How Much to Charge for Window Replacement Per Window
Window replacement typically runs $450–$900 per unit installed for a standard vinyl double-hung insert, $800–$1,600 for full-frame installation or premium fiberglass and wood-clad units, and $1,500–$4,000+ for large picture windows, bays, and entry doors. Installation labor alone runs $150–$400 per opening for inserts and $350–$800 for full-frame, with capping, second-story access, and as-found rot billed on top.
Installed ranges per unit
- Vinyl double-hung, insert — $450–$900
- Full-frame install / premium units — $800–$1,600
- Picture, bay, or entry door — $1,500–$4,000+
- Labor only, insert — $150–$400 per opening
- Labor only, full-frame — $350–$800 per opening
What moves the per-unit number
- Install method — insert versus full-frame
- Unit type and material — vinyl, fiberglass, wood-clad
- Size and weight — large units need two people
- Floor level — second-story access surcharge
- Exterior finish — capping versus siding return
- Condition — as-found rot at sill and jamb
- Age of home — lead-safe practices on pre-1978 properties
Explain insert versus full-frame properly
A customer comparing your full-frame price to someone else’s insert price is really comparing two different products. One keeps a frame that may be rotted; the other actually corrects the flashing that caused the rot in the first place.
Say which one the openings actually need, and why. That one explanation wins more window jobs than any discount you could offer.
Price volume honestly
Ten windows in one house share the setup, the protection, the dumpster, and the cleanup. A stated volume rate is real and defensible, and it’s probably the most effective way to turn “let’s do the front three this year” into a whole-house project.
Never quote rot blind
Sill and jamb rot behind an old window is common, and it’s invisible until the unit’s out. Quote an as-found rate per linear foot and photograph what you find — this is probably the single most common source of change orders in the trade, and the easiest one to handle cleanly.
Sell the glass package, not the frame
Low-E coatings, argon fill, and warm-edge spacers are where the comfort and energy savings actually come from. Quote the package explicitly — it’s the part of a window customers understand least going in and value most once you’ve explained it.
Frequently asked questions
Why is full-frame so much more than insert?
Because you're removing the entire existing frame, correcting the flashing, and rebuilding the opening — often with interior trim and exterior siding work as a consequence. It's the right answer where the frame is rotted or the flashing failed, and it's genuinely two to three times the labor.
Should I discount for volume?
Yes, modestly, after the first few units. Mobilization, protection, and cleanup are shared across the job, so a ten-window house should cost less per opening than a two-window one — stating that explicitly often converts a partial job into a whole-house one.
How much does second-story access add?
A meaningful surcharge per opening — ladders or staging, two people for handling, and slower work throughout. Price it per unit rather than as a lump, because customers often have a mix of ground and upper-floor openings.
What's a fair job minimum?
Roughly the equivalent of three to four openings. Setup, protection, disposal, and cleanup barely change for a single window, and one-off replacements priced by unit alone don't cover a half-day.