What is the cost of new windows? What type of frame should your new windows be made from? And what style would suit your home and provide you with the flexibility, the ease of operation, and the noise & heat insulation properties you need?
Three very big questions for what is, in most cases, the most significant investment you’ll make in your home for the next few years – brand new windows.
In this article, Household Quotes considers:
- what is the cost of new windows for your home?
- should you choose uPVC, aluminium, or wooden frames?
- would casement windows, bay windows, sash windows, or tilt & turn windows be best for your home?
- are new windows worth it?
- can new windows save energy?
- can new windows reduce noise?
- can new windows suffer from condensation and will new windows stop condensation if you’re experiencing condensation from your existing windows
- how to save up to 40% on the cost of your new windows
Cost of new windows
Each quote you receive from a qualified installer will vary according to the number of windows you want for your home (and what they pay their supplier), labour charges, complexity of installation, and an installer’s desired profit margins.
By shopping around, you can save up to 40% on the cost of new windows. Of great surprise to many homeowners is that some of the savings to be had don’t actually come from the big national installers – sometimes the very best deals to be had are from local installers. Because local installers are much more integrated into the local community than national installers, you may find the quality of after-care higher with a smaller, regional company too.
Household Quotes works with local installers up and down the UK. Fill in your details on the form on this page and we’ll put you in touch with three or four experienced and fully qualified companies close to where you live.
Make sure you ask each installer all the questions you need answering so that you have the peace of mind in knowing you’re making the right decision for you and your family. If you want to see examples of their current installations and to speak to existing customers, no reputable installer will turn you down.
But what should you budget to pay for the cost of new windows in your home? Here’s the Household Quotes ready reckoner…
| Type of property | Installation type | Windows to be replaced | Zone of quotes |
| Standard apartment | uPVC casement (1 opening) | 4-5 | £2,050-£3,200 |
| Small home or terrace | uPVC casement (1 opening) | 8-9 | £4,150-£5,700 |
| Large semi or medium detached | uPVC casement (1 opening) | 10-12 | £5,250-£7,650 |
| Detached home | uPVC casement (1 opening) | 15-18 | £7,950-£11,600 |
Types of window frame
In the UK, there are three major types of window frame – uPVC, wooden, and aluminium. What are the pros and cons for each type of window frame?
uPVC window frames advantages and disadvantages
uPVC frames are, by some distance, the most popular framing material among homeowners for their new windows.
They are the cheapest type of frame for new windows and they require only minimal maintenance – a wipe down with a cloth every few months will keep them in good condition. They have excellent heat and noise insulation properties, they’re lightweight, and a new installation should last you at least 20 years. Most uPVC windows frames manufactured over the last decade are also fully recyclable.
Although they are modern and look contemporary, some homeowners decide not to choose uPVC frames because they don’t look stylish enough. Depending on the uPVC frames you choose, some may discolour over time due to prolonged exposure to the sun. And despite their 20 -year-plus lifespan, wooden window frames and aluminium window frames last longer than uPVC frames.
Wooden window frames advantages and disadvantages
Timber windows look spectacularly good and, when properly maintained, they will not need replacing for up to 60 years.
Advantages of Wooden window frames include the character they add to a home (especially homes older than 50 years and those in conservation areas). They require a bit more maintenance than uPVC windows but not so much that it becomes an inconvenience. They offer excellent insulation properties meaning you can keep warmth in your home and keep external noise outside.
The major disadvantage of wooden window frames is the cost – they can cost up to 60% more than uPVC windows. Even though maintenance is generally minimal, wooden frames can rot through a combination of exposure to salt in the air, extreme weather, and insect infestation if you don’t keep up a regular maintenance routine to protect them.
Aluminium window frames advantages and disadvantages
Aluminium window frames are very in vogue at the moment – there is a trend in both interior and exterior architecture towards the clean, metallic look for which metal framing is perfect.
Other major advantages to choosing aluminium window frames are that they are very durable and strong but are also very light too. Maintenance demands are low as the way the aluminium is treated prior to installation gives the framing an ability to resist decay and corrosion. For unusual window shapes around your home, aluminium as a framing material is far more flexible and malleable – it’s much easier to manufacture a curved aluminium window than a uPVC equivalent.
