For a broken window in Madison, do three things now: keep people and pets away from the glass, photograph the damage, then cover the opening and ask a glass company for help. To be connected with one, send the quote form on this page or call. Broken glass repair usually runs about $200 to $400 per repair, with an average of $300 (This Old House, with Angi data, June 2026). Replacing the glass in a window runs about $181 to $414 (HomeAdvisor, June 2026). Board-up is priced separately in the cost table below. These are national ranges, not Madison quotes.
How long the fix takes depends on the glass and on the company, and no source used here gives a Madison timeline. Madison Window Repair is a referral service and does not send a crew. You pay Madison Window Repair nothing for the request or the call.
Call (804) 889-2677 or send the quote form on this page. We call you back within one business day and connect you with a local window repair company.
What qualifies as a glass emergency?
Three questions sort it out.
- Is anyone at risk? Loose shards, a pane hanging in the frame, or broken glass near a hallway, a child's room or a pet's bed all count.
- Is the opening exposed? A missing or shattered pane leaves the opening open to weather and to the outside.
- Is it getting worse? Tell the company if a crack is spreading, and ask whether that changes the job.
If any answer is yes, treat it as home emergency glass repair. Typical cases that call for shattered window repair or broken window repair are a shattered window, a missing pane, a large or spreading crack, a break-in, storm or hail damage, and broken glass in a door. For a planned glass job with no urgency, see window glass replacement.
What to do right now: keep people and pets away, clean up safely, cover the opening, photograph the damage, call your insurer
If a window breaks, do these steps in order.
- Keep people and pets away. Close the door to the room if you can.
- Photograph the damage. Take wide and close pictures before you move anything, for your own records and your insurer. The Triple-I and Wisconsin OCI steps below both say to document the damage.
- Clean up safely. One vinyl-window repair guide advises heavy-duty gloves and eye protection for handling broken glass (EngineerFix, a guide, not a code). No official household cleanup source was found.
- Cover the opening. The same guide uses wide painter's tape across broken glass to contain shards while a unit is removed. Ask the company how to cover the opening until it arrives.
- Save receipts for any temporary repairs.
- Call your insurer if you plan to file, then ask for a glass company. Send the quote form on this page or call, and tell the company the window type, its size, which floor it is on and what is broken.
If the window was broken in a break-in, read the next section first.
Break-in: who to call in Madison
The Madison Police Department says to call 911 in an emergency or if a crime is happening now. For a break-in that has already happened, it points to its non-emergency dispatch line. The number is on the Madison Police reporting page. The department also has an online self-report form. Its report-an-incident page says the form is for non-emergency situations only. That page does not say whether it covers burglary or property damage, so ask the dispatch line first. Anonymous tips go to Madison Area Crime Stoppers. Keep the police report for your claim (see the insurance section). For break in window repair or any window repair after break in, ask the company what it needs from you.
Board-up versus same-visit glass replacement
These are the routes a company may offer. Which one you get depends on the glass and on the company. There are three: board-up now with glass later, emergency glass repair in one visit, and a full emergency window replacement if the frame or sash is also damaged. The last needs a building permit in Madison (see the rules section).
Board-up: what it is, when it's used (glass not in stock), how long it stays: what the sources cover
No source read says when a company uses a board-up or how long it stays, so ask when it would board up and how long the board would hold. The wait depends on lead time. One guide says a custom sealed unit is typically ordered and takes one to three weeks to arrive (EngineerFix, retrieved 2026-10-24). A Minnesota home inspector's blog reports about two weeks from measuring (StructureTech). Neither is a Madison supplier, so ask the company for its own lead time. That is how long a temporary window board up may have to hold.
If you need to board up windows after storm damage, or to board up a broken window after a break-in, ask what the board is made of, what it covers and what removing it costs. Ask your insurer whether it pays for one; the Triple-I steps below do not name board-up.
When the glass can be replaced in one visit, and when a second visit is needed
Ask whether your glass is on hand or has to be ordered. It may be tempered, laminated, double-pane or an odd size; a custom sealed unit is typically ordered and takes one to three weeks (EngineerFix). Ask what covers the opening until it arrives. If it is ordered, the first visit may only measure and cover the opening. Find out who orders the replacement glass window unit. Ask what the first visit includes and leaves out. Ask what happens if the company finds more damage, and when it would return to set the glass.
Quote, estimate and cleanup: what to ask
Estimates by phone vs the final quote after inspection
Can you get an estimate for a broken window in an emergency? Ask whether the company can give a preliminary estimate by phone, and whether the final quote is set only after it inspects the window. The same goes for an emergency window repair estimate and for emergency broken window glass repair. Have these ready before you send the form or call:
- Window type (double-hung, casement, slider, picture, patio or sliding door, storm door, skylight), and which opening it is.
