Replacing a window well averages $2,200, with most homeowners paying $1,800 to $3,000 for the well, labor and permit.1,2 A simple plastic well on a standard basement window can come in far lower, around $350 to $600 installed.3 Prices below are national averages* for 2026.
*National averages, not local quotes. The three sources disagree widely on totals, so read the ranges below as a spread, not a single number. Your price depends on well material, size, excavation, drainage and whether the well must meet egress code.
$2,200
average replacement (HomeAdvisor / Angi)
$1,800 – $3,000
typical range (HomeAdvisor / Angi)
$900 – $1,500
labor, about half the total (HomeAdvisor / Angi)
$350 – $600
basic plastic well installed (One and Done Prep)
Cost by well material (HomeAdvisor and Angi)
| Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic | $700 – $1,000 | lightest, cheapest, shortest life |
| Steel | $800 – $1,800 | strong, common for egress |
| Fiberglass | $1,000 – $2,200 | resists rust and corrosion |
| Concrete | $1,500 – $2,800 | custom, longest life |
HomeAdvisor and Angi print the same ranges and the same $2,200 average, which points to a shared dataset, so they count as one source here.1,2 Their material prices appear to include installation, not just the well. One and Done Prep prices the well itself far lower – $40 to $280 for plastic, $90 to $450 for steel, $120 to $500 for concrete – and adds labor separately.3
Itemized costs (One and Done Prep)
| Item | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window well, plastic | $40 | $120 | $280 |
| Window well, steel | $90 | $180 | $450 |
| Window well, concrete | $120 | $250 | $500 |
| Installation labor | $150 | $450 | $1,000 |
| Drainage and piping | $50 | $150 | $400 |
| Grates and covers | $20 | $70 | $200 |
| Permits and inspections | $0 | $80 | $300 |
One and Done Prep totals a basic non-egress plastic well at $350 to $700 installed, and an egress-ready steel or concrete well with a ladder at $900 to $1,400 per unit.3 A second ballpark from Builds and Buys, an anonymous cost site, puts a basic installed well at $500 to $1,000 and an egress well at $1,500 to $3,000, which lines up better with HomeAdvisor and Angi.4 That site is a weaker source, so use it as a sanity check only.
Covers, windows and extras
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic cover | $70 – $200 | HomeAdvisor / Angi |
| Polycarbonate cover | $200 – $300 | HomeAdvisor / Angi |
| Metal grate | $300 – $700 | HomeAdvisor / Angi |
| Egress window itself | $100 – $1,000+ | HomeAdvisor / Angi |
| Permit | $50 – $100 (up to $300) | HomeAdvisor / Angi |
| Enlarging the well (extra excavation) | $500 – $1,000+ | Angi |
| Connecting to a drainage system | $500 – $1,000 more than natural gravel drainage | Angi |
| Debris haul-away | about $50, up to $300 for concrete | Angi |
| Concrete well repair | $150 – $300 | Angi |
| Clearing a clogged well drain | $50 – $100 | Angi |
Angi notes that keeping the new well the same size as the old one avoids the $500 to $1,000 excavation charge, and hauling away the old well yourself can save $50 to $300.2 Soil and access matter too: Builds and Buys lists rocky soil, a high water table and nearby utility lines as the biggest add-ons, so treat its figures as rough.4
DIY or hire
A shallow plastic or steel well on an existing opening is a manageable DIY job if you can dig below the sill, set the well against the foundation, and backfill with gravel for drainage. Anything that enlarges the opening, cuts into foundation wall, or must meet egress rules for a bedroom needs a permit and usually a pro. Home Depot’s window well section shows current prices for ready-made wells (plain link, not affiliate).2,3
Related guides
Egress Window Cost
Basement Waterproofing Cost
Window Replacement Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. HomeAdvisor — Window Well Cost
2. Angi — Window Well Replacement Cost
3. One and Done Prep — Window Wells Cost
4. Builds and Buys — Window Wells Cost Guide