Costs and Quotes for Impact vs Non-Impact Windows

@writer78 I went through something similar last year in South Florida. My home is 20 years old (late 90s build as well) and the original windows were aluminum single-hungs. I ended up choosing impact windows for a few reasons, but I’ll share my quote details first:
I got 4 quotes. Non-impact double-pane vinyl windows averaged about $800 per window installed (not including any shutters). The impact-rated windows were coming in around $1,300-$1,500 per window installed for the same size and style. So roughly a 70-80% premium for impact glass, which matches your quotes.

One company suggested doing the front of the house in impact glass (for storms and break-ins) and the back with non-impact + shutters to save money. That mix was still around $18k total for 13 windows.

Insurance discount: My insurance (Citizens in FL) offered around 15% off the windstorm portion of the premium if all openings are protected (either impact windows or shutters). In my case, that was like $300/year savings. Not huge, but something.
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I went with impact windows for the convenience—no putting up shutters when a storm comes, and they also reduce noise a lot. Noise reduction was an unexpected plus; the house is quieter now. To me, it was worth the extra cost, especially since we plan to stay long-term. But if you’re on a tighter budget, doing non-impact plus decent shutters can be a viable compromise.

I’m in North Carolina (not a hurricane zone like Florida), but I also compared impact vs non-impact because we get the occasional tropical storm and I liked the idea of extra security. Our house was built in 1998 with cheap vinyl windows that were drafty.
Non-impact double-pane (Simonton brand) quote: $10,200 for 12 windows.

Impact-rated (same brand’s hurricane line) quote: $17,000 for the same 12 windows.
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We ultimately chose non-impact windows with good storm screens and plan to add portable storm panels for the few windows we might need during a rare hurricane event. The cost difference (about $7k more) was hard to justify here, especially since our area doesn’t require impact by code.

Also, one contractor mentioned impact windows are heavier and slightly harder to install (thicker frames, etc.), which made labor a bit more expensive too. But I will say, if I lived in Florida coastal area, I’d probably lean impact for peace of mind. In NC, the risk vs cost just wasn’t worth it for us.

Same boat, late-90s house, but I’m in Houston, TX. Hurricanes can hit here too, though not as frequently as Florida. I just finished replacing all 18 windows in our home. I got a mix of quotes:
Local family-run business (ProTech Windoors) quoted me $14k for non-impact energy-efficient windows and $21k for impact windows. They walked me through both options without pushing either. I appreciated that.

Big nationwide company (starts with an "A") gave me a much higher quote, like $30k for impact and tried a hard sell. 😒 Needless to say, I didn’t go with them.
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I ended up using the local company and chose impact windows on the first floor (for security and storm peace of mind) and non-impact on the 2nd floor where it’s less critical. They look identical. The installer reinforced the frames on the first floor to handle the impact glass weight. The final cost was around $18k.

A few things I learned:

Check your local codes: Here, impact glass wasn’t required by law, but in some coastal counties in Texas it is.

Installation quality matters: A great installer can make or break the performance. I paid a bit more for a seasoned crew.

Warranty: The impact windows had a breakage warranty (one free replacement if shattered in a storm within X years), which was a nice perk.
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So far, super happy. The impact glass does make the house quieter and I feel safer during storm season. If you can swing the cost, impact windows are nice, but doing a mix like I did can be a budget-friendly strategy too.

Hi everyone, chiming in from the Gulf Coast (Pensacola area). Our home is from 1999 and we replaced 10 windows last summer. We debated impact vs non-impact heavily.
We got quotes from three companies. Two of them were local window specialists, one was a Home Depot subcontractor. Surprisingly:

Local Window Co 1: $9,800 for non-impact (PGT 5400 series), $15,000 for impact (PGT WinGuard).

Local Window Co 2: $10,500 for non-impact (Simonton StormBreaker non-impact version?), $16,000 for impact.

Big Box (HD): $12,000 for non-impact (their generic brand) and they didn’t even quote impact, told us they’d just add shutters.
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We eventually went with impact PGT WinGuard windows through Local Co 1 at $15k. They had good reviews and even though it was more money, the product felt sturdier. We also liked not having to store and deploy shutters.

One interesting tidbit: Our insurance gave almost no discount for impact windows because we already had a hip roof and other credits. They said adding impact windows would only save ~$150 a year. Kinda disappointed by that, but oh well. We still love the windows. They are noticeably better at insulating; our energy bill went down a bit last winter and summer.

If you’re in a hurricane zone, I’d say get at least a couple quotes like you did and definitely consider impact if budget allows. The upfront cost is higher, but if you hate the hassle of shutters, it’s worth it.

I’m up in the Midwest (house built 1997), so no hurricanes here, but I followed a similar decision process due to severe storms and a desire for better security. Here’s my perspective:
We had 20+ year-old wood windows that were rotting in spots. I looked at impact-resistant glass mainly for its security benefit (harder for intruders to break). The price difference was large:

Renewal by Andersen (not impact): ~$40k for 15 windows (I almost fainted 🤯). We obviously didn’t go with them.

Local company’s non-impact vinyl (double pane, argon): $11k.

They offered an “impact laminate” upgrade on the glass for another ~$4k total, so around $15k for impact-rated glass in the vinyl frames.
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Since we’re not coastal, building code didn’t require impact. But I did half the house windows with the impact laminate (ground floor and a large picture window) and the rest standard glass. The cost ended up about $13k in total due to a first-time customer discount.

After living with them for a year:

The impact glass windows do muffle outside noise more.

Can’t really tell a difference in looks between impact vs non-impact; they matched perfectly.

