Quote validity

How Long a Window Quote Lasts

quote is a snapshot of a price on a particular day, and prices move. Knowing how long yours is valid — and getting that in writing — is what stops the figure quietly shifting between the survey and the order. Here is what sets the clock, and how to keep it in your favour.

A dated window quote document with a pen and reading glasses on a desk — The date at the top of the quote is where the validity period begins.

There is no single legal shelf life for a window quote. Each installer sets its own validity period, and it should be stated on the document. In practice many firms hold their price for somewhere around 30 to 90 days, but that is a convention rather than a rule — some are shorter, a few are longer, and any figure a salesperson gives verbally means little unless it is written down. Treat the stated validity as one of the terms you compare, alongside the specification and the guarantee.

What sets the validity period

Material and energy prices — glass, aluminium and uPVC costs fluctuate, so firms cap how long they will honour a figure.
Currency and supply — imported components mean exchange rates and lead times feed into pricing.
Promotional pricing — a quote tied to a seasonal offer may lapse when the offer does, which is different from the underlying price expiring.
Whether a survey has happened — a pre-survey estimate is inherently more provisional than a post-survey quote.

Estimate versus firm quote

The word on the document matters. An estimate is an educated figure that can change; a quote is meant to be a firm price for defined work. A measured technical survey usually sits between the two, confirming access and dimensions before the number is fixed. Read the “subject to survey” wording carefully — a fair clause confirms measurements, it does not license the price to drift. We unpack that section in the anatomy of a double glazing quote.

How to keep the price held

Ask for the validity period in writing on the quote itself, with a clear expiry date.
Confirm whether the price is fixed after survey or could still change, and what could trigger a change.
If you need longer to decide, ask directly whether the firm will extend the validity — many will, especially outside peak demand.
Watch for “today only” discounts. A price engineered to vanish by the end of the visit is a pressure tactic, covered in window quote mistakes to avoid, not a real deadline.

A wall calendar with a window survey date circled in pen — Note the expiry date the moment the quote arrives, so it never lapses by accident.

A signed window installation contract resting on a desk — A price held in writing is only as good as the expiry date printed beside it.

Timing your decision

Validity interacts with the calendar. If you gather quotes just before a busy season, a short validity can pressure you into deciding before diaries fill. Reading up first — then requesting quotes when you are ready to act — keeps you on the front foot. Our chapter on the best time of year for window quotes explains how demand shifts through the year, and the complete window quote guide ties the timing to the rest of the process.

When you are ready to gather figures, you can compare quotes from different firms, or go direct for a faster quote, and if the frame choice affects your spec, our ranked verdicts on window materials can help you settle it before the validity clock starts.