Window replacement cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (10 windows)
- $4,300 – $14,300
- Per window
- $430 – $1,425
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $9,750
- Metros covered
- 7
Iowa prices for windows: $4,300 to $14,300 for 10 windows, or $430 to $1,425 per window without the permit. The state midpoint is 5% below the national one. Local wages for glaziers are $27.56 an hour.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $9,100 (Iowa City) to $9,450 (Des Moines) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Iowa (statewide), standard level
$7,300 to $11,300
About $728 to $1,127 per window before permits. Labor is about 28% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,100 | $8,200 |
| Labor | $2,200 | $3,050 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,300 | $11,300 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,750 | $6,650 | $10,500 | 72% |
| Labor | $1,550 | $2,650 | $3,700 | 28% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,300 | $9,300 | $14,300 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Iowa
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Iowa wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,300 to $8,300
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$7,300 to $11,300
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$10,300 to $14,300
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,150 – $4,150 | $3,650 – $5,650 | $5,150 – $7,150 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,300 – $8,300 | $7,300 – $11,300 | $10,300 – $14,300 |
| average house (15 windows) | $6,450 – $12,400 | $10,900 – $16,900 | $15,400 – $21,400 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $10,700 – $20,700 | $18,200 – $28,200 | $25,700 – $35,600 |
Window replacement: what moves the price in Iowa
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.
Wages behind the Iowa number
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 0.99 for Iowa.
For glaziers (47-2121, weighted 50%) the local median is $27.56 an hour, which is in line with the national $27.44. The middle half of them earn between $23.13 and $30.17 an hour. BLS counts 430 of them working in the state, 2.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.8), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $27.75 an hour, which is 5% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.91 and $31.69 an hour. BLS counts 5,770 of them working in the state, 37.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 10% of the weighting: a median of $25.08 an hour, 5% above the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.21 and $30.01 an hour. About 16,500 work in the state. That is 105.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for glaziers ($30.17 an hour) would add about $130 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.13) would take off about $220. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 50% | $23.13 | $27.56 | $30.17 | $27.44 | 1.00 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.91 | $27.75 | $31.69 | $29.12 | 0.95 | state |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $21.21 | $25.08 | $30.01 | $23.84 | 1.05 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Other Iowa jobs that often go with windows
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Iowa wages and prices. Against national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (−4%) and front door lowest (−5%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $570 – $5,750 | −4% |
| Front door | 1 door | $480 – $2,350 | −5% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $330 – $900 | −5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,100 – $24,300 | −4% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $670 – $3,500 | −5% |
When Iowa weather lets you replace
Season matters for windows. For each Iowa metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Des Moines has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Iowa at 9 months (March through November); Dubuque has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 29 inches a year in Sioux City to 38 inches in Dubuque.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 14 | 86 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Davenport | 14 | 84 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Cedar Rapids | 11 | 83 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Iowa City | 15 | 86 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Waterloo | 11 | 85 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Sioux City | 10 | 85 | 29 | 9: March through November |
| Dubuque | 11 | 82 | 38 | 8: April through November |
Iowa versus the states around it
Iowa ranks 32 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. Iowa sits at $9,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $4,150 – $13,900 | $9,000 | −3% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $4,300 – $14,400 | $9,350 | +1% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $4,450 – $14,600 | $9,500 | +3% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $4,700 – $15,500 | $10,100 | +9% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | +13% |
Window replacement cost by metro in Iowa
3 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $9,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | $4,400 – $14,500 | $9,450 | +2% |
| Davenport, IA | $4,350 – $14,400 | $9,350 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA | $4,350 – $14,300 | $9,350 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $4,300 – $14,300 | $9,300 | level |
| Waterloo, IA | $4,300 – $14,200 | $9,250 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,200 | −1% |
| Iowa City, IA | $4,200 – $14,000 | $9,100 | −2% |
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Detailed window replacement report for Iowa, $9
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Window replacement in Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Iowa?
$4,300 to $14,300 for 10 windows, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for windows?
Iowa City at about $9,100 (midpoint, 10 windows). The priciest is Des Moines at $9,450.
+Is windows cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 5% cheaper: $9,300 against $9,750 for 10 windows at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 28% ($2,650). Materials are 72%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.99x the national wage level.
+What do glaziers earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $27.56 an hour, against $27.44 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.13 to $30.17.
+Where does Iowa rank for windows costs?
32nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $9,300 for 10 windows. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Iowa?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,300 to $8,300 and premium work $10,300 to $14,300. Basic means: standard vinyl single-hung, same openings. Premium means: fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes.
+Does the season matter for windows in Iowa?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Iowa metros we cover, Des Moines has the most comfortable months (9 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 Iowa
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.