Aluminium windows are the choice for large glazing, slim frames, heavy sliding doors and colours from the full RAL range. For ordinary windows in a house, uPVC usually gives the same insulation for less money. The price of an aluminium window depends mainly on the system, the size of the glazing, the opening type, the glazing unit and the finish, and you can see the figure for your own sizes straight away in the configurator.
When are aluminium windows a better choice than uPVC?
Aluminium is rigid, so for the same window size the frame can be narrower and the sash heavier. That leads to the typical uses:
- floor-to-ceiling glazing and corners without a post;
- lift and slide doors with heavy sashes;
- facades where a slim profile and as much glass as possible matter;
- colours outside the uPVC ranges, since aluminium is powder-coated in any RAL colour;
- shopfronts, internal partitions and unheated conservatories.
If warmth for sensible money is your main aim, start with uPVC. The differences between the two materials are covered in uPVC or aluminium. There's also a middle way: a uPVC profile with aluminium cladding on the outside.
Aluminium windows: what makes up the price
We don't give amounts because they depend on sizes and layout. Below are the price components and when paying more makes sense.
| Component | Depends on | When it's worth paying more | |---|---|---| | Aluprof system | profile depth and thermal break | energy-efficient or passive house, large glazing | | Size and layout | glass area, number of sashes and mullions | when you want an uninterrupted view | | Opening type | fixed, side-hung, doors, tilt and slide, lift and slide | access to a terrace, a wide opening | | Glazing unit | double or triple, safety, acoustic or solar control glass | ground floor, busy road, south-facing glazing | | Finish | RAL colour and finish type: matt, gloss, textured | when colour is part of the facade design | | Extras | roller shutters, fly screens, external sills | when you need them from the start rather than after fitting | | Transport | number of rack spaces and delivery country | its share drops with a larger order |
Which Aluprof system should you choose?
| System | Features | Use | |---|---|---| | MB-45 | no thermal break | internal partitions, shopfronts, unheated conservatories | | MB-79N | thermal break, Uw from 0.95 | all-round system for homes and commercial premises | | MB-86 (ST, SI, AERO) | thermal break | large glazing | | MB-104 | thermal break | passive buildings, very large glazing |
MB-45 isn't suitable for the external walls of heated rooms. It costs less, but without a thermal break aluminium conducts heat and the window area gets cold.
What raises and what lowers the price of aluminium windows
The price goes up with a deeper system, each extra sash, lift and slide doors, triple glazing and special glass. It goes down with fixed panes, fewer sashes, one colour for the whole order and a full set of windows in one delivery.
Two things are worth knowing before you choose a colour. In aluminium, the colour is always the same on both sides of the window. One colour applies to the whole order, so choose it for the facade and the interior at the same time. More on colours in our article on window colours.
Large glazing also means heavy sashes. The windows arrive on racks at your address, and unloading is up to you: a forklift or 2–3 people. We don't offer installation, so for large panes plan an experienced team with the right equipment.
How to check the price in the configurator
We've exported windows to the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland since the late 1990s and have completed more than 5,000 orders in 29 years. The quickest answer to "what does aluminium cost" comes from comparing your own project:
1. In the window configurator, build your windows in uPVC first, then switch the material to aluminium. You see the price of each version straight away. 2. Within aluminium, compare MB-79N with MB-86. For large panes, check whether the size works in that system. 3. Set the RAL colour and extras, and send the set for a quote from the summary.
A person prepares the quote, including transport, within 3 working days. We check sizes, opening sides and descriptions, and send a drawing for approval before production. Prices include VAT. For delivery to another EU country, VAT is charged at the rate of the delivery country under the OSS scheme, and you see the rate and amount in the quote. This is general information, not tax advice.
Systems and colours are described on the aluminium windows page, and lift and slide doors, corners and large fixed panes in our article on large glazing.