Services · Window replacement
Window replacement in Toronto: honest costs, installed right
You feel it every winter. Cold air pools by the couch. The furnace runs and runs, and the bill climbs anyway. Somewhere behind that foggy glass, money is leaking out of your house.
New windows fix that. Your rooms hold their heat. The street noise fades. Your gas and hydro bills drop. The front of your house looks sharp again.
Here is what this page gives you. Typical Toronto pricing by window type. The signs that say replace, not repair. The rebates you can claim. And a free written quote for your actual house, with no obligation. If you already know what you need, request your free quote now and skip the reading.
2 minutes. A real number for your own house, free.
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Planning numbers
How much does window replacement cost in Toronto?
Most Toronto homeowners pay $800 to $1,600 per window, installed. That covers a standard vinyl unit in an existing opening. Specialty shapes and big bays cost more. Small basement units cost less.
| Window type | Typical installed price |
|---|---|
Slider or hung vinyl window | $550 to $1,100 |
Casement window | $700 to $1,500 |
Awning window | $650 to $1,400 |
Fixed picture window | $500 to $1,200 |
Bay or bow window | $2,500 to $6,500 |
Basement window Plus cutting costs if the opening must grow for egress. | $500 to $1,200 |
Treat these as planning numbers, not promises. Every house is different. A written quote from an installer who has seen your walls is the only number you can trust.
What moves the price up or down?
Two houses on the same street can get very different quotes. Here is why:
Size. Window prices rise with size everywhere in Canada. A large living room unit can cost double a small bedroom one.
Height. Second and third floor work needs ladders or scaffolding, so labour goes up.
Wall type. Brick openings take more time than siding.
Install method. Full frame replacement costs more than a retrofit insert. More on that below.
Glass upgrades. Triple pane, laminated, or tinted glass adds to each unit.
Custom shapes and colours. Arches, angles, and exterior paint finishes add cost and lead time.
Hidden rot. If the crew opens the wall and finds damage, repairs get added. Good installers flag this risk during the measure.
Toronto prices vs the rest of Ontario
Window replacement cost in Ontario tends to run 10 to 20 percent lower outside the city. Toronto labour, parking, and access all cost more. If a quote looks far below the average, ask what got cut. It is usually the install quality, and the install decides how the window performs.
An online window replacement cost calculator for Canada can give you a rough starting number. Use it for budgeting only. No calculator can see your brick, your frames, or your rot. A free in-home measure beats a calculator every time.
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The honest checklist
Is it time to replace your windows?
Some windows fail loudly. Most fail quietly and drain money for years. Replace when you see these signs:
Drafts you can feel. Hold a hand near the frame edge on a cold day. Moving air means failed seals.
Fog or moisture between the panes. The sealed unit has failed. The insulating gas is gone.
Hard to open, or will not stay open. Warped frames and dead hardware get worse, not better.
Rising heating bills with no other cause. Old glass leaks heat all winter.
Noise. If you hear every streetcar and dog, your glass is not doing its job.
Rot, mould, or soft spots on the frame. Water is getting in. Waiting makes the wall repair bigger.
Age. Most builder-grade units last 15 to 25 years. Past 20, they are usually costing you money.
Two or more of these signs means it is time to price a replacement.
One quote costs you nothing and gives you a real number to plan around.
Scope check
Full frame vs retrofit: the choice that shapes your quote
Every Toronto window replacement quote rests on this choice, and many salespeople never explain it.
A retrofit insert
A retrofit insert keeps your existing frame. The new unit slides inside it. It is faster and cheaper, and it disturbs nothing around the opening. The trade-off: you lose a little glass area, and it only works if your old frame is straight and dry.
A full frame replacement
A full frame replacement removes everything down to the rough opening. The crew installs a new frame, new insulation around it, and new trim. It costs 15 to 25 percent more per opening. It is the right call when frames are rotted, warped, or leaking air, which is common in Toronto homes over 40 years old.
An honest installer checks your frames and tells you which method fits. If someone quotes without asking, treat that as a warning sign.
The right fix
Glass replacement vs full window replacement
Sometimes you do not need a whole new unit. If the frame is sound and only the sealed glass unit failed, window glass replacement in Toronto runs about $250 to $600 per pane. That fixes fog between panes on an otherwise healthy window.
But glass swaps have limits. They do not fix drafty frames, dead hardware, or single pane glass. If the window is past 20 years old, you would be putting new glass in a failing frame. Most homeowners in that spot get better value from full replacement.
