Impact windows cost from $700 to $2,875 per window, with the average homeowner spending $1,800 on a single window. Window size and frame material can have a big effect on overall cost.
Installing a single impact window in your home costs an average of $1,800, with prices often running from $700 to $2,875. Several factors can influence the price of impact windows, including how many you’re installing, the sizes of the various windows, and the frame material you choose.
While there are several ways to protect your windows during hurricanes, like installing hurricane shutters and boarding them up with plywood, impact windows are among the most effective way to protect your home during a storm. These windows are designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 200 mph, and the glass will resist contact with flying debris such as lawnchairs. Their reinforced frames add to their security during a storm.
Below, we’ll walk through the various cost factors that affect the cost of impact windows, as well as ongoing costs to expect after installation.
Several factors can impact the cost of impact windows for your home, including the size of the windows, how many you have installed, and the frame material.
In general, impact windows cost roughly 25% to 35% more than regular windows of comparable size and style. You can generally purchase these through specialty impact window makers in prefabricated window sizes and styles; the average prefab impact window costs $1,800.
Because impact windows are super niche, it’s harder to find them in unique window styles and sizes. If your home has window openings that don’t conform to the limited standards available through impact window dealers and manufacturers, you may need to have custom impact windows designed. Prices can reach nearly $10,000 for custom bay or bow windows built for hurricanes.
The window frame material for your impact windows can affect the cost. Vinyl impact windows are the most affordable, starting as low as $700 per window. Fiberglass windows are the most expensive, with prices often reaching $2,875.
Frame Material | Typical Cost Range Per Window |
---|---|
Vinyl | $700–$2,500 |
Composite | $750–$2,625 |
Aluminum | $800–$2,750 |
Fiberglass | $850–$2,875 |
You can find impact windows in a number of standard sizes. In general, window prices and size increase together—the larger the window, the higher the price. For instance:
A small (24 in. x 24 in.) casement impact window might cost $700 to $800.
A medium-size (36x60) double-hung impact window will cost about $1,800.
A large (12 ft.) sliding glass door could cost upwards of $8,000 to $9,000.
If you’re going to install impact windows, you should ideally replace every window in your house with an impact window. A single broken window during a hurricane can destabilize the pressure in your home and cause roofs and walls to collapse. Not to mention, a broken window during a hurricane can lead to water damage and shards of glass and outside debris flying through the air.
That means you probably need to budget more than $1,800 to replace a single window; instead, you’ll need money to replace windows throughout your home.
The table below shows how the number of windows can impact the overall cost. The wide ranges allow for windows of various sizes, frame materials, and styles.
Number of Impact Windows | Typical Cost Range |
---|---|
1 | $700-$2,875 |
5 | $3,500–$14,375 |
10 | $7,000–$28,750 |
15 | $10,500–$43,125 |
20 | $14,000–$57,500 |
22* | $15,400–$63,250 |
25 | $17,500–$71,875 |
*The EPA reports that the average home has 22 windows.
When you hire a local window company to install your impact windows, you should budget $100 to $300 per window. In some cases, larger windows or harder-to-reach windows may cost more, up to $600, but contractors often offer a discount rate for large projects with multiple window installations.
In some cases, you may need a permit to replace your windows; this is up to your municipal building code. Construction permits for windows usually cost $50 per window.
Check with the city to see what permits you may need. Your contractor may take care of this work for you.
After installing impact windows, you’ll need to budget for ongoing costs.
All windows—impact or otherwise—require regular cleaning and maintenance. You can likely tackle all this work yourself; no need to hire a pro, unless you’d prefer. Here are some basic window maintenance tips to get you started.
If your windows show signs of disrepair over time, however, you’ll need to call in a local window repair pro. And because these are specialty windows, you might pay higher repair prices, for both parts and labor.
Even with impact windows, it’s a good idea to invest in hurricane shutters that you can deploy before a storm arrives. Hurricane shutters cost between $1,475 and $5,850, on average.
Beyond new shutters, you should be prepared to board up your windows ahead of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes, even if you have impact windows installed. The cost to board up windows before a hurricane is roughly $250, but if you already have the plywood on hand and don’t need to hire a handyperson near you to install it, it can cost next to nothing.
If you know how to replace windows, you may be tempted to simply purchase impact windows and install them yourself. However, precise installation of impact windows is vital for your safety in the event of a storm. It’s also a difficult project—and can be dangerous if you’re working on a second story or higher.
For those reasons, we recommend hiring a local window company to install your impact windows. If you’re installing impact windows throughout your house, they will likely cut you a deal on labor costs.
Installing impact windows throughout a house with an average of 22 windows is expensive: $15,400 to $63,250. But there are ways to keep costs down, including:
Replacing multiple windows at one time: If you know you eventually plan to swap out all the windows, you can save money by doing them all at once, rather than in phases. Contractors may offer you a deal for a larger project, and you’ll pay more in shipping if you order a few windows at a time.
Choose vinyl or composite: Vinyl and composite are a more affordable window frame material option for impact windows. Choose one of these if you’re installing windows on a budget.
Shop around: Get prices from multiple impact window companies before selecting a product. If you have only standard window sizes and shapes, you may be able to purchase all your impact windows at a local hardware store, rather than order from a premium brand and have the windows delivered. Similarly, get at least three quotes from window installers before selecting a company to handle the labor.
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Impact windows are a type of window made with impact-resistant glass, designed specifically for hurricanes. The glass, treated with ethylene-vinyl, can withstand winds up to 200 mph, as well as flying debris. Brands sometimes test their impact windows with large missile impact tests.
Impact windows may be required in some places. For instance, the Florida Building Code requires homes to have impact-resistant windows if they live within a mile of the coast where wind speeds can reach 110 mph or more.
Impact windows are absolutely worth the money if you live in an area prone to hurricanes. Though expensive, impact windows are built to withstand hurricane winds up to 200 mph and theoretically won’t break even if flying debris, such as mailboxes and lawn chairs, is smacked against the glass. A single broken window during a hurricane can destabilize the pressure inside your home, which can cause walls and the roof to collapse.
Impact windows have a few disadvantages. First and foremost, they’re expensive. Impact windows cost roughly 25% to 35% more than standard windows. Unless you spend a lot more money, they’re also not all that customizable. Finally, because of their design, they don’t let in as much air as a typical window, which can cause ventilation problems.