Window Replacement Cost: Per Window, by Frame, Type and Glass
Windows are priced per unit, not per square foot, so the number you replace drives the bill more than anything else. This calculator adjusts for count and state labour.
Estimate calculator
Estimate calculator
Labour is 30% of the price, which is the published figure for this trade. Structural repair, permits and second-storey access are not included.
The count matters more than the choice
Windows are one of the few projects where the biggest variable is simply how many you do. Going from five to twenty windows quadruples the bill no matter which frame you pick.
| Windows | Average cost range |
|---|---|
| 1 | $450 – $1,200 |
| 5 to 10 | $2,250 – $12,000 |
| 11 to 20 | $4,950 – $24,000 |
| 21 to 25 | $9,450 – $30,000 |
There is a small per-window discount at volume, but it is nowhere near enough to change the shape of the curve.
Frame material
| Frame | Per window |
|---|---|
| Aluminium | $200 – $800 |
| Composite | $300 – $2,500 |
| Vinyl | $350 – $800 |
| Fiberglass | $400 – $1,500 |
| Wood | $600 – $2,000 |
Aluminium is the cheapest and the least insulated. Vinyl is the standard choice because it sits in the middle on both price and performance. Wood costs the most and is the easiest to repair.
Window type moves the price more than frame
| Type | Per window |
|---|---|
| Transom | $200 – $700 |
| Storm | $200 – $700 |
| Single hung | $250 – $700 |
| Awning | $300 – $800 |
| Double hung | $300 – $1,000 |
| Egress | $300 – $1,500 |
| Picture | $300 – $1,600 |
| Casement | $400 – $1,200 |
| Glass block | $400 – $1,300 |
| Sliding | $700 – $1,500 |
| Skylight | $800 – $2,500 |
| Bay | $900 – $4,500 |
| Garden | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| Bow | $1,500 – $8,000 |
| Custom | $1,000 + |
The spread across types is wider than the spread across frames. A bay window costs more than four times a single-hung one of the same frame material, because it is three openings in a structure.
If your budget is tight, the type is where to economise: a picture window in a vinyl frame is the cheapest light you can buy.
Glass and panes
| Glass | Per window |
|---|---|
| Single-pane | $200 – $650 |
| Tempered | $250 – $800 |
| Low-E | $300 – $1,100 |
| Laminated | $300 – $1,200 |
| Frosted | $350 – $800 |
| Double-pane | $450 – $2,000 |
| Triple-pane | $1,000 – $4,000 |
Double-pane is the practical default for most of the country. Triple-pane only pays back in cold climates and quiet locations, and the payback period is measured in decades.
Labour and the things that are not in the price
Labour is about 30% of the total for windows, which is lower than most trades on this site. The product is the expensive part.
Three things sit outside that number: structural repair found when the old window comes out, permits at $50 to $300, and access. A second-storey bay window may need a crane.
Is it worth replacing all of them?
Energy-efficient windows are quoted at up to 85% return in extreme climates and 60% to 85% generally. That is a wide range, and it depends on what you are replacing.
Replacing single-pane windows in a cold state is a clear win. Replacing twenty-year-old double-pane windows to save energy is usually not.
Frequently asked
Should I replace all windows at once?
If they are the same age and the same type, yes — you get the volume discount and one crew disruption. If only two are failing, replace two.
Can I replace just the glass?
Sometimes. If the frame is sound, a pocket or insert replacement swaps the sash without touching the frame and costs less. It is not possible if the frame is rotted.
Do new windows really pay for themselves?
Rarely in energy savings alone over a short horizon. They pay back at resale, where the published return is 60% to 85% of the cost.
Updated October 2026