Replacement Window Pricing Calculator
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Our replacement window pricing calculator is the perfect tool to help you find industry price quotes for replacement windows and new construction window projects. We’ve gone to great lengths to try and dial in our cost estimator as best as we can. The result is as close to industry standard pricing as we think humanly possible. However, most project prices vary according to 20 specific conditions/variables that are too complicated for an online calculator. Nonetheless, we’ll put up our cost estimator against the best online. Happy reading — cheers!
Dan K. - Site Editor - This Page Was Updated In 2025
Window Cost Estimator Basics
The first task here is to explain how our replacement window pricing calculator works. So let’s dive in and explore the mechanics, logic and math that make up the magic. First question asks for the type of installation that you require. There are three options to choose from: historic home, new construction, and replacement/insert. While we’re not going to go into too much detail, its does help to explain each option. First up, historic home. These are homes where special rules apply that mandate
Installation Requirements
The cost of the windows (and / or doors) should account for 66% of the total project cost. Yes, this will differ some depending on your project specifics, but as a general rule, this is what most American consumers can expect. This means that installation accounts for 33%. However, that is the simplistic answer. This is because there are two installation methods for replacing windows - insert / retrofit and full frame / new construction.
Window Material
Another big cost consideration of our replacement window pricing calculator is the frame material. Here is the list of materials from least expensive to most - vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass, composite, and wood. Actually, the middle three - aluminum, fiberglass, and composite - are not necessarily in order, but they are certainly more than vinyl and less than wood. Our calculator adds a base price for each of these frame materials as it goes about trying to determine a per window only price.
Industry Note: By far, vinyl windows are the most popular replacement material on the market. In fact, vinyl windows account for roughly 70% to 75% of all windows sold in the United States. Why? Because they are a great mix of price, quality, energy efficiency, longevity, and require little to no maintenance. However, there are lots of cheap vinyl windows options that will not provide this great mix so please inquire with us about our replacement windows list (we have no ties to any window company so you are getting unbiased advice here - promise!)
Type Of Window
There are lots of options in terms of type of window that are all listed in our selection drop down. The five most popular window types include double hungs, single hungs, sliders, casements, and fixed frame (sometimes called picture windows). While it would take too long to explain the pros and cons of each of these in this paragraph, it is helpful to understand what might best suit your needs prior to starting to shop.
Cost wise, each of these windows types has an associated cost that our calculator uses in conjunction with the question on window material. Our replacement window pricing calculator combines these two answers in order to create a per window only price.
Industry Note: Casements and awnings tend to get the best energy efficiency numbers (besides pictures windows, but they cannot be opened) and they also are the more expensive options. I personally like a well made single hung that can be opened but only has one sash so it keeps it easy and neat visually.
Overall manufacturing quality
The level of company/brand/series that you purchase certainly has an effect on the price you’ll pay. Most companies have a general price point (this is same in most industries - for instance - Ford automotive markets to a different level car buyer than say BMW or Mercedes). Therefore, how you answer this question will affect the per window price. For instance, if you select entry level brand, the calculator will make no adjustment to the per window cost. However, if you select mid range quality, then the per window cost is multiples by 1.3. And, if you select premium quality from our drop down, our replacement window pricing calculator will multiple the per window cost by ((((1.6)))).
Industry Note: How well does this track in real life? Generally, pretty well for most buyers. For instance, if the cost of a Reliabilt 3201 double hung window is $400 (entry level window), then the ProVia Endure windows cost is $620 (premium window). This genuinely tracks with the cost of these two windows.
Frame Color Upgrade
Our fourth to last question deals with window frame color upgrade. This is one of the most expensive upgrades that consumers can make. Custom frame colors can add up to 35% of the per window cost, which is quite steep. However, every company has their upgrade cost so it’s tough to say what the definitive percentage upgrade cost will be.
Industry Note: If you do want to upgrade the frame color to something custom (black is very popular these days) and you are concerned about the cost, consider collecting a fair number of bids as the final project price will vary considerably. Also, note that custom frame colors often do not carry the same warranty period, so that’s another factor to look at.
Glass upgrade
Three questions to go and you will have all of our replacement window pricing calculator secrets down. And this one has to do with window glass - specifically glass package upgrades. In today’s market, most window company offer a single low-e glass as the default window setting if you will. There is a cheaper option, which is referred to as clear glass, meaning no coating whatsoever. Single low-e glass, on the other hand, contains a single coating that reflects heat and cold. The net result is a much more energy efficient window.
Consumers can upgrade to more energy efficient packages that will vary from company to company. Often, these are called low-e 2 or low-e 3 (typically these will have 2 or 3 coatings respectively). Each upgrade will cost more money per window. For our purposes, we add ———- for low-e2 and —————— for low-e 3.
Additional Upgrades
- foam, lift rail
Where You Live
The final question deals with what part of the country in which you live. Generally speaking, the more rural the location, the less expensive the cost of living and the less many home service professionals charge. Conversely, the more urban your location, the higher the cost of living and the more money home service companies charge. Depending on your answer to this question, our replacement window pricing calculator will add a simple cost multiplier to account for your location.
Replacement Window Pricing Calculator Questions
Many consumers have pricing questions that we can help answer. Hit us up with your questions and we will do our best to answer them in a timely fashion.