We focus on full window and door replacement and installation, not glass-only repair. If a glass swap is truly all you need, the crew will tell you during the free measure. Nobody wins by selling you the wrong fix.
The lineup
Popular window types for Toronto homes
01
Casement windows
Casements crank outward and seal tight when closed. They are the top pick for energy performance in Toronto's climate. They suit kitchens, bedrooms, and anywhere you want a full opening for summer air.
02
Sliders and hung windows
Sliders move side to side. Hung units move up and down. Both are budget friendly and simple, with fewer moving parts to break. They seal a little less tightly than casements. They are a smart pick for rentals, basements, and big projects on a budget.
03
Bay and bow windows
Bay and bow units project out from the wall and add real space and light to a living room. They are the most expensive line on any quote, and the most transforming. They often need structural support, so installer skill matters most here.
04
Awning and fixed windows
Awnings hinge at the top and open outward, so you can vent a room in the rain. Fixed picture units do not open at all, which makes them cheap, tight, and great for framing a view. Many homes combine a fixed centre with awning or casement sides.
Most replacement projects in Toronto use vinyl windows. Vinyl costs less than wood or fibreglass, never needs paint, and handles freeze-thaw swings well. Fibreglass and wood have their place in heritage homes, at a premium.
8%
Comfort that pays back
of a home's energy bill is what Energy Star Canada says certified windows can save, at the top end. On a Toronto heating bill that adds up every single winter, and the comfort change shows up on day one.
The spec sheet
Energy efficient windows pay you back
Toronto sits in a cold climate zone, so glass choice matters more here than in most of the country. Look for these things on any quote:
Energy Star certification for your zone. This is the baseline, not a bonus.
Double or triple pane glass. Triple pane costs about 10 to 15 percent more and keeps rooms warmer and quieter. It makes the most sense on north walls and busy streets.
Low-E coatings. A thin metal layer reflects heat back into your home in winter.
Argon gas fill. It insulates better than plain air between panes.
Warm edge spacers. They cut condensation at the glass edge.
Rebates and financing in Ontario
Rebate programs change often, so confirm details before you sign. As of this writing, Ontario’s Home Renovation Savings Program offers rebates of around $100 per opening for eligible Energy Star models. Federal programs like the Canada Greener Homes Loan have offered interest-free financing up to $40,000 for energy upgrades.
Many installers also offer monthly payment plans, so a whole-house project does not need to hit your account at once. Ask every bidder two questions. Which rebates do my windows qualify for, and who files the paperwork? Good companies handle the filing for you.
How it works
From a short form to a finished install
You have better things to do than vet contractors for weeks. Here is the whole process:
01
Tell us about your project
Use the quote form. It takes about 2 minutes. Number of windows, type of home, and your area.
02
We price it
Your project goes to a licensed local crew that serves your neighbourhood and handles your project type, one that has already shown proof of insurance, workers’ compensation coverage, and a written workmanship warranty.
03
You get a free written quote
Your openings get measured in person and the job gets priced in writing. No obligation, no pressure, and no fee from us, ever.
The standard behind every install
Before a crew prices a single Drafty project, it must show us:
A valid business licence and liability insurance.
Workers' compensation coverage for the crew that enters your home.
A written workmanship warranty on the install itself, separate from the window warranty.
Manufacturer-backed warranties on the units they sell.
A track record of real installs in Toronto and the GTA.
We also track how crews treat every homeowner. Slow callbacks, surprise charges, or pressure tactics get a crew dropped. That is the entire model, and it only works if you end up happy.
The honest comparison
How to pick the best window replacement company in Toronto
There is no single best company, whatever the ads say. Toronto has national brands, big regional players, and small local crews, and each can be right for a different project.
You will see names like Canadian Choice Windows & Doors, Nordik Windows and Doors, Pella dealers, and the big-box install services from Home Depot and Costco. Big brands bring long warranties and deep product lines, with higher overhead built into the price. Small local crews often quote sharper and move faster, with quality that varies more from crew to crew.
Whoever you talk to, run the same checklist
Get 2 or 3 written quotes for the same scope. Never accept a price that expires today.
Ask for proof of insurance and workers' compensation coverage. No proof, no deal.
Read the warranty. Who covers the install, who covers the unit, and for how long?
Check reviews on more than one platform, and read the bad ones closely.
Confirm the models are Energy Star certified for Toronto's zone.
Keep the deposit reasonable. Under a third of the total is standard.
Watch how they quote. A careful measure and clear paperwork usually predicts a careful install.
