Basement window replacement cost: installed prices by type and wall

A basement window replacement usually costs $400 to $1,000 per window installed, and about $700 is typical.¹ That assumes a new unit goes into the existing opening. Window style, frame material and custom sizing move you around inside that range. Once your contractor has to cut the foundation for a bigger egress window, the job changes. Egress installs average $6,000 to $8,000.²

TL;DR

• For a stock window in the existing opening, budget from the upper half of the $400 to $1,000 range.¹ A custom-size unit raises the window price by 25% to 50%.¹
• Hopper windows are among the most affordable basement styles but make poor egress windows. Sliders, casements and in-swing windows can serve as egress windows when paired with a well.¹²
• Your wall type matters most when the opening changes. Cutting poured concrete takes longer and costs more than cutting concrete block.²
• Replacement stops and egress pricing starts when a new bedroom needs a code-size escape opening. That job adds foundation cutting, excavation, a well, drainage and a permit, and averages $6,000 to $8,000.³²
• Under the 2021 International Residential Code, finishing an existing basement without a new bedroom does not trigger a new egress window. Local adoption and amendments vary.³

What is the average cost to replace a basement window?

The average basement window replacement costs about $700, and most jobs land between $400 and $1,000 per window, according to Angi's 2026 cost data.¹ Angi puts the low end at $150 and the high end at $1,800.¹

Three published cost guides build the number in different ways, so it helps to see what each one counts.

Sources: Angi¹, Homewyse⁴, HomeGuide⁵.

The Homewyse figure is built from line items. It prices 3.4 hours of basic installation labor at $322 to $502.⁴ It adds $145 to $165 for supplies like shims, flashing, foam and caulk, plus an $82 to $123 equipment allowance.⁴ Its line items list no window unit. Add Angi's prefab window price of $100 to $800, and that works out to about $649 to $1,590 per window by our arithmetic.¹⁴

Homewyse also leaves out framing repairs, permit fees and sales tax. It says to add 13% to 22% if a general contractor supervises the work.⁴ Angi prices labor lower, at $100 to $300 per window, and up to $600 for custom windows that are harder to install.¹

Which should you budget from? Use Angi's $400 to $1,000 range as the frame, and plan toward the top of it.¹ The Homewyse labor model shows that a careful install with proper flashing and foam takes real hours. A basement window sits against soil and moisture, so that is where you want the time spent.

How much does each type of basement window cost?

Hopper windows are among the most affordable basement styles, at $100 to $300 for a prefab unit.¹ In-swing windows are the most expensive, at $300 to $800 prefab.¹ Egress windows sit in a separate price band because of the digging.

Unit prices below are Angi's national figures for the window alone, before labor.¹

Look at the egress row. Angi's egress unit price is close to an ordinary window.¹ Installed, a basement egress window averages $6,000 to $8,000 because the price includes the well, excavation and labor.⁵ Those cost far more than the glass.

Frame material

Frame material shifts the unit price too. Angi's prefab ranges are $100 to $650 for vinyl, $175 to $800 for wood, $250 to $800 for fiberglass, $275 to $800 for steel and $300 to $675 for aluminum.¹ Custom units in each material cost more.

Size and glass

Angi prices small prefab basement windows at $100 to $475, medium at $325 to $575 and large at $525 to $800.¹ A Low-E coating adds 10% to 20% to a window's price, according to HomeGuide.⁵

How does your wall type change the price?

Your wall type matters most when the opening needs repair or has to get bigger. Cutting poured concrete takes longer and costs more than cutting a concrete block wall.² A same-size swap into sound framing stays in the standard replacement range.

Same opening, sound wall

Homewyse's basic install assumes the new unit gets shimmed, leveled and fastened into the rough opening framing already in the wall.⁴ Expect the standard $400 to $1,000 range for a job like that.¹

Same opening, damaged surround

Cracked mortar, loose block or signs of past leaks around the opening need repair before the new window goes in. Homewyse excludes repairs to existing framing from its estimate.⁴ Angi notes you may need extra funds if the contractor finds structural problems during the job.¹ Ask how that repair will be priced, since the damage may only show once the old frame is out.

Bigger opening

Changing the size of the opening makes the job much more involved, and Angi says to expect significantly higher labor costs.¹ At that point you're usually pricing an egress window.

Where does replacement stop and egress-conversion pricing begin?

Replacement pricing stops when the opening has to grow to meet emergency escape size. The 2021 International Residential Code, section R310.5, lets a replacement window skip the escape-size rules if it's the manufacturer's largest standard size that fits the existing frame or rough opening.³ A new bedroom needs a code-size opening, which moves you into basement egress window pricing.

The replacement exemption has conditions. The new window must be the same operating style as the old one, or a style with an equal or larger opening. It also cannot be part of a change of occupancy.³ So swapping an old basement slider for a new slider in the same hole stays a replacement job.

Adding a bedroom changes that. Section R310.1 of the 2021 IRC requires an emergency escape and rescue opening in every basement sleeping room.³ The model code sets these minimums:

Source: 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 3.³ Your city or county may adopt a different edition or amend these rules.

