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Jessica Wimmer is a writer for USA TODAY Homefront. She specializes in writing reviews and informational articles in the home and pet insurance industries. Jessica analyzes the best brands and has read over 1,000 customer reviews to learn what matters most to buyers. She’s been published in Deep South Magazine, The Dead Mule Journal of Southern Literature and The Deep Water Literary Journal. She’s also a Pushcart Prize nominee, Write Well award winner and former English teacher. Jessica hails from Virginia but currently resides in the Raleigh, North Carolina area.
Not all window companies operate the same way. Some are full-service, meaning they make, sell and install their products. Some are only window manufacturers, meaning they don’t do any installation.
Full-service companies are the most convenient to work with. You can handle every aspect of your window project with one company, and you won’t have to hire an outside contractor or get a separate warranty for workmanship.
Renewal by Andersen is our top overall choice for window installation. It’s a reputable full-service window installer known for its custom window options and industry certifications. Castle Windows comes in second in our ratings; it offers the best labor warranty in the windows industry and has made many “Best of” lists in recent years. Champion Windows’ products have exceptionally great reviews if you’re interested in vinyl or aluminum windows, and the brand is known for energy efficiency.
Purchasing new windows is a big investment, whether buying just a few or updating your entire house.
According to Home Depot, expect to pay between $800 and $1,900 to install most window types. Window size and customizations are the primary reasons for that range. Larger, more complex window types, such as bay windows, can cost as much as $6,000 to install. These prices include the window, permit, installation labor and estimated tax.
All window companies should provide a manufacturer’s warranty covering window parts and materials for a certain time. A quality installer will also provide a labor warranty, sometimes called a workmanship warranty, that covers issues related to installation.
If your windows don’t work properly or underperform due to improper installation, the company must fix them if you’re within the warranty period. Most window labor warranties last between two and five years, though some are as long as 10 years. The longer the warranty, the better.
We recommend considering the following factors when choosing a window installation company:
We used our methodology to review and compare the best window brands. We examined each company’s product selection, energy-saving features, warranty details and more to help you decide which has the best windows and service. We also read hundreds of customer reviews to see each company delivers on its promises.
The following window installers scored the highest, making them the companies we most recommend for your window installation project.
What we like
Renewal by Andersen offers several popular window types with energy-saving features and customization options. The brand uses high-performance, low-emissivity (low-e) glass designed for your climate and argon gas insulation to produce highly energy-efficient windows.
Renewal by Andersen holds many certifications and awards for its window performance. Its home page displays its Energy Star Partner of the Year award, National Fenestration Rating Council certification and SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certification that signals compliance with rigorous indoor air quality emission requirements. It’s also won the J.D. Power “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Window and Patio Door Manufacturer Brands” honor multiple years in a row.
What we don’t like
A consistent theme in Renewal by Andersen’s reviews is the long wait time between when a customer schedules an installation and when the installation occurs. Many customers report waiting months after ordering their windows to get them installed. We also read several customer reviews saying the crew didn’t show up when their installation date finally arrived.
Another common complaint is persistent sales tactics. Some customers report frequent door-to-door sales visits and calls after requesting a quote.
Renewal by Andersen backs its windows with a transferable limited warranty.
Renewal by Andersen has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and mixed customer reviews on this and other review sites. However, we found plenty of positive feedback, including Michael’s review that points to great product quality, professionalism among the installation team and helpful, friendly customer service.
Other customers cite long wait times for installation, pushy sales tactics and difficulty with warranty claims. Molly reported a long wait for a part replacement, which many others have echoed.
Castle Windows’ shining star is its warranty. Castle provides a true lifetime warranty for its windows and installation. Many top competitors offer limited warranties, and some that say they have a lifetime warranty include fine print in their policies restricting coverage. Castle, however, truly covers all aspects of your product and installation labor for its lifetime.
