At a Glance
Door and window work by a carpenter typically costs $300–$2,000 per job across Australia, using Sydney as the baseline. This covers everything from hanging a single internal door to replacing timber window frames in an older home. Perth and Adelaide tend to run 10–15% higher, while Melbourne and Brisbane track close to Sydney.
What's Included
A standard door or window job covers removing the existing unit (if replacing), fitting the new door or window into the opening, adjusting for plumb and level, installing hinges and hardware, and trimming architraves. For external doors and windows, weather sealing and compliance with energy performance requirements under the National Construction Code are included. Materials range from budget hollow-core internal doors to solid timber panel doors and custom timber window frames. Labour makes up the majority of the cost for single-unit jobs; materials dominate for multi-door or multi-window replacements. Note that a carpenter handles timber-framed windows. Aluminium window replacement is typically a glazier or window company, not a carpenter.
What Affects the Cost
- Number of doors or windows. Bulk work gets better per-unit rates. Replacing all internal doors at once is more efficient than doing them one at a time.
- Internal vs external. External doors and windows need weather sealing, security hardware, and energy performance compliance. Internal doors are simpler.
- Frame condition. If the existing frame is square and undamaged, hanging a new door in it is straightforward. Replacing the frame as well roughly doubles the cost per opening.
- Door type. Hollow-core doors are the budget option. Solid-core doors have better sound insulation. Timber panel, French, and bi-fold doors are at the premium end.
- Structural modifications. Widening an opening (e.g. turning a window into a door) requires removing part of the wall, installing a new lintel or header beam, and engineering sign-off. This changes the job from carpentry to structural work.
- Hardware. Handles, locks, and hinges are often quoted separately. Budget $50–$200 per door for hardware.
- Property age. Older homes frequently have non-standard door and window sizes. Custom milling or shimming adds time and cost.
Hanging a new hollow-core door in an existing, square frame with basic hardware sits toward $300. Replacing multiple external doors and timber window frames in a pre-war home with out-of-square openings, new architraves, and security hardware pushes toward $2,000.
City and Regional Price Comparison
Sydney sets the baseline. Melbourne tracks close to Sydney, with strong demand driven by period home restorations in inner suburbs. Brisbane pricing is similar, though timber louvre windows in Queenslanders create a niche skillset that commands a premium. Perth and Adelaide typically run 10–15% above Sydney rates due to smaller trade pools.
Within any city, the price depends heavily on the age and style of the property. A new-build home in a growth corridor has standard-sized openings, level floors, and plumb walls. That is a predictable, efficient job. An older home, particularly a Victorian terrace in Melbourne, a Federation home in Sydney, or a Queenslander in Brisbane, often has settled frames, non-standard dimensions, and heritage requirements that add complexity and cost.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on surveyed trade rates for licensed carpenters across Australian capital cities, adjusted for regional labour markets and typical material costs. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential door and timber window work. Aluminium windows, commercial glazing, and structural modifications requiring engineering are not included.