Window replacement cost in Seattle, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $5,050 – $16,500
- Per window
- $507 – $1,653
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #8
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for replacement windows in the Seattle area: $5,050 to $16,500 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 11% higher than the US figure. Glaziers earn a median of $36.35 an hour in the Seattle area, 32% above the US median of $27.44.
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Seattle, WA, standard level
$8,500 to $13,100
About $851 to $1,309 per window before permits. Labor is about 32% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,650 | $9,100 |
| Labor | $2,900 | $4,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $8,500 | $13,100 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Seattle, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,050 | $7,350 | $11,700 | 68% |
| Labor | $2,050 | $3,450 | $4,850 | 32% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,050 | $10,800 | $16,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Seattle number
The wage side of the estimate leans on glaziers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $36.35 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Seattle is 1.29 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 32% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Seattle is at 104.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $7,100 nationally becomes $7,350 here (midpoint, 10 windows). Permits follow the all-items index of 111.1: $0 to $0.
Seattle against nearby metros and the rest of Washington
Same job, same size (10 windows), priced for the nearest metros. Olympia is the priciest of the group at $11,000. Yakima is the cheapest at $10,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WAthis page | $5,050 – $16,500 | $10,800 | |
| Bremerton, WA40 miles | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −3% |
| Olympia, WA60 miles | $5,200 – $16,800 | $11,000 | +2% |
| Yakima, WA90 miles | $4,800 – $16,000 | $10,400 | −4% |
| Bellingham, WA95 miles | $4,900 – $16,200 | $10,600 | −2% |
| Portland, OR135 miles | $5,050 – $16,500 | $10,800 | level |
| Washington (statewide) | $4,950 – $16,200 | $10,600 | −2% |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Seattle ranks #8 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Seattle is 2% above the Washington figure.
Elsewhere in Washington
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $4,700 – $15,700 | $10,200 | −6% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $5,200 – $16,800 | $11,000 | +2% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $4,800 – $15,900 | $10,300 | −4% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $4,800 – $16,000 | $10,400 | −4% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $4,850 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −3% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $4,900 – $16,200 | $10,600 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Seattle against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $5,350 – $17,300 | $11,300 | +5% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $4,900 – $16,100 | $10,500 | −3% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $4,350 – $14,400 | $9,400 | −13% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | −10% |
Planning more than one job in Seattle?
Jobs that often go together with windows are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Seattle wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+18%) and front door lowest (+10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $670 – $6,950 | +15% |
| Front door | 1 door | $580 – $2,700 | +10% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $400 – $1,050 | +13% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,900 – $29,700 | +18% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $810 – $4,150 | +13% |
Who does the work: Seattle 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 Seattle the blend is 1.29.
Glaziers (47-2121), 50% of the weighting: a median of $36.35 an hour, 32% above the US median of $27.44. The middle half of them earn between $30.06 and $58.96 an hour. About 900 work in the metro. That is 4.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.8 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $36.74 an hour, 26% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.64 and $47.93 an hour. About 14,970 work in the metro. That is 71.8 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 $29.21 an hour, which is 23% above the national $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $24.32 and $36.33 an hour. BLS counts 17,790 of them working in the area, 85.3 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 $1,100 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $310. That is a swing of roughly 2.8% to 10.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has 2,086,210 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 13th 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% | $30.06 | $36.35 | $58.96 | $27.44 | 1.32 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $30.64 | $36.74 | $47.93 | $29.12 | 1.26 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $24.32 | $29.21 | $36.33 | $23.84 | 1.23 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
The best months for windows in Seattle
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Seattle: 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.
Seattle gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, November and December (5.8 inches in November). The station averages about 2 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 | 47 | 37 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 50 | 37 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 54 | 39 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 59 | 43 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 65 | 48 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 70 | 53 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 77 | 57 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 77 | 57 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 53 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 47 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 52 | 41 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 37 | 5.5 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Seattle bid
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).
Window type
Single-hung and picture windows are cheapest; bay and bow windows can reach $3,000-$8,000+.
Cost by quality level and size in Seattle
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Seattle. 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
$5,050 to $9,650
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$8,500 to $13,100
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$11,900 to $16,500
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,550 – $4,850 | $4,250 – $6,550 | $5,950 – $8,250 |
| small house (10 windows) | $5,050 – $9,650 | $8,500 – $13,100 | $11,900 – $16,500 |
| average house (15 windows) | $7,600 – $14,500 | $12,800 – $19,600 | $17,900 – $24,800 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $12,700 – $24,100 | $21,300 – $32,700 | $29,900 – $41,300 |
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 $8,500 to $13,100 for Seattle, WA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Seattle, WA: 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 Seattle: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Seattle?
For 10 windows, expect $5,050 to $16,500 in the Seattle area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,500 to $13,100. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in Seattle?
About $507 to $1,653 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 Seattle or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $10,500, which is 3% less than Seattle ($10,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Seattle?
About 32% at the midpoint, or $3,450 out of $10,800. Materials are 68% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Seattle?
$7,600 to $24,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Seattle?
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 Seattle area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Seattle expensive for windows compared with the rest of Washington?
Seattle is 2% above the Washington statewide estimate ($10,600 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do glaziers earn in Seattle?
The BLS median is $36.35 an hour in the Seattle area, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.06 to $58.96.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Seattle?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $5,050 to $9,650 and premium work $11,900 to $16,500. 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 Seattle?
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 Seattle
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.