Aluminium windows cost £550 to £1,300 fitted per window in 2026, roughly 30 to 40% more than an equivalent uPVC window. In return you get a slimmer frame, more glass, and a lifespan of 30 to 40 years with almost no maintenance. Use the aluminium window calculator to price your exact specification, or read on for the complete picture before you commit.
What are aluminium windows?
An aluminium window uses a hollow aluminium alloy profile for the frame and the opening sash. Modern units use a thermally broken profile: a strip of low-conductivity polyamide is inserted through the middle of the frame to interrupt the path of heat from inside to outside. Without a thermal break, aluminium conducts heat so efficiently that it would form condensation on the interior surface in winter; with one, thermally broken aluminium frames meet current Part L energy requirements with a good double-glazed unit.
The key advantage over uPVC is rigidity at narrow section widths. Aluminium is structurally stiffer than uPVC, so a frame that is visually narrower can carry the same pane of glass without bowing or flexing. The result is a slimmer sightline: more glass, less frame. In a casement or a large fixed picture window, the difference in visual weight is immediately apparent, particularly on a contemporary elevation where the glass is a design feature in its own right.
Finish is almost always powder coating rather than paint, which gives a hard, uniform, corrosion-resistant surface available in any RAL colour. Anthracite grey and matt black have become particularly popular on new builds and extensions over the past decade, and powder coating holds both shades without fading in the way a painted timber frame might. Style options span the full range covered in the window guides hub: casements, sliding sashes, fixed picture windows, tilt and turns, and large bifold or sliding door systems where a narrow profile makes the most difference.
Aluminium window costs in 2026
The table below shows fully fitted aluminium window costs by style, including supply, removal of the existing window, installation, sealing, making good around the frame, and the FENSA registration certificate. Picture (fixed) windows carry the lowest price because there is no opening mechanism to fit or adjust; sash and bay units carry a premium for their more complex mechanisms or larger frame assemblies.
| Window style | Aluminium fitted |
|---|---|
| Casement | £540–£1,350 |
| Sash | £950–£2,030 |
| Tilt and turn | £680–£1,620 |
| Bay (per bay) | £1,490–£4,050 |
| Picture (fixed) | £300–£590 |
Source: DGCC 2026 dataset (aluminium fitted ranges), cross-checked against Checkatrade.
The casement is marked as best buy because it delivers the core benefit of aluminium, slim sightlines and a long lifespan, at the lowest entry cost in the range. If you are directly weighing aluminium against uPVC on price, our uPVC vs aluminium comparison sets out the cost differential by style and lists the circumstances where each material makes sense.
A word on the ranges: the lower end of each band typically reflects a standard-size window in a straightforward opening on an accessible ground floor. The upper end covers larger pane sizes, non-standard shapes, premium ironmongery, or installation on upper floors where scaffolding or specialist access equipment is required. Always get three quotes and confirm that each price includes VAT and the FENSA certificate before comparing.
Which homes suit aluminium windows?
Aluminium performs best where the slim frame profile is a genuine advantage. Contemporary and architect-designed homes, new builds with large glazed elevations, and any property where floor-to-ceiling glass or wide picture windows form part of the design brief all suit aluminium well. Strong, thin frames can span wider openings than uPVC without visible structural reinforcement, which makes aluminium the practical choice as well as the aesthetic one when individual panes are large.
The same logic applies to bifold and sliding systems. Aluminium's narrow frame section minimises the interruption between panels, which is difficult to achieve with the wider profiles that uPVC requires for equivalent structural strength. If you are planning a bifold or a run of sliding doors onto a garden, aluminium is typically what installers recommend, and for good reason.
On older and period properties the picture changes. A Victorian terrace, a Georgian townhouse, or a pre-war home with original-style proportions rarely suits a modern slim aluminium frame, and in a conservation area the planning officer may not permit a contemporary aluminium profile on a heritage facade. Those homes generally call for a timber window or a well-specified flush uPVC casement that follows the original proportions. Our timber windows guide covers the period-appropriate alternative in full, including the relevant planning considerations.
Aluminium versus uPVC and timber
The three principal frame materials each occupy a distinct cost and performance band. Understanding where each sits helps you decide quickly whether aluminium is the right choice for your project.
uPVC is the value baseline at £400 to £1,000 fitted per window. It suits the great majority of standard UK homes: semis, terraces, bungalows and post-war housing where cost-effectiveness and low maintenance matter most. The wider frame section is a visual trade-off, but for most homes it is entirely acceptable. Our uPVC windows guide covers the full picture.
