Door installation cost in Los Angeles — what to budget in 2026.
Honest 2026 numbers for exterior, interior, and hidden door installation across the LA metro — including the hidden costs most quotes leave out.
"How much does a new door cost?" is the question we get most often, and it doesn't have a single answer. A basic interior door can be $300 installed. An oversized custom pivot front door can be $25,000 installed. The honest range is enormous, and most online estimators are wrong by 30-50% because they don't account for LA-specific labor, permitting, and finishing costs.
This guide breaks down realistic 2026 pricing in the Los Angeles metro for every common door type, including the costs most quotes leave out.
2026 LA pricing — exterior doors
Standard pre-hung steel exterior door (32-36" wide, 80" tall)
- Door + frame: $800 - $2,500
- Hardware (lever, deadbolt, hinges): $200 - $800
- Installation labor: $400 - $900
- Disposal of old door: $50 - $150
- Total installed: $1,450 - $4,350
Premium modern steel exterior door (96" tall, designer finish, multipoint lock)
- Door + frame: $2,500 - $5,500
- Hardware (multipoint, smart lock, premium pull): $600 - $1,800
- Installation labor: $700 - $1,500
- Disposal + finishing: $100 - $300
- Total installed: $3,900 - $9,100
Custom pivot door (96-120" tall)
- Door + pivot hardware: $5,500 - $12,000
- Hardware + locks: $800 - $2,500
- Installation labor (specialty): $1,500 - $3,500
- Floor reinforcement (often required): $400 - $1,200
- Total installed: $8,200 - $19,200
Oversized luxury pivot door (custom dimensions, full glass, premium finish)
- Total installed: $15,000 - $35,000
2026 LA pricing — interior doors
Standard hollow-core interior door (24-32" wide, 80" tall)
- Door + frame: $150 - $400
- Hardware: $40 - $120
- Installation: $150 - $300
- Total installed: $340 - $820 per door
Solid-core flush slab interior door (premium veneer, 96" tall)
- Door + frame: $450 - $1,200
- Hardware (premium lever, hinges): $150 - $400
- Installation: $200 - $400
- Total installed: $800 - $2,000 per door
Glass-insert interior door (frosted or fluted)
- Total installed: $900 - $2,400 per door
Pocket door (with new pocket framing)
- Total installed: $1,500 - $3,500 per door (the framing labor is the cost driver)
2026 LA pricing — hidden doors
Standard hidden / flush door (paint-grade, 80" tall)
- Door + concealed frame + concealed hinges: $1,800 - $3,500
- Installation (specialty): $700 - $1,500
- Wall preparation + finishing: $300 - $800
- Total installed: $2,800 - $5,800
Premium hidden door (96"+ tall, wood veneer or stone-effect finish)
- Total installed: $5,000 - $12,000
The hidden costs most quotes leave out
Frame replacement
Many quotes price the door slab only, then spring frame replacement on you mid-install when they discover rot, structural issues, or non-standard openings. Expect $200-$600 in frame work on most older LA homes regardless of door type.
Threshold and floor work
If the new door is taller, wider, or differently configured, the threshold may need rework. Tile or hardwood transitions can add $150-$500 per door.
Painting and finishing
Pre-finished factory doors save labor but cost more upfront. Paint-grade doors save material cost but require $100-$300 per door in painting labor. Plan for either.
Permits
Like-for-like replacements generally don't require permits in LA County or the City of LA. Enlarging an opening, changing structural elements, or replacing a door header does. Permit costs run $200-$600 typically, plus inspection scheduling delays.
Hardware upgrades
Don't accept a hardware "package" without seeing what's actually in it. Cheap packages bundle in flimsy levers and basic deadbolts. Spec your hardware separately and price it fairly — typically 10-15% of the door budget.
Disposal fees
Old doors don't disappear for free. Standard disposal is $50-$150 per door. Custom or hazardous-material disposal can be more.
How to get an honest quote
- Get an in-home estimate, not a phone quote. Anyone giving you a firm price without seeing the opening is guessing.
- Ask for itemized line items. Door, frame, hardware, labor, disposal — separately. Lump-sum quotes hide markups.
- Confirm the quote includes finishing. Will it be ready to use, or will you owe a painter another $500?
- Ask about lead time. A "low" quote with a 14-week lead is more expensive than a slightly higher quote with a 6-week lead if you're remodeling on a timeline.
- Check the warranty. Premium doors carry 5-10 year warranties on the slab and 1-3 years on installation. Discount doors often have neither.
What we typically quote at our showroom
For a typical Woodland Hills home replacing one premium exterior door + 8 interior doors with coordinated hardware:
- Premium modern steel exterior door, 96" tall, multipoint lock, smart lock: $5,500-$7,500 installed
- 8 solid-core flush oak interior doors, 96" tall, premium matte black hardware: $9,500-$13,000 installed
- Project total: $15,000-$20,500 fully installed and finished
That's the all-in cost for transforming the door system across an entire home — front to back, every threshold coordinated. It's one of the highest-impact-per-dollar moves available in any remodel.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest way to replace an exterior door in LA?
A basic pre-hung steel door with builder-grade hardware can be installed for $1,400-$1,800 in Los Angeles. We don't generally recommend going below this — quality drops fast at lower price points. The savings of $500-$800 typically disappear within 5-7 years through fade, warp, weatherstripping failure, and security weaknesses.
Are oversized 96-inch doors really worth the extra cost?
For homes with 9-foot or taller ceilings, yes. Tall doors typically cost 30-50% more than standard 80-inch doors but produce a disproportionate visual upgrade. They're the single biggest 'designer-feel' upgrade in any remodel. For 8-foot ceilings, standard 80-inch doors are correctly proportioned.
Does a permit add to the cost?
If required, expect $200-$600 in permit fees plus 1-3 weeks of scheduling delay. Like-for-like door replacements usually don't require permits in LA. Enlarging openings, changing structural elements, or replacing structural headers does require permits — always confirm with your installer.
Are factory-finished doors worth the premium?
Often yes. Factory finishing produces more uniform, durable color than on-site painting and typically saves $100-$300 per door in painting labor. The premium for factory finish is usually $150-$400 per door. The math works out for most homeowners, especially on multi-door projects.
How long does the full pricing process take?
From in-home estimate to firm quote, typically 3-7 business days. From quote to scheduled install, 4-12 weeks depending on door availability. Stocked styles ship in 1-3 weeks. Custom doors run 8-16 weeks. Pivot doors and luxury custom doors can run 14-20 weeks. Plan accordingly when budgeting timing.
See it. Touch it. Decide with confidence.
The best way to choose a door is to compare them in person. Our Woodland Hills showroom is by appointment only — book a 30-minute consultation with a specialist.