Window Glass Replacement
Window glass replacement is the fix for a crack or break — it almost never means the window is done. We replace just the glass — single-pane, double-pane or tempered — cut to fit your existing frame — typically $300–$800, compared with $800–$2,500+ for a new window.
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- All window types & brands
- Fully insured
- Price match
Signs You Need Window Glass Replacement
Single-pane glass
The clear glass found in older windows and many basement, garage, and outbuilding windows.
Double-pane units
Insulated glass units (IGUs) for energy efficiency — replaced as a sealed unit to restore insulation.
Tempered safety glass
Required by code near doors, stairs, tubs, and floor level — fitted to keep your home compliant and safe.
Obscured & low-E glass
Frosted privacy glass for bathrooms, and energy-efficient low-E glass to match your existing performance.
Before We Arrive: What to Check
- Check whether the glass has a small etched stamp in a corner — that tells us if it is tempered.
- Photograph the window and measure the visible glass (width × height) so we can quote faster.
If it's urgent — until we arrive
- Tape the crack on both sides with clear packing tape to keep it from spreading until the repair.
- Cover a fully broken opening with plywood or heavy plastic and duct tape to keep weather out.
A Broken Window Pane Is a Glass Problem, Not a Window Problem
When a window cracks or shatters, the glass is the only thing that failed — the frame, sash, and hardware are almost always perfectly fine. There's no reason to buy a whole new window when the pane is what needs replacing.
Window glass breaks for all kinds of reasons: a stray ball or stone, a slammed sash, storm debris, an attempted break-in, or a stress crack — the kind that appears seemingly on its own when trapped tension and temperature swings finally overcome the glass.
However it happened, the fix is the same in principle: remove the damaged glass, prepare the opening, and fit new glass cut precisely to your window's dimensions.
Beyond the obvious, a cracked pane is worth addressing quickly for two reasons. First, safety — cracked glass can give way suddenly and shatter. Second, performance — a crack breaks the window's seal and insulation, and on a double-pane unit it lets moisture in, leading to fogging on top of the crack.
The glass we replace
We handle every common residential glass type and match the replacement to what your window actually needs — including the correct thickness and any code-required safety glass:
Whether it's a cracked window pane, a broken window from a ball or a storm, or glass that has shattered completely, window pane replacement almost never requires a new window. We replace single-pane glass in older sashes — cut to fit and reglazed — and order new double-pane insulated units for modern windows.
Tempered safety glass is used wherever building code requires it. We work on homes only — residential windows and doors — not storefront or commercial glass, and not auto glass.
Not sure this is your problem? Use our window triage guide — pick the symptom and see the likely cause and cost. Related reading: Emergency board-up for broken windowsDoor glass replacementBasement window repair
How We Replace Broken Window Glass
Measure & Identify
We measure the opening exactly and identify the glass type your window needs — including whether code requires tempered safety glass.
Secure If Needed
For a fully broken window, we secure the opening right away so your home stays protected while the new glass is prepared.
Cut to Exact Size
New glass is cut precisely to your window's dimensions and specification, so it fits and seals the way the original did.
Install & Seal
The new pane is set into your existing frame, sealed weathertight, and finished clean — backed by our warranty.
How the glass comes out and goes back in, without removing the window:
- Sealed glass unit (2 panes)
- Spacer & seal — keeps gas in
- Glazing tape — cushions glass
- Glazing bead — snaps out for new glass
- Single pane — one layer of glass
- Glazing putty — beveled seal, cracks with age
- Glazier’s point: hidden metal clip
- Sealed glass unit — two (or three) panes bonded together — the part replaced when it fogs or cracks.
- Spacer & seal — the edge seal that keeps gas in and moisture out; when it fails, the glass fogs.
- Glazing bead — snap-in strips that hold the glass; they pop out so the glass can be replaced without removing the window.
- Glazing tape / setting blocks — cushion and seal the glass in the sash.
- Single pane — one layer of glass, common in older wood windows and storm windows.
- Glazing putty — the beveled seal on old wood sashes; it cracks with age. Reglazing
- Glazier's points — small metal clips hidden under the putty that hold the glass in place.
We take out the bead or putty, set the new glass and reseal — the frame and sash stay.
We replace only the glass — the frame, sash and trim stay where they are.
From Our Jobs
Jobs that need a professional
- Pulling broken glass out of the sash — shards break unpredictably and cut deep.
- Replacing tempered or safety glass near doors, stairs or tubs — code requires the same rating.
- Cutting new glass yourself for double-pane windows — sealed units must be made by a glass shop.
- Any glass above the first floor — ladder work with a heavy pane is a real injury risk.
Glass for Every Window Type
We replace glass in every kind of window: vinyl, wood, clad and aluminum frames; double-hung, casement, awning, sliding and fixed picture windows; bay and bow windows; and patio doors. Failed seals are especially common in the vinyl and clad windows of 1990s–2000s homes. The frame stays — only the glass is new.
Window Glass Replacement Cost
Typical prices
Per window · typical local prices| Glass replacement — standard shapes | $300–$800 |
| Glass replacement — custom or odd shapes | $500–$1,500 |
| Sash repair if the frame was damaged too | $400–$700 |
Repair vs. a new window, per window
A replacement company sees a cracked window and quotes a new unit. But glass replacement fixes exactly what broke — the pane — while keeping your existing frame, sash, and hardware. You avoid paying for a whole new window plus removal and interior and exterior finishing.
Cost depends on the size of the pane, the glass type (single, double, tempered, or specialty), and how accessible the window is. What's consistent is the value: replacing glass costs a small fraction of replacing the window, and for a straightforward pane it's often a quick job.
We confirm the glass type and exact measurements, then give you an estimate before any work begins — no surprises, and no pressure to replace what isn't broken.
Why glass breaks around here
Hail, wind-blown branches and ice falling from gutters are the usual culprits in northern Illinois, along with stress cracks that start at the edge of old glass during the first hard freeze. Older homes in Crystal Lake, Woodstock and Carpentersville often have single-pane sashes where the glass is held by glazing putty — those can almost always be reglazed rather than replaced.
Warranty on New Window Glass
Parts we don't make (cranks, balances, locks) carry only their supplier's warranty. Leaks from roofs, flashing or siding aren't window defects. Full warranty terms Read our reviews
Who does the work
- Our own technicians — no subcontractors.
- About 10 years in the trade, on every kind of window and door.
- The same people who give the estimate come back to do the work.
Got a quote to replace these windows?
Send it to us before you sign. We'll tell you — free — whether a repair would solve it for less.
What Customers Say
"Local Window Service was fantastic. Every other company i reached out to was trying to get me to replace a minimum of 2 entire windows which could take a minimum of 2 weeks to get everything needed. I only needed the glass replaced for one window..
When I spoke with Igor, he helped me assess my situation over the phone and gave me options to take care of the crack on the window. He came out next day and finished the glass replacement in only a few hours.
I cannot recommend this company enough. Igor was outstanding and the workmanship is unmatched. I will definitely be recommending them and using them when I need it in the future!"
"Igor responded to my first call quickly, and did exactly what he said he would do. Fair pricing. Great work! Will use him again."
Window Glass Replacement Questions
Window Glass Replacement Near You
Based in Lake in the Hills — we do window glass replacement in Lake in the Hills and 35+ nearby towns, within about 30 miles. Find yours:
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Tap a town to open its page. The dashed ring shows about 30 miles from Lake in the Hills.
Broken Pane? Keep the Window.
Call, text, or send a photo. You'll know what's wrong and roughly what it costs — before anyone comes out.
★★★★★ 4.9 from 145+ reviews · 20-year glass warranty · Price match