Window replacement cost in Traverse City, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $4,250 – $14,100
- Per window
- $423 – $1,410
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #179
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for replacement windows in the Traverse City area: $4,250 to $14,100 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 6% lower than the US figure. 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 Traverse City, MI, standard level
$7,200 to $11,100
About $719 to $1,114 per window before permits. Labor is about 28% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,100 | $8,200 |
| Labor | $2,100 | $2,950 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,200 | $11,100 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Traverse City, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,750 | $6,650 | $10,500 | 72% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,550 | $3,550 | 28% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,250 | $9,150 | $14,100 | 100% |
Why Traverse City 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 $25.37 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Traverse City is 0.95 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 28% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Michigan statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Traverse City is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $7,100 nationally becomes $6,650 here (midpoint, 10 windows). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.4: $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 Traverse City. The wage table below marks each row.
Traverse City against nearby metros and the rest of Michigan
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 $9,000 to $9,550 across Traverse City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MIthis page | $4,250 – $14,100 | $9,150 | |
| Green Bay, WI110 miles | $4,400 – $14,500 | $9,500 | +3% |
| Muskegon, MI110 miles | $4,100 – $13,800 | $9,000 | −2% |
| Sheboygan, WI125 miles | $4,450 – $14,600 | $9,550 | +4% |
| Appleton, WI130 miles | $4,450 – $14,600 | $9,500 | +4% |
| Grand Rapids, MI135 miles | $4,150 – $13,900 | $9,050 | −1% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $4,350 – $14,400 | $9,350 | +2% |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Traverse City ranks #179 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Traverse City is 2% below the Michigan figure.
Elsewhere in Michigan
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | +6% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $4,150 – $13,900 | $9,050 | −1% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $4,300 – $14,300 | $9,300 | +1% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $4,200 – $14,100 | $9,150 | level |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $4,250 – $14,100 | $9,200 | level |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $4,200 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Traverse City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $4,450 – $14,900 | $9,700 | +6% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $4,300 – $14,400 | $9,350 | +2% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,200 | +1% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $4,100 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
The best months for windows in Traverse City
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Traverse City Cherry Cptl Ap (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Traverse City are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, 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.
Traverse City gets about 29 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are August, September and October (3.6 inches in October). Inside the workable window, June and November are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 29 | 17 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 16 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 23 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 33 | 2.8 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 43 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 54 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 59 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 59 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 52 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 32 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 35 | 24 | 1.8 | Cold |
Pick a size, pick a tier: window replacement pricing in Traverse City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Traverse City. 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
$4,250 to $8,200
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$7,200 to $11,100
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$10,200 to $14,100
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,100 – $4,100 | $3,600 – $5,550 | $5,100 – $7,050 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,250 – $8,200 | $7,200 – $11,100 | $10,200 – $14,100 |
| average house (15 windows) | $6,350 – $12,300 | $10,800 – $16,700 | $15,200 – $21,100 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $10,600 – $20,400 | $18,000 – $27,800 | $25,400 – $35,200 |
What nearby projects cost in Traverse City
Jobs that often go together with windows are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Traverse City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (−3%) and front door lowest (−5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $570 – $5,700 | −5% |
| Front door | 1 door | $480 – $2,350 | −5% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $330 – $900 | −5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,150 – $24,400 | −3% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $670 – $3,500 | −5% |
Who does the work: Traverse City 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 Traverse City the blend is 0.95.
Glaziers (47-2121) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Traverse City metro, so we used the Michigan statewide median: $25.37 an hour against $27.44 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.83 and $29.89 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $28.47 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.71 and $30.60 an hour. About 420 work in the metro. That is 61.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For general maintenance and repair workers (49-9071, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.52 an hour, which is 6% below the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $18.28 and $27.31 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 90.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 98.4), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (glaziers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $220 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 1.3% to 2.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Traverse City has 68,440 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 264th 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% | $22.83 | $25.37 | $29.89 | $27.44 | 0.92 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.71 | $28.47 | $30.60 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $18.28 | $22.52 | $27.31 | $23.84 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.95 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Traverse City 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.
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Window replacement in Traverse City: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Traverse City?
For 10 windows, expect $4,250 to $14,100 in the Traverse City area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,200 to $11,100. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in Traverse City?
About $423 to $1,410 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 Traverse City or Green Bay?
Green Bay is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $9,500, which is 3% more than Traverse City ($9,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Traverse City?
About 28% at the midpoint, or $2,550 out of $9,150. Materials are 72% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Traverse City?
$6,350 to $21,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Traverse City?
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 Traverse City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Traverse City expensive for windows compared with the rest of Michigan?
Traverse City is 2% below the Michigan statewide estimate ($9,350 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.
+What do glaziers earn in Traverse City?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $25.37 an hour, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.83 to $29.89.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Traverse City?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,250 to $8,200 and premium work $10,200 to $14,100. 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 Traverse City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. June 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 Traverse City
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.