How Much Do Smart Glass Windows Cost?

Average Smart Glass Price

Smart Glass Cost Per Square Foot

Smart glass costs $50 to $150 per square foot. Installers usually set rates by the project, offering a lower price per square foot if you replace several windows. One piece runs $125 to $150 per square foot, compared to $50 to $100 per square foot for 100 or more square feet. The cost to install a window with standard glass is $15 to $30 per square foot.

Smart Glass Pricing by Type

Smart glass prices are $50 to $150 per square foot, depending on the total square footage and type:

• PDLC: Privacy, frosted, tinting

• SPD: Tinting in an instant

• Electrochromic: Gradual tinting to a set level

PDLC

PDLC glass tends to be the most expensive option. It offers privacy at the touch of a button, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor applications. This technology is the only type that turns completely opaque, which means you can use it for bathrooms, showers, private offices and more. You can also turn it into a television projector.

PDLC has crystals that are both liquid and solid, similar to what you’d get in an LCD television or monitor. It has a lot of names, including:

• Electric privacy glass

• LCD glass

• Electric frosted glass

The crystals are inactive when turned off, which makes the glass appear frosted or dark. Once you turn it on, the window is completely clear or dimmable.

SPD

SPD glass is the middle-of-the road cost option, with pricing a little lower than PDLC. This type allows you to select the level of tinting from minimally shading to full darkness, although it can’t provide complete privacy. Its heat-blocking features make it a great choice for exterior windows. You can also use it for any interior room that needs additional darkness in daytime, like a home theater or child’s bedroom.

SPD suspends particles in a liquid. When you turn on the device, it brings those particles in line and allows you to the control the level of tinting. Like PDLC, these windows are dimmable.

Electrochromic

Electrochromic glass is the cheapest option. This type allows you to change the tinting over the course of a few minutes. It uses ions to force particles to the inside or outside of the window, making the material clear or tinted. Those particles stay in position until you use the control to move them again.

Electrochromic glass is similar to photochromic or thermochromic tinting, but it’s important to understand the difference. Photochromic and thermochromic products, like Transitions eyeglass lenses, tint based on light or heat. They don’t require energy to change, but you can’t control them. Electrochromic options use energy comparable to a single LED lightbulb, and make it easy to change whenever you want.

Switchable Glass Prices vs. Smart Window Film

Switchable glass, which may refer to PDLC, SPD or electrochromic products, costs $50 to $150 per square foot and includes all materials and installation. If you want to buy smart film that you can have a pro apply to your existing windows, you’ll pay $25 to $50 per square foot.

Electric Window Tint Cost

Home window tinting costs $350 to $950. Prices vary from $7 to $110 per square foot depending on type, so this total may cover one or several windows.

DIY Smart Glass Windows vs. Hire a Professional

Although many manufacturers sell smart tinting film for DIY application, it’s still best to hire a professional. Poor installation may give you inadequate privacy or minimal tinting. If you’re replacing your windows, you’ll need to factor in the weight and size of the glass too. When you call window installers near you for a quote, be sure to ask if they can install the type you’re looking for.

FAQs

What are smart glass windows?

Smart glass uses a film that allows you to control visibility, ranging from a perfectly clear view to total darkness or privacy. You can buy the products when you replace your windows or ask a pro to retrofit it to the existing ones.

Does smart glass only exist for windows?

Smart glass works for any space that needs controlled lighting or privacy, which means you can use it indoors. A smart glass shower door costs $100 to $150 per square foot.

How much electricity does smart glass use?

Smart glass that’s the size of an average window (10 to 15 square feet) uses about 5 to 7 watts of electricity, which is similar to a single LED lightbulb.

What’s the difference between LED smart glass and LCD privacy glass?

LED smart glass uses tiny LED bulbs to create striking colors and patterns you can change using controls. LCD privacy glass uses PDLC technology to turn a window opaque on command.