Windows guide

Window replacement: cost, planning and comparing quotes

Published by Clear House · Updated October 13, 2026

Short answer

Replacing ten 3 ft × 5 ft double-hung windows with insulated vinyl windows averaged $22,073 in the U.S. in 2025, or about $2,200 per window, according to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. Wood windows for the same job averaged $26,781.

Your total depends on how many windows you replace, their size and style, the frame material and whether the opening needs repair. Clear House lets you plan the job and see a ballpark first, then send it to one local pro where one covers your ZIP code.

Key points

Count, size and style of windows are the biggest price drivers.
Insert (pocket) replacements usually cost less than full-frame replacements.
Rot found around the frame is often priced separately.
Energy ratings and glass options change the price.

Is there a Clear House pro for windows near you?

Enter your ZIP code to check live. Anyone in the U.S. can plan a project and see a ballpark, even where no pro is available yet.

Or start planning now

What affects the cost of window replacement

Number of windows and their sizes.
Style: double-hung, casement, sliding, picture, bay or bow.
Frame material: vinyl, wood, fiberglass or composite.
Insert replacement versus full-frame replacement with new trim.
Glass options such as double or triple pane and low-E coatings.
Upper-floor access and any repair of rotted sills or framing.

Published cost benchmarks

These are average costs for specific, defined projects from an independent annual report. Use them to sanity-check a budget, not as a price for your home.

2025 average window replacement costs (10 windows)
Project (defined scope)	South Atlantic region	U.S. average
Window replacement — vinyl	$21,629	$22,073
Window replacement — wood	$26,445	$26,781

Average job cost from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (Zonda / JLC). Each figure is for one defined project scope, not your home. Your price depends on size, materials, access, damage found and the contractor.

Window replacement — vinyl: Replace ten 3 ft × 5 ft double-hung windows with insulated vinyl windows.
Window replacement — wood: Replace the same ten windows with insulated wood windows.

How to plan it

Count the windows you want to replace and note any that stick, fog or leak.
Measure rough widths and heights, or take a clear photo of each window.
Decide whether you want the same style or a change, such as a picture window.
Ask every installer to quote the same window line, glass and installation method.
Check lead times. Custom windows are often made to order.

Questions to ask a contractor

Can I see your license or registration, if my state requires one for this work, and a current certificate of insurance?
Who pulls the permit, and is the permit fee included in the price?
What exactly is included and excluded in this quote, line by line?
What warranty do you give on labor, and whose warranty covers the materials?
What is the payment schedule, and how much is due before work starts?
Is this an insert or a full-frame installation?
Which window brand, series and glass package is in the price?

How Clear House helps with window replacement

Clear House is a planning app and marketplace. It does not do the work itself. You choose the project, answer a few short questions and add a photo if you have one. Clear House then shows a planning ballpark so you have a starting budget before anyone visits your home.

For this kind of project you can also preview some of your choices on a photo of your own home. Previews use preview credits and are illustrations, not a promise of the finished result.

When you are ready, Clear House checks whether a reviewed independent pro covers your ZIP code and this trade. If one does, you send your project to that one pro, who can review it and send a quote in the app. You are not obligated to accept a quote, and your request is not sent to a crowd of contractors. If no pro covers your area yet, you can join the waitlist and Clear House emails you when one is available.

Common questions

Should I replace all my windows at once?

Not necessarily. Replacing several at once can lower per-window labor, but you can start with the worst windows. Ask installers to price both.

Do I need a sales appointment for a window quote?

Installers usually need exact measurements before ordering. You can still plan, compare options and see a ballpark in Clear House before anyone visits.

Are vinyl windows cheaper than wood?

In the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, ten vinyl windows averaged $22,073 nationally versus $26,781 for wood. Your price will depend on the product and your home.

Ready to plan?

Free to plan. See a ballpark before anyone visits. Your project goes to one pro at a time, only where a pro covers your area.

Start a project

Sources

Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report — South Atlantic region and national averages — Published 2025. Costs are averages for a defined project scope, not quotes.
2025 Cost vs. Value Report — Methodology — Explains how job costs (Verisk XactRemodel data) and resale values were estimated.
U.S. Federal Trade Commission — How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam — Advice on licenses, insurance, written estimates, contracts and down payments.

Clear House is a marketplace, not a contractor. Costs on this page are published averages or planning ranges, not quotes, and your price will differ. Always confirm licensing, insurance and permits with the pro you hire.