- Secondary glazing usually costs around half as much as double glazing
- It typically costs between £300 and £500 per window
- Secondary glazing can reduce noise by up to 50%
The cost of double glazing can be high, but luckily, there’s a cheaper alternative: secondary glazing.
Secondary glazing involves fitting an extra pane of glass and a frame onto the inside of an existing window. It’s just and is just as effective as double glazing. Plus, it’s easier to install, since it doesn’t involve replacing the entire window.
If you’ve got your heart set on double glazing and all the benefits that come with it, just fill in our short form with your details. Our professional installers will contact you shortly with quotes to compare.
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Get startedHow much does secondary glazing cost?
Secondary glazing can cost anywhere between £300 and £500 per window, including installation.
For a typical three-bedroom house, with 8-10 windows, installing secondary glazing will cost around £3,720 total. For comparison, double glazing costs around £6,010, on average, for a house of this size.
The table below outlines the amount a homeowner can expect to pay for secondary glazed windows, based on how many windows the property has:
Number of windows | Average cost | Duration of installation |
|---|---|---|
4 windows | £1,320–£2,160 | 1 day |
8 windows | £2,520–£4,160 | 1 day |
12 windows | £3,780–£6,320 | 1-2 days |
Figures correct as of May 2023
It’s important to keep in mind that these figures are just averages. The cost of secondary glazing will vary, depending on the number of windows being upgraded, the type of windows a property has, and the type of secondary glazing being fitted over them.
To get a better idea of pricing for your property, it’s worth getting a few quotes from different installers to find the best deal – and if you fill in this form, you can do exactly that.
The cost of secondary glazing by type
Similar to double glazed windows, there are lots of secondary glazing options homeowners can choose from. Magnetic secondary glazing is the least expensive option, while permanent secondary glazing is the most expensive.
To give you a better idea of what’s available, we’ve provided a breakdown of the different types of secondary glazing, and their cost, in the section below.
If you’re more interested in double glazing and want to see whether you can get double glazing grants to help subsidise the costs, check out our guide.
- Magnetic secondary glazing – It costs £100 – £200 per window or £1,200–£1,500 for a three-bedroom house and is installed via magnetic strips, making it easy to remove. This is important as it needs to be detached to open the primary window. It is, however, less effective at retaining heat as it isn’t sealed as tightly
- Lift-out secondary glazing – it costs around £300 per window or £2,820 for a three-bedroom house and is another type of semi-removable secondary glazing, where a single pane of glass and a frame are fitted on top of a fixed window. The frame stays fixed, but – as the name suggests – the pane can be lifted out for cleaning, and to open the primary window
- Permanent secondary glazing – It costs between £350 and £500 per window, or around £3,270 to £4,660 for a three-bedroom house. It’s the most expensive type due to a strong seal, resulting in the best heat retention and draft reduction capabilities. It provides easy access to the original window, because the secondary window can be opened either through hinges, or a sliding mechanism with a choice of direction
What factors affect the cost of secondary glazing?
There are a number of factors that can affect the cost of secondary glazing, including the number of windows a property has, the type of secondary glazing being installed, and the material the secondary glazing is made of.
Permanent secondary glazing is more expensive than the temporary magnetic or lift-out kind because it has a more complex design, and takes longer to install.
It’s also important to consider the materials the window is made from. As a rule of thumb, the thicker the glass is, the more it will cost. The type of glass used for the pane can also affect the price. For example, specialised noise-reduction glass is typically more expensive than standard glass, and can cost upwards of £800 per window.
For frame material, uPVC windows are the cheapest option, followed by aluminium, and wooden windows, which is the most expensive option.
Secondary glazing maintenance costs
Secondary glazing doesn’t require a lot of maintenance – the panes just need to be kept clean.
Homeowners can either clean the window panes themselves or hire someone to do it, which costs around £30–£60 for a three-bedroom house, depending on the area.
If the secondary glazing breaks, repairs cost anywhere from £30 to £200, depending on the severity of the damage.
How long does it take to fit secondary glazing?
It should take about one day to fit secondary glazing onto all the windows of a standard three-bedroom house.
The exact amount of time will depend on the size and number of windows – the more windows you have, the longer it will take – as well as the type of secondary glazing being installed.
Is secondary glazing worth it?
Yes, it definitely is worth it if you want the benefits of double glazing, such as better insulation and lower energy bills, without having to spend as much.
The average home loses 18% of its heat through windows – but secondary glazing can reduce this heat loss by providing an extra layer of insulation. Energy bills will also be lower as a result – less heat escaping the property means less energy will be needed to keep a home warm.
It’s also around half the price of double glazing – and even less if you opt for magnetic secondary glazing.
Plus, secondary glazing is a good option for those living in listed buildings or conservation areas, where changes to the appearance of a property aren’t allowed. Since secondary glazing is installed on the inside of windows, homeowners don’t need to replace the original windows, and the external look of the building stays the same.
You can find out more about installing double glazing on listed buildings by visiting our page.
Secondary glazing is also very effective at keeping noise out, so it’s a good option for properties in built-up areas that suffer from a lot of outside noise. It can reduce noise pollution by around 45 decibels (dBA), compared to 18-25 dBA for single glazing – that’s around a 50% reduction in noise levels.
However, one thing to keep in mind is that secondary glazing might not necessarily add value to a house because it’s an easily removable fixture. Double glazing, on the other hand, typically increases a property’s value by 10% because it’s permanent.
You also don’t need planning permission to install secondary glazing. But if your property is a listed building, or in a conservation area, you might need to get listed-building consent before installing secondary glazing.
The benefits of secondary glazing
Secondary glazing shares many of the benefits that double glazing has, but for a lower price, including:
- A warmer home – A second pane of glass will help lock in warmth, and reduce outside drafts
- Lower energy bills – Better heat retention means less energy needed to keep the home warm, so energy bills will be lower. High quality secondary glazing can reduce your energy bills just as much as double glazing, which can cut £195 off bills
- Noise reduction – The gap between the two panes of glass is wider with secondary glazing than it is with double glazing, which makes it better at reducing outside noise. The gap between the two panes is 100–200 millimetres (mm) wide for secondary glazing, compared to a 16 mm gap for double glazing
- Extra security – The extra pane of glass means the windows will be harder to break. Plus, secondary window panes are almost impossible to open from the outside
- Easy installation – Secondary glazing is much easier to install than double glazing, since the whole window doesn’t need to be replaced. Some types of secondary glazing, such as magnetic glazing, can even be a DIY project
- No condensation – Secondary glazing doesn’t typically cause condensation – in fact, it can even help reduce it. Condensation usually happens when the window pane is colder than the air inside the room, and secondary glazing can help the primary window panes retain more heat
Next steps
- If you want to improve the insulation of your home and reduce your energy bills in the process, but can’t get double glazing, then secondary glazing is a cheaper, effective alternative.
- It’s not complicated to install and can easily be removed. Plus, it won’t alter the appearance of your property, whilst still doing a great job of keeping out noise and drafts.
- And since you’ll be using less energy to heat your home, not only will your bills go down, but your carbon footprint as well.
- The same can be said for double glazing – as well as a range of other benefits for homeowners. So, if you’ve decided that double glazing is a better option for you, we can help you find the best deal. Just fill in our short form, and professional installers will be in touch with their best double glazing prices.