The best windows and doors company for your project is the one with proven installs, a warranty in writing, and a price you can compare line by line. If you would rather skip the research, that vetting work is already done before your quote is priced. Start here.
Licensed and insured
A valid business licence, liability insurance, and workers' compensation for the crew.
Warranty in writing
A written workmanship warranty on the install, separate from the window warranty.
Real Toronto installs
A track record of real installs in Toronto and the GTA.
Free, no obligation
No cost, no obligation, and no fee from us, ever.
Installation day
What installation day looks like
Here is the rhythm of a well-run install, so you know what normal looks like:
A retrofit insert takes 30 to 60 minutes per opening. Full frame work runs 1 to 2 hours each. A typical whole-house project finishes in 1 to 3 days. Custom-made units usually take 2 to 6 weeks to manufacture after the final measure, so plan your timeline from the measure date.
01The crew confirms the order against the measure sheet before touching anything.
02Floors and furniture near each opening get covered.
03The old unit comes out. For full frame jobs, the trim and frame come out too.
04The new unit goes in level, square, and plumb. This step decides whether it seals and operates right for the next 20 years.
05Gaps get insulated with low-expansion foam, then sealed inside and out.
06Exterior capping and caulking finish the weather seal.
07The crew cleans up, hauls away the old units, and walks you through operation and care.
Century homes to first-generation vinyl
Toronto houses have Toronto window problems
The city’s housing stock shapes the work. A good local installer has seen your exact wall before.
Century homes in the west end and East York carry original wood frames under decades of paint. Those openings are rarely square anymore, so full frame replacement with custom measurement is usually the right path. Wartime bungalows and 1960s side-splits often hold aluminum sliders that sweat and frost every January. Post-1980 builds usually carry first-generation vinyl that is now past its service life.
Brick matters too. Most Toronto homes are brick or brick veneer, which changes how the crew flashes and seals each opening compared with siding. And basements are their own case. If you are finishing a basement bedroom, the window must meet Ontario egress rules, which often means cutting the opening larger and adding a window well. That is structural work, and it belongs with an insured crew, not a handyman.
None of this should scare you. It just means the measure visit matters. An installer who has worked your street’s era of housing quotes it right the first time.
Windows and doors, one visit
Bundling windows and doors into one project usually earns a better combined price, and one crew seals the whole envelope.
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Timing
When is the best time to replace windows in Toronto?
Any month works. Crews replace windows all winter, one opening at a time, so your house never sits exposed. Spring and fall book up fastest and quote highest. Late fall and winter often bring shorter waits and sharper pricing, because installers want to keep crews busy.
The costly choice is waiting. Every season with leaky glass is another season of inflated bills. If your windows failed this winter, pricing the fix now beats repricing it during the spring rush.
Service areas
Where we work
We cover homeowners across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, East York, and downtown. We also serve Etobicoke, Scarborough, and Mississauga with the same standard behind every install.
Doing more than glass? We handle door installation in Toronto too, from entry doors to sliding patio doors. Building an addition or finishing a new space? See our window installation service for new openings rather than replacements.
Plain dealing
Why your quote is free
Every Drafty project is measured, quoted, and installed by an independent local crew whose licence, insurance, and written workmanship warranty we have already checked. The crew pays us for the introduction, the same way it pays for advertising. You pay exactly what you would pay going to them directly, and you never pay us a cent.
Our incentive is simple. If a crew does bad work, you complain, and we lose the crew and the reputation. So we only send work to companies we would use on our own homes.
FAQ
Window replacement questions, answered
Straight answers on cost, permits, timelines, and picking a company for window replacement in Toronto.
How much does it cost to replace a window in Toronto?
Is it worth replacing 20 year old windows?
What are the best window replacement companies in Toronto?
Which company in Ontario offers the best replacement windows?
How much does it cost to replace the windows in a 3 bed house?
Do I need a permit to replace windows in Toronto?
How long does window replacement take?
Get started
Get your number, then decide
You do not have to commit to anything today. But you should know your number. One short form gets you a written quote priced for your actual house, with rebates factored in, from a crew whose insurance, warranty, and track record have already been checked. No cost, no obligation, and no six-call sales chase.
Warm rooms, lower bills, and glass you never think about again. It starts with 2 minutes.
Free, no obligation
Get your free window replacement quote
Tell us about your project and our team will follow up with pricing.
Drafty works with licensed, insured local installation crews. Every installation is completed by an independent local crew carrying liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage.