Window replacement cost in Boulder, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $4,450 – $14,800
- Per window
- $447 – $1,477
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #93
- 1 = most expensive
Boulder homeowners pay roughly $4,450 to $14,800 to replace windows at 10 windows, or $447 to $1,477 per window (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Boulder is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Boulder, CO, standard level
$7,550 to $11,700
About $756 to $1,168 per window before permits. Labor is about 29% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,200 | $8,400 |
| Labor | $2,350 | $3,250 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,550 | $11,700 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Boulder, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $6,800 | $10,800 | 71% |
| Labor | $1,650 | $2,800 | $3,950 | 29% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,450 | $9,600 | $14,800 | 100% |
Why Boulder prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on glaziers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.97 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Boulder is 1.06 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 29% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Colorado statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Boulder metro is 96.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 10 windows comes to $6,800, compared with $7,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.2) and land at $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 Boulder. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Boulder cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $9,300 to $10,100 across Boulder and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, COthis page | $4,450 – $14,800 | $9,600 | |
| Fort Collins, CO40 miles | $4,400 – $14,600 | $9,500 | −1% |
| Denver, CO55 miles | $4,700 – $15,500 | $10,100 | +5% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $4,450 – $14,700 | $9,550 | −1% |
| Cheyenne, WY90 miles | $4,300 – $14,300 | $9,300 | −3% |
| Colorado Springs, CO95 miles | $4,400 – $14,600 | $9,500 | −1% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $4,550 – $15,100 | $9,850 | +2% |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Boulder comes in at #93 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,800; the cheapest is Laredo, TX at $8,350 (midpoints, 10 windows). Statewide, Boulder is 2% below the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $4,700 – $15,500 | $10,100 | +5% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $4,400 – $14,600 | $9,500 | −1% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $4,400 – $14,600 | $9,500 | −1% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $4,450 – $14,700 | $9,550 | −1% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $4,450 – $14,700 | $9,600 | level |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $4,350 – $14,500 | $9,450 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Boulder's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boulder against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $4,000 – $13,600 | $8,800 | −8% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −6% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | +9% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $4,100 – $13,900 | $9,000 | −6% |
When to schedule windows in Boulder
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Boulder (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Boulder: 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.
Boulder gets about 21 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 93 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and September (3.2 inches in May). The station averages about 33 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47 | 22 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 48 | 22 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 29 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 35 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 51 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 57 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 56 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 48 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 37 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 28 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 21 | 0.8 | Workable |
Window replacement: what moves the price in Boulder
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.
Planning more than one job in Boulder?
Because every project leans on different trades, Boulder's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, patio door runs level and vinyl siding −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $590 – $6,000 | level |
| Front door | 1 door | $500 – $2,450 | −3% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $350 – $930 | −2% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,200 – $24,500 | −3% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $690 – $3,650 | −2% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Boulder is 1.06 times the national level.
Glaziers (47-2121) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Boulder metro, so we used the Colorado statewide median: $29.97 an hour against $27.44 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $26.93 and $35.68 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $28.73 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.92 and $35.50 an hour. BLS counts 540 of them working in the area, 28.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 10% of the weighting: a median of $27.52 an hour, 15% above the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $22.65 and $32.23 an hour. About 1,090 work in the metro. That is 56.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the glaziers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($35.68 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $280. At the 25th percentile ($26.93) it shrinks by about $150. The total moves by 2.9% or 1.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 192,390 jobs in the Boulder area. That makes it the 119th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 50% | $26.93 | $29.97 | $35.68 | $27.44 | 1.09 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.92 | $28.73 | $35.50 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $22.65 | $27.52 | $32.23 | $23.84 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
Boulder: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Boulder wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,450 to $8,600
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$7,550 to $11,700
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$10,600 to $14,800
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,250 – $4,300 | $3,800 – $5,850 | $5,300 – $7,400 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,450 – $8,600 | $7,550 – $11,700 | $10,600 – $14,800 |
| average house (15 windows) | $6,700 – $12,900 | $11,300 – $17,500 | $16,000 – $22,100 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $11,200 – $21,500 | $18,900 – $29,200 | $26,600 – $36,900 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed window replacement report for Boulder, CO, $9
Multi-page report for Boulder, CO: 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 Boulder: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Boulder?
For 10 windows, expect $4,450 to $14,800 in the Boulder area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,550 to $11,700. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in Boulder?
About $447 to $1,477 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 Boulder or Fort Collins?
Fort Collins is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $9,500, which is 1% less than Boulder ($9,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boulder?
About 29% at the midpoint, or $2,800 out of $9,600. Materials are 71% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Boulder?
$6,700 to $22,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Boulder?
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 Boulder area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boulder expensive for windows compared with the rest of Colorado?
Boulder is 2% below the Colorado statewide estimate ($9,850 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do glaziers earn in Boulder?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $29.97 an hour, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.93 to $35.68.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Boulder?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,450 to $8,600 and premium work $10,600 to $14,800. 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 Boulder?
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 Boulder
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.