Guide
Emergency glazier cost: boarding up, call-outs and what to expect
Updated
A break-in, a stray football or a slammed door at 11pm: emergency glazing is really two jobs, making the opening safe now and fitting the new glass later. Knowing that split is how you avoid paying panic prices.
Typical emergency costs
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Boarding up, daytime | £100–£250 |
| Out-of-hours premium (nights, weekends, bank holidays) | Commonly 1.5–2x daytime rates |
| Single pane replaced on the spot (stock sizes) | £50–£150 plus any call-out |
| Replacement double-glazed unit (made to measure, return visit) | £60–£200 per unit |
All typical 2026 quotes, varying by region and glass spec. The pattern to expect: single glazing can often be cut and fitted on the first visit; double-glazed units are made to measure, so the emergency visit secures the opening and the new unit follows within days.
What happens on an emergency visit
- Make safe: loose and dangerous glass is removed from the frame and cleared.
- Secure: the opening is boarded with timber sheet, or glazed immediately if it's single glass in a stock size.
- Measure and return: for double glazing, the glazier measures the unit and returns to fit it once made, usually within a few days to a week.
Paying a fair price under pressure
- Get the call-out fee and the premium stated on the phone, before anyone travels, and ask whether the call-out is deducted from the job price.
- Be wary of national "emergency" call centres that subcontract at marked-up rates; a local glazier answering their own phone is usually cheaper.
- Ask whether boarding can wait until morning rates if the property is secure enough; a cracked-but-intact pane rarely needs a 2am premium.
- After a break-in, get a crime reference number: home insurance often covers glazing damage from break-ins, and many policies include glass cover, check your policy before assuming either way.
If the glass is broken in a rented home, securing the property is urgent for whoever is there, but who pays depends on the tenancy and how the damage happened. Landlords and agents can use the same quote form and select rental property.