Pricing sources checked October 27, 2026 · How we calculate
How this estimate is calculated: the formula, every input and five worked examples.
The table under the result prices the same windows in all five frame materials the calculator supports, keeping every other input the same. It starts on 8 casement windows with Low-E glass and insert installation in an average-cost region: vinyl comes to $4,400 – $9,200 (typical $6,550) and wood to $7,500 – $15,700 (typical $11,200). Change the style, count, glass or region and the whole comparison updates.
How the frame multiplier works
The calculator starts from a base price range per window for each style, set for a vinyl frame. Frame material is one of five multipliers applied to that range:
| Frame | Multiplier | Effect on the base range |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | 1.00× | Baseline |
| Aluminum | 1.10× | +10% |
| Composite | 1.25× | +25% |
| Fiberglass | 1.40× | +40% |
| Wood | 1.70× | +70% |
It's multiplied together with the glass, installation, floor and region factors, then each end of the per-window range is rounded to the nearest $10. Example: one fiberglass casement window, everything else at baseline, is $550–$1,150 × 1.40 = $770 – $1,610, typical $1,150. Because the multiplier scales the whole range, a premium frame costs more in dollars on an expensive style (a bay) than on a cheap one (a single-hung), even though the percentage is the same. The full formula is on the methodology page.
Per-window ranges by style and frame
Installed price per window from the calculator, with Low-E double-pane glass, insert installation, ground floor and an average-cost region:
| Style | Vinyl | Aluminum | Composite | Fiberglass | Wood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-hung | $250 – $650 | $280 – $720 | $310 – $810 | $350 – $910 | $430 – $1,110 |
| Double-hung | $450 – $950 | $500 – $1,050 | $560 – $1,190 | $630 – $1,330 | $770 – $1,620 |
| Sliding | $450 – $1,100 | $500 – $1,210 | $560 – $1,380 | $630 – $1,540 | $770 – $1,870 |
| Casement | $550 – $1,150 | $610 – $1,270 | $690 – $1,440 | $770 – $1,610 | $940 – $1,960 |
| Awning | $550 – $1,150 | $610 – $1,270 | $690 – $1,440 | $770 – $1,610 | $940 – $1,960 |
| Picture | $400 – $1,200 | $440 – $1,320 | $500 – $1,500 | $560 – $1,680 | $680 – $2,040 |
| Bay / bow | $1,500 – $4,000 | $1,650 – $4,400 | $1,880 – $5,000 | $2,100 – $5,600 | $2,550 – $6,800 |
Upper-floor windows add 12%, full-frame installation 25%, and triple-pane glass 20%. Set those in the calculator above rather than adding them by hand, since the rounding happens per window.
Reading the comparison
- Aluminum is a compromise figure. Published sources disagree on aluminum: several price it at or below vinyl, one above. The 1.10 multiplier sits between them, so read aluminum results as an upper-middle estimate (see the benchmarks).
- Material isn't the only lever. Switching from insert to full-frame installation (1.25×) moves the price as much as going from vinyl to composite (1.25×), and more than going to aluminum (1.10×). Price the installation method with the full-frame vs. insert calculator.
- Mixed houses. Frame applies to the whole job. For a house with several styles and floors, use the whole-house calculator once per frame you're considering. The 15-window two-story preset already shows one layout in four frames.
Material calculators for a single style
- Vinyl window cost calculator: vinyl fixed, styles compared
- Double-hung window cost calculator: double-hung fixed, frames compared
- Bay window cost calculator: bay and bow units by frame
Quick estimates by window count: 5, 10, 15 and 20 windows.
For what each frame costs in published 2026 data, along with durability and maintenance tradeoffs, see Window Cost Estimate's window cost by frame material guide. This page sticks to the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Which window frame materials does the calculator support?
Five: vinyl (1.00×), aluminum (1.10×), composite (1.25×), fiberglass (1.40×) and wood (1.70×). Vinyl is the baseline the style ranges are set on.
How much more do wood windows cost than vinyl in the calculator?
Wood is 1.70× vinyl, so 70% more before rounding. For 8 casement windows with Low-E glass and insert installation that's a typical $11,200 vs. $6,550.
Why is aluminum priced above vinyl here?
Sources disagree. Several price aluminum at or below vinyl and one prices it above, so the calculator uses a 1.10 compromise. Treat aluminum results as an upper-middle estimate.
Can I use different frames on different windows?
Not in one run. Frame applies to every window in an estimate, so run the calculator once per frame group and add the totals.