Window replacement cost in Duluth, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $4,500 – $14,800
- Per window
- $452 – $1,484
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #84
- 1 = most expensive
Duluth homeowners pay roughly $4,500 to $14,800 to replace windows at 10 windows, or $452 to $1,484 per window (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Duluth is almost level. Building materials run about 5% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.3).
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Duluth, MN, standard level
$7,600 to $11,700
About $761 to $1,174 per window before permits. Labor is about 30% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,150 | $8,350 |
| Labor | $2,450 | $3,400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,600 | $11,700 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Duluth, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $6,750 | $10,700 | 70% |
| Labor | $1,750 | $2,950 | $4,100 | 30% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,500 | $9,700 | $14,800 | 100% |
Why Duluth 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 $31.79 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Duluth is 1.10 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 30% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Duluth metro is 95.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 10 windows comes to $6,750, compared with $7,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (88.8) 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 Duluth. The wage table below marks each row.
Window replacement: what moves the price in Duluth
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.
Planning more than one job in Duluth?
Because every project leans on different trades, Duluth's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs +4% and front door −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $590 – $6,050 | +1% |
| Front door | 1 door | $500 – $2,400 | −3% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $350 – $930 | −1% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,750 – $26,200 | +4% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $710 – $3,650 | −1% |
When to schedule windows in Duluth
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Duluth (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Duluth (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November 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.
Duluth gets about 31 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 90 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 2.5 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 2 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 | 20 | 2 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 25 | 6 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 36 | 18 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 49 | 30 | 2.5 | Workable |
| May | 63 | 41 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 72 | 50 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 78 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 76 | 55 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 67 | 47 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 53 | 36 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 37 | 23 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 25 | 10 | 1.5 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Duluth
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Duluth 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
$4,500 to $8,650
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$7,600 to $11,700
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$10,700 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 | $5,350 – $7,400 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,500 – $8,650 | $7,600 – $11,700 | $10,700 – $14,800 |
| average house (15 windows) | $6,800 – $13,000 | $11,400 – $17,600 | $16,100 – $22,300 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $11,300 – $21,600 | $19,000 – $29,400 | $26,800 – $37,100 |
Is Duluth cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Duluth. Wausau is the lowest at about $9,300 (midpoint, 10 windows), 210 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MNthis page | $4,500 – $14,800 | $9,700 | |
| St. Cloud, MN155 miles | $4,500 – $14,800 | $9,650 | level |
| Minneapolis, MN160 miles | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | +9% |
| Eau Claire, WI175 miles | $4,400 – $14,500 | $9,450 | −3% |
| Wausau, WI210 miles | $4,300 – $14,300 | $9,300 | −4% |
| Fargo, ND215 miles | $4,450 – $14,700 | $9,600 | −1% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $4,700 – $15,500 | $10,100 | +5% |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Duluth comes in at #84 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,800; the cheapest is Laredo, TX at $8,350 (midpoints, 10 windows). Statewide, Duluth is 4% below the Minnesota figure.
Other Minnesota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | +9% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $4,550 – $14,900 | $9,700 | level |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $4,500 – $14,800 | $9,650 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Duluth's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Duluth against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $4,100 – $13,900 | $9,000 | −7% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $4,450 – $14,600 | $9,500 | −2% |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $4,550 – $15,000 | $9,800 | +1% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $4,000 – $13,500 | $8,750 | −10% |
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 Duluth is 1.10 times the national level.
Glaziers (47-2121) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Duluth metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median: $31.79 an hour against $27.44 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.62 and $44.20 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $29.10 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $36.50 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 49.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.32 an hour, 19% above the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.72 and $34.00 an hour. About 1,820 work in the metro. That is 145.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the glaziers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($44.20 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $600. At the 25th percentile ($29.62) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 6.2% or 1.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,710 jobs in the Duluth area. That makes it the 173rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 50% | $29.62 | $31.79 | $44.20 | $27.44 | 1.16 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.05 | $29.10 | $36.50 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $21.72 | $28.32 | $34.00 | $23.84 | 1.19 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
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Window replacement in Duluth: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Duluth?
For 10 windows, expect $4,500 to $14,800 in the Duluth area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,600 to $11,700. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in Duluth?
About $452 to $1,484 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 Duluth or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 155 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $9,650, which is 0% less than Duluth ($9,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Duluth?
About 30% at the midpoint, or $2,950 out of $9,700. Materials are 70% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Duluth?
$6,800 to $22,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Duluth?
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 Duluth area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Duluth expensive for windows compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Duluth is 4% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($10,100 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do glaziers earn in Duluth?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $31.79 an hour, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.62 to $44.20.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Duluth?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,500 to $8,650 and premium work $10,700 to $14,800. 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 Duluth?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April and October 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 Duluth
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.