Window Replacement Cost: Typical Prices by Style and Material
Homeowners replacing vinyl windows can plan on HomeGuide’s installed range of $350 to $1,500 per window. Frame material, window style, and size each change what a window costs, and the sources here do not give identical figures. The breakdown below lists each source’s numbers with its unit, so you can compare them.
Window replacement cost breakdown
| Type or material | Installed cost | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiberglass | $400 to $2,000 per window | Typical range, with installation | HomeGuide |
| Composite | $400 to $2,300 per unit | Typical range, with installation | HomeGuide |
| Wood | $800 to $3,800 per unit | Typical range | HomeGuide |
| Aluminum | $175 to $1,000 per window | Typical range | HomeGuide |
| Frame material, aluminum to fiberglass | $453 to $564 per window | Average range | This Old House |
| Eight common window styles | $474 to $551 per window | Average range | This Old House |
| Single window, national | $800 | Average | Fixr |
| Awning | $550 | Average | Forbes Home |
| Double-hung | $600 | Average | Forbes Home |
| Picture | $875 | Average | Forbes Home |
| Bay | $2,000 | Average | Forbes Home |
| Bow | $2,500 | Average | Forbes Home |
Rows marked per window or per unit cover one opening each, so they do not add up to a whole house. The HomeGuide rows and the Forbes Home rows come from different sources, so compare figures within one source when you can.
Labor vs. materials
Fixr says labor makes up 30% of the total window replacement cost. Forbes Home puts labor at $150 to $300 per window. HomeGuide gives $100 to $500 per window on average, and its figure depends on whether the work goes to a handyman or a window service company.
The labor ranges do not match, so ask which figure a quote is built on.
Permit fees
Forbes Home says a permit is typically needed, with fees averaging $50 to $100 per window. Fixr puts permit fees at $50 to $300 per permit and says they follow your local building department’s fee schedule.
The two sources differ on both the amount and the unit, so ask how the permit fee is shown on the quote.
DIY vs. hiring a pro
A DIY swap still needs the window, the tools, and any permit your local office requires. Most figures in the table are installed prices, so compare a DIY budget with those totals instead of the window price alone.
A licensed pro and a permit may be required for work that changes a window opening, so check local rules first. Only take on a simpler swap if you already have the measuring and sealing skills.
Ways to save
- Get several written quotes and compare them line by line.
- Compare the frame rows, since This Old House names frame material as one of the bigger cost drivers.
- If the style is flexible, compare the double-hung row with the bay and bow rows.
- Clear access to each window before the crew arrives.
How to get an accurate quote
Ask each company to put the window type, frame material, and glass in writing. Ask whether labor is a separate line, whether the permit fee is in the total, and whether any siding or framing repairs are included.
A written quote should list each window, its price, the labor, the permit fee, and any repairs. For related projects, browse the windows-doors cost guides.
What changes the price
- Frame material, which This Old House lists as one of the bigger cost drivers
- Window style, such as bay, bow, or double-hung
- Window size and how complicated the installation is
- Labor, which some sources price per window and others as a share of the total
- Permit fees set by your local building department
- Repairs to siding or framing around a rotted window frame
Frequently asked questions
How much does a full window replacement project cost?
This Old House reports an average of $7,183 for window replacement projects. The total can shift with the windows you choose and how complicated the installation is.
What does a basement egress window cost?
HomeGuide puts a basement egress window at $6,000 to $8,000 installed, counting the window, the window well, excavation, and labor. Excavation may need a permit, and a licensed pro may be required, so check with your local building department.
Does rotted wood around a window add to the cost?
It can. HomeGuide puts siding repair at $2 to $14 per square foot when a window has rotted around the frame, so that work can add to the total.
Sources
Related cost guides
Figures are estimates based on the sources above and vary by region, home and contractor. Get at least three written quotes before you hire. See our disclaimer and how we research.