Window replacement cost in Chico, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $4,900 – $16,100
- Per window
- $488 – $1,612
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #29
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for replacement windows in the Chico area: $4,900 to $16,100 for 10 windows. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 8% higher than the US figure. Glaziers earn a median of $30.79 an hour in the Chico area, 12% above the US median of $27.44.
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Chico, CA, standard level
$8,250 to $12,700
About $825 to $1,275 per window before permits. Labor is about 29% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,700 | $9,200 |
| Labor | $2,550 | $3,550 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $8,250 | $12,700 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Chico, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,050 | $7,450 | $11,800 | 71% |
| Labor | $1,800 | $3,050 | $4,300 | 29% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,900 | $10,500 | $16,100 | 100% |
Where the Chico price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: glaziers at 50%, carpenters at 40%, general maintenance and repair workers at 10%. Weighted together, Chico wages are 1.14 times the national level. Labor makes up about 29% of the midpoint estimate (27% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the California statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chico is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $7,100 nationally becomes $7,450 here (midpoint, 10 windows). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.2: $0 to $0.
Data note: 50% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Chico. The wage table below marks each row.
The best months for windows in Chico
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Chico Univ Farm (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Chico are October through June: 9 of 12. Outside them, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Chico gets about 27 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (5.1 inches in February). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 1.4 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 99 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 36 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 38 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 42 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 45 | 1.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 52 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 57 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 59 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 55 | 0.3 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 47 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 40 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 57 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Chico?
Jobs that often go together with windows are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chico wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+12%) and garage door lowest (+7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $650 – $6,650 | +10% |
| Front door | 1 door | $560 – $2,700 | +8% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $390 – $1,050 | +10% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,400 – $28,200 | +12% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $760 – $3,950 | +7% |
Why two Chico quotes can differ
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.
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+.
Chico against nearby metros and the rest of California
Same job, same size (10 windows), priced for the nearest metros. Napa is the priciest of the group at $10,700. Redding is the cheapest at $10,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CAthis page | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | |
| Sacramento, CA70 miles | $4,900 – $16,200 | $10,500 | level |
| Redding, CA80 miles | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | level |
| Napa, CA90 miles | $5,000 – $16,400 | $10,700 | +2% |
| Vallejo, CA100 miles | $4,950 – $16,300 | $10,700 | +1% |
| Santa Rosa, CA105 miles | $4,950 – $16,300 | $10,600 | +1% |
| California (statewide) | $4,950 – $16,400 | $10,700 | +1% |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | −7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chico ranks #29 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chico is 1% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $4,950 – $16,400 | $10,700 | +2% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $5,350 – $17,300 | $11,300 | +8% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,700 – $15,600 | $10,100 | −3% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $5,000 – $16,500 | $10,800 | +2% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $5,250 – $17,000 | $11,100 | +6% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $4,900 – $16,200 | $10,500 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chico against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | 79,510 jobs | $4,900 – $16,200 | $10,600 | +1% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $5,000 – $16,400 | $10,700 | +2% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,200 | −12% |
| Racine, WI | 76,280 jobs | $4,400 – $14,500 | $9,450 | −10% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: window replacement pricing in Chico
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chico. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from a few windows (5 windows) to whole house (25 windows).
Basic
$4,900 to $9,350
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$8,250 to $12,700
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$11,600 to $16,100
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,450 – $4,700 | $4,100 – $6,350 | $5,800 – $8,050 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,900 – $9,350 | $8,250 – $12,700 | $11,600 – $16,100 |
| average house (15 windows) | $7,300 – $14,100 | $12,400 – $19,100 | $17,400 – $24,200 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $12,200 – $23,400 | $20,600 – $31,900 | $29,100 – $40,300 |
Who does the work: Chico trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Chico the blend is 1.14.
Glaziers (47-2121) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Chico metro, so we used the California statewide median: $30.79 an hour against $27.44 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.69 and $44.25 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $34.75 an hour, 19% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.79 and $38.46 an hour. About 390 work in the metro. That is 49.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For general maintenance and repair workers (49-9071, weighted 10%) the local median is $25.02 an hour, which is 5% above the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.01 and $32.39 an hour. BLS counts 720 of them working in the area, 92.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 98.4), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (glaziers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $650 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $150. That is a swing of roughly 1.4% to 6.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chico has 78,220 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 241st by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| 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% | $24.79 | $34.75 | $38.46 | $29.12 | 1.19 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $21.01 | $25.02 | $32.39 | $23.84 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.14 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Multi-page report for Chico, CA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Window replacement in Chico: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Chico?
For 10 windows, expect $4,900 to $16,100 in the Chico area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,250 to $12,700. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in Chico?
About $488 to $1,612 per window for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $450 to $1,500.
+Is windows cheaper in Chico or Sacramento?
Sacramento is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $10,500, which is 0% more than Chico ($10,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chico?
About 29% at the midpoint, or $3,050 out of $10,500. Materials are 71% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Chico?
$7,300 to $24,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Chico?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Chico area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chico expensive for windows compared with the rest of California?
Chico is 1% below the California statewide estimate ($10,700 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do glaziers earn in Chico?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $30.79 an hour, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.69 to $44.25.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Chico?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,900 to $9,350 and premium work $11,600 to $16,100. Basic means: standard vinyl single-hung, same openings. Premium means: fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes.
+When is the best time to replace windows in Chico?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through June. May and June are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Window replacement near Chico
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.