Cost guide

What New Windows Really Cost by House Type (Ranch, Brick, Split-Level & Historic)

Q: How much does it cost to replace windows in a brick house?

Brick-home windows commonly run $370–$2,955 per window, depending on how much brick matching, lintel repair, or mortar repointing the job turns up. The glass isn't pricier — the masonry work is.

By Sunny Park, Founder & EditorUpdated July 12, 2026

Sunny Park founded WindowQuoteGuide and researches replacement-window pricing across U.S. markets, turning contractor quotes and public cost data into plain-English guides homeowners can actually use.

Quick answer: The window itself costs about the same everywhere — your house type moves the labor and the surprises. A single-story 1970s ranch is the cheapest to re-window ($400–$900 per window). Brick, split-level, and pre-1940 historic homes can add $100–$1,000+ per window for masonry work, height access, or custom sizing.

Ranch, brick, split-level, historic — same glass, very different labor.

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House type

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Access & surprises

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Final price

The window is the same. Your house is the variable.

A mid-range vinyl double-hung costs roughly the same whether it goes into a ranch or a Victorian. What changes your bill is everything around the window: how the wall is built, how high off the ground it sits, and whether the opening is a standard size. Nationally, budget $400–$900 per window installed as your baseline — then adjust for your house type below.

You're not really paying to replace a window. You're paying for whatever your house is hiding behind the trim.

Cost per window, by house type (2026, installed)

Bars show the typical low-to-high range per window.

Brick (gold) has by far the widest range — it's the masonry surprises, not the glass, that move the number. Mobile/manufactured homes are cheapest and covered separately.

1970s ranch: the easy mode of window jobs

Single-story, ground-level access, and mostly standard-sized openings make a 1970s or 1980s ranch the cheapest common house to re-window. No scaffolding, no second-story ladders, quick in-and-out. The one line item that stands out is the big front picture or bay window — that single unit can cost as much as three bedroom windows. If your ranch still has original aluminum-framed single-pane glass, replacing it is usually the highest-return upgrade you can make.

Brick homes: the mortar is the wildcard

Brick doesn't make the window pricier — it makes the install riskier. There are two paths: a retrofit (insert) that slips a new window into the sound existing frame, or a full-frame replacement down to the opening. Brick jobs add cost when a brick chips during removal (matching old brick is hard), when the lintel above the window is failing, or when mortar needs repointing. Across all those variables, brick-home windows commonly land anywhere from $370 to $2,955 per window depending on how much masonry work turns up.

Your house type is doing more to your quote than the glass is. See your actual number.

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Split-levels & two-stories: you're paying for the ladder

The moment a window is out of arm's reach from the ground, labor climbs. Upper-floor openings need ladders, scaffolding, or extra hands — realistically 25–50% more labor per story. Split-levels are the sneaky case: half the windows are easy, half are awkward half-heights or high gable units, so your per-window average lands in the middle.

Historic & pre-1940 homes: custom sizes and rules

Older homes rarely have standard-sized openings, so windows often have to be custom-made (add time and money). Two more cost drivers hit here: homes built before 1978 may trigger EPA lead-safe work practices, and homes in a historic district may need design approval or period-appropriate profiles. Full-frame replacement — usually unavoidable in old construction — runs about 20–30% more than a simple insert. Sometimes restoring solid old-growth wood windows beats replacing them; weigh it.

Manufactured & mobile homes are their own category

These use standard mobile-home window sizes and are usually the cheapest of all to replace — different enough that we broke them out separately. See mobile home window replacement cost.

House type vs. cost, side by side

House type	Per window	10-window project	Biggest cost driver
1970s ranch	$400–$900	$5,000–$9,000	Ground-level, standard sizes
Split-level / 2-story	$500–$1,100	$6,000–$11,000	Ladder & scaffolding access
Brick / masonry	$370–$2,955	$7,000–$18,000	Brick matching, lintels, repointing
Pre-1940 historic	$1,200–$2,500	$12,000–$25,000	Custom sizes, lead rules, approvals
Mobile / manufactured	$250–$700	$2,500–$7,000	Standard sizes (cheapest)

1970s ranch — 10 windows

$5,000–$9,000

Historic full-frame — 10 windows

$12,000–$25,000

🟢 Insert (retrofit) if

Your existing frames are solid and square — you keep the frame and drop a new window in. Cheapest path, common in ranches.

🔴 Full-frame if

Frames are rotted, out-of-square, or you're changing the size — typical in brick and pre-1940 homes. Adds 20–30%.

Frequently asked questions

Does house type affect window replacement cost?

Yes. The window costs about the same, but labor and prep change. A single-story 1970s ranch is cheapest at $400–$900 per window; brick, split-level, and pre-1940 historic homes add $100–$1,000+ for masonry, height access, or custom sizing.

How much does it cost to replace windows in a brick house?

Brick-home windows commonly run $370–$2,955 per window, depending on how much brick matching, lintel repair, or mortar repointing the job turns up. The glass isn't pricier — the masonry work is.

Why do older homes cost more to re-window?

Older homes rarely have standard-sized openings, so windows are often custom-made. Homes built before 1978 may trigger EPA lead-safe rules, and full-frame replacement — usually required in old construction — runs about 20–30% more than an insert.

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Sources & further reading

.GOVU.S. Dept. of Energy — Guide to Energy-Efficient Windows .GOVENERGY STAR — Windows, Doors & Skylights .GOVEPA — Lead-Safe Rules for Pre-1978 Homes (RRP)

Cost figures in this guide are compiled from publicly available 2026 U.S. pricing data — including ENERGY STAR, the U.S. Department of Energy, and national contractor cost guides (HomeAdvisor / Angi True Cost) — and are intended for planning only. Prices vary by region, brand, and installation method; always collect 2–3 local quotes.

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