the existing jamb dimensions during your site visit — standard door thickness is 1-3/8 inch for interior and 1-3/4 inch for exterior, but older homes may have non-standard dimensions.
Exterior Door Installation Costs
Exterior door installation requires more precision and weatherproofing than interior work. Material costs for exterior doors range widely: steel insulated doors at $200-$500, fiberglass doors at $400-$1,200, and solid wood exterior doors at $800-$3,000. Labor for exterior door installation runs $200-$500 per door. Critical steps include proper flashing and waterproofing around the frame, threshold leveling and shimming, weatherstripping adjustment, deadbolt and lockset installation, and sill pan installation if required by code. A standard single exterior door takes 3-5 hours to install properly. French doors or double doors take 5-8 hours. Sliding glass doors run 4-6 hours with a two-person crew (the weight requires two people). Always include flashing materials, exterior caulk, and shims in your material estimate — these small items are easy to overlook but essential for a weathertight installation. Charge a premium for exterior work: the consequences of a poor installation (water infiltration, air leaks, security issues) justify higher rates.
Framing New Door Openings
Creating a new door opening in an existing wall costs $300-$600 for non-load-bearing walls and $600-$1,500 for load-bearing walls. Non-load-bearing walls are straightforward: cut the opening, frame the header (typically a doubled 2x4 or 2x6), install king studs, jack studs, and cripples. Materials run $50-$100, and labor takes 2-4 hours. Load-bearing walls require an appropriately sized header to carry the load above. Header size depends on span: a 3-foot door needs a doubled 2x6, while a 6-foot opening may need a doubled 2x10 or an LVL beam. You must install temporary shoring before cutting the wall, which adds 1-2 hours. Some jurisdictions require an engineer-stamped header size calculation for load-bearing modifications — budget $200-$500 for engineering. Always verify whether a wall is load-bearing before quoting. Look for walls running perpendicular to floor joists above, walls stacked directly over foundation walls, and walls with doubled top plates.
Specialty Door Installations
Specialty doors command premium pricing. Pocket doors require framing a pocket in the wall, installing the track and hardware, and hanging the door — $400-$800 per door installed (door and hardware cost $200-$500 additional). Barn door installations are popular and profitable at $300-$500 for labor plus $200-$600 for the track hardware kit. Bifold closet doors cost $100-$250 per opening to install, with material running $80-$300 per pair depending on style. Double French doors require precise hinge alignment and astragal adjustment — $400-$700 for installation labor. Arched or radius-top doors are premium custom work at $500-$1,000 for installation because of the custom trim and frame work required. Pet doors are a quick add-on at $75-$200 per installation in an existing door. Always ask about specialty door needs during your site visit — these higher-margin items are easy to miss but add significant value to your proposal.
Door Hardware and Upsell Opportunities
Door hardware is a natural upsell that increases project value with minimal extra labor. Basic passage knobs cost $15-$30 each. Lever handles run $25-$60. Privacy locksets for bedrooms and bathrooms cost $20-$45. Deadbolts for exterior doors add $30-$80. Smart locks are increasingly popular at $150-$350 each. Installing hardware takes 15-30 minutes per door — charge $25-$50 per door for hardware installation plus your markup on the hardware itself (25-35%). Other upsells: door stops ($5-$15 each installed), coat hooks on bedroom doors ($10-$20 each), soft-close hinges ($15-$30 per door), and decorative hinges ($20-$50 per pair). For whole-house projects, create a hardware package that bundles all knobs, hinges, and stops for a package price. Present standard, upgraded, and premium hardware tiers. Most clients choose the middle tier. Mark up all hardware 25-35% — clients rarely price-shop individual hinges and knobs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Interior prehung door installation costs $150-$350 per door for labor, plus $80-$400 for the door itself depending on hollow-core vs. solid-core. Hanging a slab door in an existing frame costs $200-$450 for labor. A typical whole-house job of 10-15 interior doors runs $1,500-$5,250 for installation labor.
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