When the existing window is smaller than those minimums, the foundation has to be cut to make room. HomeGuide's published national prices for an egress job look like this:

HomeGuide's national figures run from a $4,000 minimum to a $12,000 maximum, with complex jobs passing $10,000.² Its general window guide gives egress windows a lower $3,000 to $7,000 installed range by type.⁵ The same guide's egress section repeats $6,000 to $8,000 and says that price includes the window, well, excavation and labor.⁵

For an egress window's full cost, budget from $6,000 to $8,000, the national range that states everything it includes.⁵ An egress install takes 2 to 3 days on average.²

For scale, a full basement finish in metro Denver typically runs $30,000 to $90,000. An egress window is a line item inside a finish of that size. Price it with the rest of the project.

What type of window is best for a basement?

A vinyl hopper window is the best value for a plain basement window that only needs light and air. A slider or casement is the better choice when the window must serve as an egress window. Hoppers are among the most affordable basement styles and need no well. Angi says the way they open makes them poor for egress.¹

Your choice between the basement window types depends on what the window has to do.

For light and ventilation

Hopper windows open from the top for ventilation.¹ Awning windows open outward from the bottom, which lets air in while protecting from rain.⁵ Glass block gives privacy and security but does not open, though some come with vents.¹

For egress

Sliders work for ventilation, light and egress when installed with a well.¹ Casement windows swing outward and generally need a window well.¹ HomeGuide notes they give a full opening for emergency exits.² In-swing windows open into the room, which suits small wells.¹²

Frame material for a damp space

Vinyl is the most affordable frame, but it can crack and warp in extreme climates.¹ Wood frames can have moisture problems and need more upkeep.¹ Aluminum insulates less than other materials.¹ Fiberglass insulates well and lasts, but it costs more.¹

Is it worth it to replace basement windows?

Replacing a basement window is worth it when the window leaks, fails to insulate or creates a security risk, according to Angi.¹ A contractor can sometimes repair the window for less.¹ Most basement windows last 20 to 30 years, so start checking them closely once they pass 20.¹

Timing matters most if you plan to finish the space. A leaking window can cause water damage in your basement.¹ Swap a failing window before the drywall and insulation go up. Doing it afterward means cutting into new finishes.

The same logic applies to egress. If a future bedroom is likely, cut the egress opening while the basement is still bare. Paying for a plain replacement now and an egress cut later means you pay for two windows in the same wall.

What are the common problems with basement windows?

The most common basement window problems are leaks, drafts and temperature swings, windows that stick or won't open, and damaged or rotting frames.¹⁵ Condensation between the panes and higher energy bills are also signs a window is failing.⁵ Age is a factor too: HomeGuide lists windows older than 20 years as a replacement sign.⁵

• Leaks. Improper sealing, poor alignment or gaps around the frame can let in water and drafts.¹
• Drafts and cold. Drafts around the window, or a basement that swings in temperature, mean the window has stopped insulating well.¹⁵
• Condensation. Condensation between the panes is a replacement sign.⁵
• Sticking. A window that is hard to open may be repairable, so have it inspected first.¹
• Rot or cracks. A damaged or rotting frame usually means replacing the window and possibly the frame.¹

If you find mold around a window, have a qualified mold professional assess it before the wall is closed up.

Can you finish a basement without an egress window?

Yes, in many cases. Under the 2021 International Residential Code, section R310.7, altering an existing basement does not require a new emergency escape opening unless you create a new sleeping room.³ Add a bedroom and that room needs its own egress window.³ Local adoption and amendments vary.

Guides disagree on this point. HomeGuide says building codes require an egress window in each basement bedroom, office, TV room or other living space.² The model code text is narrower and ties the existing-basement requirement to new sleeping rooms.³ Your local building department decides which rule applies, and your contractor pulls the permit and books the inspections.

A recreation room or home gym is a different project from a bedroom or an in-law suite. If you're planning a basement apartment or guest bedroom, see what a legal basement apartment involves. If you're planning a full build-out, get a written quote for finishing your basement with the egress decision settled before framing.

Already have a finished basement and just need new windows? That falls under reworking an existing finished basement, and a same-size swap stays in replacement pricing.

What a good basement window quote shows

A good quote lists removal, disposal, insulation, sealing, trim and any repair around the opening as separate lines. It names the window style, frame material and whether the unit is stock or custom. For egress, it adds the well, ladder, drainage, permit and cleanup.

Ask your contractor these questions before you sign:

• Does the price include removing and hauling away the old window?
• Is interior trim included?
• What happens to the price if the frame or block is damaged when the old window comes out?¹
• Is the window a stock size or custom order?
• Will you give a lower rate per window if we replace several at once? Angi notes contractors may.¹
• For egress: what is the well made of, and will it need a permanent ladder?²
• For egress: will you handle the permit, and does the estimate include cleanup?²

Basement Remodeling Co. matches you with one vetted, licensed basement contractor for your metro. That contractor gives you a free on-site estimate and a written, itemized quote, and checks moisture while measuring. Find the contractor who covers your ZIP code. Local pages cover basement finishing in Atlanta, basement finishing in Denver, finishing in Colorado Springs and finishing in Fort Collins.