Replacing an exterior door in Ottawa typically costs $1,400 to $5,500 installed in 2026, with a standard steel entry door landing around $1,400–$2,600 and a fibreglass door with decorative glass running $2,800–$5,500. Premium projects — a wide entry system with two sidelites and a transom, or a fully custom fibreglass door with multi-point locking — commonly reach $6,000–$10,000. Patio doors are their own category: a vinyl sliding patio door runs about $2,200–$4,000 installed, while a French or hinged patio door is typically $3,500–$7,500. Ottawa's climate makes this more than a curb-appeal de...
Insulated steel is the value option: a pre-hung 32- or 36-inch steel slab with a foam core, basic hardware, and a factory finish typically runs $1,400–$2,600 installed in Ottawa. Steel is dent-prone and can show surface rust at the bottom edge after a decade of road salt, but it performs well thermally and costs the least. Fibreglass is the local favourite at $2,800–$5,500 installed — it will not dent or rust, holds paint and woodgrain stains well, and handles Ottawa's -30 °C to +33 °C swing wit...
A vinyl sliding patio door runs $2,200–$4,000 installed, a hinged French patio door $3,500–$7,500, and a folding or multi-slide unit $9,000 and up. Widening a rough opening for a larger patio door adds $1,500–$4,000 because a new header is required.
Ottawa contractors quote two very different installations, and the difference matters. A slab or insert replacement reuses the existing jamb and brickmould, hanging a new door in the old frame. It is faster and cheaper — often $300–$700 in labour — but it only works if the existing frame is plumb, square, and completely rot-free, which is uncommon in homes over 25 years old. A full-frame replacement removes the door, jamb, sill, and exterior trim right back to the rough framing, allowing the ins...
Rotten sill plates or studs are found on a meaningful share of Ottawa full-frame door jobs, especially where a step or landing sheds water back toward the house. Repairs typically add $400–$1,500. Ask each bidder how they price surprise rot before work starts.
An exterior door is a small part of your envelope but a disproportionate source of felt discomfort, because drafts at the threshold and latch side are at standing height. Look for an ENERGY STAR certified door rated for Canada's climate zones, a continuous foam core, a compression weatherstrip rather than a simple bulb, a sweep with an adjustable threshold, and Low-E argon glass in any lites. A door with a U-factor near 0.20 will noticeably outperform a 25-year-old builder door with a leaking sw...
Replacing an exterior door in the same opening generally does not require a City of Ottawa building permit. A permit is typically required when you enlarge or create a new opening, because that involves a structural header, or when the door is part of a larger addition or basement walkout. Basement walkout doors almost always require a permit and often a grading review. There are also code items worth knowing: a door serving as a required exit must swing and latch properly and cannot be obstruct...
The man-door between an attached garage and living space must be self-closing and tightly gasketed to limit exhaust and fume transfer. Replacing one typically costs $900–$1,800 installed and is a frequent pre-sale repair item in Ottawa.
Ask for three itemized written quotes and make sure each one states the same things: door brand and series, slab material and core, glass package, frame material and whether the install is insert or full-frame, hardware and lock grade, sill pan and flashing details, insulation method around the perimeter, interior and exterior trim, and disposal of the old door. Confirm the lead time — custom fibreglass entry systems commonly run 4–10 weeks in the Ottawa market, and door manufacturers slow down ...
In 2026, expect $1,400–$5,500 installed. A standard insulated steel entry door runs about $1,400–$2,600, and a fibreglass door with decorative glass runs $2,800–$5,500. Entry systems with sidelites and a transom commonly reach $6,000–$10,000.
Fibreglass is generally the better long-term choice in Ottawa: it will not dent or rust from road salt, resists warping through our temperature extremes, and holds finish well. Steel costs less up front and insulates well, making it a solid choice for side and back doors or tighter budgets.
An insert install hangs a new door in the existing jamb and is cheaper but only works if the frame is plumb and rot-free. A full-frame install removes the jamb, sill, and trim to the rough opening so the installer can repair rot, add a sill pan, foam the perimeter, and re-flash properly — the better fix for drafts and leaks.
Not usually if the door goes back into the same opening. A City of Ottawa building permit is generally required if you enlarge the opening or create a new one, since that involves structural framing, and for basement walkout doors.
A single door replacement is typically a one-day job, or half a day for a straightforward insert. Framing repairs, an enlarged opening, or a large entry system with sidelites can extend it to two or three days. Order lead time for custom fibreglass doors is often 4–10 weeks.