The average window restoration costs $400, but it can range between $300 and $550, depending on the age, material, location, and uniqueness of the window.
Window restoration costs run between $80 and $1,800, with an average cost of $400. But your window’s size, type, and any broken parts will influence what you pay.
Perhaps you bought a century-old Victorian, and the air is leaking through the window due to aging. Or maybe there’s a crack in the glass, or the wooden frame is rotting. No matter the issue, deciding whether it’s worth restoring old windows often comes down to cost.
Many factors contribute to the cost of window restoration, doubly so for windows older than 50 years—and that isn’t even taking into account replacing rotted window frames. There are historical restoration requirements for certain old houses which can easily double or triple the cost of restoration. Material matters as well, regardless of age, as certain materials are easier to restore than others which may require certain chemical applications. Finally, unique window designs require extra care as they are often very expensive to replace if damaged.
| Number of Windows | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 2 | $600–$900 |
| 5 | $1,700–$2,100 |
| 8 | $2,800–$3,300 |
| 16 | $5,400–$6,600 |
| 25 | $8,000–$11,000 |
The number of windows you restore increases the cost. While there is some economy of scale, remember that you are paying for mostly labor to complete the work. This means you can only save so much, so while you may end up restoring 20 or more windows, you’ll only get a labor discount of about 5% to 10%.
Restoring old windows in homes that are more than 50 years old can double or triple the overall project pricing. Older windows are built of older wood and if you are restoring them, such wood requires intense care so as to not damage it. Contractors will also need to work slower to avoid making costly mistakes that could damage either the glass or the wood. Since labor is the major cost, this adds up quickly. Lead, outdated hardware, and deterioration also play into the cost of older windows.
Wood windows are almost always the most expensive to restore. This is because wood changes over time and can warp, discolor, or lose strength. Other more hardy materials like steel, aluminum, and certain composite take less time to restore and are less costly to replace than most woods. However, most homeowners choose to keep window frames the same material throughout the whole house. If you want to keep the original wood, it can add to the total cost. An alternative is to use a variety of materials and paint over them, but this can detract from the uniqueness of the old window, and in some jurisdictions, you may not even be allowed to.
On top of older windows being expensive, some may even predate large-scale manufacturing. This means that every window may be unique. These types of windows require skilled craftsmanship, which comes at a premium. In addition to the increased labor cost, many unique windows either require the sourcing of special materials or, in some cases, making those materials from scratch (such as with custom hinges or wood detailing). Like many other parts of a house, the more custom the work, the higher the total cost will be.
Sometimes historical homes don’t meet modern building requirements, requiring restoration of windows that both look like the original but meet modern safety and building standards. Certain homes may even have clauses in place requiring the local government to approve any work being done. This includes window restoration. A local window repair contractor can help you liaise with the city, making sure that any work performed matches the requirements. In some cases, you may need a building permit.
Should you hire a window repair handyperson to do the job for you? That depends on the severity of the damage, your skill level with wood or vinyl, the complexity of the job, and how confident you are that it’s something you can manage.
If you don’t feel like tackling this project yourself, you can find local window repair professionals near you.
Before you break out your woodworking tools, the first thing you need to evaluate is whether to restore your old windows or if it's better to replace them entirely. A careful look at the sash that the window sits atop, the seam along the edge of the glass, and the framing against both the exterior of the building and the glass itself will tell you everything you need to know about the condition of your old window.
Routine failure along the bottom edge, where moisture and rot coalesce, is perhaps the most important spot to check when inspecting an old window. If the wood is spongy or if the metal has rusted beyond normal surface wear, you’ll want to reconsider restoration. There are products used in historical work that address these issues and that you might be able to use for a DIY window project, but you’ll need to carefully research the process as skill is required.
There are not as many opportunities to save on older window restoration as there are replacing or restoring modern windows. This is because there is a small pool of qualified professionals and the rarity of materials. Historic window restoration isn’t a DIY project as it takes years of practice and experience working with the unique materials.
However, you can save some money by:
Hiring local craftspeople familiar with your house or type of window.
Looking into grants and tax credits for restoring an older property.
Scheduling off-peak with your contractors.
Buying any material you can in bulk.
Only doing a portion of the work at one time if there are budget constrictions.
Restoring windows (or replacing them) is a project that’s almost always worth the price. You’ll get around 70% return on your investment when you sell your home according to Remodeling Magazine. Plus, repairing old windows can make your home more energy-efficient, thus saving on electric bills.
Replacing a window costs on average $300 (per window), so depending how much restoration is needed you may want to consider a full replacement instead.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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Most manufacturers have their name imprinted somewhere on the window, such as the spacer bar, hardware, or frame. Other manufacturers will include an identification number printed on the glass itself. If you’re unable to find either of these, then your window was manufactured locally (oftentimes called a “shop window”).
With a manufacturer name (or even better, the identification number) you can attempt to research the information to find out when the product was made. Keep in mind this won’t tell you when the window was installed on your home, but can get you close.
The best time to remove and restore old windows is during temperate weather. Late spring and the early onset of winter are ideal seasons. While summer has its challenges (e.g., bugs, heat, and dust), it’s also a good time to do restoration work. The worst time to restore old windows is during the winter, especially if it is particularly cold and snowy.
If you decide to forgo your old windows and upgrade them to modern day technology, there may be some people interested in the old windows. You can try selling them on an online marketplace for around $50 to $100 each (so long as the window wasn’t damaged during the removal). This can also help off set the overall price to replace them.
