UK Window Installation Statistics & Cost Data 2026

London installations average 15-22% more expensive than the Home Counties due to higher labour costs, parking restrictions, and congestion zone charges. Central London (Zones 1-2) carries the highest premium at 20-22% above the regional average. Outer London (Zones 3-6) averages 12-15% above the Home Counties baseline. Hertfordshire installation costs are closest to the national average, with Bishop's Stortford, Hertford, and St Albans all within 5% of baseline pricing. Essex shows significant variation: Chelmsford and Brentwood are 8-10% above baseline due to proximity to London, while Colchester and Braintree are at or below baseline. Cambridgeshire costs are broadly in line with the national average, with Cambridge city itself carrying a 5-8% premium. For a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house requiring 8 windows, the total cost ranges from £4,200-£5,800 in the Home Counties to £5,000-£7,100 in Central London for uPVC casement windows.

Homeowners replacing single-glazed windows with double-glazed units report average heating bill reductions of 25-30% in the first full year. Replacing old double glazing (pre-2005) with modern A-rated windows produces average savings of 10-15%. Upgrading to triple glazing from standard double glazing yields an additional 5-8% saving. The average UK household spends £1,200-£1,500 annually on heating, meaning new double-glazed windows typically save £300-£450 per year when replacing single glazing, or £120-£225 per year when replacing old double glazing. Based on average installation costs of £4,800 for a full house of uPVC windows, the payback period is 11-16 years when replacing single glazing, or longer when replacing existing double glazing. Properties with solid walls (common in Victorian and Edwardian homes) see the best results, as windows represent a larger proportion of total heat loss when walls are uninsulated.

Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses account for 34% of our installations, making them the most common property type in our service area. 1930s semi-detached houses represent 22% of projects. Post-war properties (1945-1970) account for 15%. Modern houses built after 1990 represent 12%. Detached houses account for 10%. Flats and apartments make up 7% of installations. The high proportion of period properties reflects the demographics of London, Hertfordshire, and Essex, where Victorian and Edwardian housing stock is prevalent. Conservation area installations account for 18% of all our projects, a figure that has been rising as more local authorities designate conservation zones. Listed building work represents 3% of installations and requires specialist knowledge of heritage regulations and appropriate materials.

Window installation costs in the UK have increased by approximately 18% between 2022 and 2026. The largest single-year increase was 8% in 2023, driven by post-pandemic supply chain disruptions and raw material cost increases. 2024 saw a more moderate 4% increase as supply chains stabilised. 2025 brought a further 3% increase, primarily driven by labour cost inflation. Early 2026 data suggests costs have stabilised, with minimal price movement in Q1. uPVC material costs have risen more moderately (12% over the period) than timber (22%) and aluminium (25%), reflecting global commodity price movements. Labour costs have increased by approximately 15% over the period, driven by skilled trade shortages in the construction sector. Despite these increases, windows remain one of the most cost-effective home improvements in terms of both energy savings and property value uplift, with research from the Federation of Master Builders suggesting that new windows add 5-10% to property value.