When you are in the market for replacement windows in West Richland, WA, you might notice black windows are more expensive than white ones.

They tend to be 10-16% higher than white window frames and other color window frame options. Sure, they give a significant premium upgrade to any house, but is that enough for the price difference?

We’ve detailed the reasons why black replacement windows are more expensive below.

1.  The Color

When manufacturers make a window, the original color is basic white, which most people have in their homes.

To turn it black, the manufacturer will have to add the color deliberately. That’s extra costs in hours and material.

Since more money has gone into the product, the manufacturer has to increase its price to make up for it. How much that would be, depends on the window type.

There are different versions of black windows, which complete the manufacturing process. Some simply add a black veneer after, while others add a black eye to the original material before it’s turned into windows.

Another way is to layer the manufactured white window with a black coating. The result isn’t great quality, but the pricing adjustment still applies.

Because of that, retailers order fewer black windows, which makes them scarce and expensive.

2. Limited Options

Retailers prefer to stock products that will sell no matter what, and white windows are precisely that. More people like them and thus are willing to pay for them.

Black windows aren’t, and retail stores can’t guarantee that they will find buyers. Stocking black windows means spending money that they could use on white ones.

Therefore, to make up the difference, they raise the price to ensure whatever black windows they can sell covers the amount they would have made on white windows.

This economics contributes to the lower demand, and because of that, few manufacturers make them. Milgard, Pella, and Andersen are some of the notable ones.

Without a lot of competition in this space, homeowners have limited options when it comes to style, quality, and pricing.

3. High-end product image

Unlike white windows, which are considered a standard, everyday color for windows, black windows are considered a high-end product.

They are from the Victorian era, where having them in your home meant you were part of the higher class. Black windows were put on large houses with many rooms to make them look more expensive.

Though this is no longer the case, the perception still shapes the price. And because many people still see it as a high-end product, the higher price doesn’t matter to people who want the style regardless.

The higher price is good for some people because it is a way to flash their wealth. And so black replacement windows remain more expensive than other colors.

Still, if you can afford it, they are worth the expense and when you are ready to buy, visit us. We sell and install black replacement windows in West Richland, WA, with products from Andersen and Milgard. Call us for a free in-home consultation today.