The company has also earned some esteemed industry recognitions. It made Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500 list and HomeAdvisor’s Best of list. The company also provides 24/7 customer support.
While Castle has many positive reviews, we did see several reports of improper installation. Another drawback is that the company doesn’t highlight its energy-efficiency features as much as others. Most competitors list their certifications and energy-saving features on their websites, but we didn’t find many on Castle’s.
Castle’s glass, parts and labor are all covered under a lifetime warranty. Coverage is also transferable, meaning you can pass it on to the new homeowner if you decide to sell your house. Castle does a great job explaining its warranty coverage and conditions on its site.
Castle is accredited with the BBB and holds an A+ rating. Customer reviews are mixed but lean mostly positive. Many customers report professional and friendly service over the phone and from installers and great craftsmanship on windows and doors.
However, we read several customer reviews that mentioned their windows were installed incorrectly, leading to draftiness and rain getting in. A few others pointed to installation taking longer than expected.
Champion Windows carries the AAMA Gold Label from the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, a seal of approval for its product quality. It’s certified by Energy Star, the Efficient Windows Collaborative, the National Fenestration Rating Council and the Vinyl Siding Institute. Between these affiliations and its strong customer reviews, Champion is clearly a standout in the industry. We value its Energy Star certification, which indicates that its windows keep your home comfortable and energy bills low.
Champion only makes aluminum and vinyl windows, so it’s not your best option if you prefer the durability of fiberglass or the look of wood windows. It also only offers in-home estimates. While this may result in a more precise estimate, it’s not as convenient as getting a quick quote over the phone.
Champion provides a limited lifetime warranty on all products. The company doesn’t include a sample policy on its website or offer specifics, but it says it covers every aspect of installation, parts, labor and materials. The website claims, “If it breaks, we will fix it.”
The BBB does not accredit Champion, but the company does have a customer rating of 3.45 out of 5 stars based on more than 1,000 reviews. It also has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot based on more than 3,500 reviews.
Customers who highly rate the brand reference its speedy installations, helpful sales reps and fair pricing. We did, however, notice that Champion has had lower customer reviews for the last year than in previous years. Recent complaints mention pushing back installation dates and taking a long time to resolve issues.
Pella Corporation offers a wide selection of windows, including several styles and lines. It also provides three frame material options: vinyl, wood and fiberglass. Many competitors only offer one or two material options. Pella designs its windows to be resistant to impact, sound and weather. You can even add optional smart-home integration, such as remote locking and blind-lowering, to increase security and convenience.
Our main issue with the company is its number of negative customer reviews. We highlight some of the common themes below. We also don’t like that it has a shorter glass and hardware warranty than many competitors.
Pella’s warranties vary by window material.
Pella allows you to transfer most warranty coverage to new homeowners for a limited period after the original purchase.
Pella has an A+ rating on BBB, but its customer ratings and reviews are low. However, some customers — even repeat customers — expressed an entirely positive experience with the company. One woman noted that she received exceptional customer service and that her home is far more energy-efficient.
Most reviews, however, cite product quality issues, such as window parts that easily break or degrade or windows that don’t perform as promised. Some customers report that with this comes communication issues and that it’s challenging to resolve them.
Power Home Remodeling Group is a one-stop shop for many home improvement needs, so it’s convenient if you have multiple projects to tackle. The company installs windows, doors, roofing, siding, attic insulation and solar panels. It backs its window installation with a lifetime warranty and has a high BBB score.
Power Home doesn’t manufacture windows; it only installs them. Other companies do this, but purchasing your windows from one company and having another install them could be inconvenient. Power Home installs windows from Pella through its Power by Pella partnership. We’ve included Power Home here alongside Pella because you don’t have to use Power Home’s installation services if you purchase from Pella. If you want to use Power Home, however, you can hire the company to tackle a variety of home improvement projects at the same time, making it a distinct installer option.
