Double-Hung Window Replacement Cost: What Surveys Report and Why

Replacing a double-hung window costs about $800 per window on average, with most homeowners paying $325 to $1,275, according to Angi's cost guide updated October 20, 2026 ¹. Other surveys report different numbers: Fixr's average is $730, HomeGuide's installed range runs from $350 to $2,500, and HomeAdvisor's window-only range is $150 to $650 before labor ^{2 3 4}. The spread comes from what each survey counts (window only or installed), the sizes it covers and the year of its data.

Size, frame material, glass and how many windows sit side by side in one frame move the price most ¹. Double-hung windows usually cost more than single-hung ones of the same size because both sashes move, and Andersen describes the single-hung as giving the double-hung look at a more economical price ^{2 6}.

What a double-hung window is

A double-hung window has two sashes stacked one above the other, and both slide: the bottom moves up and the top moves down ⁵. Opening both lets warm air out at the top while cooler air comes in at the bottom ⁵. It is the classic window on farmhouses, Colonials and Cape Cods, and it opens flush with the wall, so it suits spots next to decks and walkways ⁵.

Many double-hung windows have a tilt-in sash, which Andersen calls tilt-wash: each sash can be tipped into the room so both sides of the glass can be cleaned from inside, with no ladder ^{5 6}. HomeGuide notes that many brands offer it, and Andersen makes it standard on its double-hung windows ^{3 5}. Andersen says that matters most on upper-story windows, and that its single-hung windows, whose top sash is fixed, do not tilt in ^{5 6}.

Double-hung window cost: four surveys side by side

Why the surveys disagree

• Window only vs. installed. HomeAdvisor's double-hung row and one of HomeGuide's rows are for the window alone; the others include labor ^{3 4}.
• Range of sizes. HomeGuide's type table spans small to very large units, so its range is the widest ³. Angi's headline range is tied to the common 24 by 36 inch size ¹.
• Method. Angi says it researches project costs using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, academic journals, market studies and expert interviews ¹. HomeAdvisor surveys customers after a project and adds similar research ⁴. HomeGuide uses research and project costs reported by its members ³. Fixr says it consults sources including contractors and industry experts ².
• Year. Fixr's comparison is the oldest of the four, so its figures may lag current prices ².

What moves the price

Size

Angi prices double-hung windows at $40 to $140 per square foot, before labor ¹:

Width: one, two or three units in a frame

A single double-hung costs $250 to $1,100 in Angi's figures, a twin (two side by side) $1,000 to $2,400, and a three-wide unit $1,100 to $3,700 ¹.

Frame material

Angi's ranges per window are $250 to $2,100 for vinyl, $300 to $3,100 for wood, $325 to $3,700 for fiberglass and $400 to $750 for aluminum ¹. HomeGuide reports a similar order for all window types, with aluminum and vinyl at the low end and wood at the top ³.

Glass

For replacing only the glass in an existing double-hung frame, Angi lists low-E glass at $300 to $1,000 and argon-filled glass at $400 to $900, against $150 to $400 for plain float glass ¹.

Labor, removal and access

Angi puts labor at $75 to $1,850 per window, roughly 30% to 50% of the window cost, plus $10 to $20 per window to remove and dispose of the old one ¹. Second-floor and hard-to-reach windows take longer and cost more ¹. HomeAdvisor reports that window installers charge about $40 to $65 an hour and that full-frame replacement labor runs $150 to $800 per window, against $100 to $300 for a retrofit (insert) installation ⁴.

Is it cheaper to replace all your windows at once?

Usually, per window. HomeAdvisor notes that installers have fixed costs such as travel, cleanup and minimum fees, so spreading them across more windows lowers the labor per window ⁴. HomeGuide says replacing all the windows at once reduces the cost per window because units cost less in bulk ³. The total is still higher, so whether to do it in one job depends on how many windows actually need replacing. The window replacement cost guide has the whole-house figures.

Downsides of double-hung windows

• More moving parts. Both sashes move, so there are parts in both that may need maintenance over time ⁵.
• Air leakage. Fixr notes that the more complex design leaves more room for air leaks than a single-hung, and that keeping the window locked pulls the sashes together and reduces leakage ².
• Price. They cost more than single-hung windows of the same size in every survey that lists both ^{2 3 4}.
• Repairs. Fixr says double-hung windows are more expensive to repair than single-hung ones ².

If you do not need the top sash to open, Andersen suggests a single-hung, which has fewer moving parts ⁵. The trade-offs are covered in single-hung vs. double-hung, and the other window types in types of windows.

Before you get quotes

Measure each window, note which ones are twins or triples, and decide whether you want an insert installed in the existing frame or a full-frame replacement, since that changes the labor figure most ⁴. Ask each installer to quote the same frame material and glass package. How to choose a window installer covers what a written quote should list. When you are ready, you can compare quotes from window installers.

We are not affiliated with the manufacturers named.

About these figures

• ¹ Reported: Angi's double-hung average of $800 and range of $325 to $1,275, and its size, width, material, glass, labor and removal figures, updated October 20, 2026, checked October 22, 2026.
• ² Reported: Fixr's double-hung average of $730 and range of $528 to $961, low and high figures, and its notes on air leakage and repairs, published July 1, 2024, checked October 22, 2026.
• ³ Reported: HomeGuide's double-hung installed range of $350 to $2,500 and unit range of $250 to $2,000, its bulk note and material order, dated February 5, 2026, checked October 22, 2026.
• ⁴ Reported: HomeAdvisor's double-hung window-unit range of $150 to $650, labor rates, full-frame and retrofit labor and its note on fixed costs, updated June 17, 2026, checked October 22, 2026.
• ⁵ Reported: Andersen's description of double-hung windows, tilt-wash, maintenance and the single-hung price difference, checked October 22, 2026.
• ⁶ Reported: Andersen's description of double-hung windows, tilt-wash hardware, upper-story cleaning and the more economical single-hung, checked October 22, 2026.