How Much Does It Cost to Convert a Window Into a Door?

Average Cost to Convert a Window Into a Door

Prices for Materials to Convert a Window Into a Door

The cost of turning a window opening into a door primarily lies in the materials, which can cost $170 for standard, steel door to over $11,000 for fiberglass, solid wood, or beveled glass doors with custom elements.

Because of the size of the rough openings, a 32-inch window will convert to a 30-inch door. Doors must be at least 32 inches wide for wheelchair accessibility, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Keep this in mind to ensure loved ones can use the new doorway.

“Whenever the door is wider than the window, we engage with a structural engineer,” says Tschudi. “They will calculate and specify exactly what you need to keep that opening structurally sound.” Despite widening the opening, most of what you’ll spend is for new door installation costs.

Labor Cost to Convert a Window Into a Door

Converting a window to a door costs $70 per hour on average for the labor alone. You might end up paying between $30 to $150, depending on your location, the type of door you’re installing, and the level of experience of your carpenter. Unless you need to widen the door significantly, the project will take one to two days.

For complex projects involving multiple subcontractors you may wish to hire a general contractor. A general contractor may charge 10% to 20% of the project total and coordinate all subcontractors needed, including an electrician, structural engineer, siding installer, drywall installer, and carpenter. It’s common to have electrical circuits passing below a window, so consult with a local electrician.

• Electricians cost $160–$550

• Structural engineers cost $350–$750

• Siding installation costs $2–$28 per sq. ft.

• Drywall installation costs $1.50–$3 per sq. ft.

• Carpenters cost $15–$150 per hour

Door Cost by Type

Door types can range from $150 to $23,000, so it can change your total cost. Larger ones, like French or double doors, may also cost more to widen the window opening and insert two side-by-side doors.

French Doors

The cost to replace a window with French doors runs $600 to $5,800 on average. This can be a more expensive project because you need to either widen one window opening or convert two windows to make space for the wide French doors.

Sliding Glass Doors

The cost to replace a window with a sliding glass door runs $1,300 to $6,000 on average with the average price around $2,300. New sliding glass doors cost $1,000 to $3,400. The sliding mechanism makes this type of door less expensive than some alternatives, and custom features like privacy blinds between the glass panels will increase the cost.

Pre-Hung Doors

This door type is less expensive at $150 to $2,500, and replacing a window with a pre-hung door can save you some installation hassle. It comes attached to a frame and hinges, making it a simple and ideal setup for transforming a window opening into a door.

Double Doors

Double doors cost $750 to $5,500 and are available in various types, including French doors. French doors are lightweight double doors, but the project will cost more if you opt for solid wood double doors. You’ll likely need to replace two windows for double doors or extensively widen one window opening, which will also drive up the cost.

Other Cost Factors to Convert a Window Into a Door

When converting a window to a door, you’ll want to consider a few other factors. These factors include custom designs, permits, wiring, and the type of siding you have. 

Custom Designs

Custom design work can put your project costs anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 or more. The actual price varies more based on the materials you use, but the custom work adds labor cost to the overall project. 

Permit

General building permits cost $125 on average for something like this, but costs vary quite a bit from place to place. In most cases, you’ll need to get a building permit since you’re likely altering a load-bearing wall, changing siding, and drywall, and rerouting electrical components. 

Wiring

It’s common to have electrical circuits passing below a window, so consult with a local electrician. Most often, it’s not hard to reroute the lineup and around the top of the new door, but it’ll still cost around $300 in total. 

Siding

You’ll need to pay a siding contractor to fix the edges of the new hole in your wall. This can add $2 to $28 per square foot for anything from vinyl to brick veneer. Most often, the contractor will remove the existing siding rather than cut directly through it.

DIY vs. Hire a Door Installation Professional

Hire a local door installer or a licensed contractor to turn an old window into a new doorway. Because of the electrical and structural implications of installing a door, it makes for a very poor DIY project. 

You may also need to hire an electrician to handle and reroute wires surrounding the window. This job may involve carpentry and electrical skills—neither of which you should attempt to DIY. Most of the project cost is in the materials, as the labor will be 20% to 40% of the project total. If you want to save money in the window-to-door conversion, consider opting for less expensive doors like pre-hung or sliding types.

Window to Door Conversion Process

Window-to-door conversions follow a few general steps, although your project will vary a bit based on your home and needs. However, you can generally expect:

1. Choosing the right door and getting it ordered or purchased.

2. Marking the area to be cut.

3. Checking for electrical wiring and other utilities, rerouting if deemed necessary.

4. Removing the old window. 

5. Removing all siding and any insulation as necessary from outside the walls.

6. Cutting out the rest of the wall for the door and prepping the opening for a new door.

7. Installing the new door.

8. Adding trim, replacing the siding, and any removed insulation.