Short answer
Fixr puts professional door trim installation at $150 to $250 per door, with a national average of $175, ranging from about $90 to $400 (updated January 2025). Interior casing material runs from under $1 to several dollars per linear foot, and one side of a door takes about 17 linear feet. DIY, the material for one side of a door in primed MDF is often well under $50.
Hiring it out
Door trim costs from Fixr, updated January 2025
| Item | Interior | Exterior |
|---|---|---|
| Installed, per door | $150 to $250 (avg $175) | Higher; brick mold jobs vary |
| Labor per door | $100 to $150 | $125 to $175 |
| Labor per linear foot | $1 to $3 | $2 to $4 |
| Labor per hour | $65 to $140 | $65 to $140 |
| Painting, if not prefinished | $20 to $30 per door |
Figures from Fixr. For broader trim projects, HomeAdvisor reports most homeowners spend around $1,381, with labor at $75 to $125 per hour. Local rates vary widely; get two or three quotes.
Material cost per linear foot
Materials only, from Fixr
| Material | Interior | Exterior |
|---|---|---|
| Composite (MDF) | $0.60 to $4 | $0.75 to $6 |
| Hardwood | $0.75 to $6 | $4 to $10 |
| PVC | $0.75 to $7.40 | $0.75 to $30 |
Materials by style, from Fixr
| Style | Interior, per ft | Exterior, per ft |
|---|---|---|
| Flat stock | $1 to $5 | $3 to $8 |
| Basic colonial | $1 to $5 | $4 to $10 |
| Craftsman flat | $1 to $6 | $4 to $10 |
| Ranch | $2 to $6 | $5 to $10 |
| Craftsman with fillet | $3 to $8 | $6 to $15 |
| Colonial revival or Victorian | $3 to $8 | $6 to $15 |
DIY: what one door costs you
Take one side of a 32 x 80 in door: about 17 linear feet. At Fixr’s $0.60 to $4 per foot for interior composite trim, the casing is roughly $10 to $68, plus filler, caulk and paint you probably already own. Both sides double it. Exact totals for your doors: casing calculator.
| One-time tool | Why | Shop |
|---|---|---|
| Miter saw | Clean 45 degree cuts | Miter saws |
| Brad nailer | Fast, small holes, no hammer marks | Brad nailers |
| Combination square | Marking the reveal | Squares |
Ways to spend less
- Primed MDF in dry rooms; finger-joint pine only where it gets damp. See materials.
- Butted heads or farmhouse trim from flat stock: cheaper boards and easier cuts.
- Buy lengths that pack well. The calculator packs legs and heads into your stock length to minimize waste.
- Keep the casing, add a header. A header over existing trim costs far less than replacing it.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to trim one door?
Fixr lists $150 to $250 per door installed, with an average of $175. Painting adds about $20 to $30 per door if the trim is not prefinished.
How much do carpenters charge for door casing?
Fixr lists interior trim labor at about $1 to $3 per linear foot, $65 to $140 per hour, or $100 to $150 per door. HomeAdvisor lists trim carpentry labor at $75 to $125 per hour.
Is it cheaper to buy a door trim kit?
For one or two doors, a kit can be convenient. For many doors, stock lengths are usually cheaper per foot. Price both using the number of pieces from the casing calculator.
Sources
Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Profiles, sizes and listings change; check the product details before you buy, and follow the maker’s instructions.