Cost Guide for Door Replacement
Replacing a door is really two costs in one: the door you choose, and whether you fit it yourself or pay someone to do it. A replacement usually means a new door leaf to suit your existing frame, plus the hardware to hang and latch it, and sometimes a new frame or lining as well. What you pay comes down to the door and the fitting, so this guide takes them in turn, without pinning a figure on any one door.
Supply Versus Fit
The bill splits into supply and fit. Supply is the door itself and its hardware: the hinges, a latch or lock, and a handle. Fit is the labour to hang it, which means easing the door to the opening, cutting the hinge recesses, fitting the ironmongery and hanging it so it closes cleanly.
If your frame is sound and you are swapping like for like, many people hang an internal door themselves in an hour or two, so the fit costs nothing but your time. If the frame needs replacing, the door is oversized, or it is a fire door that has to be fitted to spec, that is when it pays to bring in a joiner. You can price the door itself from our internal oak doors and external doors.
What Makes One Door Cost More Than Another
Two doors of the same wood can sit at very different prices, and it is usually down to a handful of things:
| Factor | Why it adds to the cost |
|---|---|
| Size | A non-standard or oversized door is made to measure rather than picked off the shelf. |
| Glazing | Glass, and the extra work to build and bead a glazed door, cost more than a solid one. |
| Fire rating | An FD30 or FD60 fire door is built to a certification, so it costs more than a standard door. |
| Construction | A solid oak door costs more than an oak veneer door of the same design. |
None of these is a reason to overspend; they are simply what to expect when you compare two prices. There is more timber and more work in a solid, glazed or fire-rated door, and the price follows that.
What a Joiner Charges
If you are paying for fitting, labour is the part that varies most by where you live. As a guide, Checkatrade puts the cost of hanging an internal door on an existing frame at around £120 to £250 in 2026, usually one to two hours of work, with a carpenter day rate of roughly £200 to £450 depending on the area (Checkatrade, 2026).
Removing and disposing of the old door, fitting new ironmongery, or hanging a heavier external or fire door all add to that, and several doors done in one visit usually work out better per door than a single call-out. Get a couple of quotes from well-reviewed local trades before you commit.
Replace the Frame or Keep It
You do not always need a new frame. If the existing lining is square, sound and the right size, a new door leaf hangs straight into it and keeps the cost down. Check the frame is not split, twisted or rotten, and that it is still plumb, before you decide.
A new frame or lining is worth it when the old one is damaged, out of square enough to stop a door closing, the wrong size for the door you want, or where a fire door needs a matching certificated frame. Replacing the frame is more of a building job than a straight swap, so it is the point at which most people call in a joiner. Measuring up first tells you which you are facing, and our guide to measuring for a new internal door walks through it.
Repair or Replace
Not every door needs replacing. A door that sticks, drops or has a worn finish can often be put right for very little, and it is worth trying before you buy new: a dropped door is usually a hinge fix, and a tired finish can be sanded back and re-oiled.
Replace the door when it is beyond that: split or rotten, warped so it will not close, badly out of size for the opening, or where you want a different style, better security, or the thermal performance of a modern external door. If you are fitting the new one yourself, our guide to fitting an internal oak door covers the method.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost to replace a door?
It splits into the door and the fitting. The door ranges widely by size, glazing, fire rating and whether it is solid or veneer, which you can price from our collections; for fitting, a joiner typically charges from around £120 to hang an internal door on a sound frame (Checkatrade, 2026).
How much do carpenters charge to fit a door in the UK?
Around £120 to £250 to hang an internal door on an existing frame, or a day rate of roughly £200 to £450, more in London and for heavier external or fire doors (Checkatrade, 2026). Get two or three local quotes.
Is it cheaper to fix a door or replace it?
Usually cheaper to fix, if the door is sound. A dropped or sticking door is often a quick hinge or easing job. Replace it when it is split, rotten, warped or the wrong size, or when you want a different style or a fire rating.
How long does it take to replace a door?
Hanging a new internal door on an existing frame is usually one to two hours. Replacing the frame as well, or fitting a fire door to spec, takes longer and is more of a building job.
Related Reads
| Prefinished versus unfinished doors | Whether to finish the door yourself, and the cost trade-off. |
| How to fix a dropped door | Putting a door right before deciding to replace it. |
