Window replacement cost in California
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (10 windows)
- $4,950 – $16,400
- Per window
- $496 – $1,635
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $9,750
- Metros covered
- 23
Across California, replacement windows costs about $4,950 to $16,400 for 10 windows. Statewide, that midpoint is 9% above the US figure of $9,750. Glaziers earn a median $30.79 an hour in California (US: $27.44).
Inside California, the metros we cover range from $10,100 (Riverside) to $11,300 (San Francisco) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in California (statewide), standard level
$8,400 to $12,900
About $838 to $1,293 per window before permits. Labor is about 29% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,750 | $9,300 |
| Labor | $2,650 | $3,650 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $8,400 | $12,900 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in California
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,100 | $7,500 | $11,900 | 71% |
| Labor | $1,850 | $3,150 | $4,400 | 29% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,950 | $10,700 | $16,400 | 100% |
California versus the states around it
California ranks 5 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for windows, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $11,600 and the cheapest Arkansas at $8,750, both for 10 windows at the midpoint. California sits at $10,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 210 miles away | $4,300 – $14,400 | $9,350 | −12% |
| Arizona | 430 miles away | $4,350 – $14,400 | $9,350 | −12% |
| Utah | 490 miles away | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,250 | −13% |
| Idaho | 600 miles away | $4,350 – $14,500 | $9,400 | −12% |
| Oregon | 690 miles away | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −1% |
Quality levels and sizes in California
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide California wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,950 to $9,500
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$8,400 to $12,900
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$11,800 to $16,400
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,500 – $4,750 | $4,200 – $6,450 | $5,900 – $8,200 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,950 – $9,500 | $8,400 – $12,900 | $11,800 – $16,400 |
| average house (15 windows) | $7,450 – $14,300 | $12,600 – $19,400 | $17,700 – $24,500 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $12,400 – $23,800 | $20,900 – $32,300 | $29,500 – $40,900 |
Window replacement: what moves the price in California
Frame material
Vinyl windows run $350-$1,500 each installed, fiberglass $400-$2,000, composite $400-$2,300, and wood $800-$3,800 (HomeGuide).
Window type
Single-hung and picture windows are cheapest; bay and bow windows can reach $3,000-$8,000+.
Count
Replacing 10 to 15 windows runs $4,500-$22,500; at 25 windows it is $11,250-$37,500.
Permit
Window permits are $50-$200 each, or $400-$600 total for a multi-window job, and are often only needed when you change the opening (HomeGuide). No permit fee is included here because many cities do not ask for one on same-size replacements.
What glaziers and the other trades earn in California
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.18 for California.
For glaziers (47-2121, weighted 50%) the local median is $30.79 an hour, which is 12% above the national $27.44. The middle half of them earn between $27.69 and $44.25 an hour. BLS counts 7,020 of them working in the state, 3.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.8), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $36.50 an hour, which is 25% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.72 and $46.07 an hour. BLS counts 100,750 of them working in the state, 55.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 10% of the weighting: a median of $27.41 an hour, 15% above the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $22.28 and $34.24 an hour. About 143,060 work in the state. That is 78.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for glaziers ($44.25 an hour) would add about $650 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($27.69) would take off about $150. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 18,213,700 jobs across California (May 2025), which is 11.7% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 50% | $27.69 | $30.79 | $44.25 | $27.44 | 1.12 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $28.72 | $36.50 | $46.07 | $29.12 | 1.25 | state |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $22.28 | $27.41 | $34.24 | $23.84 | 1.15 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
California metro-by-metro prices
3 of the 23 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $10,700, and the top-to-bottom gap is 12%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (10 windows) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $5,350 – $17,300 | $11,300 | +6% |
| San Jose, CA | $5,250 – $17,000 | $11,100 | +4% |
| San Diego, CA | $5,000 – $16,500 | $10,800 | +1% |
| Napa, CA | $5,000 – $16,400 | $10,700 | level |
| Los Angeles, CA | $4,950 – $16,400 | $10,700 | level |
| Vallejo, CA | $4,950 – $16,300 | $10,700 | level |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $4,950 – $16,300 | $10,600 | level |
| Santa Maria, CA | $4,950 – $16,300 | $10,600 | level |
| Merced, CA | $4,900 – $16,200 | $10,600 | −1% |
| Sacramento, CA | $4,900 – $16,200 | $10,500 | −1% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −1% |
