The Window Quote Checker compares up to three window replacement quotes side by side. For each quote you enter the price and tax status, number of windows, frame and glazing, install method, product and installation warranty years, and ten inclusions. It shows price per window, warranties and an inclusion score out of ten, turns missing items into questions, and warns about method, tax and completeness differences.
- Everything the checker shows comes from what you enter; it never invents or suggests prices.
- Price per window is the quoted price divided by the number of windows you enter for that quote.
- Ten inclusions are scored, from ENERGY STAR certification and glass details to trim, capping, disposal, measurement and schedule.
- It names the most complete quote and the lowest price per window, and warns when the lowest price also has the fewest inclusions.
- It warns when installation methods differ (insert vs full-frame are not directly comparable) and when some prices include tax and others do not.
Window Quote Checker
01 /What does the Window Quote Checker do?
The checker puts two or three window quotes into the same format so you can compare them fairly. Window quotes are notoriously hard to compare: one lists a product series and glass package in detail, another gives a single price for 'vinyl windows supplied and installed', a third includes trim and capping while the others are silent. The checker makes those differences visible, then helps you close them by turning each missing item into a question.
It is a comparison worksheet. It does not rate companies, judge whether a price is fair, or add figures of its own. Every number in its output is either one you entered or simple arithmetic on them. For a sense of whether a price is in a sensible range, use the Window Replacement Planner alongside it.
02 /What do you enter for each quote?
| Input | What to enter | Where to find it on the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | The total quoted price | The bottom line of the quote or contract |
| Tax included | Tick if the price includes GST/HST and any provincial sales tax | Look for 'plus tax' or a tax line |
| Number of windows | How many windows and doors the price covers | Count the line items or openings |
| Frame material and glazing | For example vinyl with triple glazing | Product description |
| Install method stated | Insert, full-frame or not stated | Installation or scope section |
| Product warranty (years) | The manufacturer's warranty term you are relying on | Warranty section or brochure |
| Installation warranty (years) | The installer's workmanship warranty | Contract terms |
| Ten inclusions | Tick each item the quote clearly includes | Scope, product and terms sections |
Tick an inclusion only if the quote states it in writing. A salesperson's verbal assurance does not count until it is added to the quote. For warranties, where a product has several terms, such as one for the frame and another for the glass seal, enter the one that matters most to you and note the others; the quotes and warranties guide explains the differences.
03 /Which ten inclusions does it check?
| Inclusion | What 'included' means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| ENERGY STAR certified (Canada) | The quote states the products are ENERGY STAR certified in Canada | Confirms tested, certified performance |
| Low-e and gas fill specified | The low-e coating and argon or krypton fill are written down | Neither can be seen; unwritten means uncheckable |
| Spacer type specified | The spacer material is named | Warm-edge spacers reduce edge condensation |
| Installation method specified | Insert or full-frame, per opening | Different jobs at different prices |
| Interior trim and finishing | New stops, casing or finishing are included | Avoids exposed foam and gaps inside |
| Exterior capping and flashing | Capping or trim, sealant and flashing are included | The water protection; often cut from low quotes |
| Removal and disposal | Old windows and debris are taken away | Avoids a surprise charge or a pile in the yard |
| Brand and series named | The manufacturer and product series are stated | Lets you check ratings and warranty terms |
| Measured by the installer | The company takes final measurements | Puts sizing responsibility on the company |
| Written schedule | Lead time and installation timing are stated | Sets expectations and a basis for follow-up |
A note on the first item: older ENERGY STAR labels and much sales material still refer to climate zones, but under NRCan's current specification (version 5.0, in effect since January 1, 2020), one national requirement applies across Canada — so the checker simply asks whether the products are certified. Tick it when the quote states the products are ENERGY STAR certified in Canada, and see ENERGY STAR window ratings explained and the climate zones page for the background.
04 /What does the checker show?
- A comparison table with, for each quote: price per window, product warranty, installation warranty and inclusions as a score out of ten.
- Questions to ask: each unticked inclusion is rewritten as a question for that company, along the lines of 'Which spacer do these windows use?' or 'Is removal and disposal of the old windows included?'
- Most complete: the quote with the most inclusions.
- Lowest price per window: the quote with the lowest price divided by its window count.
- Warnings when the comparison is not like for like (below).
The checker does not add up or adjust prices for you. If one quote covers ten windows and another eleven, the per-window price makes them comparable in a rough way, but a quote that includes a patio door or bay will naturally have a higher average.
05 /Which warnings can appear?
| Warning | When it appears | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest price has the fewest inclusions | The quote with the lowest price per window also has the lowest inclusion score | Ask that company the generated questions before treating it as the cheapest |
| Install methods differ | Quotes list different methods, such as insert and full-frame: 'insert vs full-frame — not directly comparable' | Ask each company to price the same method, or explain why they chose theirs |
| Tax mix | Some quotes are marked tax included and others are not | Put all prices on the same basis before comparing |
If a quote says 'not stated' for method, treat that as a question in itself. Insert and full-frame installations differ in cost and in what they fix, as explained in insert vs full-frame replacement.
06 /How should you read the results?
- Close the gaps first
Send each company its list of questions and update the entries when they reply. Many 'missing' items turn out to be included but unwritten; ask for them to be added to the quote.
- Align method and tax
Resolve any method or tax warning before comparing prices.
- Compare warranties
Look at both product and installation warranty years, and read what each covers. A longer installation warranty is only as good as the company behind it.
- Then weigh price and completeness
The lowest price per window is only a saving if the scope is the same. The most complete quote is only better if the extra items matter to your house.
- Check the product
With the brand and series named, confirm ENERGY STAR certification on NRCan's searchable product list and compare the ratings.
For what good installation includes, read installation, flashing and sealing. If you have not collected quotes yet, you can request quotes through HAUSE Home, an independent information and service-request network that does not sell or install windows.
07 /What are the checker's limits?
- It cannot tell whether a quote's product claims are true; check certification and ratings yourself.
- It does not judge whether a price is fair; use the planner and the cost guide for context.
- It treats each inclusion as yes or no; the quality of what is included, such as how flashing is done, still needs questions.
- It compares up to three quotes at a time.
- It does not contact installers; the questions it generates are for you to send.
Used together, the planner tells you what the job should roughly cost, and the checker tells you what each offer actually includes. The window replacement cost guide connects the two.
FAQQuestions people ask
How do I compare window replacement quotes?
Put them on the same basis: same windows, same installation method, same tax treatment. Then compare price per window, product and installation warranties, and what each includes. The Window Quote Checker does this for up to three quotes and lists questions for anything missing.
Why is the cheapest window quote not always the best?
Low quotes often leave out items such as exterior capping and flashing, interior trim, disposal or a named product series, or use inserts where others priced full-frame. The checker warns when the lowest price also has the fewest inclusions.
Does the Window Quote Checker suggest prices?
No. It only uses the prices you enter and calculates price per window from them. For a planning range, use the Window Replacement Planner.
What if a quote does not state the installation method?
Enter 'not stated' and ask the company directly. Insert and full-frame installations differ in cost and in what they can fix, so the method should be in writing for every opening.
Should I include tax when entering prices?
Enter each price as written and tick 'tax included' where it applies. The checker warns when the quotes mix tax-included and tax-excluded prices so you can adjust before comparing.
