You are planning to replace your windows, and the first thing you want to know is the cost. That is fair. It is a big spend, and the quotes that come back often vary wildly.
In Melbourne in 2026, double glazed windows cost between roughly $700 and $3,800 per window installed. A whole home usually lands between $15,000 and $40,000 or more. The range is wide because the words "double glazed window" cover very different products. A small unit with basic glass sits near the bottom. A large made-to-order window with a good glass spec sits near the top. Two quotes can differ by thousands and both be fair, because they are not describing the same window.
The price depends mostly on size, frame material, and glass spec. Here is how the ranges break down for a typical Melbourne home.
These are market ranges across Melbourne suppliers. No single company sets them. Your own quote will sit somewhere inside these ranges once the sizes and glass are locked in.
You may also see a quote priced per square metre. As a rough guide, a basic unit can start near $300 per square metre, while a Low-E argon uPVC unit costs well above that. Per-square-metre pricing helps on large jobs, so long as you check the glass spec sitting behind the rate.
Six things move the number more than anything else.
The table below shows typical Melbourne ranges for common types, installed. A large or high-spec unit can sit above its band.
| Type | Typical Melbourne range (installed) | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed or awning window | $700 to $2,000 | Size and glass spec |
| Sliding window | $900 to $2,500 | Larger glass area |
| Casement or tilt and turn | $1,200 to $3,000 | Extra hardware and sealing |
| Sliding or stacker door | $2,000 to $6,000+ | Wide spans and heavy panels |
| Secondary glazing | $150 to $600 | A second pane on the existing window |
| Retrofit glass into existing frame | $400 to $900 | Keeps the old frame |
When windows are made to order in a local factory, the quote is the maker’s price plus install. When they pass through a reseller, a margin sits on top. That margin adds to the price without adding to the window.
Made-to-order also changes the fit. A uPVC window built in Melbourne to your exact opening arrives ready to go in. A stock size often needs packing or trimming on site, which adds labour and can weaken the seal. An odd size or a non-standard shape is quoted the same clean way as a common one, so an older home with unusual openings is not penalised.
There is a trade-off worth planning for. Made-to-order windows take a few weeks to build, so order early if your job has a deadline. Much of Melbourne’s window manufacturing sits in the northern industrial suburbs, around Campbellfield, which keeps that build time short for local jobs.
A quote is only useful if you can compare it to the next one. Ask every supplier to write down the same details.
A quote at $300 per square metre and a Low-E argon uPVC quote can both say "double glazed." They are different products. The glass spec and the whole-window U-value tell you which one you are buying.
Some costs sit outside the window price and can surprise you at the end. Ask whether the quote covers each of these.
A quote that spells all of this out is easier to trust than a low headline number that leaves the extras for later.
The lowest number wins the day you sign. The glass spec and the frame decide the next 20 years.
Melbourne’s climate is the reason this matters. Winter mornings drop close to freezing, and summer afternoons push past 40 degrees. A single pane, or a good pane in a poor frame, lets that swing straight into the room. The heating and cooling then run harder, and the bill follows.
A warmer inner pane also means less condensation on cold mornings, which protects the frame and the paint around the opening over time.
So the cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest home to run. A separate guide works through the 30-year cost picture, frame by frame, if you want the full comparison. For budgeting today, weigh the running cost beside the install price, because both come out of the same pocket.
Most sit between $700 and $3,800 installed, depending on size, frame, and glass. Large windows, and sliding or stacker doors, cost more.
Aluminium usually has the lower install price. uPVC costs a little more upfront and insulates better, and it never needs repainting. Over the life of the window, the gap often closes or reverses.
Yes. Retrofit glass and secondary glazing range from about $150 to $900 per window. They cost less, but the old frame still limits how well the window performs.
Many buyers look for lower bills, quieter rooms, and steady indoor temperatures. Quality glazing can help a sale, though it is best treated as a comfort upgrade first and a resale gain second.
Victorian households may qualify for a discount on approved glazing through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. Check the current eligibility rules before you set your budget.
One practical step before you spend a cent. Get two or three quotes for the same spec, and hand each supplier the same measurements and glass requirement. Comparing quotes for different windows is how most people overpay. For a made-to-order uPVC quote built around your openings, talk to the team at Weatherall Windows about your project.
