DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
How much do new windows cost for a whole house in the UK?
Replacing every window in a house is one of those jobs where the quotes can swing wildly from one firm to the next. The number depends on how many openings you have, the frame material and whether you need any building work around the reveals. The real prices on this page come from actual bills, so you can see what people genuinely paid rather than a sales brochure estimate.
The quick version
- The headline figure is mostly driven by window count, size and frame material, not the brand name on the glass.
- uPVC tends to be the cheapest route, with aluminium and timber costing more to supply and fit.
- Fitting a whole house at once usually works out better per window than doing them one at a time, since setup and travel are shared across more units.
- Check the installer is FENSA or CERTASS registered, otherwise you will need a separate council building control application for the work.
- A same-day discount of thousands of pounds is a sign the original quote had a lot of slack in it, not a sign you have found a bargain.
- The real prices on this page cover a spread of frame materials and house sizes, so use them to sense-check a quote rather than to predict your exact bill.
What people actually paid
Real prices, in people's own words
- £3,800“They have charged us £3800 for 9 windows”
- £6,000“7 windows here, plus a bay which counts as 3, and a front door came in at around £6K”
- £8,000“settled c. 8k”
- £8,500“I recently spent £8.5k on my house but I have 10 windows and 3 doors”
- £9,000“got 8 windows (one bay) and two external doors for £9k”
- £10,700“I had my whole house done...for £10,700”
Genuine amounts posted publicly. We publish the price and the quote, never the person.
Why the price varies so much
No two houses price the same because the count and size of openings differ so much. A small terrace with six standard casements is a very different job to a bay-fronted semi with a dozen larger units and an awkward first floor. Frame material moves the number a lot too: uPVC sits at the lower end, aluminium and timber sit higher. Then there is the state of the existing reveals. If the old frames have been letting water in, or the lintels need attention, the labour climbs. Glass spec matters as well, since acoustic or triple glazing costs more than standard double units. Access plays a part, because upper-floor windows over a conservatory or a busy road can need extra scaffolding or a longer day. Who you buy from matters too. A large national installer carries showroom and advertising costs that a small local firm does not, and that overhead ends up in the quote one way or another, while a local fitter working out of a van tends to price closer to the job in front of them. Region plays a part on top of that, since labour rates and demand are not the same everywhere in the country. All of this is before VAT, which on most window work is charged at the standard 20%.
How to pay less
- Get at least three quotes. Window pricing is famously flexible, so competing numbers put you in a stronger position to negotiate.
- Do the whole house in one visit rather than a couple at a time, as the setup and travel are shared across more units.
- Be wary of a big opening price with a same-day discount. A firm that drops thousands on the spot had room to move all along.
- If you pay a deposit, putting it on a credit card can give you Section 75 protection on a larger job should the firm fold before fitting.
- Ask what is included in the number, since some quotes cover disposal of the old frames and making good the plaster while others charge these as extras.
- Push back on glass spec you did not ask for. Acoustic or triple glazing gets added to quotes by default in some cases, and standard double glazing is enough for most rooms.
Common questions
Is uPVC or aluminium cheaper for new windows?
uPVC is normally the more affordable option to supply and fit, which is why it is the most common choice. Aluminium and timber frames look good and can last well, but they push the total up. The real prices on this page reflect the mix of materials people actually chose, so a like-for-like comparison against your own frame choice is more useful than a single average.
Do I need building regulations approval for new windows?
Replacement windows do need to meet building regs, but you can avoid a separate council application by using an installer registered with FENSA or CERTASS. They self-certify the work and send you a certificate, which you will want when you come to sell. If your installer is not registered, you will need to apply to building control yourself and pay a separate fee.
Why are the quotes I am getting so different?
Frame material, glass spec, the number of openings and the condition of your reveals all move the price. Sales tactics add another layer, since some firms open high and discount hard on the day. Comparing several quotes against the real price data on this page is the quickest way to spot an outlier.
Is it cheaper to replace all the windows at once or a few at a time?
Doing the whole house in one visit is usually cheaper per window, because the installer only sets up scaffolding, skips and a work crew once. Splitting the job across separate visits means paying for that setup more than once. If money is tight, it is still worth asking for one quote covering everything so you know the full cost before deciding to stage it.
Should I pay a deposit for new windows?
A deposit to order the frames is standard practice and most legitimate installers ask for one. Paying by credit card gives you Section 75 protection on the deposit if the firm goes under before the job is done, which is worth having on a job this size. Be more cautious about handing over a large deposit to a firm you found through a doorstep sales visit or a same-day discount pitch.
What is a fair price to expect for new windows on a whole house?
There is no single fair price, because the count of openings, frame material and glass spec change the total so much between houses. The real prices on this page give you a range of what people with different sized houses and different materials actually paid, which is a far better guide than a generic average quoted over the phone.