What double glazing costs in Australia

How much does one double glazed window cost?

Size and style move the price far more than the city does. The Melbourne figure covers the whole job: measuring, making the window, fitting it, and the finishing work around the opening. The Perth company splits its prices by window style instead, which is more useful once you know what you have.

The Perth awning window in that chart is 900 × 600 mm, which is about half a square metre of glass. The sliding window is 1200 × 1200 mm. Neither is the big lounge room window that usually decides a quote, so treat them as the bottom half of a house rather than an average.

Why is a small window dearer per square metre?

Because most of the work happens whatever the size. Someone measures, orders glass, makes a frame and comes out to fit it. That is why the Melbourne company says small windows come out higher per m²↗ and quotes its square metre rate for windows of 1.5 m² and above. If your house is mostly bathroom and bedroom windows, the per-window range is the honest guide.

Why do the square metre rates disagree so badly?

Melbourne is quoted at $1,200 to $1,800 per m²↗ and Perth at $300 to $500 per m²↗. That is a gap of three or four times, and neither company spells out exactly what sits inside its base rate. We have not been able to reconcile them, so do not take the Perth rate to a Melbourne quote and expect a result. What the Melbourne company does say is that prices well below its range are usually supply-only↗.

What does a whole house cost?

The only whole-house figure we could source is from Perth: $18,000 to $20,000↗ for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with about 20 to 25 m² of glazing. Running the Melbourne per-window range over ten windows gives $23,000 to $35,000, which is our arithmetic on their figure rather than a quote from anyone. Count your own openings before you trust either number. Laundries, bathrooms and hallways add up quickly.

Does the Victorian discount change the total much?

Not dramatically. The program pays up to $210 per 10 m²↗, so a house with 20 m² of glass is looking at roughly $420 if the full rate applies, and 25 m² at about $525. It is worth claiming, it needs approved products only↗, and the price you end up paying is set by your accredited provider↗. It will not turn a whole-house job into a small one.

Is double glazing worth the money?

That depends on how much your current windows leak. The Australian Government's YourHome guide says up to 40%↗ of a home's heating energy can go out through windows, and up to 87%↗ of its heat gain can come in through them. Victorian Energy Upgrades says double glazing retains up to 30% more heat↗ and conditioned air than single glazing.

None of those figures tells you how many winters it takes to get your money back in your house, and we have not found an official source that does. If a cold room, a draughty sash or condensation on the glass is what pushed you to look, that is reason enough. Just do not buy on a payback promise nobody will put in writing.

Prices here are industry figures from companies that make and sell windows. They are the best public source we could link to, and they are not neutral.