- Rough size, and which floor it is on.
- Single pane or double pane, if you know.
- Whether the frame, sash or trim is damaged, not just the glass.
- Whether you want to use your insurance.
Glass type changes the job. Glass Doctor covers annealed, tempered and laminated glass, and EngineerFix says a custom sealed unit is typically ordered and takes one to three weeks. No source says which companies work on skylights, patio doors or storm doors, so ask before you book. For sliding glass door glass replacement or patio door glass repair, say what glass the door uses. Routine storm window and screen work is on storm window repair; businesses with broken storefront glass should read storefront glass repair.
Ask for a written emergency glass repair estimate that lists the glass type, the labor, any board-up charge and any extra for the frame. Do not accept a price that says only "glass repair."
Cleanup of broken glass
Ask whether cleanup and hauling away of the broken glass is in the quote, and what happens to glass still held in the frame. What you find on the floor depends on the glass. Glass Doctor describes annealed glass as breaking into large, sharp, unpredictable shards, and tempered glass into small, dull ones (Glass Doctor, retrieved 2026-10-24). Laminated glass holds the pieces together on a plastic layer.
After-hours and weekend service: availability depends on the company
Ask what hours the company works and when it could come out. Nothing on this page promises availability.
Emergency window repair cost and emergency glass replacement cost in Madison
No Madison price for emergency glass work is published in the sources used here. These are dated national and market ranges that show what moves the price.
| Item | Range | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Window repair labor | $30 to $90 per hour | HomeAdvisor, repair windows, June 17, 2026 |
| Cracked or broken glass repair | $75 to over $2,000 per window | HomeAdvisor, June 17, 2026 |
| Broken glass repair | $200 to $400, average $300 | This Old House (Angi data), June 23, 2026 |
| Window glass replacement | $181 to $414 per window, average $285 | HomeAdvisor, replace window glass, June 19, 2026 |
| Tempered glass | $200 to $600 per window | HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026 |
| Laminated glass | $300 to $600 per window | HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026 |
| Glass installer labor | $50 to $75 per hour | HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026 |
| Board-up, per window | $150 to $500 | Chicago list, Oct 23, 2026 |
| Board-up, per home incident | $300 to $800 | Chicago list, Oct 23, 2026 |
| Plywood, materials only | $20 to $70 per sheet | Chicago list, Oct 23, 2026 |
The three board-up rows come from one Chicago restoration company's cost page, which says they are not its set rates. They are not Madison prices and no independent source confirms them; read them only as a market signal. That company prices board-up either per window or per incident, so ask which one a quote uses.
Cost: emergency labor rates vs regular, plus the glass
Regular window repair labor runs $30 to $90 per hour and glass installer labor $50 to $75 per hour (table above). HomeAdvisor says emergency service can run double or triple the hourly rate. It gives no dollar figure, so none is computed here. Ask whether the glass price includes labor.
What moves the price
- Glass type. Tempered glass is $200 to $600 and laminated glass $300 to $600 per window (HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026).
- Frame damage. Ask what happens to the price if the sash or frame is also damaged.
- Window type, size, floor and a second visit. Ask whether the quote changes with each, and what the emergency window board up cost is as a separate line.
For the cost of emergency glass repair, ask for the cover, the glass and the labor as separate lines.
Insurance claims: documentation, deductibles, who files
Does homeowners insurance cover window glass repair or replacement? Ask your insurer whether your policy covers it; this page cannot say.
The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) gives these steps for a homeowners claim (retrieved 2026-10-24). For burglary window repair, the second one applies:
- Phone your insurance professional right away. Ask whether you are covered, how long you have to file and how long processing takes.
- For theft, burglary or vandalism, file a police report and note the officers' names.
- Check your deductible against the cost of the repair. If the repair costs less than your deductible, filing a claim may not be worth it.
- Photograph or videotape the damage.
- Take reasonable steps to protect the property from further damage, and save every receipt for temporary repairs.
- Do not throw out damaged items until the adjuster has visited. Ask your insurer whether that includes the broken glass.
The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) gives similar steps after storm damage: notify your insurance agent or company right away and list the damaged property (OCI, July 28, 2026, retrieved 2026-10-24). It also lists a complaint line for problems with an agent, adjuster or insurer.
For contractor vetting, OCI says to make sure a contractor is licensed and to check with the Better Business Bureau. It also says to check for complaints with DATCP. Take a step back if you feel pressured to sign quickly (OCI, After a Storm Hits, retrieved 2026-10-24; also OCI, 2018). Neither page says whether temporary repairs or board-up are covered, so ask your insurer.
Should you contact your insurer before you call a glass company? If you plan to file, call the insurer early. As for who files, the policyholder notifies the insurer; ask whether it deals with a glass company directly. That depends on your policy.
