Frames compared
uPVC vs aluminium vs timber: which frame?
uPVC costs least (€500 to €900 a window installed), then aluminium (€900 to €1,600+), then timber or alu-clad (€1,100 to €2,000+) (Expert Windows & Doors). uPVC is the value pick, aluminium gives the slimmest frames, alu-clad gives timber inside with no painting outside.
- €7,110the median cost of new windows on a semi-D or end of terrace, January to June 2026 (SEAI)
- €500 to €900a standard uPVC window, installed (Expert Windows & Doors)
- 1 to 3 daysto fit most houses, after the windows are made (Expert Windows & Doors)
- 13.5% VATon windows supplied and fitted, not 23% (Revenue)
FreeNo obligationOne company rings you, not fiveNothing agreed until you accept a written price
Cost check
What new windows cost for your house
Two taps: the frame and roughly how many windows. The answer is a published Irish price times your windows.
Published price × your windows
€5,000 to €9,000
10 windows at Expert Windows & Doors' published €500 to €900 a window for standard uPVC, installed (VAT not stated). Our multiplication, not a quote. At BuildTech's €350 to €700 a window, it's €3,500 to €7,000.
- SEAI's median cost of new windows on a semi-D or end of terrace was €7,110, and €10,453 on a detached house, January to June 2026.
- If the house qualifies, the SEAI windows grant is €3,000 on a semi and €4,000 on a detached house. Check the grant on windowgrants.ie.
- Windows supplied and fitted are at the 13.5% VAT rate (Revenue). Ask whether the written price includes it.
How this is worked out
The number of windows you pick, times Expert Windows & Doors' published installed price a window for that frame. BuildTech's published price a window is shown next to it where it gives one. The multiplication is ours. Prices read on 3 November 2026. Neither page says whether VAT is in. Size counts: a big picture window or a bay costs more than a small bathroom window, and doors are extra. It's an estimate, never a quote.
Prices
What each one costs
| Frame | A window (Expert Windows) | A window (BuildTech) | 3-bed semi (BuildTech) |
|---|---|---|---|
| uPVC | €500 to €900 | €350 to €700 | €4,500 to €8,500 |
| Aluminium | €900 to €1,600+ | €700 to €1,400 | €9,000 to €17,000 |
| Timber or alu-clad | €1,100 to €2,000+ | €1,200 to €2,000 | €11,000 to €20,000 |
(Expert Windows & Doors, BuildTech). Neither says whether VAT is in.
The rest
Upkeep, looks and life
| Frame | Upkeep | Looks | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| uPVC | Wipe down; seals and hinges in time | Chunkier frames; white, grey, woodgrain | Most semis, bungalows and estates |
| Aluminium | Very little | Slim, modern, any colour | Modern houses, extensions, big glass |
| Timber | Paint or stain outside every few years | Traditional | Period houses, protected structures |
| Alu-clad | Very little outside | Timber inside, slim metal outside | Self-builds and upgrades where budget allows |
Which suits
Which suits which house
- A 1970s to 2000s semi or bungalow: uPVC, white or grey, casement or tilt and turn.
- A period house: timber sash, or a good uPVC sash look where the council allows. See planning.
- A modern house or a big rear extension: aluminium, or alu-clad.
See it first
New windows on your own photo
Take a photo of the front of the house, pick white, anthracite grey, black or oak effect, casement or sash look, and see it before anyone quotes. Free, in under a minute.
- Upload a photo, or answer 4 questions.
- We pass it to one company that covers your county.
- They ring you to measure up and price it in writing.
Preview of your photo, not a guarantee. Your photo goes to Google's Gemini service to make the picture and isn't kept.
A photo that works
- Daylight, from the footpath or the garden.
- The whole front of the house in the shot.
- Straight on, not at a sharp angle.
- No cars or bins in front of the windows, if you can help it.
Free quote
Get a price in 4 taps
Tap what you need and leave your number. It goes to one window company that covers your county, and they ring you back to arrange a survey and a written price.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Which windows cost least in Ireland?
uPVC: €500 to €900 a window installed (Expert Windows & Doors).
Is aluminium better than uPVC?
Slimmer and more durable-looking, at a higher price. Both can meet the same U-values.
Which frame lasts longest?
Well-kept timber and aluminium last the longest. uPVC frames last decades; the seals and hinges are replaced along the way.
Keep reading
Related guides
Where these numbers come from (3 public sources, checked 3 November 2026)
Sources (2)
Prices and facts on this page were checked against these published pages. We are not connected to these businesses.
- Expert Windows & Doors: expertwindows.ie
- BuildTech: buildtech.ie