Double glazed window prices quoted per square metre are a rough guide that almost never holds for a real order. A square metre of a small window costs more than a square metre of a large one, and a window with two opening sashes costs more than a fixed window of the same area, even with identical double glazing. You get a reliable price only for an actual size and layout: our configurator shows it straight away, and you can work out the price per square metre yourself.
We sell made-to-measure uPVC windows online and deliver regularly to Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Austria and Czechia, and to other EU countries once transport is agreed. We do not fit them. Below we show which parts of the price grow with the square metres and which do not.
What grows with size and what does not?
| Component | What it depends on | What it means in practice | |---|---|---| | Sealed glazing unit | glass area | triple glazing and special glass raise the price of every square metre | | Frame and sash profiles | perimeter | a tall, narrow window has more profile per square metre of glass | | Hardware, handle, sash seals | number of sashes | every sash is a separate set, whatever its size | | Mullions and divisions | number of panes | every pane adds profiles and welds | | Colour | outside only or both sides | the foil covers the profiles, not the glass | | Roller shutter, fly screen, sill | size and type | priced separately for each window | | Delivery | number of rack spaces | spread over the whole order, amount shown in the quote before you order |
The table shows that a large part of the price does not depend on square metres. That is why a single rate per square metre cannot fit a small bathroom window and a living-room window at the same time.
Why double glazed window prices per m² mislead
A small window has the same hardware set, handle and corners as a large one, just less glass. The cost is spread over a smaller area, so the square metre comes out higher. A large fixed window, on the other hand, is the cheapest per square metre because it has no sash and no hardware.
The same goes for the layout. A wide window with two opening sashes costs more than one with a single sash and a fixed pane, even though the area is identical. An opening sash must be at least 450 mm wide, so for narrower panes we will suggest a fixed one anyway.
A "per square metre" price list usually describes the simplest white window in a basic system. Compare it with a quote for your actual windows and you are comparing two different things.
Double or triple glazing?
The glazing is what shows most in the price per square metre. Double glazing is cheaper, triple glazing gives a lower Uw for the whole window. Not every system takes both: some take double glazing only, while Kömmerling 88 MD, for example, takes triple only and reaches Uw from 0.73. For comparison, German rules (GEG) require Uw of at most 1.3 when windows in residential buildings are replaced. Requirements elsewhere vary, so for a new build or major renovation ask your architect or an energy adviser.
Toughened, laminated, acoustic or solar control glass adds cost to every square metre of glass. It makes sense where it is needed, for example on a busy street or by a low sill. We explain the differences between units in our article on double and triple glazing, and Uw itself in how much heat escapes through a window.
How to work out the price per m² of your own windows
1. Enter the window in the configurator with the frame size, not the size of the opening in the wall. 2. Choose the system, glazing, colour, layout and opening type as in your plans. 3. Divide the price by the frame area: width times height in metres. 4. Change one thing, such as the glazing or the layout, and see how much the result moves.
A price worked out this way can be fairly compared with a local price list, as long as size, layout and glazing are the same. Check too whether the local price includes fitting. Ours does not: you pay for the product and choose and pay your own installer.
Since 1997, across more than 5,000 orders, the most common mistake we see in these calculations is entering the size of the opening instead of the frame. Then neither the price nor the window fits. That is why we check sizes, opening sides and item descriptions before every quote.
What is included in the price and what is extra?
The configurator price covers the window with its sealed unit, hardware and chosen colour. The delivery comes with the declaration of performance and CE documents, and the GALI warranty covers profiles, hardware, sealed units, shutters and motors for 2 years. Delivery, charged per rack space by country, and fitting by your installer are extra. VAT is charged at the rate of the delivery country under the OSS scheme, and you see the amount in the quote. This is general information, not tax advice.
Put your windows together in the configurator and do the maths yourself, and compare systems on our uPVC windows page. We prepare a quote with delivery within 3 working days. Our export page explains how delivery abroad works.