How to choose an emergency window repair company
Before you say yes to an emergency glass company or any emergency window repair company, get these in writing.
- Itemized price. Board-up, glass, labor, cleanup and any frame work as separate lines.
- Glass type. Plain, tempered, laminated or a sealed double-pane unit.
- What happens if the frame is damaged or rotted once the glass is out, and who tells you the new price before work goes on.
- Permit. Whether the job needs one, and who pulls it.
- Lead-safe certification if the home was built before 1978.
- The state license check described below.
Wisconsin's safety-glazing rule was not read for this page; ask the company and Madison Building Inspection.
See Contact for how to send the quote form or call, or read about window glass replacement to compare the glass-only route.
Madison and Wisconsin rules that touch a window repair
Permits for storm damaged window repair and replacement
The City of Madison permit chart lists "Windows and frames - replace" as needing a permit (City of Madison permits, retrieved 2026-10-18). Its storm-damage page says a building permit is required for replacing roofing, siding and windows, and that a permit is not required for small repairs under $500 in estimated value (City of Madison storm damage). That is the page to check for hail damaged window repair or any storm damage. The chart has no row for glass-only work. It has no notes column either, so it does not say a glass-only swap is exempt. For glass-only work, contact Zoning staff.
For a commercial building, the city's non-residential repairs page lists windows and frames and doors as permit items and says that for general repairs over $500 you contact Building Inspection. That line is not an exemption, and the page does not mention storefront glazing.
If a new window goes into the same opening with no change to the opening, owners of one- and two-family homes can apply online (City of Madison online permits). Adding, removing or resizing a window needs plan review. A contractor with a new online account has to have staff link the license to the account first. If your home is outside Madison, ask that town's building inspection office what it requires.
Checking the company
Madison says contractors working on one- and two-family homes must hold a Wisconsin state license, and suggests using the state's online lookup before they pull permits. Do that check on the company that is sent to you. The city's page does not say which credential covers window glass work.
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services says a building permit for a one- or two-family home needs Dwelling Contractor certification and a certified qualifier. The exception is an owner who lives in the home (DSPS Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, retrieved 2026-10-18). A dwelling contractor must carry a bond of at least $25,000 or general liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence (DSPS Dwelling Contractor). The DSPS pages do not say whether a window-only job is a permit job; that depends on the municipality.
Contracts
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection lists what a home improvement contract should contain: the company's name and address, a full description of the job, the total price, and start and completion dates (DATCP home improvement tips). It also says that if you sign a contract over $25 at home, you have three business days to cancel. The page does not name windows as a covered job, so ask the company how this applies.
Older homes: lead-safe rules for glass work
Pre-1978 homes may have lead paint, and old window glazing is often painted. The Dane County public health office names homes built before 1978 as the most common source of lead exposure (Public Health Madison & Dane County).
The U.S. EPA says replacing a pane of glass or fixing a balance is "not a window replacement." The job can still fall under the lead-safe rule if it disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room. The glazing holding older panes is typically painted and must be removed. That removed part counts toward the 6 square feet (EPA window repair FAQ, retrieved 2026-10-18).
EPA also says window replacement is always covered, whatever the size (EPA RRP contractors page, retrieved 2026-10-18). Wisconsin DHS lists the covered pre-1978 jobs. They are interior work over 6 square feet of painted surface per room, outside work over 20 square feet, window replacement, or demolition (DHS hire a contractor). Both the company and the individual workers need certification (Wisconsin DHS).
If your home is older, ask the company that comes for a broken pane whether it is certified for lead-safe work. DHS suggests checking its certified lead company list, which is updated monthly, and getting a written contract. DHS also lists questions to ask. Will you get the EPA Renovate Right pamphlet to sign for? How will the company contain the work area? How will it clean up and check that the area is safe? Keep copies of the certifications, the signed pamphlet form and the cleaning verification.
Historic districts
Madison has five local historic districts: First Settlement, Mansion Hill, Marquette Bungalows, Third Lake Ridge and University Heights (City of Madison historic preservation). Exterior changes on locally designated properties need Landmarks Commission approval, called a Certificate of Approval, before the building permit. The Commission reviews projects that change the outside of a landmark or a building in a local historic district. A property is covered if its zoning ends in a suffix such as HIS-L, HIS-UH or H (City of Madison, Landmarks Commission, retrieved 2026-10-24). Check your parcel's zoning before ordering a replacement window.
The city's historic district standards (an undated PDF) say original decorative windows shall be repaired and retained. Original windows may be replaced only when too deteriorated or hazardous to repair. Maintenance-only projects need no Certificate of Approval, and staff can approve repairs administratively. Deteriorated or broken window components shall be repaired. A historic single-glazed sash may be modified to take insulated glass in limited cases. Ask the Preservation Planner before you replace a sash.
