How Much Do Aluminium Windows Cost in 2026?
Check what new windows should cost, then get free quotes from local installers.
Your Estimate
£5,400 – £13,500- Supply only, you arrange fitting−£4,658
- Switch to upvc frames−£2,450
- Upgrade to triple glazing+£1,620
- Switch to timber frames+£3,850
Now find out what yours actually costs
Installers covering your postcode will quote for your real windows, so you have something to check the benchmark against.
Get quotes for my 10 windowsPrices are estimates based on UK market averages for 2026. Actual costs vary by supplier, location and property. Always get 3 quotes before committing.
What aluminium windows cost in 2026
Aluminium is the premium mass-market frame material, sitting between uPVC and timber on price. An aluminium casement window costs £540 to £1,350 fully fitted in 2026, which is roughly 30 to 40% more than the equivalent uPVC window, a gap you can see set against every other frame and style in our breakdown of how much double glazing costs. The calculator above defaults to aluminium, so that uplift is already applied to whatever style and count you have set. The extra is not for nothing: aluminium is far stronger than uPVC, so the frames can be much slimmer while still holding a large pane of glass.
That strength is the whole appeal. Because the frame does so much less of the work, you get more glass and a sharper, more modern look, which is why aluminium dominates contemporary extensions and large openings. Aluminium also lasts 30 to 40 years, well beyond uPVC's 20 to 25, and it never rusts, warps or needs painting. The trade-off is purely the upfront cost. If you want to see the two side by side before you decide, our full comparison of uPVC versus aluminium windows weighs price against lifespan and looks.
| Material | Per window (casement) | Lifespan | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| uPVC | £400–£1,000 | 20–25 yrs | None |
| Aluminium | £540–£1,350 | 30–40 yrs | None |
| Timber | £760–£1,900 | 30–60 yrs | Repaint every 8–10 yrs |
Based on our frame material cost and lifespan comparison. Aluminium carries a ~30 to 40% premium over uPVC.
What you are actually specifying
Two details move aluminium window prices more than anything else on the quote, and neither is obvious from a showroom visit. The first is the thermal break, a polyamide barrier set inside the frame to stop the metal conducting heat straight through it. Bare aluminium is a good conductor, so without that break the energy efficiency of the window collapses whatever the glass is doing. Any frame you buy in 2026 should have one, because a replacement window has to reach a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or lower, or an energy rating of WER band B or better, and an unbroken aluminium frame will not. Our warm-edge spacer guide covers the equivalent detail at the glass edge.
The second is the finish. Aluminium is powder coated rather than painted, in effectively any RAL colour, with anthracite grey and matt black the usual contemporary choices. That coating is why the frames are low maintenance: there is no repainting cycle at all, unlike timber, and unlike uPVC windows the colour does not yellow with age. Neither the thermal break nor the colour changes the figure in the calculator above, which prices a standard powder-coated thermally broken frame, but both are worth confirming in writing before you sign. The aluminium windows complete guide sets out the full specification.
When aluminium is worth the premium
Aluminium earns its keep in three situations. The first is large glazed openings, where slim frames let in noticeably more light than chunky uPVC could. The second is a deliberate modern aesthetic, where the crisp, narrow sightlines are the look you are paying for. The third is longevity: if you plan to stay in the home for decades, the 30 to 40 year life means you are unlikely ever to replace these windows again, which spreads the higher cost over far more years. It is also why an aluminium tilt and turn appears in our double glazing best buys as the worth-it pick, listed alongside the uPVC casement and the heritage timber sash in Double Glazing Best Buys 2026.
Where it does not make sense is a straightforward, budget-led replacement on a standard home. There, uPVC does the same thermal job for less money, and you can price that in seconds with the uPVC window calculator. If you want a tilt-and-turn flat window or a sliding sash instead, the sash window calculator and the timber window calculator cover those routes.
The verdict on aluminium
Aluminium is a genuinely good window, and the 30 to 40% premium over uPVC is justified when slim frames, a big glass area or a long life matter to you. It is not the cheapest way to meet building regs, but it is rarely a mistake. For most modern, design-led projects it is the right call.
Worth it Aluminium windows are Worth it when you want slim frames and a 30 to 40 year life, and you can stomach the premium.
Aluminium earns its place on extensions and anywhere you want that clean, frameless look. The slim sightlines are real, not marketing. But do not pay aluminium money for ordinary bedroom windows at the back, where uPVC looks identical from inside. Spend it where the glass is on show.
Double Glazing Cost Calculator Team
Frequently asked questions
An aluminium casement window costs £540 to £1,350 fully fitted in 2026. That is roughly 30 to 40% more than the equivalent uPVC window, the premium you pay for slimmer frames and a longer life.
Aluminium typically costs around 30 to 40% more than uPVC for the same casement window. The extra buys slimmer sightlines, a larger glass area and a frame that lasts 30 to 40 years rather than 20 to 25.
Aluminium frames last around 30 to 40 years, noticeably longer than uPVC at 20 to 25 years. They do not warp, rust or need painting, so maintenance is effectively nil beyond cleaning.
For the right home, yes. If you want slim frames, large panes or a sharp modern look, and you plan to stay long enough to benefit from the 30 to 40 year life, the 30 to 40% premium is worth it. For a budget replacement on a standard home, uPVC still wins on price.