Aluminium costs roughly 30 to 40% more than uPVC. You pay that premium for slimmer sightlines, a longer confirmed lifespan of 30 to 40 years, and a more contemporary visual profile. The extra cost is well justified on the right home; less so on a standard property where frame width is not a meaningful issue.
Timber costs roughly 60 to 110% more than uPVC, making it the most expensive of the three. It is the correct choice for period and conservation-area properties where planning requires a timber window, and for homeowners who want the warmth and authenticity of natural wood. The trade-off is maintenance: timber requires repainting every 8 to 10 years to protect the frame from moisture ingress. Our aluminium vs timber comparison explores the cost-over-life calculation if you are deciding between the two premium materials.
People ask me whether they should go aluminium or uPVC, and the honest answer is: it depends on the house. On a modern extension or a new build, aluminium looks right and lasts longer than anything else on the market. On a 1930s semi where cost matters more than sightlines, uPVC is perfectly fine. I would not spend the extra just for the sake of it.
Tom Bradley, FENSA-registered installer
Lifespan, maintenance, and what to expect long term
A correctly installed aluminium window lasts 30 to 40 years. The powder-coated surface resists corrosion, UV degradation and salt air far better than painted timber, and the alloy itself does not rust. There is no seasonal swelling or shrinking with humidity changes, so the seal and draught-stripping remain effective throughout the window's life without the gradual distortion that can affect older uPVC frames over time.
Maintenance is minimal. Wipe the frames down with a damp cloth once or twice a year to remove grime and prevent build-up around the seals. Lubricate the hinges, espagnolette bolts and handles with a light silicone or PTFE spray annually. Check the rubber glazing seals for cracking every few years and replace them if they harden and pull away from the glass. Beyond that, there is very little to do across a 30 to 40 year ownership period. Compare that with timber, which needs a full repaint every 8 to 10 years, and the long-term maintenance saving for aluminium becomes a meaningful part of the value case.
Cleaning access is also worth considering when you choose the style. In an aluminium tilt and turn window, the inner sash tilts inward so you can wipe the outer face of the glass from inside the room. This is a practical advantage on upper floors where ladder access is awkward or expensive, and it is one reason the tilt and turn is a popular choice in aluminium at the mid-range of the price band.
The verdict on aluminium windows
Worth it Aluminium windows are worth the premium on the right home. Contemporary properties, large glazed openings, slim-framed picture windows and bifolds all benefit from what aluminium does best: structural rigidity at a narrow frame section. The best-buy anchor in this category is an aluminium tilt and turn at around £1,000 fitted: slim sightlines, easy internal cleaning, and a 30 to 40 year lifespan in a single specification that is difficult to match at the price. For a standard home where uPVC has served well and cost is the overriding factor, the value argument for aluminium weakens, and the uPVC windows guide is the more useful starting point. When you are ready to price your own project, the aluminium window calculator gives you a 2026 fitted range based on your window count and style in seconds.
The aluminium tilt and turn at around a thousand pounds fitted is the one I recommend most often when someone wants the full package: slim sightlines, cleans from the inside so no ladder required, and it will outlast the decade-old uPVC it is replacing by a margin. If the look matters to you, that is the window to choose.
Tom Bradley, FENSA-registered installer
Frequently asked questions
A fitted aluminium window costs £550 to £1,300 in 2026, depending on style and size. Casements start from around £540 and are the entry point; a bay window unit runs from £1,490 to £4,050 per bay. Aluminium typically costs 30 to 40% more than an equivalent uPVC window.
A well-fitted aluminium window lasts 30 to 40 years. The powder-coated finish resists corrosion and does not need repainting, so maintenance is virtually nil beyond an annual wipe and a lubrication of the hinges and handles.
For most homes where sightlines matter (contemporary houses, large glazed openings, bifolds and picture windows), yes. The slim frame profile and 30 to 40 year lifespan justify the premium. For a standard semi where cost is the main concern, uPVC at £400 to £1,000 remains the sensible default.
Neither is universally better. uPVC is the value baseline at £400 to £1,000 fitted. Aluminium costs 30 to 40% more but gives you slimmer frames, a longer lifespan and a more contemporary profile. Choose aluminium where the look matters; choose uPVC where budget is the priority.
Almost none. Powder-coated aluminium does not rust, warp or need repainting. Wipe the frames down occasionally and lubricate the hinges once a year. That is essentially all the maintenance required over a 30 to 40 year lifespan.
Yes. Powder coating can match almost any RAL colour, including anthracite grey, matt black and bespoke shades. This flexibility is one reason aluminium is popular on contemporary and architect-designed homes where the frame colour is part of the overall design.