Doors
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an Entry Door?
Replacing a standard front door with a new steel door cost $2,547 in New England in 2025, according to the Cost vs. Value report, and it recovered more than its cost at resale. Here is what that benchmark includes and what moves the price for your door.
Key points
- In the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, replacing a standard entry door with a new steel unit cost $2,547 in New England.
- It recovered 182.9 percent of its cost at resale in New England, one of the best returns in the report.
- Fiberglass and wood doors, sidelights, transoms, and custom sizes cost more.
- Rotted sills and framing around an old door add repair work before the new one goes in.
What the benchmark includes
The project removes an existing 3-foot-by-6-foot-8 entry door and jambs and replaces them with a 20-gauge steel door with a half-glass panel, new jambs, an aluminum threshold, exterior brick molding, interior casing, and a new lockset.
| New England | U.S. average | |
|---|---|---|
| Job cost | $2,547 | $2,435 |
| Resale value | $4,659 | $5,270 |
| Cost recouped | 182.9% | 216.4% |
What raises the price
A basic steel door is the low end. These push the number up:
- Material: fiberglass and wood doors cost more than steel.
- Sidelights and transoms: more glass and a bigger frame.
- Custom sizes: older houses often have openings that are not standard.
- Rot: a soft sill or framing under the old threshold is repaired first.
- Hardware and finish: premium locksets, smart locks, and custom colors.
Why installation matters as much as the door
A door that is not set plumb and square sticks, drafts, and wears its weatherstripping. Water that gets under a threshold rots the sill and the floor framing. A careful install flashes the sill, sets the frame square, and seals it, which is what keeps the new door working for years.
Frequently asked questions
Is a steel or fiberglass door better?
Steel is strong and affordable but can dent, and it gets hot in full sun. Fiberglass resists dents and weather and can look like wood, at a higher price.
Can I replace just the door and keep the frame?
Sometimes, if the frame is square and solid. Most entry door replacements swap the door and frame together as a prehung unit.
Do I need a permit to replace a front door?
Changing the size of the opening needs a building permit in Massachusetts, and many towns want one for a same-size swap too. Check with your town building department.
Ready for a new exterior door?
Cedar House Carpentry handles door replacement across Cape Cod and the South Shore with our own in-house crew, fully licensed and insured.
See our Door Replacement work · Find your town · (774) 470-7150