How Much Does it Cost to Install a Fiberglass Front Door In 2024?

Fiberglass is one of the most common materials used for front doors because it’s durable and attractive. And fiberglass doors tend to outlast wood doors over years of exposure to the elements and regular use.

To install an exterior door made from fiberglass, you should expect to pay an average of $1,265, with a price range of $600 to $4,145. However, many factors can change the cost, including the price of materials, labor, the type of door you’re installing, and other things we will cover here. 

In this guide:

• Average Cost of Installation
• Cost Estimator by Size
• Other Factors that Affect Cost
• Related Services
• DIY vs. Professional Installation
• Cost by Location
• FAQs

Average Cost of Fiberglass Exterior Door Installation

National Average Cost	$1,265
Typical Price Range	$600 – $4,145
Extreme Low-End Cost	$150
Extreme High-End Cost	$5,000

The average cost of installing a fiberglass exterior door is $1,265 with most homeowners paying between $600 and $4,145 for materials and professional installation. If you’re only looking to install a simple pre-hung exterior door that comes with hinges and a frame, you may end up with a much lower cost, around $150. However, your price point may be as high as $5,000 for oversized doors in more complex styles.

Installing the right door can help boost your home’s curb appeal while making one of the first statements people see before entering the building. A high-quality fiberglass door will also impact the costs surrounding overall maintenance. To choose the right fiberglass entry door for your budget, you must understand the cost and the factors that influence it. 

Fiberglass Exterior Door Installation Cost by Size

The standard height for an exterior door is 80 inches, and the width can vary between 30 and 36 inches, with a typical thickness of 1¾ inches. The cost to install doors with these dimensions can vary slightly depending on the width of the door, as an installer may need to alter the frame to fit the new exterior door. 

The costs can vary depending on the size of door, which often require different frames or panels and sidelights to change their width. Know whether the new door fits the width of your entryway or whether you’ll have to have it customized to fit.

Other Factors Affecting the Cost of Fiberglass Door Installation

Of course, size isn’t the only factor that determines the price of a door and its installation. Here are some other things to consider:

The Type of Exterior Door

There are many types of fiberglass doors that you can install on your home, each one suited for a different aesthetic style and location. Prices will vary based on the tools and techniques needed to hang these custom doors. 

The following table details the average costs for installing several common entry door styles.  

Types of Door	Average Cost
Double Doors	$1,050 – $6,525
Storm Doors	$220 – $785
Sliding Glass Doors	$985 – $4,865
French Doors	$825 – $5,425

Sidelights

Sidelights are narrow windows on either side of a door. They boost your home’s curb appeal, letting more natural light into your living space and filling any space left when installing a door that is smaller than the frame. The average cost of sidelight installation is $500 to $2,765. Because they are installed at the same time as a new door, these costs typically increase the amount you would pay for an exterior door installation.

Labor Costs

Hiring a professional contractor for your entry door installation will help you ensure that the job is done correctly or can be corrected if something goes wrong. Of course, this service comes with its own cost. You can expect to pay an average of $40 to $90 per hour for professional installation.

Keep in mind that this rate applies to installing a simple entry door. Prices may climb for additional services or custom door replacements. Check with your local contractor and compare quotes for the most cost-effective installation. 

Prehung vs. Slab Doors

When installing a fiberglass exterior door, you can choose one that is prehung, meaning that it comes with hinges, a knob, and a frame already attached for a faster process. In contrast, slab doors come without frames and other hardware. You’ll have to purchase those separately.. 

Prehung doors have a higher material cost because they include the frame. However, their installation cost is less than that of slab doors because they are easier to put in. Between the lower labor cost and the ease of installation, prehung doors are more popular than slab doors. 

Inswing or Outswing

The direction in which your fiberglass door opens can be a factor in determining the budget for your installation project. The main difference between doors that swing into your home and those that swing out of your home is the location of the hinges. 

