Window replacement cost in Charleston, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $4,200 – $14,100
- Per window
- $419 – $1,412
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #181
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace windows in Charleston, plan on $4,200 to $14,100 for 10 windows, all in. Per window, that is $419 to $1,412 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% lower than the national one. Glaziers earn a median of $24.35 an hour in the Charleston area, 11% below the US median of $27.44.
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Charleston, SC, standard level
$7,150 to $11,100
About $717 to $1,114 per window before permits. Labor is about 25% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,200 | $8,450 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $2,700 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,150 | $11,100 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Charleston, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $6,850 | $10,800 | 75% |
| Labor | $1,400 | $2,350 | $3,300 | 25% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,200 | $9,150 | $14,100 | 100% |
Why Charleston 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 $24.35 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Charleston is 0.87 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 25% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the South Carolina statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Charleston metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 10 windows comes to $6,850, compared with $7,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (101.0) 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 Charleston. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Charleston 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).
Climate in Charleston: timing your windows job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Charleston City (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Charleston: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Charleston gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (6.1 inches in August). The station averages about 25 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 | 58 | 44 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 46 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 52 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 60 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 68 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 74 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 77 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 77 | 6.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 73 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 63 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 53 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 61 | 47 | 2.9 | Workable |
Charleston against nearby metros and the rest of South Carolina
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 $8,850 to $9,200 across Charleston and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SCthis page | $4,200 – $14,100 | $9,150 | |
| Hilton Head, SC65 miles | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,200 | +1% |
| Florence, SC80 miles | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Myrtle Beach, SC85 miles | $4,050 – $13,800 | $8,950 | −2% |
| Columbia, SC95 miles | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Savannah, GA95 miles | $4,050 – $13,700 | $8,850 | −3% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $4,200 – $14,100 | $9,150 | level |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Charleston comes in at #181 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,800; the cheapest is Laredo, TX at $8,350 (midpoints, 10 windows). Statewide, Charleston is 0% below the South Carolina figure.
Other South Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $4,200 – $14,200 | $9,200 | level |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $4,200 – $14,200 | $9,200 | +1% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $4,050 – $13,800 | $8,950 | −2% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,200 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Charleston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charleston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $4,350 – $14,400 | $9,400 | +3% |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $4,400 – $14,500 | $9,450 | +3% |
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
Charleston 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 Charleston is 0.87 times the national level.
Glaziers (47-2121) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Charleston metro, so we used the South Carolina statewide median: $24.35 an hour against $27.44 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.50 and $27.82 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $24.22 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.37 and $29.52 an hour. BLS counts 1,240 of them working in the area, 31.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.34 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $20.18 and $29.51 an hour. About 4,460 work in the metro. That is 113.1 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 ($27.82 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $170. At the 25th percentile ($21.50) it shrinks by about $140. The total moves by 1.8% or 1.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 394,170 jobs in the Charleston-North Charleston area. That makes it the 66th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.25% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 50% | $21.50 | $24.35 | $27.82 | $27.44 | 0.89 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $21.37 | $24.22 | $29.52 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $20.18 | $23.34 | $29.51 | $23.84 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Charleston
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Charleston 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
$4,200 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 – $4,100 | $3,600 – $5,550 | $5,050 – $7,050 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,200 – $8,150 | $7,150 – $11,100 | $10,100 – $14,100 |
| average house (15 windows) | $6,300 – $12,200 | $10,800 – $16,700 | $15,200 – $21,200 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $10,500 – $20,400 | $17,900 – $27,900 | $25,400 – $35,300 |
Planning more than one job in Charleston?
Because every project leans on different trades, Charleston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, garage door runs −6% and patio door −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $560 – $5,500 | −9% |
| Front door | 1 door | $450 – $2,350 | −7% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $320 – $880 | −8% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,700 – $23,100 | −8% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $650 – $3,500 | −6% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $7,150 to $11,100 for Charleston, SC is attached.
Detailed window replacement report for Charleston, SC, $9
Multi-page report for Charleston, SC: 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 Charleston: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Charleston?
For 10 windows, expect $4,200 to $14,100 in the Charleston 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 Charleston?
About $419 to $1,412 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 Charleston or Hilton Head?
Hilton Head is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $9,200, which is 1% more than Charleston ($9,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charleston?
About 25% at the midpoint, or $2,350 out of $9,150. Materials are 75% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Charleston?
$6,300 to $21,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Charleston?
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 Charleston area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charleston expensive for windows compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Charleston is 0% below the South Carolina statewide estimate ($9,150 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do glaziers earn in Charleston?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $24.35 an hour, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.50 to $27.82.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Charleston?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,200 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.
+Is there a bad season to replace windows in Charleston?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Window replacement near Charleston
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.