Things to know
Emergency board-up and full reglazing are two different jobs with two different urgency profiles, and pricing them as one blurs both. A same-day board-up secures the property immediately. The actual glass replacement often has to wait on a made-to-measure sealed unit. Quote these as separate lines, one urgent and cheap, one scheduled and the real cost, and you set honest expectations from the first phone call.
Standard stock glass can often be cut and fitted same day, but double-glazed sealed units are usually made to order and can take one to two weeks depending on the supplier. State this lead time explicitly on the quote. A customer expecting next-day service for a bespoke sealed unit is the single most common source of frustration in glazing work.
Flag where building regulations require safety glass, such as in and beside doors or in low-level glazing near the floor, instead of assuming a customer knows the rules. This is a genuine compliance point, not upselling. Naming it on the quote protects you if a cheaper, non-compliant installation was ever the alternative being compared against.
Removing and safely disposing of broken glass is real, specialist waste handling, not something to fold silently into the fitting price. It is also where a quote can quietly grow if a break is worse than it first appeared. A broken-out disposal line keeps that visible instead of absorbed into your labour margin.
Typical glazier line items and UK prices
Indicative ranges, excluding VAT. Rates vary by region (London and the South East run higher) and by job size.
| Item | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency board-up (out of hours) | per visit | £100–£200 |
| Replace double-glazed sealed unit (standard size) | per unit | £120–£250 |
| Toughened safety glass unit | per unit | £150–£300 |
| uPVC window, supplied + fitted (standard casement) | per window | £450–£900 |
| Composite front door, supplied + fitted | per door | £1,200–£2,500 |
| Single glazing repair (picture/sash pane) | per pane | £60–£150 |
| Window hardware (hinges/locks) repair | per window | £50–£120 |
Common glazier jobs and how to price them
- Misted units
- Per unit by size and glass type, with a measure visit first.
- Emergency board-ups
- Fixed call-out by time of day, with reglaze quoted afterwards.
- Replacement windows and doors
- Fixed price per opening, with FENSA or Certass certificate included.
- Shopfront and commercial glazing
- Per pane with access equipment and out-of-hours rates.
Regulations and certificates to reference
- Building Regulations (replacement windows) — replacing whole windows or doors in England is controlled work; FENSA or Certass members self-certify. Replacement windows must meet Part L energy standards (U-value 1.4 W/m²K or better).
- Part K safety glazing — glass in critical locations (doors, side panels, low-level glazing) must be toughened or laminated. Specify it on the quote.
- Part F ventilation and Part B escape — replacement windows must not reduce ventilation (trickle vents where needed), and upper-floor habitable rooms may need escape-sized opening windows.
- Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 — replacement window sales in the home have a 14-day cancellation right — but made-to-measure windows started inside the period with the customer’s request can be charged.
Payment terms glaziers commonly use
- Made-to-measure units: deposit to order (often 25–50%), balance on fitting.
- Emergency board-ups: payment on the day; insurance customers invoiced with photos.
Read more: Invoice payment terms explained · Payment methods to offer clients
VAT and CIS for glaziers
VAT
Standard-rated at 20% once registered. Replacement windows are not energy-saving materials for VAT, even with high-performance glazing.
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
Glazing installation on a building project is within CIS when you subcontract to a contractor.
General guidance, not tax advice — check your position with HMRC or an accountant.
Read more: Do I need to charge VAT on my invoices? · What must an invoice include? (UK legal requirements)
What this template includes
- Emergency board-up priced separately from full reglaze
- Sealed unit lead time noted where relevant
- Safety/building-regs glass flagged where required
- Broken glass removal and disposal
- PDF download or shareable tracked link
Full guide
How to Start a Glazing Business as a Sole Trader
Frequently asked questions
Yes, in England. Members of competent person schemes such as FENSA or Certass self-certify and register the work, and the customer receives a certificate. Otherwise building control must be involved.
In critical locations: doors, glazing next to doors, and low-level panes. Part K requires toughened or laminated glass there. Specify it on the quote.
Yes. Replacing a sealed unit in an existing frame is usually a repair, not controlled work. Replacing the whole window is controlled work.
Emergency board-ups need someone on call with stock and a van, at night and at weekends. The call-out reflects that.
They have different urgency: board-up secures the property same day, while a sealed unit is usually made to order and takes longer. Separating them sets honest expectations from the first call.
Standard stock glass can often be same-day; made-to-order double-glazed sealed units typically take one to two weeks. This should be stated on the quote to avoid frustration.
In and beside doors, and in low-level glazing near the floor, under building regulations. A glazier should flag this on the quote rather than assume the customer knows.
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