Metal Doors and Frames Price Trends: PPI Explainer for Hollow-Metal Bids
Interior trade contractors and commercial estimators regularly price hollow-metal doors, borrowed lights, and welded or knock-down frames as part of complete opening packages. Understanding price trajectory data published by the federal government gives estimators objective backing when budgeting opening packages or requesting price adjustments on extended procurement cycles.
What Does Federal PPI Data Reveal About Metal Door and Frame Costs?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks wholesale price movements for standard commercial door assemblies under Producer Price Index commodity series WPU107102, titled "Metals and metal products-Metal doors and frames (except storm)." This index measures price changes relative to an index base period of June 1983 = 100 on a not seasonally adjusted basis.
According to the latest figures released through September 2026, the index sits at 479.3 (raw value 479.283). This represents an increase of 0.4% from August 2026, when the index stood at 477.3. Over a twelve-month window, the index climbed from 463.9 in September 2025 to 479.3 in September 2026, registering a year-over-year rise of 3.3%. Estimators coordinating rough openings on a metal stud framing takeoff must track these movements when pricing opening materials.
How Steep Has the Long-Term Escalation Been for Hollow-Metal Openings?
Reviewing historical index levels illustrates how substantially metal opening packages have shifted over longer project durations. When comparing current figures to historical markers:
- Two-year movement: In September 2024, the index was 415.1 (raw 415.064). The latest reading of 479.3 represents a 15.5% increase.
- Five-year movement: In September 2021, the index registered 328.8 (raw 328.783). The latest figure represents an expansion of 45.8%.
- Pre-pandemic comparison: In January 2020, the index was recorded at 265.0 (raw 265.000). The September 2026 value reflects a total rise of 80.9%.
- Window extremes: Across the data window from January 2019 to September 2026, the lowest monthly value was 261.1 in January 2019, while the highest monthly value was 479.3 reached in September 2026 (+0.0% versus the high).
Annual averages calculated across these years show steady upward momentum. The annual average index was 263.1 in 2019, 266.7 in 2020, 310.6 in 2021, 394.8 in 2022, 407.5 in 2023, 415.0 in 2024, and 443.7 in 2025. For 2026, the computed average across January through September stands at 474.5.
What Are the Key Benchmark Figures for Door and Frame Estimates?
Contractors structuring multi-month bids can reference historical benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics series to establish baseline allowances or verify supplier escalations:
| Benchmark Period | Index Value | Raw Index | Change to Latest (Sept 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latest (September 2026) | 479.3 | 479.283 | 0.0% |
| One Year Earlier (September 2025) | 463.9 | 463.907 | +3.3% |
| Five Years Earlier (September 2021) | 328.8 | 328.783 | +45.8% |
| Pre-Pandemic Baseline (January 2020) | 265.0 | 265.000 | +80.9% |
| Window High (September 2026) | 479.3 | 479.283 | 0.0% |
How Have Monthly Metal Door Index Values Moved Over the Past Year?
A closer look at the thirteen months leading up to September 2026 reveals how door and frame pricing moved month by month. Starting in autumn 2025, the index rose from 463.9 in September 2025 to 464.0 in October 2025, 465.1 in November 2025, and 467.3 in December 2025.
In early 2026, the series advanced to 468.1 in January 2026, experienced a slight dip to 467.7 in February 2026, and resumed upward movement to 471.2 in March 2026. Spring and summer pricing continued upward to 475.4 in April 2026, 477.0 in May 2026, 477.1 in June 2026, and held at 477.3 across both July 2026 and August 2026, before reaching 479.3 in September 2026.
Why Must Subcontractors Account for BLS Revision Windows Before Locking Bids?
When drafting quotes or tying contract language to government indexes through price escalation clauses, estimators must recognize that published monthly PPI values are not immediately final. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that recent months of data remain preliminary and are subject to revision for four months following initial publication. Contractors referencing recent index months for final contract reconciliation must confirm whether figures are preliminary or fully finalized.
Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index series WPU107102
Published November 9, 2026. No affiliate links on this page. Facts come from the sources linked above; check them for updates.