Aluminium Double Glazing Prices Explained
Aluminium windows cost more than uPVC but deliver slimmer frames, larger glass areas and a longer service life. Here is what the premium actually buys, and when it is worth paying.
Key takeaways
- Aluminium casement windows cost £800 to £1,500 supplied and fitted, roughly 40% to 100% more than uPVC.
- Slimline heritage aluminium sits at £1,000 to £2,000 per window.
- Thermally broken frames are essential; older non-broken aluminium performs poorly.
- The premium buys sightlines, longevity and finish quality, not significantly better energy ratings.
Aluminium has moved from commercial buildings into British homes over the last decade, mostly because the frames are slim enough to let in more glass. That comes at a price: for the same opening, an aluminium window typically costs 40% to 100% more than a white uPVC equivalent. Whether that is worth it depends on what you are trying to achieve.
Aluminium window prices by type
| Window | Typical size | Supplied and fitted |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium casement, standard | 1200 x 1200mm | £800 – £1,500 |
| Aluminium fixed light | 1200 x 1200mm | £650 – £1,200 |
| Aluminium tilt and turn | 1200 x 1200mm | £950 – £1,700 |
| Heritage slimline casement | 1200 x 1200mm | £1,000 – £2,000 |
| Aluminium bay, three section | 1800 x 1400mm | £2,200 – £4,000 |
| Aluminium bi-fold door | 2400 x 2100mm | £3,500 – £7,000 |
| Aluminium sliding patio door | 1800 x 2100mm | £1,800 – £3,500 |
Why aluminium costs more
- Raw material. Aluminium costs several times more per kilogram than uPVC, and windows need a substantial amount of it.
- Thermal breaks. Every frame needs a polyamide break between the inner and outer sections to stop heat escaping, which is a precision manufacturing step.
- Fabrication. Cutting, machining and assembling aluminium is slower and less forgiving than welding uPVC.
- Powder coating. A durable architectural finish requires a proper pre-treatment and coating line.
- Hardware. Aluminium windows usually use heavier-duty multipoint hardware to carry the frame weight.
What you get for the premium
- Slimmer sightlines. Frame widths of 45mm to 55mm against 70mm for uPVC, so more glass and more daylight.
- Larger openings. Aluminium can carry much bigger spans without visible mullions, which is why bi-folds and large sliding doors are almost always aluminium.
- Longevity. A well-coated aluminium frame will comfortably outlast uPVC, and the colour does not fade or chalk in the same way.
- Resale perception. In a contemporary or period property, slim aluminium frames read as a deliberate design choice rather than a replacement product.
- Stability. Aluminium does not expand and contract with temperature as much as uPVC, so large glazed areas stay true.
When aluminium is genuinely worth it
Aluminium earns its price where the window is meant to be seen: a rear extension, a garden-facing elevation, large sliding doors, or a period property where chunky white frames would look wrong. It is harder to justify on bathroom windows and small rear openings, where nobody notices the sightline and uPVC does the same job for less.
One warning: insist on thermally broken profiles with a declared whole-window U-value. Cheap non-broken aluminium frames conduct heat straight through, and a few installers still sell them as a premium product. A frame without a thermal break will feel cold to the touch and can be a condensation problem.
The bottom line
Budget £800 to £1,500 per standard aluminium casement and £1,000 to £2,000 for slimline heritage profiles. It is the right choice for extensions, large openings and visible elevations, and the wrong choice if the goal is simply to replace tired windows as cheaply as possible.
Frequently asked questions
They are slimmer, stronger and longer lasting, and they look better on contemporary or period homes. uPVC is cheaper, easier to repair and thermally comparable. Neither is universally better; the right answer depends on the window.
Modern thermally broken aluminium frames do not. Older or cheaper non-broken profiles conduct cold through the frame and will collect condensation, which is why the thermal break matters.
Typically 40% to 100% more for the same opening. A £700 uPVC casement becomes £1,000 to £1,400 in aluminium, and heritage slimline profiles cost more again.
Thirty-five to forty-five years is realistic for a quality powder-coated frame, with the sealed glass units replaced every 20 to 25 years.
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