Disadvantages of aluminium window frames are that they don’t hold heat in as well as either uPVC or wooden frames and that, depending on the quality of manufacturing and installation, your home may suffer from condensation at a later point.
uPVC window frames vs wooden window frames vs aluminium window frames – price comparison
What you pay for your windows will depend on the type of frame used, the size, and the difficulty of installation. Please find below a table showing how costs can vary for a 1-opening casement windows of three different sizes.
| Floor | Window size | uPVC | Aluminium | Timber |
| Ground floor casement (1 opening) | 600mm x 900mm | £500-£570 | £530-£616 | £820-£940 |
| Ground floor casement (1 opening) | 900mm x 1200mm | £640-£750 | £745-£856 | £1,215-£1,335 |
| Ground floor casement (1 opening) | 1200mm x 1200mm | £750-£890 | £810-£920 | £1,330-£1,450 |
| First floor casement (1 opening) | 600mm x 900mm | £530-£645 | £590-£705 | £880-£990 |
| First floor casement (1 opening) | 900mm x 1200mm | £700-£830 | £800-£910 | £1,295-£1,415 |
| First floor casement (1 opening) | 1200mm x 1200mm | £800-£920 | £865-£1,010 | £1,400-£1,520 |
Types of window style
There are multiple different types of window styles for homeowners to choose from meaning that you can choose the type that suits your property and your personality.
Next, we’ll be considering the pros and cons of the four most popular window style types – casement, sash, bay, and tilt and turn.
Casement windows advantages and disadvantages
The most popular types of new window, casement windows are opened with a handle placed on the frame. The window part opens outward – you can specify to your installer whether you want the hinge to be placed near the top of the frame, near the bottom, or at the side.
Price is the main advantage offered by casement windows as well as the wide variety of styles available including the popular French casement variation as well as prairie grill, colonial grill, and top-down grille. Casement windows are easy to open and close offering excellent ventilation and, because of the way that when the window shuts an airtight seal is created to prevent air leakage and entry, they’re very energy efficient.
The main disadvantages of casement windows are the size limitations imposed on the part of the window that can be opened – they have to be quite small for their weight to be supported by the wider frame. Often, the part of the window that does open also can’t open that far making compatibility with storm windows, air conditioners, and storm screens difficult or impossible.
| Window style | Height | Width | Estimate range |
| Casement uPVC (1 opening) | 500mm | 500mm | £245-£305 |
| Casement uPVC (1 opening) | 1,000mm | 500mm | £270-£325 |
| Casement uPVC (1 opening) | 1,000mm | 1,000mm | £295-£350 |
| Casement uPVC (1 opening) | 1,200mm | 1,200mm | £350-£405 |
Sash windows advantages and disadvantages
You’ll be familiar with sash windows as the type of windows most commonly seen on older, listed homes. They are undoubtedly stylish and they’re very practical and easy to use too.
There are two types of sash windows – “single sash” or “standard sash”. These windows have two parts, the bottom one of which is slid up via a rail when you open the window.
There is also the “double sash” or “dual sash” varieties have two moveable parts.
The main advantages offered by sash windows, other than their aesthetic appeal, is that they require very little maintenance and that, when you do need to maintain and clean them, it’s easier than maintaining a casement window. It’s also very easy to install air conditioning units into them too.
The main disadvantage of sash windows is their comparatively poor ventilation capabilities compared to casement windows. It might not be the best idea to install a sash window in either your kitchen or your bathroom. In addition, energy efficiency on single sash windows can be poor although dual sash windows are much better at keeping heat in your home.
| Window style | Height | Width | Estimate range |
| Standard sash uPVC | 500mm | 500mm | £530-£585 |
| Standard sash uPVC | 1,000mm | 500mm | £605-£700 |
| Standard sash uPVC | 1,000mm | 1,000mm | £630-£707 |
| Standard sash uPVC | 1,200mm | 1,200mm | £735-£815 |
Bay windows advantages and disadvantages
Bay windows are, for many people, the most attractive style of windows and it’s easy to see why. They have a presence to them as well as an enhanced aesthetic quality that makes a home stand out.
A bay window consists, generally, of three, four, or five window panes with the side panes angling out at anywhere between thirty degrees and ninety degrees. Because they stretch out from the side of your property, extra sill space is created which you can use for either pictures or plants.
The major advantage of bay windows is that, more so than any other type of new window, they add value to a property. They offer superior ventilation and they let a lot of natural light into your home. They look great on older and newer properties too.
Disadvantages of bay windows include the much higher price of installation and that, if you try to go for a budget option, your bay windows may eventually suffer from structural problems requiring the replacement of one, some, or all of the panes.
