Double Glazing Costs 2024

Average Double Glazing Cost per Window

Windows are rarely the same size as they come in different shapes and measurements. Across the board, you can expect double glazing to cost around £640 per window, but this is an unfair comparison as other materials can be cheaper or more expensive. Choosing the right window for you depends on the style of your home. This may give you more expensive double glazing costs compared to other materials.

These prices also don’t take into account any other factors that could increase their costs, such as installation and any scaffolding that might be needed. Professional fitting needs to account for labour and equipment hire, which can sometimes stretch over a day if it’s a big job. Double glazing costs for bay windows will always be higher as they use more glass and materials based on their design.

How Different Materials Affect the Price of Double Glazing

There are largely a few standard sizes of windows that can be found throughout the UK, but these depend on when your home was built and which materials you choose (as they’re different thicknesses). Each material can reduce heating losses to varying degrees.

A lot of homes will also need to rely on bespoke measurements, which is what makes gauging double glazing costs so difficult. Pricing is so variable that you can be quoted different figures from different suppliers.

In order to help choose the right window frame material for your home, you can read our double glazing units guide. The cost of replacing windows will be different depending on the material you choose.

Average prices for a single 1,000 x 1,000mm double glazed window in different materials can be seen in the graph below. These are rough estimates that don’t take into account the full picture of your home.

Steel windows, though uncommon, are the most expensive type you can buy, followed quickly by aluminium. The more modern style of aluminium double glazing costs a premium, making timber a slightly cheaper alternative. The most prolific material used in windows is uPVC, which makes it a cost-effective option.

According to WWF, uPVC is much worse for the environment compared to timber as it takes eight times as much energy to create. Timber even has the potential to last much longer as well, which gives you incredible value for money. In weighing up double glazing costs, it could be more cost effective to choose a material that lasts longer.

Double Glazing Costs Based on House Size

Not everyone is going to be in the market for a single window, so it’s more useful to find out double glazing costs based on a whole property. To find out what new windows cost, you have to look at the size of your home and how many windows you have. If you have smaller or larger windows, these rough costs will be more or less than what you could expect to pay.

Rough double glazing costs are included in the table below.

If you’re also looking for doors at the same time, you might be interested to read about how much it costs to double glaze a three bed home. The figures in the table don’t cover any bifolds, or front or back doors with any glazing that you might be interested in.

Do Colours and Types of Glass Affect the Price of Windows?

The material and size will be two of the major factors affecting the price of your double glazing. You also have other options available to you though. These include the colour of the material and the type of glass.

Some of the following options could add extra to your double glazing costs:

• Tempered glass

• Laminated glass

• Low-E glass

• Different colours

The type of glass you opt for can help increase the security of your home and prevent damage or mess. Annealed (or float) glass is the standard option. As it’s double glazed, it’s still stronger than a single pane of glass. Likewise, Low-E glass helps keep heat in the home without it overheating from the sun, but adds more to your double glazing costs.

It’s estimated that choosing specific colours for your window frame, such as with uPVC or anthracite, will increase your double glazing costs by 10–20%. There are many colour matching options when it comes to choosing a window frame material, so you can easily match the outside of your home.

Double Glazing Costs for Different Window Styles

Bay windows have always been the most expensive type. Even if you’re thinking about removing them, you’ll have to consider the additional costs of labour involved with changing them to a cheaper alternative, such as sash windows. On average, double glazing costs for bay windows will be up to over £1,000 more than other window styles.

You can see how the material differs in price against different types of window in the table below.

Aluminium windows are the most expensive option, so a bay window in aluminium will set you back around £1,755, which is £1,210 more than having uPVC casement windows fitted. The other styles aren’t nearly as much across different materials, but even a cottage style window will cost you £355 more in aluminium than in uPVC. Double glazing costs vary per type of window material you opt for.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Double Glazing

As well as the frame material, the style of glass, and the size of the window, double glazing costs are also affected by other factors. These include which company you choose and whether windows will be fitted with scaffolding on higher storeys. Additionally, you might also qualify for a double glazing grant.

Window Company

The best window company for you may be a national or local supplier, but they all quote different double glazing costs for the same product. Extensive research into their reputation and any warranties is needed if you’re to feel completely at ease with handing over your money.

Double Glazing Grants

Sometimes the cost of double glazing can be far too high, which can be out of reach for households on lower incomes. Fortunately, there may be some government grants available for double glazing that you can make use of in the UK.

Cost of Replacing vs New Double Glazing

Depending on the age of your window, and how damaged it is, you may be wondering if it’s worth replacing or repairing your double glazing. There are benefits and drawbacks to each option, including the price you pay. Repair is cheaper, but this may not fix any underlying issues. If your new double glazing is within warranty, the installer should rectify any faults. Older windows may work out better to simply replace, despite higher double glazing costs.

Alternatively, you could install secondary glazing. This creates an insulating layer that you can fit yourself. The secondary glazing cost is a lot less than the double glazing cost. Find out how secondary glazing differs from double glazing in our related article.

How Do I Know if My Double Glazing Needs Replacing?

On average, double glazing lasts around 20 years, but there are tell-tale signs that it needs replacing. If you experience any of the below, then you might want to look at double glazing costs for replacement.

• Water ingress

• Condensation between the two panes of glass

• Cracked, chipped or broken glass

• A draughty window

• Too much audible noise from outside

• The frame material has failed, cracked or rotted

• Difficult to operate

Double Glazing Costs for Doors

Like windows, doors come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, which massively affect the double glazing costs. Some will be glass from floor to ceiling, like patio doors, while others will only have small glass panels fitted. Ensuring your door has double glazing is just one way in which you can make certain the energy efficiency of your home isn’t compromised.

Double glazing costs for front and back doors starts at around £600 and goes all the way up to over £5,000. Just like how the material and the size of windows affects the price, this is the same for doors. Additionally, there is the cost of labour on top, which isn’t always straightforward. Bifolds, for example, are big and weighty, with many moving parts.

Tips on Getting the Best Deal on Double Glazing Costs

• Shop around for multiple quotes from different suppliers

• Have a company measure your windows for you and get a quote at the same time

• Use a professional to install your double glazed windows

• A local installer could work out cheaper as this cuts down on travel costs

• Check any restrictions on your property first as listed buildings and conservation areas are limited in what they can alter without penalty

• Have a budget set in advance

• Finding a U-value of 1.2 or less is the best for energy efficient windows

How much can you save with triple glazing?