What's Included in the Price
- Removal of existing doors or windows (if replacing)
- Fitting and hanging new doors or window sashes into openings
- Adjusting for plumb, level, and square (shimming where frames have settled)
- Installation of hinges, hardware, and weather seals (external openings)
- Trimming and refitting architraves
- Compliance with AS 2047 and NCC energy performance requirements for external openings
- Safety glazing compliant with AS 1288 where glass panels sit below 500mm from floor level
Hardware (handles, locks, deadbolts) is usually quoted separately. For Gainsborough lever sets, budget $43–$80 per door depending on passage or privacy function. Entrance sets with deadbolts from Lockwood run $80–$250. For timber windows, the quote covers the carpentry work only. Glazing is a separate trade.
What Affects the Cost
- Number of units. Replacing a single door is a half-day job. Doing all internal doors at once (6–10 doors in a typical house) gets better per-door rates and a consistent finish across the home.
- Frame condition. If frames are straight and undamaged, a new door can be hung directly in 1–2 hours. Rotting or out-of-square frames need replacing, roughly doubling the cost per opening to a half-day job.
- Period homes. Properties in Mosman, Balmain, and Paddington often have non-standard door heights (2400mm+ versus the standard 2040mm) and window widths. Custom milling is common, and off-the-shelf doors from Bunnings simply will not fit.
- Internal vs external. External doors require weather sealing, security hardware, and compliance with NCC energy ratings. A solid timber front door from Hume Doors or Corinthian runs $375–$1,600+ supply-only, compared to $80–$150 for a standard hollow-core internal door.
- Timber window restoration. Restoring original double-hung sash windows (re-roping weights, replacing putty glazing, draught sealing) is skilled work that commands premium rates. Full replacement with new timber frames matched to period proportions is often cheaper than restoration.
- Strata restrictions. In apartment buildings, external window changes often need strata approval under NSW strata legislation. The windows may be classified as common property, meaning the body corporate controls what can be changed, even for like-for-like replacement.
- Bushfire zones. Properties in BAL-rated areas (Hills District fringe, Northern Beaches bushland near Manly) require ember screens (maximum 2mm aperture mesh) on openable windows and fire-rated glazing in external doors and windows.
Hanging a standard hollow-core door in an existing square frame in a modern Kellyville home sits toward $300. Replacing multiple timber sash windows and external doors in a Federation terrace in Balmain, with custom frames, period-appropriate Lockwood hardware, and plastering repairs to damaged reveals, pushes toward $2,000.
Sydney-Specific Considerations
Inner-west and eastern suburbs period homes. Balmain, Newtown, Paddington, Surry Hills, and Glebe. Original timber sash windows and four-panel doors are the defining joinery of Sydney's pre-1940 housing stock. These Federation and Victorian homes typically have 2400mm door openings and non-standard window widths that do not match modern off-the-shelf sizes. Sash window restoration involves re-roping cotton sash cords (or upgrading to spring balances), replacing cracked putty glazing, and fitting brush or rubber draught seals around the sliding sashes. Not all carpenters offer this work. Look for someone who specifically lists sash window restoration, not just general carpentry. In heritage conservation areas (check your local council's LEP), external changes must be sympathetic to the building's original character, and a development application may be required even for like-for-like window replacement.
North Shore and Northern Beaches. Mosman, Wahroonga, Manly, and Avalon. Larger homes with more doors and windows per property. External joinery here tends to be high quality: solid timber front doors ($600–$1,600), custom timber window frames, and wide bifold or stacker door openings connecting living areas to gardens. Properties near the Northern Beaches bushland fringe are mapped as bushfire-prone by the NSW Rural Fire Service. At BAL-12.5, ember screens are required on all openable windows. At BAL-29 and above, toughened glass (minimum 5mm) and metal-framed screening are mandatory. A BAL certificate adds to the compliance paperwork but is usually organised by the builder.
Apartments and strata. Internal doors can be replaced freely in any Sydney apartment. External windows are a different matter: under the NSW Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, external windows are classified as common property in most buildings. Changing them, even replacing with the same style, typically requires a special resolution from the body corporate. If your building has uniform window frames (as most do), even the colour of the new frame matters. Check your building's by-laws before engaging a tradesperson.
Bifold and stacker doors. Sydney's outdoor lifestyle drives strong demand for wide door openings connecting to decks and courtyards. Aluminium bifold doors (3–4 panels) run $1,650–$5,500 supply-only, and the opening may need a structural lintel if the span is being widened. The carpenter handles the frame preparation, while the door system is typically supplied and installed by a specialist window and door company or glazier. Timber bifold doors are more expensive but suit Federation and Californian bungalow renovations where aluminium looks out of place.
Hiring a Licensed Carpenter in NSW
In NSW, a contractor licence from NSW Fair Trading is required for residential building work valued over $5,000 (including GST). You can verify a contractor's licence through the NSW licence verification portal. For smaller door and window jobs under this threshold, a licence is not legally required, but using a licensed tradesperson provides stronger consumer protection and access to the NSW Home Building Compensation Fund.
A good carpenter will:
- Measure every opening individually rather than assuming standard sizes
- Specify door types, hardware brands, and whether frames are included in the written quote
- Inspect existing frames before quoting (not quote sight-unseen from a phone call)
- Advise on heritage requirements if your property is in a conservation area
Worth checking:
- The contractor provides their licence number and it verifies on the Fair Trading website
- The quote itemises doors, hardware, frames, and labour separately so you can compare like-for-like
- For period homes, the carpenter has experience with non-standard openings and sash window restoration
- External door quotes include weather seals and compliance with NCC energy performance requirements
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on current licensed carpenter rates across the Sydney metropolitan area, adjusted for typical material costs in NSW. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential door and timber window work. Aluminium and uPVC windows, structural modifications, and commercial glazing are not included.