Why an open pane matters in a Madison winter
The Wisconsin State Climatology Office lists Madison's January normal low at 11.8 F and 51.8 inches of snow a year (1991-2020 normals). It also counts 7,138 heating degree days a year, base 65 (State Climatology Office, retrieved 2026-10-18). No source used here gives a heat-loss figure for one open pane, so none is claimed.
Preventing break-ins through windows: laminated glass, locks, film, sensors
Viwinco describes laminated glass as staying in place when cracked and as used for noise and break-in resistance, and tempered glass as about four to five times stronger than annealed (Viwinco, retrieved 2026-10-24). Laminated glass is listed at $300 to $600 per window in the table. Ask the company about locks, security film and sensors for the broken window too. No security rating is claimed here for any of these.
Frequently asked questions
How much does emergency glass repair cost?
Broken glass repair averages $300 nationally, with a $200 to $400 range (This Old House, June 2026). Window glass replacement runs $181 to $414 per window (HomeAdvisor, June 2026). No Madison price was found.
Why does emergency window repair cost more than a regular visit?
HomeAdvisor says emergency service can run double or triple the hourly rate. Regular repair labor is $30 to $90 per hour (HomeAdvisor, June 2026), so ask for the labor and the glass as separate lines.
Who do I call to report a break-in through a window in Madison?
Call 911 if it is happening now. For one that already happened, use the non-emergency dispatch line on the Madison Police reporting page. The online self-report form is for non-emergencies and the police page does not say it covers break-ins, so ask first.
Should I contact my insurance before I call a glass company for window glass replacement?
Wisconsin's insurance commissioner tells storm victims to notify the agent or company right away, and Triple-I says to compare the repair cost with your deductible first. If the repair costs less than the deductible, a claim may not be worth it.
Does a Madison window repair need a permit?
Madison says replacing windows needs a building permit and small repairs under $500 do not. The chart has no glass-only row and does not say a glass-only swap is exempt, so ask the company or Zoning staff. For commercial buildings, the city's "repairs over $500, contact Building Inspection" line is not an exemption.
Does a company need lead-safe certification in a pre-1978 home?
Wisconsin requires company and worker certification for covered work, and EPA says window replacement is always covered. A pane repair can be covered if it disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room.
How do I check a window company's license in Madison?
Madison says contractors on one- and two-family homes must hold a state license and suggests the state's online lookup. Wisconsin requires a dwelling contractor to carry a bond of at least $25,000 or liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence (DSPS).
Can I cancel a contract signed at home after a window breaks?
DATCP says a contract over $25 signed at home carries three business days to cancel. The page does not name windows, so ask the company how it applies.
Does a window repair in a Madison historic district need approval?
Exterior changes on locally designated properties need a Certificate of Approval before the building permit. Maintenance-only projects do not, and staff can approve repairs administratively. Check your zoning suffix first (HIS-L, HIS-UH or H).
Send the quote form on this page or call. Cover the opening first.
Call (804) 889-2677 or send the quote form on this page. We call you back within one business day and connect you with a local window repair company. Cover the opening before you call.
Sources
- HomeAdvisor, window repair cost (June 17, 2026)
- HomeAdvisor, window glass replacement cost (June 19, 2026)
- This Old House, window repair cost (June 23, 2026)
- Board-up cost page of one Chicago restoration company (not a Madison price) (retrieved 2026-10-23)
- Triple-I, how to file a homeowners claim (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- Wisconsin State Climatology Office, Madison climate (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- City of Madison, storm damage (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- City of Madison, permits (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- City of Madison, online permits (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- City of Madison, historic preservation (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Wisconsin DATCP, home improvement tips (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- EPA, window repair and the RRP rule (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- EPA, Renovation, Repair and Painting program for contractors (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Wisconsin DHS, hire a contractor (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Wisconsin DHS, lead-safe renovation (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Wisconsin DSPS, Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Wisconsin DSPS, Dwelling Contractor (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- Public Health Madison & Dane County, lead exposure (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- City of Madison, historic district standards (retrieved 2026-10-18)
- City of Madison Police, reporting (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- City of Madison Police, report an incident (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- Wisconsin OCI, after a storm, July 28, 2026 (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- Wisconsin OCI, storm aftermath, 2018 (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- Wisconsin OCI, After a Storm Hits (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- City of Madison, non-residential repairs and replacements (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- City of Madison, Landmarks Commission and historic districts (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- StructureTech, repairing a window with fogged glass (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- EngineerFix, replacing double-pane glass in a vinyl window (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- Glass Doctor, types of window glass (retrieved 2026-10-24)
- Viwinco, annealed, tempered and laminated glass (retrieved 2026-10-24)