The national average cost to repair a window is $324. Your total cost will depend on what's broken and the window type. For example, a glass window replacement ranges from $75-$80 for a single-pane window to $170-$180 for double. Other factors like a broken frame, damaged sash and rails, worn seals, or sourcing custom glass panes or difficult to find hardware, and added specialty labor costs can cost $325-$500 or more depending on the size, shape, and design of your windows.
As a homeowner, if you have a broken window pane, warped frame, or window that's gathering condensation between two panes, it might be time to call in a professional to have a look. While replacement windows can be expensive, hiring a professional to fix your windows is a cost-saving alternative.
Before you hire a installation and repair specialist, get an estimate on how much a home window repair will cost with this guide. In it, you'll find a complete breakdown of the cost to have your windows repaired or replaced with new windows, and how you can save money on any kind of broken window in your home.
How much does it cost to repair vs. replace a window?
While the average cost to repair a window is $324, a replacement costs around $3,000-$20,000, depending on the window type, size, and number. Even if your repair costs are higher than average, it's still likely a more cost-effective option than hiring someone to remove your old windows and install new ones.
What affects the cost of repairing a window?
Window repair costs depend on the type of damage, installation and labor costs, and the price of a pane, hardware, or other new window part.
The most common repair is a replacement for a broken window pane. For this scenario, removing the old glass and replacing it with a new pane will cost more for double-pane windows than single.
However, it's not just window glass that breaks. Costs vary based on the size, shape, thickness, and style of the broken window and the quality and design of the surrounding frame and sash.
Labor costs
Installation and labor costs to repair a broken window average between $50-$80 an hour. Other factors that can increase the labor costs include making custom-sized panes, sourcing specialty hardware, and repairing hard to reach windows (anything that requires roof access or a ladder).
Certain styles like bay windows and arched or elliptical panes are also more expensive to repair than fixed-styles, like a transom window.
How much does a single-pane glass window cost to repair?
The average cost to repair a single-pane glass window is $75-$80--which is much cheaper than a window replacement. The glass replacement typically costs around $3-$4 per square foot. That means the price for materials for a 24' x 24' window (4-square feet) is $12-$18. But that's just for the price of the glass.
The labor usually costs $50-$80 an hour, meaning it can cost around $75-$80 to repair a single-pane glass window, depending on the size.
Larger single pane windows are often more expensive to repair because of the increased thickness, size, and labor for large-plate glass. According to the Virginia-based pro, the price to repair windows can actually decrease to around $55 per pane if you replace multiple windows at once (10 or more).
Many modern windows are double-paned since they provide better insulation. However, you can still find single-pane windows in many wooden or aluminum frames. Some of the more common styles of single-pane windows include:
How much does a double-pane glass window cost to repair?
On average, it costs $170-$180 to replace the glass in a double-pane window. Double-pane glass windows typically cost $100 more to repair than a similar sized single. This is largely due to the extra labor cost to install double-pane windows, and some of the specialty tools to seal and repair damaged, insulated double-pane glass. The price varies depending on the quality or grade of glass.
Labor costs are higher to install heavier double-pane windowsoften $80-$100 an hour. You can also expect additional costs for larger windows (over 5 feet) or specific frames:
In general, it's cheaper to replace the glass pane on a vinyl window than a wood-framed one.
How much does it cost to fix a stuck window or damaged window frame?
A broken window doesn't always mean broken pane. The window casing can get stuck, the frame chipped, damaged, or warped (especially wooden frames), or the entire window sash can need repair.
Depending on the age and style of your windows, you or your contractor might be able to fix a stuck window with a putty knife, or it could require sourcing and replacing specialty parts like hinges and other hardware from a specialist.
Here's a quick look at the range of prices you can expect for different types of window repairs.
It's important to get a realistic upfront estimate before you have your window frame and sash repaired. However, most glass pros need to see the specifics of your window on site before they can give you a price estimate, since the range of factorsand costscan vary significantly based on the age and size of the window in question.
Common add-on costs
To figure out if it's more cost effective to opt for a window replacement or repair, it's important to also consider some potential hidden costs. Here are a few common add-ons and additional costs that can significantly increase the cost of window repair.
How can you save money on window repair costs?
Window replacement costs are expensive. So, by simply opting to repair a window instead of buying a replacement, you're already saving money. That said, there are a few ways you can cut down on costs even more:
Obviously, no homeowner wants to repair a broken window. But putting off repairs will only make the damage worse and more expensive to fix. If it's impacting the insulation of your house, it can even cost you hundreds of dollars extra in energy bills.
Stop waiting to fix your broken windows. Find a installation and repair professional on Thumbtack and ask for a free estimate to get the job done.