If you'd like to get a quote from a company that is honest enough to not hide prices,

Our lead installer has over 20 years experience, we can install any window, and we have fair prices guarenteed.

So how much do new windows actually cost?

In Madison, WI in late 2025 - early 2026; 10 windows 1 patio door vinyl white insert replacement.

If we only look at the largest local window replacement companies, (lines 7-14) the market price for a typical house is $17.5k-22k. If you are around this range for this size project with the outlined details, then I think that is a fair price. Some companies charge 2x what other companies charge, I think in one case that could be fair. Otherwise I do not think those companies are 2x as valuable.

There are a lot of important details left out of the image of the table above. I have good and bad things I can say about all of the companies on this list. In my opinion, the vast majority of people who hire a window replacement company pick just fine. However, I think I can save people some time and money. I want to be fair and unbiased, but that is impossible. Even if I worked for every company or hired every company. I will simply do my best, and if I am wrong, tell me and I will update my information asap.

• All prices have been rounded to the nearest $100

• (FF) Full Frame replacement costs more because you are replacing all the interior trim. The alternative to a full frame replacement where all the trim is replaced is an insert or pocket installation.

• Other than the most expensive quote on the list, the 4 most expensive quotes were not for vinyl windows. They were for fiberglass or fiberex windows.

• Thebco's sales men lied to my face repeatedly about factual information about other companies' windows and installation, but I have heard good things about them from other people. Maybe I just got a bad salesman and maybe they actually have a good company. I don't know.

Quick Tips

• You can negotiate your price with some (but not all) companies. Mad City, The Exteriors Company, Thebco, Window Nation were openly willing to basically negotiate their price with me. Never pay the first price they give you if you want to hire them. Other companies openly called this behavior out and said their price is their price.

• The is a lot of BS with some companies sales and marketing. Sales like get 50% off labor and buy 2 get 2 deals are not real! It is marketing money magic they play with their numbers hoping that they fool you into thinking you are getting a deal. The same goes with prices that are only good for that same day. I think if you came back to a company after 6 months and said you had gotten other quotes and that you would choose them if they gave you the same day price they had offered 6 months ago, that they would say yes.

• PSA: You have a 3 day right to cancel home service contracts

• DON'T GET SCAMMED! Ask your friends who have lived around Madison for a while what they have heard about Mad City. Or ask any of the other companies that come to your home. I give no comment.

• Exclusive windows only technically exist, for every company that sells a window that "only they have" you can get a nearly identical window in almost everything but name.

Who is the best?

This is just the opinion of 1 window installer (even thought the opinion is based on years of experience and dozens of conversations with other installers and sales men as well as seeing dozens of other companies installations and products/brands) It is still just an opinion.

• If you want to spend the most to get the best: Renewal by Anderson by Waunakee Remodeling. But, it is easy to get an almost identical window (less color options and hardware) for almost half the price.

• If you want to pay the least now, Window world. But, I think you would be better off hiring a small local company.

• Otherwise, I personally would avoid anyone using a lot of sales tactics, because then you are paying for their sales skills/BS instead of their product. If you do that, I think you'll be just fine.

If you'd like to get a quote from a company that wants to educate you,

Our lead installer has over 20 years experience, we can install any window, and we have fair prices guarenteed.

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