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Cost of Reinforcing Doors and Door Frames

$245 Average Per Door, Installed

Door and frame reinforcement cost is $130 – $525 depending on the equipment installed. When a security door is included, cost rises by $240 to more than $2,000.
Average DIY
$120 / Door
Average Pro
$245 / Door
Typical Range
$180 – $450 Per Door
Low End
$65 (DIY)
High End
$500+ (Pro)
Updated: November 20, 2023

How Much Does it Cost to Reinforce Your Doors and Door Frames?

Low
$65 – $175 Each
Average Cost
$180 – $470 Each
High
$395 – $800+ Each
Installer DIY or Paid Paid Paid
Door Included No Yes or No Yes
Door Cost N/A Up to $250 $250+
Door Frame Replaced No No No or Yes
Reinforcing Kit Cost Up to $110 $90 – $135 $115 – $180
Door Jamb Alterations Yes or No No Yes
Number of Doors Any More than One One
Cost of Living Any Low to Average Average to High

high security door lock

Overview of Reinforced Doors, Frames and Locks for Better Home Security

FBI statistics reveal what every homeowner should know – during most break-ins, the thief kicked in the door to gain entrance. Usually rather easily, as shown here. Home security, starting with a secure, locking mailbox, is something every homeowner needs to take very seriously. For those who want to approach the door and get in as quickly as possible, consider a keyless deadbolt or door lock system.

Reinforcing or hardening the door jamb, hinge-side and lock areas, is an affordable deterrent to having your valuables stolen, or worse, your well-being threatened. Thieves will tell you that when homeowners make it difficult for them to break in, they move on to an easier target. Many concerned homeowners have started installing electric driveway gates, to deter entry at the farthest point from your home.

This cost estimate includes door frame reinforcement cost factors, retail prices for the materials used and prices from other reliable estimating sites. There’s an option for readers to submit theirs cost of having a door reinforced for security. Please consider returning to Costimates to share your project cost for the benefit of other readers.

DIY door and frame reinforcement is discussed too.

*This cost estimate is for standard entry doors. It does not include sliding glass doors which are very difficult to make secure. Other entry points to consider security for include your garage door, basement egress windows, kitchen garden windows and skylights.

Product and Materials Cost Factors

High Security Doors, Frame and Locks Cost Factors

There are just a few factors that will impact the cost of your project.

  • Whether a Door is Included – If a door is part of the project, it will easily be the most expensive component installed. Options begin with affordable steel doors with no windows and range to very expensive, attractive single-door and double-door options.
  • Whether an Old Door is Removed – There will be extra costs for removing and disposing of an old door.
  • The Door Reinforcing Kit you Choose – Kits vary in cost based on what they contain, jamb reinforcement thickness and general quality of their components.
  • Making your Own Jamb Reinforcement Strips – It has been done, but the project takes much longer. For homeowners that value their time, the savings aren’t worth it.
  • Who Does the Work – Labor accounts for as much as 50% or more of the total project cost, somewhat less when a door is part of the project, so there’s money to be saved by DIY. Installing a reinforcing kit to an existing door is a pretty easy job if the next factor doesn’t apply.
  • Whether the Door or Jamb Must Be Altered – If your door fits really tight, the jamb reinforcing strip(s) might not fit between the door edge and the jamb. In this scenario, you have two options. The door must be planed or sanded down to create enough space – possible with solid wood and solid fiberglass. Or the door stop must be removed and enough of the jamb chiseled out to seat the reinforcing strip so that the door will close and the strip becomes the stop. This method is used with steel doors. If a handyman is making the installation, altering the door or frame will require more time and produce a higher cost estimate.
  • Door Frame Replacement – If the doorframe is in poor condition, it should be replaced, and cost will be near the high end of the spectrum.
  • How Many Doors You Do – If you’re reinforcing more than one door – or the doors are French doors or double-entry doors, there will probably be a discount for the second and additional door or jamb being reinforced. This is because the installer is already at your home, so the cost of travel and travel time are spread out.
  • Cost of Living – If prices are higher or lower than average where you live, then your costs will tend toward the high end or low end of our cost range.

Retail Cost of Products

The most common approach to reinforcing a door frame and jamb is to install a kit on the handle side.

Reinforcing Strips: All kits have at least one metal jamb reinforcing strip. Some kits have two, one each for above and below the lock. A single elongated door strike is another option. Most do not require cutting the strip. Holes are pre-drilled for attaching them.

Kits include long, hardened screws to secure the strips to the jamb and more importantly to the stud behind it.  Dislodging the steel strip will be multiple times harder than kicking a door through the thin wooden, usually pine, door stop.

Lock and Door Reinforcers: Some kits also include one or two reinforcing sleeves or brackets that surround the doorknob, latch and deadbolt lock areas. Kit styles vary slightly. They are ideal for wood doors that often split at the lock holes when kicked or rammed. But they strengthen steel and fiberglass doors too. Some lock and door reinforcers can also be purchased separately.

Some homeowners reinforce the hinge side jamb too. A cheaper solution, and one that proves nearly as effective, is replacing one short screw in each side of each hinge with longer hardened screws.

Colors and styles: Most kits are offered in a few different colors or styles that allow you to select one compatible with your door and doorframe.

Here are retail prices.

  • $75 – $150 | Single Door Frame Reinforcement Kits. Average cost is about $85.
  • $110 – $185 | Double-door, French-door Reinforcement Kits. Average cost is about $110.
  • $16 – $35 | Lock and Door Reinforcing Sleeves and Brackets.
  • $8 – $16 | Assorted Accessories. Reinforcing handle backplates and high-security latch strikes are generally sold separately and might add an extra layer of protection.
  • $240 – $2,000+ | Pre-hung entry doors. Most cost $400 – $800, but there are plenty of doors that cost in excess of $2K.

Permits, Inspection, Related Costs and Installation Time

Permits and Inspection Cost

  • $0 | You don’t need a permit to install a door or door reinforcing equipment.

Related Costs and Installation Time

Most handyman services install doors and door jamb reinforcing materials. Many security equipment companies do this work too.

  • $50 – $80 per hour | Cost to Hire a Handyman or Security Equipment Installer

The time it takes to reinforce a door depends on what is installed.

  • 30 – 60 Minutes | Basic reinforcing kit installed on the handle side.
  • 45 – 90 Minutes | Reinforcing kit installation that includes hinge or hinge-side reinforcement too.
  • 2-3 Hours | Project time when door installation is included.

DIY or Hire a Pro?

Job difficulty ranges from easy for installing a basic door reinforcing kit to moderate if you’re also installing a door or if material must be removed to make room for the metal strip between the door and jamb.

If you enjoy interior home remodeling projects, have decent skills and basic tools, then consider doing it yourself. This video shows basic kit installation and how easy it can be.