Window replacement cost in Madison, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (10 windows)
- $4,750 – $15,300
- Per window
- $473 – $1,527
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $9,750
- Rank of 300 metros
- #56
- 1 = most expensive
Madison homeowners pay roughly $4,750 to $15,300 to replace windows at 10 windows, or $473 to $1,527 per window (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Madison is almost level. Glaziers earn a median of $39.65 an hour in the Madison area, 44% above the US median of $27.44.
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Estimated cost for 10 windows in Madison, WI, standard level
$7,900 to $12,100
About $789 to $1,210 per window before permits. Labor is about 34% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,100 | $8,200 |
| Labor | $2,800 | $3,900 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,900 | $12,100 |
Cost breakdown for 10 windows in Madison, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,750 | $6,650 | $10,600 | 66% |
| Labor | $2,000 | $3,350 | $4,700 | 34% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,750 | $10,000 | $15,300 | 100% |
What is behind the Madison number
Labor is 34% of the midpoint bill here, against 27% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is glaziers (50%), carpenters (40%), general maintenance and repair workers (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Madison the blended ratio comes out at 1.26.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Madison metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 10 windows comes to $6,650, compared with $7,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.3) and land at $0 to $0.
Planning more than one job in Madison?
Because every project leans on different trades, Madison's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, patio door runs +5% and front door −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patio door | 1 door | $610 – $6,350 | +5% |
| Front door | 1 door | $510 – $2,400 | −3% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $350 – $940 | −1% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,600 – $25,800 | +2% |
| Garage door | 1 door | $710 – $3,650 | −1% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: window replacement pricing in Madison
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Madison 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
$4,750 to $8,950
Standard vinyl single-hung, same openings
Standard
$7,900 to $12,100
Mid-grade vinyl or composite, a few larger units
Premium
$11,000 to $15,300
Fiberglass or wood, large or custom sizes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| a few windows (5 windows) | $2,350 – $4,450 | $3,950 – $6,050 | $5,500 – $7,650 |
| small house (10 windows) | $4,750 – $8,950 | $7,900 – $12,100 | $11,000 – $15,300 |
| average house (15 windows) | $7,100 – $13,400 | $11,800 – $18,200 | $16,600 – $22,900 |
| whole house (25 windows) | $11,800 – $22,400 | $19,700 – $30,300 | $27,600 – $38,200 |
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 Madison is 1.26 times the national level.
For glaziers (47-2121, weighted 50%) the local median is $39.65 an hour, which is 44% above the national $27.44. The middle half of them earn between $30.00 and $47.39 an hour. BLS counts 110 of them working in the area, 2.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.8), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $30.52 an hour, which is 5% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.71 and $39.68 an hour. BLS counts 2,320 of them working in the area, 56.9 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 $27.56 an hour, 16% above the US median of $23.84. The middle half of them earn between $22.30 and $31.19 an hour. About 3,790 work in the metro. That is 92.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 98.4 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the glaziers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($47.39 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $380. At the 25th percentile ($30.00) it shrinks by about $470. The total moves by 3.8% or 4.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 408,070 jobs in the Madison area. That makes it the 61st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glaziers (47-2121) | 50% | $30.00 | $39.65 | $47.39 | $27.44 | 1.44 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $25.71 | $30.52 | $39.68 | $29.12 | 1.05 | metro |
| General maintenance and repair workers (49-9071) | 10% | $22.30 | $27.56 | $31.19 | $23.84 | 1.16 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.26 | |||||
Madison against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Same job, same size (10 windows), priced for the nearest metros. Madison is the priciest of the group. Dubuque is the cheapest at $9,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WIthis page | $4,750 – $15,300 | $10,000 | |
| Janesville, WI40 miles | $4,550 – $14,900 | $9,750 | −3% |
| Rockford, IL60 miles | $4,500 – $14,800 | $9,650 | −3% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $4,350 – $14,300 | $9,350 | −7% |
| Oshkosh, WI85 miles | $4,650 – $15,100 | $9,900 | −1% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $4,400 – $14,500 | $9,450 | −6% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $4,450 – $14,600 | $9,500 | −5% |
| United States | $4,500 – $15,000 | $9,750 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Madison comes in at #56 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,800; the cheapest is Laredo, TX at $8,350 (midpoints, 10 windows). Statewide, Madison is 5% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $4,600 – $14,900 | $9,750 | −2% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $4,400 – $14,500 | $9,500 | −5% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $4,450 – $14,600 | $9,500 | −5% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $4,650 – $15,100 | $9,900 | −1% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $4,400 – $14,500 | $9,450 | −6% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $4,400 – $14,500 | $9,450 | −6% |
Cities with a workforce like Madison's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Madison against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $4,100 – $13,800 | $8,950 | −10% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,200 | −8% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $4,150 – $14,100 | $9,100 | −9% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $4,550 – $15,100 | $9,800 | −2% |
When to schedule windows in Madison
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Madison Dane Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Madison (8 of 12 months). 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.
Madison gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 52 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 27 | 12 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 25 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 47 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 51 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 29 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 32 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
Window replacement: what moves the price in Madison
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).
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 $7,900 to $12,100 for Madison, WI is attached.
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Multi-page report for Madison, WI: 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 Madison: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace windows in Madison?
For 10 windows, expect $4,750 to $15,300 in the Madison area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,900 to $12,100. Small jobs usually cost more per window and large ones less.
+What is the price per window for windows in Madison?
About $473 to $1,527 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 Madison or Janesville?
Janesville is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 10 windows there is $9,750, which is 3% less than Madison ($10,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Madison?
About 34% at the midpoint, or $3,350 out of $10,000. Materials are 66% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 27%.
+What would average house (15 windows) cost in Madison?
$7,100 to $22,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does windows need a permit in Madison?
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 Madison area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Madison expensive for windows compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Madison is 5% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($9,500 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do glaziers earn in Madison?
The BLS median is $39.65 an hour in the Madison area, compared with $27.44 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.00 to $47.39.
+What do basic and premium windows work cost in Madison?
For 10 windows, basic work runs $4,750 to $8,950 and premium work $11,000 to $15,300. 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 Madison?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October 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 Madison
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.