When door replacement/installation, you’re choosing between two paths. Buy the door only, or buy the door with pro installation.Supply-only seems cheaper. Supply-and-install looks higher at checkout. But total cost is what matters.
Here’s the big picture. Supply-only means you handle measuring, delivery, install, air-sealing, trim, paint, and disposal. You also coordinate fixes if something is off. Supply-and-install bundles those steps. One team measures, installs, seals, adjusts, and hauls away.
In this blog, we’ll have a side by side comparison for these two options and suggest you one.
Quick Answer: Which Saves More?
Simple math example:
- Supply-only door: ~$1,600–$3,000.
- Pro install later: ~$500–$1,200.
- Extras people miss: sill pan $30–$80, sealants/foam/tapes $40–$120, disposal $50–$150, trim/paint $100–$400, return trip for a mis-measure $150–$300.
If things go wrong, costs jump fast. One leak can damage floors or drywall. That wipes out the initial “save.”
My suggestion: If it’s your main entry or has glass or sidelites, lean supply-and-install. You get one responsible party and one warranty.
What “Supply-Only” Actually Includes
Here you buy the door package. You arrange the installation.
What you usually get: slab, frame or jamb, threshold, hinge prep, lock bore, and sometimes basic weatherstripping.
What you usually do not get: site measure, shimming, foam or tapes, sill pan, interior/exterior trim, painting or staining, hardware drilling beyond the standard bore, disposal of the old door, and final adjustments.
You or your installer must handle air-sealing. That means correct shims, proper foam, tapes, and a sill pan. Miss one step and you risk drafts or water.
Tool and skill needs are real. You need a level, saws, drill templates, long screws into framing, and the know-how to set the sweep and threshold for a tight seal.
What “Supply-and-Install” Includes
Here it’s a bundle. One team owns the job end to end. One warranty. Fewer handoffs.
They start with a precise site measure. Sizes. Swing. Hardware checks. Then they remove the old unit and bring in the new one.
The frame is set square, level, and plumb with long screws into framing. Shims go in so the pressure is even. No twist. A sill pan goes under the threshold to move water out. Jambs get flashing tapes.
The gap is foamed with low-expansion foam. An interior bead of sealant finishes the air seal. The sweep and threshold are adjusted for firm contact without drag. Hinges, latch, deadbolt, and any multipoint lock are fitted and tuned. Trim and casing are reinstalled or replaced. The crew cleans up and hauls the old door away.
You do a final walkthrough and test the close and the seal.
Supply-Only vs Supply-and-Install: Cost Break Down
Let’s talk about real numbers. Here’s a simple view of the cost:
| Option | Product (CAD) | Labor | Typical Total | Best For |
| Supply-only | 1,000-3,500 | – | 1,000-3,500 | DIY or you have an installer |
| Pro install (separate) | – | 500-1,200 | 500-1,200 | Standard swaps |
| Supply-and-install (bundle) | – | – | 1,800-6,000+ | Main entries / one warranty |
Fiberglass with glass and sidelites sits toward the higher end. Steel back or side doors sit toward the lower end. Wood is premium.
Custom sizes, dark finishes, multipoint locks, and decorative glass all add cost. Disposal, trim, and paint can add more.
Ask your door supplier for a “product-only” price and a “product + install” price on the exact same spec. That is the only fair comparison.
Note: The price I provided is based on my experience after working 36 years with Delco Windows And Doors, one of the best door suppliers in Toronto.
Hidden Costs People Miss
Supply-only can grow legs. A mis-measure can trigger return trips and re-stock fees. Here’s what usually bites:
| Item (often missed) | Why it matters | Typical Cost (CAD) |
| Mis-measure / re-stock / extra trip | Wrong size or swing | 150–300+ |
| Sill pan omitted | Water intrusion, floor damage | 200–800+ (repair) |
| Air-sealing (foam, tapes, sealant) | Draft/leak control | 70–200 |
| Dump / haul-away | Old unit disposal | 50–150 |
| Trim + paint/stain | Finishing to match | 100–400 |
| Hardware drilling error | Buy new lock or slab | 100–400+ |
| Your time | Pickups, returns, coordination | Real but unseen |
How to avoid it (quick points)
- Get a verified site measure before ordering.
- Insist on a sill pan, foam, and flashing tapes.
- Standardize specs across quotes.
- Book one accountable party for main entries.
Warranty Can MakeDifferences
Warranties split in two parts: product and labor.
With supply-only, the manufacturer covers the door. Your installer (or you) own the labor. If there’s a draft or a leak, you can get finger-pointing.
With supply-and-install, one party usually owns both. That means one call for fixes. Expect long structural coverage on the slab and frame (often 10–25 years), shorter coverage on finishes (often 1–5 years), and glass seal coverage somewhere in between.
Labor coverage is commonly 1 year but can be longer with better installers. Read exclusions. Dark colors, coastal-like exposure, and poor maintenance can void finish claims.
When Supply-Only Wins
You want something simple and affordable. You also have help you can trust. In that case, supply-only may be the right choice.
- It works best for a like-for-like swap: same size, same swing, with no glass or trim changes.
- Ideal for a back or side door (usually a steel slab with minimal exposure).
- The opening is square and solid, with no rot or need for reframing.
- You already have a reliable installer, or you’re handy with doors yourself.
- You’re in control of the finished work; especially if you’re painting or renovating anyway.
- And if your timeline is flexible, you can easily manage pickups and returns on your own.
When Supply-and-Install Wins
This is the safer path for main entries and complex doors. One team owns the fit, the seal, and the callbacks.
- Main entry with glass or sidelites.
- Older homes. Out-of-square openings. Unknown framing.
- Need a tight winter seal. Multipoint lock. High exposure to wind.
- You want one warranty for product and labor.
- No time to coordinate trades, tools, or returns.
- Premium materials (fiberglass with big lites, engineered wood) you want done right the first time.