| El Centro, CA | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −1% |
| Oxnard, CA | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −1% |
| Chico, CA | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −1% |
| Modesto, CA | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −2% |
| Redding, CA | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −2% |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −2% |
| Salinas, CA | $4,850 – $16,000 | $10,400 | −2% |
| Stockton, CA | $4,850 – $16,000 | $10,400 | −2% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $4,800 – $16,000 | $10,400 | −2% |
| Fresno, CA | $4,750 – $15,800 | $10,200 | −4% |
| Visalia, CA | $4,700 – $15,700 | $10,200 | −5% |
| Riverside, CA | $4,700 – $15,600 | $10,100 | −5% |
California seasons and windows
Season matters for windows. For each California metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Los Angeles has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in California at 12 months; El Centro has the shortest at 6 (November through April). Rainfall runs from 3 inches a year in El Centro to 34 inches in Redding.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 48 | 78 | 14 | 12: all year |
| San Francisco | 47 | 66 | 23 | 12: all year |
| Riverside | 43 | 95 | 10 | 9: October through June |
| San Diego | 46 | 80 | 11 | 12: all year |
| San Jose | 42 | 81 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Sacramento | 41 | 94 | 19 | 10: September through June |
| Fresno | 41 | 98 | 11 | 8: October through May |
| Bakersfield | 41 | 98 | 6 | 8: October through May |
| Oxnard | 46 | 73 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Stockton | 39 | 95 | 17 | 8: October through May |
| Santa Rosa | 38 | 82 | 32 | 12: all year |
| Santa Maria | 41 | 73 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Modesto | 39 | 95 | 12 | 9: September through May |
| Salinas | 42 | 71 | 13 | 12: all year |
| Visalia | 38 | 94 | 10 | 10: September through June |
| Vallejo | 38 | 79 | 20 | 12: all year |
| San Luis Obispo | 41 | 78 | 18 | 12: all year |
| Santa Cruz | 41 | 74 | 31 | 12: all year |
| Merced | 37 | 96 | 12 | 8: October through May |
| Chico | 36 | 95 | 27 | 9: October through June |
| Napa | 40 | 83 | 27 | 12: all year |
| Redding | 38 | 100 | 34 | 8: October through May |
| El Centro | 43 | 107 | 3 | 6: November through April |
Related projects, priced for California
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide California wages and prices. Against national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+16%) and front door lowest (+11%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $670 – $6,800 | +13% |
| Front door | 1 door | $580 – $2,750 | +11% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $400 – $1,050 | +13% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,750 – $29,200 | +16% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $790 – $4,100 | +11% |
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Window replacement in California: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in California?
$4,950 to $16,400 for 10 windows, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside California can sit above or below that.
+Which city in California is cheapest for windows?
Riverside at about $10,100 (midpoint, 10 windows). The priciest is San Francisco at $11,300.
+Is windows cheaper in California than the US average?
It is 9% more expensive: $10,700 against $9,750 for 10 windows at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in California?
About 29% ($3,150). Materials are 71%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.18x the national wage level.
+What do glaziers earn in California?
The BLS statewide median is $30.79 an hour, against $27.44 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.69 to $44.25.
+Where does California rank for windows costs?
5th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $10,700 for 10 windows. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in California?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,950 to $9,500 and premium work $11,800 to $16,400. Basic means: standard vinyl single-hung, same openings. Premium means: fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes.
+Does the season matter for windows in California?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the California metros we cover, Los Angeles has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Window replacement by city in California
- San Francisco, CA$11,300 midpoint
- San Jose, CA$11,100 midpoint
- San Diego, CA$10,800 midpoint
- Napa, CA$10,700 midpoint
- Los Angeles, CA$10,700 midpoint
- Vallejo, CA$10,700 midpoint
- Santa Rosa, CA$10,600 midpoint
- Santa Maria, CA$10,600 midpoint
- Merced, CA$10,600 midpoint
- Sacramento, CA$10,500 midpoint
- San Luis Obispo, CA$10,500 midpoint
- El Centro, CA$10,500 midpoint
- Oxnard, CA$10,500 midpoint
- Chico, CA$10,500 midpoint
- Modesto, CA$10,500 midpoint
- Redding, CA$10,500 midpoint
- Santa Cruz, CA$10,500 midpoint
- Salinas, CA$10,400 midpoint
- Stockton, CA$10,400 midpoint
- Bakersfield, CA$10,400 midpoint
- Fresno, CA$10,200 midpoint
- Visalia, CA$10,200 midpoint
- Riverside, CA$10,100 midpoint
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Window Replacement Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 65% of the low installed price and 75% of the high one, from HomeGuide's statement that the window unit is 65-75% of replacement cost.