We feel a bit more secure at night knowing it’s not easy to smash these windows.
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For folks outside hurricane zones, I think impact glass is a “nice-to-have” if you want extra security or noise reduction and can afford it. Otherwise, standard modern double-panes are usually fine.

@luckycarter2 That’s a good point on security. I’m in a fairly safe area but the idea of someone breaking in through a window is still scary. I hadn’t even considered impact windows as a burglar deterrent until I read some discussions here and elsewhere.
I’m in South Florida (Broward County), and by code we have to have either shutters or impact glass when replacing windows. My house was built in 1998 and has original windows with shutters currently. When I replace them, I’ll likely do impact windows because I don’t want to rely on those clunky shutters anymore (some are getting rusty).

I don’t have my quotes yet (still researching), but many neighbors have used Karoly Windows & Doors or ASP Windows in our area. Neighbors’ feedback:

Karoly Windows & Doors did a full impact window install for a friend’s 2-story home for about $30k (20 windows + 2 sliders). Quality was top-notch and they handled all permits and inspections smoothly.

Another neighbor got a cheaper quote from a lesser-known company and ended up with leaks and had to fight for fixes. Yikes.
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So one takeaway: go with a reputable installer even if it’s not the cheapest. And ask about warranty and service – like if there’s an issue, will they come promptly? Impact windows, if installed wrong, can leak or have water intrusion. You want a company that stands behind their work.

Once I get my own quotes (which I expect to be high around here), I’ll share them. But seeing everyone’s numbers, it seems Florida quotes are in the $1k+ per window range for impact, which matches what neighbors told me.

Great thread! I’m not in FL, but in coastal Georgia. We get the occasional hurricane threat (Matthew, etc.), so I opted to replace my windows last year too (1996-built home, 12 windows total).
I got:

Quote for non-impact MI Windows: $8,200

Quote for impact-rated WinCore (a brand I hadn’t heard of before): $13,500

Quote for impact PGT from a company that came from Jacksonville: $15,000 (they traveled up, higher cost)
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I actually chose the middle quote, WinCore impact windows at $13.5k. They were mid-range in price and the company was very informative but not pushy. So far so good: no issues through a couple of strong storms. I did notice the UV coating on the new windows means less furniture fading, which is nice.

One thing I’ll add: If you do non-impact windows + shutters, remember you’ll need to have those shutters or panels ready for use and someone able to put them up. My parents are older and they went non-impact with aluminum panels; now they struggle to install them when a storm is coming. So consider future you. If you plan to live there into old age, impact windows might be worth it just for the ease and safety of not dealing with shutters under duress.

This thread is making me feel better about spending the extra for impact. It hurt the wallet at the time, but every time a storm is in the news, I’m relieved I have them.

Hey all, contractor-turned-homeowner here (I used to install windows in the 2000s). It’s interesting to see the cost differences nowadays. A few insights from my experience that might help:
Labor and install complexity: Impact windows usually have beefier frames and can require extra reinforcement or larger anchors, especially on older homes. A late-90s home might have wood frame construction or block. Installers might charge more if they have to do concrete drilling for anchors (common in FL block homes). That adds cost beyond just the window price.

Full replacement vs inserts: If your old windows have frames in good shape, some companies do “retrofit inserts” (less labor, leave the old frame in). But in 90s homes, those frames are often not great or not up to current code, so full tear-out and replacement is done. Full replacement costs more but is usually better long-term.

Permitting and code: In places like Florida, pulling a permit and getting inspections is required. Impact window installations usually need proof of product approval and sometimes engineering for the opening. That paperwork can add to cost (time = money). Non-impact with shutters also needs permit but then you’re dealing with two things (window + shutter permits).

Cost-saving tip: If you have a tight budget, consider doing the replacement in phases (e.g., first floor this year, second floor next year) or as others said, mixing impact and non-impact strategically. Just check with insurance – partial protection might not yield any discount unless all openings are covered.
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From a professional perspective, if you’re in a hurricane-prone area or even Tornado Alley, I’d lean impact glass for the safety factor. For elsewhere, base it on your security concerns and budget. Modern non-impact windows are still very strong (just will shatter if hit hard, whereas impact glass cracks but holds together).

As for quotes, it’s normal that a big-brand company might quote double what a local outfit will. Often you’re paying for their marketing and overhead. A company like Karoly Windows (mentioned above) or other local guys often can do the same job for less and sometimes with more personalized service. Do your homework on the installers’ reputations. A well-installed mid-priced window is better than a poorly-installed fancy window!

We replaced 8 windows in our 1997-built home in New Jersey recently. Not hurricane territory, but we wanted better energy efficiency and some soundproofing (live near a busy road). We considered the impact glass for sound reduction actually.
Our quotes (per window):

Standard double-pane vinyl: ~$600 each installed.

Laminated (impact-style) glass in the same vinyl frames: ~$900 each installed.
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We took a leap and did laminated acoustic/impact glass for the front-facing windows (4 of them) to cut noise, and regular double-pane for the rest. Small job compared to some here, but wow, the front rooms are a lot quieter now. If anyone is considering impact windows for noise, I can confirm it helps a lot.

One downside: those impact glass units were heavier and the installers had to adjust the balance mechanism so they open smoothly. Initially one window was hard to slide because the heavier glass wasn’t balanced right, but the company fixed it promptly.

No regrets. For us it was more about noise and security than storms. As a bonus, these laminated glass windows supposedly block more UV and have slightly better insulation (a slightly higher STC and lower U-factor, according to the specs the sales guy showed).