How Much Does an Interior Glass Wall Cost?
Glass walls enable homeowners to create a striking and stylish interior space. They allow you to feature a sense of openness inside your home while still keeping areas distinct and separate. On top of that, there are also practical benefits that only glass walls can provide.
Installing interior glass walls can be a very enticing proposition. If you’re looking for a way to transform your current living space, it’s hard to go wrong with interior glass walls. Of course, you always have to factor the cost into the equation before you can proceed with that kind of installation.
On average, you can expect to spend $600 on each linear foot of glass wall you want to get installed. Prices will change significantly depending on the type of glass wall you prefer, with window walls being the most expensive. Small glass dividers are among the cheapest options. Professionals charge $90 for new glass wall installations.
Are you interested in refreshing your stagnant home décor? If so, you may want to use interior glass walls to add a design flourish that’s capable of elevating any home. Find out how much installing a new set of interior glass walls will cost by reading on.
Cost of Interior Glass Walls by Type
| Interior Glass Wall Type | Cost (Per Linear Foot) |
| Folding Glass Walls | $1,000 |
| Glass Curtain Walls | $400 |
| Glass Dividers | $90 |
| Sliding Glass Walls | $900 |
| Window Walls | $1,100 |
Glass barriers such as garage doors and walls can instantly make your home more beautiful. If you’re interested in installing the latter, you should know that the average cost is $600 per linear foot.
Prices for interior glass walls are going to vary wildly. If your contractor initially gives you a high quote on a glass wall you like, ask them what type it is. You may get a more affordable price on a different glass wall type and you may still end up liking it.
Folding Glass Walls
A new folding glass wall will cost $1,000 per linear foot. Folding glass walls are great décor options because they feature a distinct look. Also, you can create an opening that connects rooms seamlessly when they’re folded up.
The standard price for a new folding glass wall may be a bit too high for your liking. In that case, you can ask for an installation that features fewer panels. You can get a more budget-friendly deal on that.
Glass Curtain Walls
Curtain walls are aluminum-framed facades that house a panel of some kind. In this case, glass is the panel material of choice. Glass curtain walls cost $400 per linear foot.
You’ll often see glass curtain walls used along the sides of skyscrapers, but they work within the home setting too. A lot of work has to go into the creation of glass curtain walls. Order them ahead of time if you want your home remodeling to be completed by a certain date.
Glass Dividers
Glass dividers are affordable options for homeowners who want interior glass walls. They cost $90 per linear foot.
Those glass divider walls are typically seen inside office buildings. They’re used to wall off certain sections where privacy is desired.
You can also enjoy that kind of privacy at home. Use the glass dividers to wall off your bed or a nook in your home where you like to relax.
Sliding Glass Walls
You can also transform your home by installing some sliding glass walls. Sliding glass wall installations cost $900 per linear foot.
Sliding glass walls share a lot of similarities with folding glass walls. The main difference is that the panels of sliding walls slip into a track when they’re opened. Choose sliding glass walls if you don’t have a lot of space available inside your living room.
Window Walls
Window walls are the most expensive interior glass wall options at $1,100 per linear foot. A window wall is an oversized window that extends from the floor to the ceiling. It can also take up an entire side of your house.
Window walls also come in a variety of styles. Some are segmented by frames while others are entirely frameless.
Labor Cost to Install Interior Glass Walls
| Estimate Type | Cost (Per Hour) |
| Low-End Estimate | $60 |
| Mid-Range Estimate | $90 |
| High-End Estimate | $140 |
Installing interior glass walls is a difficult job. It’s the kind of job you should hire professionals to handle. You can expect the professionals to charge you $90 per hour for this type of installation project.
We cannot provide a more pinpoint number because several factors will affect labor costs. The length of the project will depend largely on what kind of setup you have in mind. It’s best to reserve a sizable amount of money to pay for interior glass wall installation.
You may be tempted to take on this particular installation job as a DIY project. However, that may not be such a good idea given how delicate glass tends to be. Even if you don’t break the glass panels, they can still get scratched up.
Cost Factors for Installing Interior Glass Walls
You may receive a wide variety of quotes for your glass wall installation project. Those varied price points can be attributed to the cost factors we previously hinted at. Let’s now take the time to examine those cost factors thoroughly.
Design of the Interior Glass Wall
Peruse the selection of interior glass walls and you’ll see that they are offered in numerous designs. Some designs are more elaborate than others.
Installers are going to charge more if you want a folding glass wall as opposed to a glass divider. Make sure you account for that while you’re choosing the glass walls for your home.
Size of the Interior Glass Wall
How big do you want the new glass wall to be? Do you want it to cover an entire side of your home or do you want it to just separate segments?
Larger installations are going to be more complex. Count on the installers charging more if you want window walls or folding glass walls installed.
Materials Used
The materials used to create the glass windows will also affect labor costs. Remember that different types of glass vary in terms of durability so they need to be handled in certain ways. This cost factor isn’t as impactful as the first two, but it can still make a difference.
Ease of Installation
The ease of installation is another cost factor you must keep in mind. The installers may need to make some preparations before they can even start working on the glass walls. You can expect the cost of the project to go up if you want an elaborate setup.
