How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Door and Frame?

Painting your entry door and the frame that holds the slab in place is a way to make your home unique. You can easily distinguish between a house that has a red door, or a yellows door. It allows your sense of style and personality to be expressed in a non-judgmental fashion.

Painting your door and the frame around it is also a way of protecting the door and your home. When water damages a door then the water can gain entry to your home, ruin your floor, and damage your siding and even your insulation. A damaged door also attracts pesky insects and allows creepy crawly things to enter your domicile.

A lot of people are reluctant to take on the job of painting a door and frame because they are unsure about the cost associated with this activity. Some people are also uncertain about how to approach the job as a DIY project.

This article is going to shed some light on:

• The cost of hiring a pro to paint your door and frame
• The cost of doing the work yourself
• Things to consider before deciding whether to hire a pro or paint for yourself
• Tips from experts that will help you paint your own door successfully

Professional Painters vs DIY Door Painting

Before we rush into the average cost of painting a door let’s look at some of the benefits and drawbacks associated with DIY projects and compare them to the benefits and drawbacks of hiring a pro to do the work.

DIY Door Painting Benefits

• The cost is less because you do not have to pay labor rates
• You get a sense of accomplishment from completing the project
• The value of your home may increase
• Your curb appeal will increase with the right color choices and finish

DIY Drawbacks 

• The finish may not be as flawless as one completed by a pro
• You have to take the time to shop for supplies and do the work
• You may have to buy tools or applicators as well as the paint
• You will probably need someone to help you take the door down and hang it after you have finished painting

Door Frame Pro Painter Benefits

• The finish is impeccable
• Pros paint faster and normally can finish the job faster
• The pros have the right tools to do the job
• Your home value will likely be increased

Hiring a Pro Drawbacks

• Costs significantly more than DIY
• You will likely have to be home while the painter is working
• You have to get the work done according to their time schedule and you might have to wait several weeks before a painter is available
• Many painters will not take small jobs like this, and if they take the small job, they charge you a minimum number of labor hours even though they only work a fraction of that amount of time
• You have to take time and try to find a painter you can trust and afford

These are just a few of the points you can use to determine if you would prefer to hire the work done or do-it-yourself.

Labor Rates for Professional Painters

The biggest difference between hiring a pro and doing your own painting is the cost. Painters have to charge for their time. They also charge according to their experience and the difficulty associated with the job. Painters also have a minimum amount of labor hours that they charge even if they are only going to work a fraction of that amount of time. Most painters will tell you that they have a minimum of 4 hours of labor time because they have to consider the time it takes them to round up their supplies, travel to your house, etc.

Pro Painters’ Average Cost

How Long Does Door and Frame Painting Take?

The actual time to paint a door and frame is very short. The portions of this job that take the most time are the preparation, the sanding, the cleaning, the taking down, and then the hanging back in place.

• Taking the door down – about 20 minutes (unless all locks and hardware are removed and in those instances, the time may take as long as 1 hour)
• Cleaning the door – about 30 minutes then 30 minutes drying time so 1 hour
• Sanding the door – about 30 minutes
• Priming the door – about 45 minutes then waiting between 2 and 5 hours for the primer to cure
• Painting time – about 45 minutes then waiting between 2 and 4 hours for the paint to cure
• Hanging the door – about 20 minutes (unless all locks and hardware are removed and in those instances, the time may take as long as 1 hour)

Total Time Estimate:

DIY Door Painting Accessories

To paint your door and frame you will need to gather or own the following things:

• Drops Cloths – about $12 if you do not own
• Painter’s Tape – about $10 if you do not own
• Roller Frame – about $9 if you do not own
• Roller Cover – about $8 if you do not own
• Paint Brush – about $14 if you do not own
• Sander – about $35 if you do not own but you can hand sand without a sander
• Sandpaper – about $7
• Saw horses – about $50 if you do not own

Other items that are handy for this work:

• Dry cleaning cloths
• Empty bucket to clean paint rollers and brushes in
• Screwdrivers to remove door and hardware

How Much Paint Do You Need?

It does not take a lot of paint to paint a door and the frame around it. Normally a quart of high-quality exterior-grade paint will do the job. One quart of paint is going to cost you about $15 because you need to get an exterior grade paint that is designed to hold up to heat, wet conditions, wind, cold and more.

Even if you buy a one-coat paint that has primer included the pros suggest that you apply a coat of primer before you paint the door. Primer is going to even out the color of the door so your new paint color is true to what you picked out. It is also going to make the surface ready for paint so the paint will adhere better. 

You will probably need more than one quart of primer. Primer is thicker than paint and it does not cover an area as large as the ones a can of paint can cover. The pros suggest you go ahead and buy a gallon of primer. Any leftover primer can be saved and used on your next painting project.

Tips on Door Painting from Pro Painters

• Do not try to save money by purchasing cheap paint. Cheap paint is normally thinner than the average paint and will cover less square footage and will not provide the same protection or finish.
• Save money on paint by purchasing a high-quality primer and applying it first.
• Always apply in thin even coats. Two or more coats will create a great coverage that dries faster and covers more completely. When you try to apply the paint too thickly you get brush marks and runs.
• Never paint when the temperature is below 45⁰ or above 90⁰
• Buy quality roller covers that can be washed and used again and you will get a better finish. Cheap roller covers do not give you the same texture and look that the higher quality covers provide.
• Remove all of the hardware completely before you start to paint.

FAQs

How Long Does It Take to Paint a Door and Frame?

This is normally a job that can be completed in one day. It only takes a short amount of time to do the painting but takes time to prepare the door and to wait for the paint to dry.

Is It Better to Paint a Door with a Brush or Roller?

You are most likely going to have better results from a roller on flat surface doors, but on panel doors or ones with intricate designs, a brush allows you to get into all of the cracks and crevices.

How Much Does a Painter Charge to Paint a Door?

A painter will normally charge around $100 if they do not have to do any of the preparation work and you supply all primer, paint, and mineral spirits for clean-up.

Final Thoughts

Painting your own door and frame is something you can do. It does not take a long amount of time so it can be completed in one day unless the door is in poor condition.

The longest part of this project will be waiting on the paint to dry.

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