Most homeowners install inswing entry doors because the hinges sit inside the homes, offering added security. Pre-hung doors also tend to be inswing doors, making them less expensive than outswing doors. However, outswing doors give you more space in your entryway. 

Related Services

Installing a fiberglass exterior door is only the start of updating the aesthetics of your home’s entryway. Multiple projects can help enhance the beauty and security of your new fiberglass exterior door. Each of these extracurriculars carries an additional cost, of course.

Door Disposal

You’ll want to consider what to do with the existing door. After all, you can’t simply toss it into the garbage can on trash day. Many contractors will dispose of your old door but will charge $100 to $300 on top of the installation price. 

Exterior Door Frame Replacement

While pre-hung doors come with attached frames, you may opt for a custom door frame. Some frames have elaborate features or materials, such as metal and composite. Replacing an old frame will come with an additional cost of $130 to $325 on average for materials and labor. 

Smart Lock Installation

Door lock technology is evolving fast, allowing homeowners to secure their homes without a traditional key. Smart locks operate electronically, sometimes linking with an app on your smartphone. If you’d prefer one of these modern locks over a deadbolt, you can expect to pay an average of $190 to $415 for installation, depending on how complex of a lock you’d like installed on your entry door.  

DIY Vs. Professional Fiberglass Door Installation

Installing an exterior door is considered a more advanced DIY project, and it’s generally advisable to hire a contractor to ensure that the installation goes smoothly and quickly. However, if you are a highly skilled DIYer, it’s possible to hang a door with your own tools and know-how. 

The following table breaks down the DIY costs associated with installing a standard prehung fiberglass door. Because of the precision work needed to fit a separate frame, hanging a slab door should be left to the professionals. 

DIY Equipment and Materials	Average Cost
Chisel	$59
Utility Knife	$12
Hammer	$18
Nails	$12
Caulk	$3
Caulk Gun	$6
Reciprocating Saw (purchase)	$220
Reciprocating Saw (rental)	$24 per day
Circular Saw (purchase)	$366
Circular Saw (rental)	$24 per day
Level	$35
Cordless Drill	$120
Prehung Fiberglass Door	$600
Total DIY Cost with Tool Purchases	$1,380
Total DIY Cost with Tool Rentals	$842

The average total cost of a DIY fiberglass entry door installation ranges from $842 to $1,380. This wide price range hinges on the type of door you purchase and whether you are buying or renting certain tools. On average, installing an exterior door takes two to three hours, though it may take longer if you are completely new to this type of project. 

Of course, this cost will also vary depending on your access to the tools needed. In addition, the prehung door cost is going to be the largest expense, and you may be able to purchase one for a much lower amount from a major retailer like Home Depot or Lowe’s.

In comparison, the average cost of a professional installation is $1,265. Unless you’re looking to install a pricey custom door, it’s very possible to save close to $400 on average by taking on the project yourself. But, again, you shouldn’t attempt this unless you’re pretty handy.

Cost of Fiberglass Exterior Door Installation by Location

Your location also plays a large role in determining the price you’ll pay for an exterior door installation. Because exterior doors act as a barrier between you and the elements, weatherproofing is paramount to properly hanging a door. 

If you live where the temperatures go especially low, you want to be certain that your door won’t let in cold air. And if you live in a hotter climate, proper insulation will keep your air conditioning bills to a minimum. 

In addition to the weather, local contractors all have their own costs for insulation. It’s good practice to contact more than one professional contractor for a quote and then compare and contrast to find the best price that fits your budget. 

FAQs

Final Thoughts

For a professional installation, you can expect to pay an average of $1,265 to hang a fiberglass exterior door. This price may go higher or lower depending on the quality of the door, labor costs, any accessories you may need to install, the exterior door cost, and your location. 

You can also opt for a DIY installation of a fiberglass exterior door and potentially save a lot of money. But you should go into the project understanding that it requires some advanced techniques to properly perform. If you’d prefer to leave exterior door installation to the professionals, please contact your local contractor for a quote. 

Note: LawnStarter may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.

Main Image Credit: ntm1909 / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0