Window Replacement Boston: $300 to $1,650 + Historic Review
Window replacement in Boston costs $300 to $1,650 per window installed in HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range, and HomeGuide's national average is $900.
Ten Boston historic districts review exterior changes, and Massachusetts requires home improvement contractors to register.
Key numbers
- $300 to $1,650 per windowReplacement window, bought and installedHomeAdvisor, Jun 2026
- $900 (low $300, high $8,000)Average per window, installedHomeGuide, Feb 2026
- $517 a windowSurvey of 1,000 homeownersThis Old House, Aug 2026
Drafty windows in a Boston triple-decker or brownstone? Call the window line with the count, the floors and whether the house is in a historic district.
| Job (national figures) | Published cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement window, bought and installed | $300 to $1,650 per window | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
| Average per window, installed | $900 (low $300, high $8,000) | HomeGuide, Feb 2026 |
| Survey of 1,000 homeowners | $517 a window; $7,183 for about 7 windows | This Old House, Aug 2026 |
| Labor only | $100 to $500 per window | HomeGuide, Feb 2026 |
| Wood frame, installed | $800 to $3,800 | HomeGuide, Feb 2026 |
| Triple-pane window, installed | $450 to $3,000 | HomeGuide, Feb 2026 |
| Whole house, 12 to 16 windows | $9,000 to $12,000 | HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026 |
National figures; we found no Boston-specific window price.
Window replacement in Boston often means old-house work: 72.3% of the city's homes were built before 1980, ten districts have their own design review, and HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range is $300 to $1,650 per window.
Boston's historic districts review window changes
Boston has 10 historic districts, each with its own commission, and the Boston Landmarks Commission takes design review applications for them online. The districts are Aberdeen, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Bay State Road/Back Bay West, Fort Point Channel, Highland Park, Mission Hill Triangle, St. Botolph and the South End, plus individual landmarks. If your house is in one, call the commission at 617-635-1935 or email [email protected] before you order windows, because custom units are rarely returnable.
Hire a registered Home Improvement Contractor
Massachusetts requires home improvement contractors to register with the state, and that registration is what gives you access to the Guaranty Fund, which pays eligible homeowners up to $25,000 for unpaid judgments against a contractor. Look up the registration at the state's HIC contractor search (contractorhub.mass.gov) or call 617-648-2467. Ask the installer for the number and check it before you pay a deposit.
Ask the same company whether your job needs a Boston building permit and who pulls it. Boston's Inspectional Services Department is at 617-635-5300.
Lead paint and Boston's old housing
Boston's housing is far older than the U.S. median: the Census Bureau puts the median year built at 1947, with 72.3% of units built before 1980 and 46.7% built in 1939 or earlier. On any house built before 1978, EPA's RRP rule requires a lead-safe certified firm for paid window replacement, and the small-job exemption does not apply to windows. Old sashes and trim are a common source of lead dust, so ask how the crew will contain it.
New windows for Boston winters
Logan Airport averages 91.6 nights a year at or below 32 F (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). ENERGY STAR says certified windows cut energy bills by up to 13% on average when replacing single-pane glass; check its label for your climate zone. HomeGuide prices triple-pane windows at $450 to $3,000 installed, and wood frames, common on older Boston houses, at $800 to $3,800. The IRS says the federal window credit ended with 2025 installs.
| What | Boston | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Historic review | 10 districts with their own commissions; online design review | Boston Landmarks Commission |
| Contractor | State Home Improvement Contractor registration; Guaranty Fund up to $25,000 | Mass.gov (state-level) |
| Permits | Inspectional Services 617-635-5300 | City of Boston |
| Housing age | Median year built 1947; 72.3% built before 1980 | U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020 to 2024 |
| Cold | 91.6 nights a year at or below 32 F | NOAA normals, Logan |
Window rules and local conditions for Boston, from official city, county, state, Census and NOAA pages.
Want wood and fiberglass quotes for the same Boston windows? Call the window line and ask for both.
More Boston home repair guides
Frame and type prices: window replacement cost. Heating: HVAC repair in Boston. Leaks and stains: roof repair in Boston, water damage restoration in Boston and mold removal in Boston. Compare window replacement in Philadelphia and window replacement in Chicago. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes window jobs (how calls work).
More help in Boston
Window replacement in other cities
Questions people ask
How much does window replacement cost in Boston?
We found no Boston-specific price. HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range is $300 to $1,650 per window installed; wood frames run $800 to $3,800 in HomeGuide's guide.
Do Boston historic districts regulate windows?
Boston's 10 historic districts each have a commission that reviews exterior changes. Apply for design review through the Boston Landmarks Commission, 617-635-1935.
What registration does a Massachusetts window installer need?
Home improvement contractors must register with the state. Registration gives homeowners access to the Guaranty Fund, up to $25,000; check it at contractorhub.mass.gov or 617-648-2467.
Does the lead rule apply to Boston windows?
For homes built before 1978, yes. EPA's RRP rule covers window replacement, and the Census says 72.3% of Boston housing was built before 1980.
Is there a federal tax credit for windows in 2026?
No. The IRS says the credit covered windows placed in service through December 31, 2025.
Pricing windows for a Boston house? Call the window line with the count, floors and district.
- 1Call the line
- 2It rings a local company
- 3They give you the price
Before you book
- License numberAsk for it, then check it with the state board.
- Written priceGet the visit fee and the job price in writing before work starts.
- Proof of insuranceAsk for the certificate, especially for roof, tree and electrical work.
Sources (13)
- HomeAdvisor: Window Installation Cost (2026-06-17)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Window Replacement Cost? (2026) (2026-02-05)
- This Old House: Window Replacement Cost (2026-08-11)
- City of Boston: Landmarks Commission (checked 2026-10-11)
- Mass.gov: Home Improvement Contractor Program (checked 2026-10-11)
- City of Boston: Install or replace a water heater or boiler (Inspectional Services contact) (checked 2026-10-11)
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2020 to 2024, Table B25035 Median year structure built, Boston city (checked 2026-10-11)
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2020 to 2024, Table B25034 Year structure built, Boston city (checked 2026-10-11)
- NOAA NCEI: U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (Boston Logan, USW00014739) (checked 2026-10-11)
- ENERGY STAR: Residential Windows, Doors and Skylights (checked 2026-10-11)
- IRS: Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (checked 2026-10-11)
- EPA: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program (checked 2026-10-11)
- 40 CFR 745.83: Definitions (eCFR) (checked 2026-10-11)
Call the window line in Boston
Have the address, how many windows, roughly what size, what frame material you want and whether any are on upper floors. The company will set up a measure and quote before anything is ordered.
Free call to an independent company in your area that takes this kind of work.