What double glazing costs in New Zealand
Every figure here is published by someone else and shows its source. Nothing on this page is our own price: our prices come from a measure.
Key takeaways
- Retrofit into existing frames: $450–800 per m² of glass (CheckMyBuilder; retroGLAZE publishes the same band).
- Full replacement: $800–1,600 per m², so roughly double.
- Per window: aluminium retrofit $550–850, timber retrofit $800–1,200, replacement $1,500–2,500+ per opening (Wellington Glass).
- Typical whole-house job $16,000, most between $10,000 and $25,000; Auckland $18,000, Wellington $17,000, Christchurch $16,000 (CheckMyBuilder).
- No New Zealand grant funds glazing. Warmer Kiwi Homes covers ceiling and underfloor insulation and heat pumps (EECA).
Retrofit double glazing in New Zealand typically costs $450–800 per m² of glass; full replacement costs $800–1,600 (CheckMyBuilder, checked 15 September 2026). A typical whole-house job comes to about $16,000, with most jobs between $10,000 and $25,000. Per window, aluminium retrofit runs $550–850 and timber $800–1,200 (Wellington Glass).
The whole table
| What | Published range | Unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retrofit into your existing frames | $450–$800 | per m² of glass | CheckMyBuilder |
| Full window replacement (new joinery and glass) | $800–$1,600 | per m² of glass | CheckMyBuilder |
| Aluminium window, retrofit | $550–$850 | per window | Wellington Glass |
| Timber window, retrofit | $800–$1,200 | per window | Wellington Glass |
| Full replacement, per opening | $1,500–$2,500 | per opening | Wellington Glass |
| Low-E / high-performance glass | +5–10% | uplift | Wellington Glass |
| Thermally broken aluminium joinery (replacement only) | +25–40% | uplift | Superior Renovations |
| Scaffolding (homes of two storeys or more) | $1,000–$5,000 | per job | CheckMyBuilder |
Why sources differ by a factor of three
Search for this and you will find figures from $400 to well over $2,000 a window, with no explanation. There are three reasons, and once you know them the numbers stop conflicting.
- Retrofit or replacement. This is the biggest gap and the one most often left unsaid: $450–800 per m² against $800–1,600. A page that quotes a high figure is usually pricing new joinery.
- Frame type. Wellington Glass separates aluminium retrofit ($550–850 a window) from timber ($800–1,200), because a timber sash takes more bench time. Sites that give one per-window number have averaged those together.
- Region and house. CheckMyBuilder's typical job is $18,000 in Auckland and $16,000 in Christchurch. Auckland-based builders publishing 'from' prices — Superior Renovations, for example — lean towards full replacement, which pushes their per-opening figures up.
Regional typicals
| Region | Typical job | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | $18,000 | Auckland is the most expensive of the main centres for a whole-house job: CheckMyBuilder puts a typical Auckland double glazing job at $18,000, against a $16,000 national typical. |
| Wellington | $17,000 | Wellington Glass publishes the clearest per-window retrofit figures in the country: $550–850 for an aluminium window and $800–1,200 for a timber one, with full replacement from $1,500–2,500+ per opening. |
| Christchurch | $16,000 | CheckMyBuilder puts a typical Christchurch job at $16,000, the same as its national typical and below Auckland's $18,000. |
What costs extra
- Frame, sill or sash repairs found at the measure.
- Refitting curtains, blinds and pelmets.
- Repainting or staining after the work.
- Structural strengthening if heavier units need it.
- Scaffolding on a home of two storeys or more: $1,000–5,000 (CheckMyBuilder).
Is there a grant?
No. EECA's Warmer Kiwi Homes programme co-funds ceiling and underfloor insulation and heat pumps. Glazing is not on the list, and we would rather say so plainly than let you find out after budgeting for it. If your ceiling or underfloor insulation is not done, do that first: it is co-funded and cheaper per unit of heat saved.
What performance you actually get
EECA says up to 40% of a home's heating energy is lost through windows, and that double glazing brings it to 25% or less. BRANZ's Level guidance puts windows at 8–10% of the envelope area but up to 40% of heat losses in minimum-code homes. We publish those as the sources state them. We do not publish a dollar saving for your house, because no source we would cite gives one that transfers.
How to turn a range into a number
The range above is real, and it is the honest answer to a general question. Your number depends on your windows. Put your own sizes into the calculator to see a range per window, then a measure turns it into one fixed written quote.
Cost questions
How much does double glazing cost in New Zealand?
Retrofit into existing frames costs $450–800 per m² of glass and full replacement $800–1,600 (CheckMyBuilder, checked 15 Sep 2026). A typical whole-house job is around $16,000, with most between $10,000 and $25,000.
How much is double glazing per window?
Wellington Glass publishes $550–850 for an aluminium retrofit window, $800–1,200 for a timber one, and $1,500–2,500+ per opening for full replacement (checked 15 Sep 2026).
Why do published prices vary so much?
Three reasons: retrofit versus replacement is roughly a doubling; frame type separates aluminium from timber; and region and house type move the whole-job figure — CheckMyBuilder puts Auckland at $18,000 against $16,000 nationally.
What costs extra?
Frame, sill or sash repairs, refitting curtains and blinds, repainting, structural strengthening, and scaffolding at $1,000–5,000 for a home of two storeys or more (CheckMyBuilder).
Is there a grant for double glazing in NZ?
No. EECA's Warmer Kiwi Homes programme co-funds ceiling and underfloor insulation and heat pumps. Glazing is not included.
Does low-E glass cost much more?
Wellington Glass puts high-performance glass at 5–10% more. EECA says a low-E coating can improve performance by up to 30% and argon fill by 5–20%.
How do I get a fixed price rather than a range?
Someone has to measure your windows. Our measure is $149, credited in full to a job signed within 60 days, and produces one fixed written quote within 5 working days.
How current are these figures?
Every rate on this page shows the source and the date we last checked it — 15 September 2026 for all of them. We re-check quarterly.