At a Glance
Sydney's housing stock spans Federation terraces with original timber sash windows through to modern apartments with standard hollow-core doors, and the cost of carpentry work reflects that range. Most homeowners pay $300–$2,000 per job for door and window work, with period homes at the higher end due to non-standard sizing and restoration requirements.
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 needed)
- Installation of hinges, hardware, and weather seals (external openings)
- Trimming and refitting architraves
- Compliance with NCC energy performance requirements for external openings
Hardware (handles, locks, deadbolts) is usually quoted separately unless specified. 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.
- Frame condition. If frames are straight and undamaged, a new door can be hung directly. Rotting or out-of-square frames need replacing, roughly doubling the cost per opening.
- Period homes. Properties in Mosman, Balmain, and Paddington often have non-standard door heights and window widths. Custom milling is common for these homes.
- Internal vs external. External doors require weather sealing, security hardware, and compliance with energy ratings. Internal doors are more straightforward.
- Timber windows. Restoring original timber sash windows is skilled work that commands premium rates. Replacement with new timber frames is generally cheaper than full restoration.
- Strata restrictions. In apartment buildings, external window changes often need strata approval. The windows may be classified as common property, meaning the body corporate controls what can be changed.
- Bushfire zones. Properties in BAL-rated areas (Hills District fringe, Northern Beaches bushland) require fire-rated glazing in external windows and doors.
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 and period-appropriate hardware, pushes toward $2,000.
Sydney-Specific Considerations
Inner-west and eastern suburbs period homes. Balmain, Newtown, Paddington, Surry Hills. Original timber sash windows and panelled doors are common in pre-1940 homes. Restoration of these windows (re-glazing, re-roping sash weights, draught sealing) is specialised carpentry that not all tradespeople offer. Replacement with modern timber frames matched to period proportions is an alternative.
North Shore and Northern Beaches. Mosman, Wahroonga, Manly. Larger homes with more doors and windows per property. External joinery here tends to be high quality, with solid timber front doors and custom window frames. Bushfire zones around Manly and the Northern Beaches fringe require BAL-rated glazing for external openings.
Apartments and strata. Internal doors can be replaced freely. External windows are often classified as common property under the NSW strata legislation, meaning changes require body corporate approval. Even replacing a window with the same style may need sign-off if it affects the building's external appearance.
Security doors and screens. Sydney homeowners frequently add security screen doors to front and back entries. While the screen itself is typically supplied by a specialist, a carpenter handles the fitting of the frame and any modifications to the existing doorway.
Hiring a Licensed Carpenter in NSW
In NSW, a contractor licence from NSW Fair Trading is required for work over $5,000 (including GST). For smaller door and window jobs under this threshold, a licence is not legally required, but using a licensed tradesperson provides better consumer protection and recourse.
Ask for:
- NSW contractor licence number (verify online)
- Proof of public liability insurance
- A written quote that specifies door/window types, hardware, and whether frames are included
- References for similar work, particularly if period restoration is involved
Red flags: Cannot provide a licence number for work over $5,000, suggests skipping weather seals on external doors, or quotes without inspecting the existing frames.
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 windows, structural modifications, and commercial glazing are not included.