The short answer
A Melbourne window company prices fully installed double glazing at $2,300 to $3,500 per window, or $1,200 to $1,800 per m² for windows of 1.5 m² and up. A Perth company quotes $800 to $1,500 for a small uPVC awning window and $18,000 to $20,000 for a whole 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house. In Victoria a discount of up to $210 per 10 m² comes off approved work.
These are the only two installers we found that publish enough detail to link to, one in each city. Both make and sell windows. We haven't found comparable published prices for Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra or Hobart, so if you live there, treat everything below as a starting point and get local quotes.
How much does one double glazed window cost?
Size and style move the price far more than anything else. The Melbourne figure covers the whole job: measuring, making the window, fitting it, and the finishing work around the opening. By size, the same company quotes a small window under 1.5 m² at $2,300 to $2,500 per window, a standard 1800 × 1500 mm window at $2,800 to $3,200, and a large 1800 × 2100 mm window at $3,000 to $3,500.
Which window styles cost the most?
Fixed glass is the cheapest because there is no hinge, track or lock to pay for, and tilt and turn sits at the top. Both companies publish prices by style, so here they are side by side. The Perth prices are for the sizes shown; the Melbourne ones aren't tied to a size.
Installed price per window, by style
Show the numbers
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Fixed, Melbourne | $1,800 to $2,400 |
| Fixed 1500 × 1500, Perth | $1,300 to $2,400 |
| Sliding, Melbourne | $2,200 to $2,900 |
| Sliding 1200 × 1200, Perth | $1,200 to $2,100 |
| Casement, Melbourne | $2,300 to $3,000 |
| Casement 900 × 1200, Perth | $850 to $1,800 |
| Tilt and turn, Melbourne | $2,600 to $3,400 |
| Tilt-turn 900 × 1200, Perth | $1,400 to $2,300 |
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's why the Melbourne company says small windows come out higher per m² and only quotes its square metre rate for windows of 1.5 m² and above. If your house is mostly bathroom and bedroom windows, price it per window.
Why don't Melbourne and Perth agree?
Per window, the Perth prices start lower for every style both companies publish, sometimes by a lot. We can't tell you why from what's published: neither company spells out exactly what sits inside its price, and the Perth page gives some figures that are hard to square with each other. What the Melbourne company does say is that prices well below its range are usually supply-only. So when you compare, compare what's included, not just the total.
What do glass upgrades add?
Standard double glazing uses clear glass. The upgrades worth knowing about, as the two companies price them:
- Low-E glass, which cuts the sun's heat through the glass: around $100 per m² in Perth.
- Acoustic glass for road, rail or flight-path noise: $80 to $150 per m² in Perth, or 15% to 30% on top of the standard price in Melbourne.
What does a whole house cost?
Whole-house double glazing, installed
Show the numbers
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| 3 bedroom home, Melbourne | $15,000 to $40,000 |
| 3 bedroom home, Perth | $18,000 to $20,000 |
The Melbourne company puts a typical 3 bedroom home with 10 to 15 windows at $15,000 to $40,000 or more. The Perth company quotes $18,000 to $20,000 for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home. 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 any of these. 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 15 m² of glass is looking at roughly $315 if the full rate applies, and 25 m² at about $525. It's worth claiming, it needs approved products only, and the price you end up paying is set by your accredited provider. It won't 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 haven't found an official source that does. Installers will offer payback estimates; treat them as sales material. If a cold room, a draughty sash or condensation on the glass is what pushed you to look, that's reason enough on its own.
Prices here are industry figures from companies that make and sell windows. They are the best public sources we could link to, and they aren't neutral.