| Window style | Height | Width | Estimate range |
| Bay Window uPVC (3 part) | 2,400mm | 1,200mm | £1,060-£1,135 |
| Bay Window uPVC (3 part) | 2,400mm | 1,500mm | £1,140-£1,200 |
| Bay Window uPVC (3 part) | 3,000mm | 1,200mm | £1,177-£1,235 |
| Bay Window uPVC (3 part) | 3,000mm | 1,500mm | £1,277-£1,320 |
| Bay Window uPVC (4 part) | 3,000mm | 1,200mm | £1,420-£1,480 |
| Bay Window uPVC (4 part) | 3,000mm | 1,500mm | £1,535-£1,575 |
| Bay Window uPVC (4 part) | 3,600mm | 1,200mm | £1,585-£1,625 |
| Bay Window uPVC (4 part) | 3,600mm | 1,500mm | £1,635-£1,675 |
| Bay Window uPVC (5 part) | 3,600mm | 1,200mm | £1,880-£1,965 |
| Bay Window uPVC (5 part) | 3,600mm | 1,500mm | £1,995-£2,065 |
| Bay Window uPVC (5 part) | 4,000mm | 1,200mm | £2,045-£2,115 |
| Bay Window uPVC (5 part) | 4,000mm | 1,500mm | £2,095-£2,150 |
Tilt and turn windows advantages and disadvantages
Tilt and turn windows are like casement windows in many ways but are a much more advanced and functional version of them. A tilt and turn window opens vertically as well as internally – much to the surprise and amazement of the guests to your home. They’ll keep asking you “how does that work?”!
Ideal for small spaces, the advantages of tilt and turn windows include easy maintenance, ease of use, great insulation, more options on room ventilation, and a wide range of styles to choose from.
The main disadvantages of tilt and turn windows are an increased risk of accidents and breakages if you choose to open the window inwards and you subsequently knock something on your window sill or tops. The technology behind the opening mechanism makes it more expensive to repair if something goes wrong too. From a safety point of view, they do open fully and this may be a very legitimate cause of concern for parents with younger children.
| Type of window | Height | Width | Estimate range |
| Tilt & Turn uPVC (standard) | 800mm | 800mm | £400-£450 |
| Tilt & Turn uPVC (standard) | 1,000mm | 800mm | £450-£505 |
| Tilt & Turn uPVC (standard) | 1,000mm | 1,000mm | £485-£525 |
| Tilt & Turn uPVC (standard) | 1,200mm | 1,200mm | £515-£555 |
New window FAQ
Are new windows worth it?
It depends on your current windows. If they’re brand new or less than 20 years old, there’s probably a lot of life in them still, particularly if your windows are made from wood or aluminium.
However, if your windows are starting to mist up in the gap between the panes or if condensation is getting into your home, those are two warning signs that you should get a professional out to check on whether they’re still fit for purpose.
If they’re not but the problems they have are fixable, then a window repair specialist will be happy to come out and give you a quote. If the problems they have are significant and putting them right is going to cost a lot of money, then now may be the time to start looking for quotes.
Are new windows worth the cost?
The cost of double glazing has come down gradually year on year for the past three decades. There are two driving forces behind the drop in prices – the level of competition between installers and advances in the technology that goes into their manufacture.
If the last time you bought new windows was a decade or two ago, you may be very pleasantly surprised with the price you’re quoted, especially if you shop around and get potential suppliers to compete against each other.
Brand new, energy efficient windows are a very worthwhile investment in your home. Many installers offer you the option to spread the costs over up to 10 years with competitively priced finance packages – make sure you ask when getting a quote what split payment plans are on offer.
Can new windows save energy?
Yes. In fact, there are three bodies in the UK which certify how energy efficient windows are. They are CERTASS, the British Standards Institute, and the BRFC.
The most energy efficient windows are “A++” and the least energy efficient windows which can legally be manufactured or imported for sale are “C” class windows. Energy efficiency is measured in three different ways – how much heat is captured, how much air leaks from a window panel, and how much solar energy successfully makes its way through a window pane.
The more energy efficient the new windows you buy are, the higher the price (although the differential is not as big as it used to be).
Can new windows reduce noise?
Yes – they’re designed to do that. If you live near a busy road or in a town or city centre, you’ll appreciate the value of noise from the outside not getting into your home.
If it’s a particular problem, ask your installer about “noise control glass” or “acoustically insulating glass” which can reduce noise pollution in your home by up to 75%.
Can new windows get condensation?
There are two types of condensation – internal and external. External condensation (which appears on the side of the pane of glass which faces onto the outside) is natural – it’s actually an indication that your new windows are performing just as they should.
Internal condensation may also appear between the panes of glass which make up your double glazing. This is normally caused by the breakage in the airtight seal. If this is what’s happening with you, you need to get that seen to without delay.
Will new windows stop condensation?
New windows, manufactured and installed to the proper standards, will completely stop internal condensation. However, they will not prevent condensation from forming on the outside because external condensation occurs as a result of the natural and expected functioning of new windows.
In the market to buy new windows?
If you’re in the market to buy new windows, the best way to save money and to get the highest quality installation is to get quotes from 3-4 local installers – local installers who are experienced, qualified and committed to both quality of their work and the efficiency of their after-sales support.
Fill in your details at the top of the page and we’ll put you in touch with 3 to 4 vetted suppliers that we trust. There’s no obligation to accept any quote you’re given and our service is free at all times.