Replacement windows are new frames and sealed double- or triple-glazed units fitted into your existing openings after the old windows are taken out, improving warmth, security and noise reduction while meeting current building regulations.
Our guide for replacement windows in Scotland comes to £4,300–£8,600 with VAT added, and that range applies across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate. Your own price depends on the size of the job, the specification and how easy it is to work on the site. We survey for free, check any consents needed under the rules in Scotland, and then put the price in writing.
- Guide price
- £4,300–£8,600 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–2 days on site for a typical house
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Price level
- About 4% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 7
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much do replacement windows cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
These are guide costs, not quotes. For replacement windows in Edinburgh and the Lothians the range is £4,300–£8,600, VAT included, reflecting prices in Scotland that are about 4% below the national guide. Once we have visited for a free survey, you get a firm figure for the scope you approve.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Edinburgh and the Lothians |
|---|---|---|
| One to three windows | Replacing a few problem windows, such as a bay or a rotten kitchen window, in uPVC. | £650–£2,900 |
| Whole house in uPVC | Eight to ten standard uPVC casement windows on a typical 3-bed semi, fitted and finished. | £4,300–£7,200 |
| Whole house in aluminium or flush sash | Premium frames, colours or period styles across a typical 3-bed home. | £7,200–£13,500 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Number and size of windows, including bays and large picture windows
- Glazing type: double, triple, acoustic, obscure or toughened
- Window style, such as sash, flush sash or tilt-and-turn
- Upper-floor access, scaffolding and the condition of reveals and sills
Scope of the work
- Measured survey of every opening, with sizes checked before manufacture
- Made-to-measure frames in your chosen material, colour and style
- Careful removal and disposal of the old frames and glass
- Fixings, packers, foam and weather seals to suit your wall type
- Trickle vents, escape hinges and safety glass where regulations require
- Building regulations sign-off arranged and paperwork handed over
Housing across Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh's New Town is a planned Georgian sandstone townscape within a World Heritage Site, and districts such as Marchmont and Leith have Victorian tenements. Bungalows and villas fill the suburbs, Midlothian has former mining villages, Livingston was built as a new town, and East Lothian villages often have red pantile roofs.
Listed and conservation-area homes need careful window and stone repairs. Bungalows commonly suit loft conversions and dormers, and suburban semis take extensions and garage conversions.
East-coast weather brings cold winds, haar and frost, and exposed hills around the city catch wind-driven rain.
Do you need permission in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Planning law differs across the UK. For a home in Edinburgh and the Lothians, it is the Scotland rules below that count, and we check them with the council ahead of any quote.
In Scotland, replacing windows and doors on a house generally needs no planning permission when the style is similar, but listed buildings and conservation areas are closely controlled and often need consent for any change of material or pattern.
A building warrant is not usually needed for like-for-like replacement windows, but the new units must still meet the Scottish building standards, including energy performance and, where relevant, escape from upper floors.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
From survey to handover
Survey and measure
First, someone visits your home in Edinburgh and the Lothians to see the space, take measurements and note anything that could affect the work, such as access or the condition of what is there. There is no charge for this visit.
Written quote
After the survey we send a quote for replacement windows that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Getting ready
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
Build and hand over
The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.
What you can expect from us
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Edinburgh and the Lothians is in Scotland, so Scotland's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Do I need planning permission for new windows?
Planning permission is not usually needed to replace windows with similar ones, but it depends on the size and style of the change, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you live in. Listed buildings normally need consent for any change, and some conservation areas restrict uPVC or new styles. Flats may also need the building owner's approval. We check the position for your property before quoting.
How much do replacement windows cost?
Replacement windows for a typical 3-bed semi cost £4,300–£8,600, depending on the number of windows, frame material and glazing. A single standard uPVC casement usually works out at roughly £500–£950 fitted, while aluminium, flush sash and sliding sash styles cost more. Bays, large panes and upstairs access add to the price. We measure every opening during the survey and give you a fixed price for the agreed specification.
Is triple glazing worth paying extra for?
Triple glazing adds a third pane of glass, which cuts heat loss and outside noise further than standard double glazing. It typically adds around a third to the cost of the glass units and makes opening sashes heavier. It makes most sense on cold or noisy elevations, or in homes being upgraded to a high energy standard. For many houses, modern double glazing with a warm edge spacer gives most of the benefit for less money.
How long will replacement windows take?
On a typical home, allow 1–2 days on site for a typical house. Larger projects, older buildings and extra work found once things are opened up can extend that, while simpler jobs may be shorter. Your quote includes an estimate of time on site, and your point of contact keeps you updated on the programme as the work progresses.
Towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Our coverage for replacement windows in Edinburgh and the Lothians includes the towns listed here. Each page explains guide costs, typical timings and the neighbouring places we also serve.