Window replacement cost in Dubuque, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $4,350 – $14,300
- Per window
- $433 – $1,433
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #152
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace windows in Dubuque, plan on $4,350 to $14,300 for 10 windows, all in. Per window, that is $433 to $1,433 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Dubuque, IA, standard level
$7,350 to $11,300
About $733 to $1,133 per window before permits. Labor is about 29% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,100 | $8,200 |
| Labor | $2,250 | $3,150 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,350 | $11,300 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Dubuque, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,750 | $6,650 | $10,500 | 71% |
| Labor | $1,600 | $2,700 | $3,800 | 29% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,350 | $9,350 | $14,300 | 100% |
Why Dubuque prices look the way they do
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, Dubuque wages are 1.01 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 Iowa statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dubuque metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 10 windows comes to $6,650, compared with $7,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.3) 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 Dubuque. The wage table below marks each row.
Climate in Dubuque: timing your windows job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dubuque Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Dubuque (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Dubuque gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 43 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.2 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 27 | 11 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 26 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 58 | 37 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 59 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 28 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 32 | 17 | 1.8 | Cold |
Dubuque labor market for windows
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 Dubuque is 1.01 times the national level.
Glaziers (47-2121) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dubuque metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $27.56 an hour against $27.44 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.13 and $30.17 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $28.89 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.41 and $30.47 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 44.5 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 $26.13 an hour, 10% above the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.58 and $29.88 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 97.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the glaziers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.17 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $130. At the 25th percentile ($23.13) it shrinks by about $220. The total moves by 1.4% or 2.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 58,470 jobs in the Dubuque area. That makes it the 292nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% 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% | $23.41 | $28.89 | $30.47 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $21.58 | $26.13 | $29.88 | $23.84 | 1.10 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Dubuque against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
Same job, same size (10 windows), priced for the nearest metros. Madison is the priciest of the group at $10,000. Iowa City is the cheapest at $9,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IAthis page | $4,350 – $14,300 | $9,350 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA45 miles | $4,300 – $14,300 | $9,300 | level |
| Iowa City, IA75 miles | $4,200 – $14,000 | $9,100 | −2% |
| Davenport, IA75 miles | $4,350 – $14,400 | $9,350 | level |
| Madison, WI80 miles | $4,750 – $15,300 | $10,000 | +7% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $4,300 – $14,200 | $9,250 | −1% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $4,300 – $14,300 | $9,300 | −1% |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Dubuque comes in at #152 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,800; the cheapest is Laredo, TX at $8,350 (midpoints, 10 windows). Statewide, Dubuque is 1% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $4,400 – $14,500 | $9,450 | +1% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $4,350 – $14,400 | $9,350 | level |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $4,300 – $14,300 | $9,300 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $4,200 – $14,000 | $9,100 | −2% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $4,300 – $14,200 | $9,250 | −1% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,200 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Dubuque's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dubuque against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | 58,650 jobs | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | +5% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $3,950 – $13,500 | $8,750 | −6% |
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $4,550 – $15,100 | $9,850 | +6% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | −2% |
Why two Dubuque quotes can differ
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.
Frame material
Vinyl windows run $350-$1,500 each installed, fiberglass $400-$2,000, composite $400-$2,300, and wood $800-$3,800 (HomeGuide).
Related projects, priced for Dubuque
Because every project leans on different trades, Dubuque's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs −2% and front door −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $580 – $5,850 | −3% |
| Front door | 1 door | $490 – $2,400 | −4% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $340 – $920 | −3% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,200 – $24,600 | −2% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $680 – $3,550 | −4% |
Dubuque: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dubuque 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
$4,350 to $8,350
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$7,350 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) | $4,350 – $8,350 | $7,350 – $11,300 | $10,300 – $14,300 |
| average house (15 windows) | $6,500 – $12,500 | $11,000 – $17,000 | $15,500 – $21,500 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $10,800 – $20,800 | $18,300 – $28,300 | $25,800 – $35,800 |
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Multi-page report for Dubuque, IA: 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 Dubuque: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Dubuque?
For 10 windows, expect $4,350 to $14,300 in the Dubuque area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,350 to $11,300. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in Dubuque?
About $433 to $1,433 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 Dubuque or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $9,300, which is 0% less than Dubuque ($9,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dubuque?
About 29% at the midpoint, or $2,700 out of $9,350. Materials are 71% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Dubuque?
$6,500 to $21,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Dubuque?
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 Dubuque area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dubuque expensive for windows compared with the rest of Iowa?
Dubuque is 1% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($9,300 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do glaziers earn in Dubuque?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $27.56 an hour, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.13 to $30.17.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Dubuque?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,350 to $8,350 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.
+When is the best time to replace windows in Dubuque?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October and November 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 Dubuque
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.