Egress Windows Cost of Installations and Buying Guide (2023)

Benefits of Egress Windows

Egress windows provide quite a few benefits that make them an appealing addition to basements. We’ll discuss the most compelling upsides in the sections below.

Improve the Safety of Your Home

The most compelling benefit to an egress window — and the reason they’re typically installed — is that they make basements safe living spaces by providing a point of exit for emergencies. Basements can be considered legitimate living areas in most cases once they have egress windows installed. They’re sometimes only required in the basement bedrooms.

Add Value to Your Home

Since egress windows can effectively turn basements into living space, they often add quite a bit of value to your home. The addition of this window style makes what might be an otherwise unwelcoming space into a usable and highly sought-after area.

Cost Less to Replace Than to Install

One benefit to having egress windows in your home already is that they cost less to replace than most windows. Replacing an egress window typically costs less than the initial installation. A large portion of the installation process is excavation and installing the window well, and replacement thereafter just involves removal of the old window and installation of the new one.

Provide Access to Ventilation in Basements

A pretty significant downside to many basements is that they lack ventilation and airflow. Hopper windows are common in basements, but they provide little access to fresh air. Basement egress windows open fully, like casement windows, so they can give you optimal ventilation and can create a cross breeze.

Provide Natural Light to Subgrade Spaces

Another major downside to most basements is that they lack natural light and can often look dim and gloomy. Since egress windows are large enough for humans to fit through, they provide plenty of sunlight in your under-home area to brighten it up and make it feel more welcoming.

How Much Are Egress Windows Really?

The typical cost to install an egress window is around $3,000, or anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. However, this includes excavation and the installation of a egress window well. The cost to replace an egress window is much lower: only around $500. Most property owners pay between $300 and $800 to replace a single egress window.

Egress Window Cost Factors

As is the case with all other window styles, the material costs can vary quite a lot depending on the specific window you want installed. Below, we’ll discuss the various material cost factors that can push your total below or above the national average.

• Window Style: The term “egress window” refers to any window in a basement or under-home area that opens wide enough for a person to exit through. Generally, you can choose between a casement and a sliding window, as options like single-hung windows and double-hung windows don’t provide enough space for an adult to escape through to get to ground level. The window you choose will affect your pricing.

• Window Size: All windows are priced, at least in part, based on how many square feet the window takes up. Egress windows have a minimum opening requirement, but you can always opt to go for greater square footage and pay more for your window.

• Frame Material: Most windows are available with different frame material options. These include vinyl, aluminum, wood, fiberglass and composite material. The option you choose can lead to a difference of hundreds of dollars in material costs, as well as varying levels of energy efficiency.

• Window Quality: The quality of your window’s construction is an important factor to consider as well. High-end windows will typically last longer and hold up better to changes in moisture and temperature. The quality of the internal components of your window is especially important if you’re using casement windows as egress windows.

• Window Brand or Series: You’ll usually have plenty of options when it comes to the brand of egress window you want to install. To some degree, the brand determines the quality and longevity of your window, and it can also affect the warranty coverage you receive.

• Glass Choice and Treatments: Most window types — including egress windows — can be fitted with single-pane, double-pane or triple-pane glass. The more panes you add, the better insulation you’ll have, but the higher your price per window will be. You can also add on glazing options, like low-E (low-emissivity) glass coatings and window tinting for improved efficiency and interior comfort.

• Accessories: Depending on the type of egress window you install, you’ll have your choice of locks, muntins, grilles and other mechanisms and components. You can choose high-end options for an added cost to match your decor or budget options to keep costs down.

• Permit Cost: Finally, basement windows often require a permit to replace to ensure that the window complies with fire and safety code requirements. Your permit will typically cost between $50 and $200, so you will need to add this amount to your replacement price.

Installation Pricing Factors for Egress Windows

Material prices will usually account for the majority of your cost estimate, but labor costs will also undoubtedly play a role in your total. Below, we’ll discuss some of the more crucial things to consider in terms of the labor charges and how each affects your pricing.

• Widow Size and Shape: The size of your window will affect your cost of materials, but it can also affect the cost of labor. Larger windows can be challenging to carry and maneuver into place, which demands multiple window technicians be on site. This will, of course, push your installation price higher.

• New Vs. Replacement: If you’re installing a new egress window, your price can easily be three to four times more expensive than a replacement. Installing a new egress window involves excavating around your foundation, installing a window well and well cover and then installing the window. Replacing an existing window requires half the work and will, therefore, cost much less. Installing a new egress window on new construction usually falls somewhere in the middle since the equipment is likely already on site, and excavation may not be necessary.

• Lift Required: Window lifts are usually required for second-story windows, but they’re sometimes needed to lower egress windows into window wells. This is usually only required if you’re installing large windows below grade.