Additional Costs of Installing Glass Walls
| Expense Type | Cost |
| Hiring a Structural Engineer | $110 (Per Hour) |
| Submission of Plans to Planning Office | $140 |
| Permits | $1,000 |
| Inspection | $400 |
We’ve talked a lot about the prices of the glass walls and labor costs, but they are not the only relevant expenses. When it comes to a major construction project such as this, there are separate expenses that are required even before installation.
For instance, because glass walls work differently from traditional concrete or wood, they must be made carefully. You will need to hire a structural engineer to handle that aspect of the project. Structural engineers charge $110 per hour so get ready to pay a sizable fee.
Next, you’ll have to submit those finished plans for your glass walls to the planning office. Submitting the plans will not be free. You’ll have to pay $140 to complete that step.
Permits are also required if you want to install interior glass walls. Those permits are required whether you’re building a wall or removing one. You may have to spend $1,000 to secure all the permits necessary for glass wall installation.
There is one more expense you need to pay after the glass walls have been installed. You will need to hire an inspector to look at the installations and provide their seal of approval. They will charge $400 to perform that task.
Hiring an inspector is also important if you want to sell your home. They can provide an appraisal of your home’s value. You can then use that number as the baseline figure when you put your home on the market.
Pros of Installing Interior Glass Walls
Are interior glass walls worth all the expenses and the hassle of installation? The reasons included in this section indicate that “yes” is the answer to that question.
Transparent Material
Walls are supposed to act as barriers and when they do, they also block our vision. The great thing about glass walls is that they don’t have to obstruct our sightlines. You and your guests can continually marvel at the beauty of your property because the walls don’t get in the way.
Natural Lighting Source
On sunny days, you won’t have to turn on the lights inside your home. Just allow the sunlight to shine through the glass wall and let it illuminate your home. Over time, you can save a good amount of money by relying on natural light more often.
Corrosion and Weather Resistances
Glass is not the most durable material, but it can hold up well to some potentially harmful elements. Natural forces such as rain and strong winds are not going to be an issue for your redesigned home. Corrosion is also not a big threat to the structural integrity of those glass walls.
Environmentally Friendly Material
You should consider building glass interior walls in your home because they are environmentally friendly additions. The glass panels required for your new walls can all be made sustainably. If the glass walls need to be replaced in the future, they can also be recycled.
Design Versatility
One of the standout features of glass is its versatility. It can be molded in different ways to create the desired end product. Take full advantage of that quality when you’re coming up with a design for your home’s glass walls.
Cons of Installing Interior Glass Walls
There are potential downsides to installing interior glass walls that you need to know about. We’ve detailed some of those key concerns below.
Brittle Nature
We all know that glass is a brittle material. Because of that, interior glass walls cannot be used wherever you want inside your home.
For example, using glass walls as load-bearing walls is not a good idea. You will have to remember that when figuring out their placement.
Easily Damaged by Earthquakes
Interior glass walls are prone to shattering when they are exposed to the force produced by earthquakes. That fact may force you to reconsider using them. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, installing glass windows could just lead to costly repairs down the line.
Presence of Glare
Getting natural lighting from your glass walls is a huge positive, but there is a downside to that. During certain times of the day, glare can interfere with your work or relaxation time. You’ll have to design the walls in such a way that glare does not become an issue inside your home.
Not Suitable for Warm Regions
Filling your home interior with glass walls may not be a wise move if you live in a warmer part of the country. All those glass walls can trap heat inside your home and make it very uncomfortable.
Cost of Exterior Glass Walls
The glass walls don’t have to be confined to the inside of your home. You can also build them outside and transform your outdoor architecture. Each square foot of a new exterior glass wall will cost $40 to build and install.
Those exterior glass walls will come in handy if you want to change up the look of your garden. You can also use them near the pool area to create some stalls if you want to install showers out there.
Diligent maintenance will be required if you wish to install glass walls outside. They can get dirty quickly so keep a close eye on them to maintain their beauty.
Related Questions
Are Glass Walls Expensive?
Compared to standard concrete and wooden walls, glass walls are indeed more expensive. That fact is probably not a surprise to you given everything we’ve already discussed.The only time when glass is seen as a more budget-friendly option is if you’re building a tall structure. Since we’re focusing on homes here, you will have to pay more if you want glass walls.
Which Glass Is Safe for Houses?
When building glass walls, you want to use either laminated or tempered glass. You can feel more comfortable knowing that your home is protected by walls made from those materials.Tempered glass is renowned for its strength and ability to endure high-impact forces. Laminated glass is made up of two sheets of tempered glass that sandwich an interlayer of plastic. That construction allows the laminated glass to boast even greater impact resistance.
How Thick Should the Glass Walls Be?
For a household setting, you want the glass walls to be at least 3/8 of an inch thick. If they can be built thicker, then that would be ideal for your home. You need those glass walls to be thick so they can absorb impact reliably and also support some weight.
Gary Evans is passionate about home improvement. He loves finding out how to make improvements in the easiest, most practical, and most affordable ways. Upgrading his home kitchen is one of his ongoing hobbies. Gary is also a long-time content creator and enjoys spending his free time tending to his hydroponic vegetable garden.
More by Gary Evans