Of Pella’s window selection, Power Home only installs vinyl windows. While vinyl is durable, it’s not the look everyone wants. The company is only licensed in 20 states, so check its locations page before browsing its windows to see whether it’s available in your area.
Power Home Remodeling installs Pella window varieties. Its installation services include windows, doors, siding, roofing, attic installation, gutters and solar panels.
You’ll get a manufacturer’s warranty from Pella for the windows themselves with coverage for most parts and materials ranging from 10–20 years. Power Home’s labor warranty is an exceptional lifetime warranty. The brand stands behind its installation workmanship for the lifetime of any product it installs.
Power Home Remodeling has an A+ rating on the BBB and an impressive 4.7 out of 5 stars from customers on the site, making it the highest customer rating we’ve seen across window installers. Out of the nearly 3,000 reviews, most customers report friendly and efficient employees and quick, high-quality installations.
Negative reviews are rare, but we did see a few unhappy customers cite improper installation and communication obstacles.
We surveyed 1,500 window buyers in October 2023 about the brands they bought and how much they paid for different project sizes. According to the average costs respondents reported, Renewal by Andersen is the most affordable installer. However, many customer reviews mention the brand’s pricey nature, so the best way to compare pricing for your window replacement project is to get quotes from a few companies.
Below are each provider’s average costs for the indicated project sizes, calculated from our survey responses. Costs include parts and labor. We didn’t include Power Home’s pricing here because it installs Pella windows, and its labor pricing greatly varies depending on the project scope.
Many window companies offer financing options. You can also talk with your bank about a personal loan, home equity loan or Federal Housing Administration Rehab loan.
Window tax credits can help, too. Energy Star-certified windows qualify for a tax credit that allows you to claim 30% of the product cost up to $600. Energy Star products often qualify for rebates and special offers as well.
When buying windows, look at product performance and style options. Vetting an installation team requires other considerations. We recommend doing the following when choosing a window installer:
Never hire an installer that isn’t properly licensed in your state. Check your state’s contractor license board to verify that the company is a licensed window installer. Certification with the Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance is a great plus.
Also, check the company’s experience. You want an installer with at least a few years of professional installation experience.
The best way to vet an installer is to see what customers say. Don’t take a chance on a company with many unhappy customers. Look for reviews about the installation process, such as comments about the crew’s punctuality, professionalism, knowledge, cleanliness and friendliness.
Also, look for reviews highlighting how customers feel about the installation several months down the road to see if they uncovered any issues in workmanship.
We can’t say it enough: Prioritize quality over cost. That said, you still have a budget to be wise with. Installation costs will vary based on the size and type of windows, number of windows, extra features and potential issues with your existing window casings that could require repair. A company’s certifications and years of experience can also raise the price. Most window replacements cost between $100 and $400 per window for standard window types. Larger, more complicated window styles, such as bay windows, can be more expensive to install.
In addition to inquiring about the factors above, don’t be afraid to ask your installer these questions:
When deciding on the right window installer, we suggest looking for one with mostly positive customer reviews, energy-efficient windows and comprehensive warranty coverage. Go with the brand that fares best in these areas while still within your budget.
Our recommendations for the best window installation companies are Renewal by Andersen, Castle and Champion. Renewal by Andersen is highly recognized for its high-quality, energy-efficient options and professional installation crews. Customers praise Castle’s warranty coverage and Champion’s quality windows and affordability.
Start by checking that your top choices operate in your area. Then, we recommend getting a free quote from a few companies to compare pricing before making your decision.
Our aim is to provide you with the information you need to assess and choose a window company when updating or replacing your windows. We conducted research to thoroughly understand the window industry from both a consumer and company perspective.
Our in-depth methodology compares window companies based on various attributes, including window options, energy efficiency, warranties, reputation, reviews, customer service, communication, installation and other services. Each attribute is worth points that add up to a possible total of 100. We then translate that score into our 5-star rating we feature in our reviews.
BBB and Trustpilot scores are accurate as of January 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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