Summary: Summary: In 2026 a replacement window costs $400 to $900 installed for vinyl double-hung, $650 to $1,300 for fiberglass, $900 to $1,800 for wood or wood-clad, and $500 to $1,200 for aluminum. The per-window price should include the window unit, installation labor, insulation of the frame cavity, and interior and exterior trim caulking. Bay and bow windows run $1,500 to $4,500. Full-frame installation adds about 25 percent over insert replacement.
A proper per-window quote covers four things: the window unit itself, installation labor, insulation and air-sealing of the frame cavity, and interior plus exterior trim work with caulking. Old window removal and disposal should be included too. When a quote is much cheaper than the others, one of these is usually missing: the most common omissions are exterior aluminum capping, interior trim replacement, and disposal fees.
Ask each bidder to confirm the same inclusions in writing. A $650 per-window quote that includes capping, trim, and disposal is cheaper than a $550 quote that bills those separately. The per-window number is only comparable when the scope behind it is identical, which is why itemized quotes beat lump-sum quotes every time.
Vinyl at $400 to $900 per window installed is the value choice for most American homes: efficient to manufacture, moisture-resistant, and maintenance-free. Fiberglass at $650 to $1,300 costs 20 to 50 percent more than vinyl but expands and contracts at nearly the same rate as glass, which matters in climates with big temperature swings. It is also paintable and roughly eight times stronger than vinyl.
Wood and wood-clad at $900 to $1,800 are the premium pick for historic homes and high-end remodels, chosen when the interior wood look matters. Aluminum at $500 to $1,200 appears mostly in commercial and mid-century modern applications because its thermal performance lags. For most homeowners the real decision is vinyl versus fiberglass, decided by budget and climate.
Double-hung and single-hung are the baseline; casement and slider windows run slightly more; picture windows are cheaper per square foot because they do not operate. Bay and bow windows are a different project at $1,500 to $4,500 each, often requiring structural work. Egress windows for basements add excavation and well costs beyond the window itself.
The glass package moves the price $50 to $200 per window: double-pane low-E with argon fill is the efficient standard, triple-pane adds the most in cold climates, and laminated glass adds security and noise reduction. Warm-edge spacers and krypton fills are premium options with diminishing returns in mild climates. Match the glass to your climate zone, not the brochure.
Insert (pocket) replacement fits the new window into the existing frame: less labor, less disruption, lower cost, and the right choice when frames are square and sound. Full-frame replacement strips everything to the rough opening, letting the crew fix rot, insulate properly, and resize the opening: about 25 percent more per window, and the only correct choice for damaged frames.
How to tell which you need: probe the existing frames and sills with a screwdriver. Soft, punky wood means full-frame. Visible water staining around the opening means full-frame. If the windows operate fine and the wood is solid, insert replacement saves roughly a quarter of the project cost with no performance penalty.
Get three quotes specifying the same window line, glass package, and install type. Ask for the NFRC label ratings (U-factor and SHGC) so efficiency claims are verifiable numbers, not adjectives. Confirm lead-safe practices if your home predates 1978: disturbing old paint triggers EPA RRP rules, and compliant crews cost more than non-compliant ones for good reason.
Beware the high-pressure in-home sales model: the four-hour pitch ending in a tonight-only discount is a pricing tactic, not a bargain. Reputable window companies quote in writing, leave the quote with you, and honor it for 30 days. Check the installer's own reviews, not just the manufacturer's: most window problems are installation problems.
Data current as of October 2026. Sources: Pella, Fixr, and contractor pricing data. Estimates only, not a quote. Always get multiple written quotes from licensed local window installers.