Window replacement cost in San Jose, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $5,250 – $17,000
- Per window
- $525 – $1,700
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #5
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for replacement windows in the San Jose area: $5,250 to $17,000 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 14% higher than the US figure. Glaziers earn a median of $39.63 an hour in the San Jose area, 44% above the US median of $27.44.
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in San Jose, CA, standard level
$8,800 to $13,500
About $878 to $1,348 per window before permits. Labor is about 33% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,700 | $9,200 |
| Labor | $3,100 | $4,250 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $8,800 | $13,500 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in San Jose, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,050 | $7,450 | $11,800 | 67% |
| Labor | $2,200 | $3,700 | $5,150 | 33% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,250 | $11,100 | $17,000 | 100% |
Where the San Jose 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, San Jose wages are 1.38 times the national level. Labor makes up about 33% of the midpoint estimate (27% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. San Jose 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 110.4: $0 to $0.
Pick a size, pick a tier: window replacement pricing in San Jose
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to San Jose. 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
$5,250 to $9,950
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$8,800 to $13,500
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$12,300 to $17,000
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,600 – $5,000 | $4,400 – $6,750 | $6,150 – $8,500 |
| small house (10 windows) | $5,250 – $9,950 | $8,800 – $13,500 | $12,300 – $17,000 |
| average house (15 windows) | $7,850 – $14,900 | $13,200 – $20,200 | $18,500 – $25,500 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $13,100 – $24,900 | $21,900 – $33,700 | $30,800 – $42,500 |
The best months for windows in San Jose
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, San Jose (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in San Jose: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
San Jose gets about 13 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.8 inches in January). The station averages about 16 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 | 60 | 42 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 44 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 46 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 69 | 48 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 52 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 56 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 58 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 59 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 57 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 53 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 46 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 42 | 2.3 | Workable |
Who does the work: San Jose 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 San Jose the blend is 1.38.
Glaziers (47-2121), 50% of the weighting: a median of $39.63 an hour, 44% above the US median of $27.44. The middle half of them earn between $34.29 and $57.11 an hour. About 350 work in the metro. That is 3.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.8 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $38.55 an hour, 32% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.23 and $49.38 an hour. About 4,460 work in the metro. That is 39.3 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 $30.39 an hour, which is 27% above the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $24.79 and $38.52 an hour. BLS counts 7,750 of them working in the area, 68.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 98.4), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (glaziers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $850 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $260. That is a swing of roughly 2.3% to 7.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has 1,134,970 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 27th 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% | $34.29 | $39.63 | $57.11 | $27.44 | 1.44 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $30.23 | $38.55 | $49.38 | $29.12 | 1.32 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $24.79 | $30.39 | $38.52 | $23.84 | 1.27 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.38 | |||||
Window replacement: what moves the price in San Jose
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+.
Related projects, priced for San Jose
Jobs that often go together with windows are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same San Jose wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+23%) and front door lowest (+12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $690 – $7,200 | +20% |
| Front door | 1 door | $610 – $2,750 | +12% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $410 – $1,100 | +16% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $10,300 – $31,000 | +23% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $820 – $4,200 | +14% |
How San Jose compares
Same job, same size (10 windows), priced for the nearest metros. San Jose is the priciest of the group. Stockton is the cheapest at $10,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CAthis page | $5,250 – $17,000 | $11,100 | |
| Santa Cruz, CA35 miles | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −6% |
| Merced, CA40 miles | $4,900 – $16,200 | $10,600 | −5% |
| Salinas, CA45 miles | $4,850 – $16,000 | $10,400 | −6% |
| Modesto, CA50 miles | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −6% |
| Stockton, CA70 miles | $4,850 – $16,000 | $10,400 | −6% |
| California (statewide) | $4,950 – $16,400 | $10,700 | −4% |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, San Jose ranks #5 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, San Jose is 4% above 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 | −4% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $5,350 – $17,300 | $11,300 | +2% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,700 – $15,600 | $10,100 | −9% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $5,000 – $16,500 | $10,800 | −3% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $4,900 – $16,200 | $10,500 | −5% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $4,750 – $15,800 | $10,200 | −8% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Jose against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $4,300 – $14,400 | $9,350 | −16% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $4,050 – $13,700 | $8,850 | −20% |
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $5,050 – $16,500 | $10,800 | −3% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $4,450 – $14,900 | $9,650 | −13% |
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Window replacement in San Jose: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in San Jose?
For 10 windows, expect $5,250 to $17,000 in the San Jose area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,800 to $13,500. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in San Jose?
About $525 to $1,700 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 San Jose or Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $10,500, which is 6% less than San Jose ($11,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Jose?
About 33% at the midpoint, or $3,700 out of $11,100. Materials are 67% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in San Jose?
$7,850 to $25,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in San Jose?
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 San Jose area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Jose expensive for windows compared with the rest of California?
San Jose is 4% above 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 San Jose?
The BLS median is $39.63 an hour in the San Jose area, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $34.29 to $57.11.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in San Jose?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $5,250 to $9,950 and premium work $12,300 to $17,000. Basic means: standard vinyl single-hung, same openings. Premium means: fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes.
+Is there a bad season to replace windows in San Jose?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Window replacement near San Jose
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.