Short answer
A new garage door in Chicago typically costs $730 to $2,790 installed for a single door and $1,030 to $3,590 for a double in 2026, based on HomeGuide's national ranges with labor raised 17% for Chicago wages (BLS, May 2025). Homewyse's ZIP 60601 calculator puts a basic steel single door at $1,048 to $1,724.
Key facts
- For ZIP 60601, the Homewyse calculator (May 2026) estimates $1,048 to $1,724 to install one basic 25 gauge steel garage door, against its default of $969 to $1,573.[3]
- BLS puts the May 2025 median wage for general maintenance and repair workers at $27.90 an hour in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro, against $23.84 nationally, a ratio of 1.17.[1]
- Chicago needs no building permit to repair or replace in kind an exterior door in the existing opening of a home up to 4 stories or its garage.[6]
- HomeGuide (Jul 2025) puts garage door installation labor at $200 to $500 per door nationally.[4]
New garage door cost in Chicago at a glance
Our 2026 Chicago estimates, door and installation included. "Middle" is the midpoint of each range.
| Door | Low | Middle | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single (one-car) door | $730 | $1,760 | $2,790 |
| Double (two-car) door | $1,030 | $2,310 | $3,590 |
| Insulated single door | $780 | $1,390 | $1,990 |
| Insulated double door | $1,530 | $2,660 | $3,790 or more |
| Installation labor only | $230 | $410 | $590 |
| Building permit, in-kind swap | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Door rows start from HomeGuide's national installed ranges[4][5]. The permit row applies only to a same type, same size replacement in the existing opening[6].
How we got this number
We used two inputs and show both.
Homewyse, ZIP 60601. Homewyse's calculator adjusts labor by ZIP code. For one basic 25 gauge steel, 4 panel door, it gives $1,048 to $1,724 in ZIP 60601, against $969 to $1,573 at its default ZIP[3]. Its labor line, 3.8 hours, rises from $202 to $430 to $253 to $537[3].
Our estimate. HomeGuide puts a single door at $700 to $2,700 installed, with labor at $200 to $500[4]. No federal wage code exists for garage door installers, so we use SOC 49-9071, Maintenance and Repair Workers, General. Its May 2025 median wage was $27.90 an hour in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN[1] and $23.84 nationally[2], a factor of 1.17. We raise only the labor by 17% and round to the nearest $10.
| Job | National range | Labor | BLS factor | Our Chicago estimate | Homewyse, ZIP 60601 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single door, installed | $700 to $2,700[4] | $200 to $500[4] | 1.17[1][2] | $730 to $2,790 | $1,048 to $1,724 (basic steel)[3] |
The math: $700 + ($200 × 0.17) = $734, rounded to $730. $2,700 + ($500 × 0.17) = $2,785, rounded to $2,790. Homewyse prices one basic door, so its range is narrower; ours spans every style HomeGuide covers. Both point the same way: Chicago labor costs more than the national norm.
What changes the price in Chicago
- In kind or not. Keeping the same type, size and shape in the existing opening means no building permit[6]. Widening the opening, or moving from a one-piece tilt-up to a sectional door, may take you outside that exemption, so ask the city before you sign.
- Insulation. HomeGuide says insulation is especially worthwhile in extreme climates[4], and that an insulated door helps an attached garage that shares walls with living space[4]. It also says the door only pays off if the garage walls and ceiling are insulated too[5]. Insulated doors cost more at every size[5].
- Door style and size. Windows, carriage styles and custom sizes raise the price[4].
- Old door removal. HomeGuide puts removal at $50 to $250 when it is not in the labor fee[4].
- Hidden repairs. Older garages can show worn framing around the opening once the old door comes off. Ask how the installer prices any repair they find.
- Licensing. Chicago requires a general contractor license for most paid repair and alteration work, including some work that needs no permit[7].
Questions to ask a Chicago contractor
- What is your City of Chicago general contractor license number[7]?
- Is this an in-kind replacement, or will it need a permit?
- Does the price include removal, haul-away, new tracks and new springs?
- What insulation does the door have, and is an insulated version quoted too?
- Will I get a written contract and the Illinois consumer rights pamphlet[8]?
When to call a pro
- Any new door install: the springs and cables are under high tension and need a trained installer.
- The opening is changing size or shape, or the framing shows rot.
- You want an opener added and the garage has no ceiling outlet. See opener installation cost in Chicago.
- To rough out your own number first, use the garage door cost estimator.
More questions
Do I need a permit to replace a garage door in Chicago?
Not for a like-for-like swap. Chicago exempts repairing or replacing in kind an exterior door in its existing opening on a home up to 4 stories or a garage on the same lot. In kind means the same type, size and shape. A wider opening or a different door type needs a check with the city.
Is a new garage door more expensive in Chicago than the national average?
Yes, mainly through labor. Homewyse's ZIP 60601 estimate for a basic steel door runs 8% to 10% above its own default, and its labor line runs 25% higher. The BLS wage gap for general maintenance and repair workers in the Chicago metro is 17%.
Is an insulated garage door worth it in Chicago?
It is worth pricing. HomeGuide puts an insulated single door at $750 to $1,900 installed nationally, against $550 to $1,300 for a non-insulated one. HomeGuide also says insulation is especially worthwhile in extreme climates, but only pays off if the garage walls and ceiling are insulated too.
Does Illinois require a written contract for a new garage door?
Yes, if the job is over $1,000, which most new doors are. The Home Repair and Remodeling Act requires a written contract or work order showing the total cost before work starts, plus the consumer rights pamphlet.
Sources
- OEWS May 2025: Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (SOC 49-9071), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, median hourly wage (series OEUM001698000000049907108), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- OEWS May 2025: Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (SOC 49-9071), national median hourly wage (series OEUN000000000000049907108), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Cost to install a garage door (May 2026 calculator, ZIP 60601), Homewyse. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- How much does garage door replacement cost? (Jul 10, 2025), HomeGuide. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Insulated garage door cost (Oct 15, 2025), HomeGuide. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- What types of work do not require a building permit? (full list), City of Chicago, Department of Buildings. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- General contractor license, City of Chicago, Department of Buildings. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Home Repair and Remodeling Act, 815 ILCS 513, Illinois General Assembly. Accessed 2026-10-15.
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