• Stucco Repair: If you have stucco siding, it can get a little banged up during the replacement process. The material can chip and crack from impact and from settling of the installed window. As such, you might need to add $100 or so to your total for stucco repair.

• Seasonality: Window companies are in the highest demand in the spring and summer months, as most property owners avoid opening up exterior walls in the colder weather. If you can avoid these high-demand months, you’ll likely be rewarded with lower labor costs.

• Geographic Location: Finally, the location of your home can affect the rates you pay for labor. Hourly rates tend to be higher where the cost of living is high, so this can play a small role in your overall replacement prices.

Average Costs of Egress Windows by Window Style

As we mentioned above, the two most common types of windows used for egress windows are casement and sliding windows. Both of these provide ample room for egress. We’ll include a quick pricing estimate for your window project based on the styles in the table below.

Egress Window Prices by Size

According to the International Residential Code (IRC), egress windows need to be at least 5.7 square feet. However, you can certainly install larger windows for easier access, more ventilation and more sunlight. We’ll include some common egress window sizes in the table below, along with typical pricing.

How to Purchase Egress Windows

You have two options for purchasing egress windows: buy from a manufacturer — like Andersen or Milgard — or buy from a retailer or home improvement store, like Costco, Home Depot or Lowes.

If you choose the former, you’ll usually get higher-quality windows, better warranty coverage and more customization options, including size and color. However, the cost is often higher, and you might have to wait a while for construction and delivery. Still, we recommend exploring this route before deciding either way.

If you choose the latter, you’ll have instant access to your new windows, and you’ll have a wide range of choices as far as brands go. You can also opt to do a DIY window installation to save some money. However, overall quality tends to be lower, and the installation services — if they’re included — often don’t have as appealing of a warranty.

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Best Egress Window Brands and Pricing

While some companies don’t specifically manufacture egress windows, most offer casement and sliding windows that can be used as replacement egress windows. The brand you choose will play a role in the price you pay for your window, the durability, quality and warranty. We’ll include some average pricing for popular window brands below.

How to Get the Best Prices on Egress Windows

Unlike installing egress windows, replacing them is relatively affordable. Still, most property owners will want to keep costs down as much as possible when replacing windows in their homes. There are a handful of things you can do to reduce your total expenditure.

First, you can choose materials and options that balance upfront affordability and energy efficiency. This will help keep present costs down but also increase energy savings over time. Some well-balanced options include:

• Vinyl window frames: Vinyl is the most commonly chosen window frame material because it’s more affordable than composite material and fiberglass window frames — sometimes less than half the price — but it offers decent efficiency. Vinyl is also quite durable, so investing in a vinyl egress window means you likely won’t need another replacement for 20 years or more.
• Double-pane glass: Double-pane glass is also a good mid-way option between the most affordable — single-pane glass — and the most expensive — triple-pane glass. It’s not as efficient as three panes, but it provides a more significant reduction on energy bills than single-pane glass does.
• No glazing add-ons: Some property owners choose a low-E coating or window tinting to help keep solar heat and UV rays out of their living spaces. While these options do make a difference in terms of efficiency and insulation, they also bump up the cost of your window. Unless you live in an area with intense and abundant sunlight — like Arizona — these upgrades might not make financial sense.
• No hardware upgrades: Finally, you can decline hardware upgrades, which sometimes include different materials for locking mechanisms, hand cranks, muntins, grilles and more.

Another great way to save some money on your egress window installation is to time the project properly. If you’re not in a rush to swap out your existing windows, consider waiting until the fall or winter. The demand for replacement is lowest then, which leads to slightly lower labor charges.

Similarly, you can wait for holidays, as some window manufacturers will offer deals on new windows to drum up business.

Finally, you can choose to replace more than one or all of the windows in your home. You will, of course, pay more than just replacing one, but many installers will give a per-window discount because they save travel time and will likely prioritize larger jobs overall.

Calculating Egress Windows Budget

With all of the cost factors for material and labor charges above, calculating what your budget needs to be to replace an egress window can seem like a real challenge. There is an easy calculation you can use to estimate your cost of replacement, though. We’ll provide this calculation, as well as a sample with estimated numbers below.

(Frame cost + glass cost + labor costs + glass coatings + window accessories) = total egress window replacement project cost 

(OPTIONAL: Egress Window Replacement Cost * 0.95 * # of windows in your home [to estimate the cost per window if you replace all windows in your home at once]

If you choose an installer like Milgard, which costs above average, avoid glazing options and opt for standard vinyl frames and double-pane glass, your numbers will look similar to the below example:

• ($250 + $100 + $150 + $0 + $0) = $500

or

• ($250 + $100 + $150 + $0 + $0) = $500 = $500 * 0.95 * 10 windows = $4,750 for 10 windows

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