Window replacement cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $4,150 – $14,100
- Per window
- $417 – $1,407
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #187
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for replacement windows in the Durham area: $4,150 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. Glaziers earn a median of $22.73 an hour in the Durham area, 17% below the US median of $27.44.
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Durham, NC, standard level
$7,150 to $11,100
About $714 to $1,110 per window before permits. Labor is about 25% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,250 | $8,450 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,650 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,150 | $11,100 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $6,850 | $10,900 | 75% |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,250 | $3,200 | 25% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,150 | $9,100 | $14,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Durham number
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, Durham wages are 0.85 times the national level. Labor makes up about 25% of the midpoint estimate (27% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Durham is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $7,100 nationally becomes $6,850 here (midpoint, 10 windows). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.6: $0 to $0.
Cost by quality level and size in Durham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Durham. 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
$4,150 to $8,150
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$7,150 to $11,100
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$10,100 to $14,100
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,100 – $4,050 | $3,550 – $5,550 | $5,050 – $7,050 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,150 – $8,150 | $7,150 – $11,100 | $10,100 – $14,100 |
| average house (15 windows) | $6,250 – $12,200 | $10,700 – $16,700 | $15,200 – $21,100 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $10,400 – $20,300 | $17,900 – $27,800 | $25,300 – $35,200 |
How Durham compares
Same job, same size (10 windows), priced for the nearest metros. Durham is the priciest of the group. Fayetteville is the cheapest at $9,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $4,100 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $4,100 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $4,100 – $13,900 | $9,000 | −1% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Durham ranks #187 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Durham is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $4,200 – $14,100 | $9,150 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $4,100 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,100 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $4,850 – $15,700 | $10,300 | +13% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,100 | level |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $4,000 – $13,500 | $8,750 | −4% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $3,850 – $13,200 | $8,500 | −7% |
Window replacement: what moves the price in Durham
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.
Related projects, priced for Durham
Jobs that often go together with windows are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Durham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, garage door comes out highest (−5%) and patio door lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $560 – $5,450 | −9% |
| Front door | 1 door | $450 – $2,350 | −6% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $320 – $890 | −7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,750 – $23,300 | −8% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $660 – $3,500 | −5% |
Who does the work: Durham 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 Durham the blend is 0.85.
Glaziers (47-2121), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.73 an hour, 17% below the US median of $27.44. The middle half of them earn between $21.58 and $27.88 an hour. About 70 work in the metro. That is 2.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.8 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $24.78 an hour, 15% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.40 and $29.03 an hour. About 520 work in the metro. That is 15.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For general maintenance and repair workers (49-9071, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.62 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $21.96 and $29.31 an hour. BLS counts 2,830 of them working in the area, 82.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 98.4), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (glaziers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $250 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $55. That is a swing of roughly 0.6% to 2.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Durham-Chapel Hill has 344,020 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 74th 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% | $21.58 | $22.73 | $27.88 | $27.44 | 0.83 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $21.40 | $24.78 | $29.03 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $21.96 | $23.62 | $29.31 | $23.84 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
The best months for windows in Durham
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Raleigh Durham Intl Ap (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Durham are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Durham gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 52 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 | 52 | 32 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 34 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 63 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 5.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 69 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 63 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 50 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 55 | 34 | 3.4 | Workable |
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Multi-page report for Durham, NC: 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 Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Durham?
For 10 windows, expect $4,150 to $14,100 in the Durham area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,150 to $11,100. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in Durham?
About $417 to $1,407 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 Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $9,050, which is 1% less than Durham ($9,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 25% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $9,100. Materials are 75% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Durham?
$6,250 to $21,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Durham?
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 Durham area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for windows compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 1% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($9,050 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do glaziers earn in Durham?
The BLS median is $22.73 an hour in the Durham area, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.58 to $27.88.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Durham?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,150 to $8,150 and premium work $10,100 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 Durham?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February 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 Durham
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.