Window replacement cost in Merced, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $4,900 – $16,200
- Per window
- $492 – $1,622
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #22
- 1 = most expensive
Replacement windows in Merced, CA usually costs $4,900 to $16,200 for 10 windows. That works out to about $492 to $1,622 per window before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $820 more. Glaziers earn a median of $30.79 an hour in the Merced area, 12% above the US median of $27.44.
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Merced, CA, standard level
$8,300 to $12,800
About $831 to $1,283 per window before permits. Labor is about 29% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,700 | $9,200 |
| Labor | $2,600 | $3,600 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $8,300 | $12,800 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,050 | $7,450 | $11,800 | 71% |
| Labor | $1,850 | $3,100 | $4,400 | 29% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,900 | $10,600 | $16,200 | 100% |
What is behind the Merced number
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, Merced wages are 1.17 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. Merced 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 98.3: $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 Merced. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Merced bid
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Merced
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Merced. 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 $9,450
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$8,300 to $12,800
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$11,700 to $16,200
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,450 – $4,700 | $4,150 – $6,400 | $5,850 – $8,100 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,900 – $9,450 | $8,300 – $12,800 | $11,700 – $16,200 |
| average house (15 windows) | $7,400 – $14,200 | $12,500 – $19,200 | $17,500 – $24,300 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $12,300 – $23,600 | $20,800 – $32,100 | $29,200 – $40,500 |
Planning more than one job in Merced?
Jobs that often go together with windows are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Merced wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+13%) and garage door lowest (+10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $660 – $6,750 | +12% |
| Front door | 1 door | $580 – $2,700 | +10% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $400 – $1,050 | +12% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,500 – $28,500 | +13% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $780 – $4,050 | +10% |
What local crews earn in Merced
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 Merced the blend is 1.17.
Glaziers (47-2121) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Merced 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 $35.94 an hour, 23% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.11 and $39.05 an hour. About 350 work in the metro. That is 44.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For general maintenance and repair workers (49-9071, weighted 10%) the local median is $27.26 an hour, which is 14% above the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.94 and $33.28 an hour. BLS counts 930 of them working in the area, 117.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 98.4), so the local bench is deeper than 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.
Merced has 79,510 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 240th 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% | $27.11 | $35.94 | $39.05 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $21.94 | $27.26 | $33.28 | $23.84 | 1.14 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.17 | |||||
Merced against nearby metros and the rest of California
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 10 windows range from $10,200 to $11,100 across Merced and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $4,900 – $16,200 | $10,600 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −1% |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $5,250 – $17,000 | $11,100 | +5% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $4,850 – $16,000 | $10,400 | −1% |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $4,750 – $15,800 | $10,200 | −3% |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −1% |
| California (statewide) | $4,950 – $16,400 | $10,700 | +1% |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | −8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Merced ranks #22 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Merced 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 | +1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $5,350 – $17,300 | $11,300 | +7% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,700 – $15,600 | $10,100 | −4% |
| 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 | +5% |
| 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 Merced against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,200 | −13% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −1% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,100 | −14% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $5,000 – $16,400 | $10,700 | +1% |
Merced weather and the window replacement calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Merced Muni Ap (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 Merced are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Merced gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.4 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 100 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 | 37 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 42 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 45 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 58 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 57 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 49 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 36 | 1.9 | Workable |
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Window replacement in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Merced?
For 10 windows, expect $4,900 to $16,200 in the Merced area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,300 to $12,800. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in Merced?
About $492 to $1,622 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 Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $10,500, which is 1% less than Merced ($10,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
About 29% at the midpoint, or $3,100 out of $10,600. Materials are 71% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Merced?
$7,400 to $24,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Merced?
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 Merced area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for windows compared with the rest of California?
Merced 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 Merced?
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 Merced?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,900 to $9,450 and premium work $11,700 to $16,200. 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 Merced?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May and October 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 Merced
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.