It might have started as a small line in the corner. A ball, a rock from the mower, a door that slammed in the wind. Then one cold morning you notice the crack is longer than it was.
That's how cracks tend to go. They rarely fix themselves, and the window around them is usually fine. Here's whether a cracked window is safe to leave, what to do right now, and what cracked window glass repair involves.
Is a cracked window dangerous?
It can be. A cracked pane is weaker than a whole one, so it can break further if something bumps it, the window is opened or closed hard, or the weather changes. Sharp edges can cut hands, and pieces can fall out. With kids or pets around, it's worth treating as a safety issue.
How serious it is depends on what you're looking at:
- A short crack in one corner
- How urgent: Soon, before it grows
- Likely fix: New glass, frame stays
- A long crack across the pane
- How urgent: Sooner, it's weaker now
- Likely fix: New glass, frame stays
- Several cracks spreading from one point
- How urgent: Urgent, the glass could break further
- Likely fix: New glass, frame stays
- Shattered glass or a hole in the pane
- How urgent: Right away, the opening isn't secure
- Likely fix: New glass (board-up available on request while you wait)
- A crack in a door's glass
- How urgent: Urgent if it's a door you use every day
- Likely fix: New door glass, often tempered and ordered
- A crack plus a damaged frame
- How urgent: Depends on the damage
- Likely fix: Rotted wood may need a new window; minor cracks or warping often still hold new glass
Will a cracked window spread?
Often, yes. A crack in window glass usually grows over time. Temperature swings between day and night, wind pushing on the glass, and the shake from opening and closing the window can all push it further. Some cracks stay small for a while. Many don't, so it's better not to count on it.
If the window has double-pane glass and only one of the two panes is cracked, the crack can also damage the seal between them. That can let moisture in, which shows up later as fog between the panes. Our guide to foggy window repair explains what that looks like.
What should I do right now about a cracked window?
Keep people away from it, stop using the window, and hold the crack in place until the glass is replaced. These steps are about safety, not a repair:
- Keep kids and pets away. Move furniture or toys that are right next to the glass.
- Don't open or close the window. Movement puts stress on the crack.
- Tape over the crack. Clear packing tape on the inside of the glass can help hold the pieces together for now.
- Don't press on the glass or try to pull pieces out. Broken glass cuts easily.
- Take two photos. One of the full window from inside, and one close-up of the crack. That's what we need to send you a price.
If the glass is shattered or there's an open hole, board-up is available on request while you wait for new glass. For urgent breaks, send photos and your ZIP code so we can tell you what's possible (we don't work Sundays), and see our guide to emergency window glass repair.
Can a cracked window be repaired?
Yes, but the repair is new glass. A crack in window glass can't be sealed back into strong, clear glass, so the cracked pane is replaced. The good part is that the frame, sash, and trim usually stay exactly as they are. You get a whole, clear pane without a new window.
Here's how it works for different kinds of glass:
- Single-pane windows: the cracked sheet of glass is replaced.
- Double-pane windows: the sealed glass unit (two panes with a sealed gap between them) is replaced as one piece. If only one pane of a double-pane window is cracked, we replace the whole sealed glass unit.
- Door glass: glass in sliding, patio, and entry doors is often tempered, which is safety glass that breaks into small pieces instead of sharp shards. Tempered glass always has to be ordered.
To learn more about keeping the window and changing only the glass, read Can you replace just the glass in a window?
How do I fix a cracked window myself?
You can make it safer for a short time, but you can't really fix it yourself. Clear tape can hold the crack and help keep pieces from falling. That's a temporary measure. The crack is still there, the glass is still weaker, and it can keep spreading. The lasting fix is a new pane.
If you're handy and the window is small and single-pane, you might be tempted to swap the glass yourself. We'd point out that cutting and handling broken glass is risky, and a pane that doesn't fit well won't hold up. When in doubt, send photos and get a price first.
When does a cracked window need a full replacement?
Most cracked windows don't. If the wood around the glass has rotted, new glass won't sit securely, and a new window is the right call. We'll tell you that up front. If the impact also cracked the frame, or the frame was already a little warped, it depends on the damage. Minor cracks and imperfections often still hold new glass safely.
Signs that point toward a full replacement, and the ones that depend:
- The wood is soft or crumbles when you press on it. Rotted wood can't hold new glass securely, so this one points to a new window.
- The frame or sash is cracked or split. This one depends. Minor cracks often still hold new glass safely, while bigger damage may not. Send photos of exactly where it's damaged and we'll tell you which it is.
- The frame is bent or warped. Same thing: it's situational, and sometimes we can make it work. Photos let us check before you decide anything.
- You want a different size, style, or type of window. That's a remodel, not a repair.
A window that won't open, close, lock, or stay up is a different story. That's usually worn hardware, and most of the time it's fixable. It isn't a reason to buy a new window. Our guide to a window that won't stay up explains the usual fixes.
We don't sell or install full windows. Not every window can be saved, and if yours can't, we'll say so.
How does cracked window glass repair work?
You send photos, we send a price, and a technician comes to you to replace the glass. Regular-size clear glass is usually replaced in one visit, most of the time within 2 hours. You don't need to remove the window or bring it anywhere.
- Send two photos. One of the full window from inside, and one close-up of the crack.
- Get your price. Photo review is free. If the photos show what we need, we can usually send a price within minutes during business hours. Every job is priced on its own, so you get a fair price for the right repair.
- Pick a time. Same-day or same-week appointments when available.
- We come to you. Our mobile glass truck parks at your home or business, and the work happens on site.
- We clean up. Removing the broken glass, disposal, and clean-up are included.
One trade-off: wood windows with a special paint finish may need a little touch-up after the new glass goes in.
How long does it take to replace cracked window glass?
Regular-size clear single or double-pane glass is usually replaced in one visit, most of the time within 2 hours. Tempered, textured, colored, and Low-E or argon glass has to be ordered, so we measure first and come back to install, usually 2 to 3 weeks later. Board-up is available on request if the opening needs to be covered in the meantime.
Wondering how fast we can get to you? Our post on same day window glass repair explains how scheduling works. Same day costs the same as any other day; if we're already fully booked, there may be an extra charge to make room in the schedule, depending on the situation.
Is the new glass covered by a warranty?
Double-pane glass we install comes with our Lifetime Seal Warranty. If the seal fails and fog or moisture shows up between the panes, covered labor and materials cost you nothing. The warranty stays no matter who owns the property, as long as the glass is still in the same window, the sash is still in the same frame, and nothing has been altered. It doesn't cover impact or misuse damage, so a new crack from a ball or a rock isn't covered. Details are at https://2hourglass.com/warranty.
What customers say
"Called that morning and the window was fixed by afternoon."
Robert P., Google review
We have 2,000+ reviews across Google, Yelp, Facebook, Angi, Thumbtack, and Housecall Pro, including a 5.0 average from 1,358 Google reviews. You can read more at https://2hourglass.com/reviews.
Frequently asked questions
How much does cracked window glass repair cost?
Every job is priced individually, based on the size and type of glass. We don't publish price ranges, because a range would mislead: the price depends on your exact glass and window. In our experience, a glass repair usually costs about a third of a medium-quality full window replacement, and about a fifth of a high-end one. Send two photos and we can usually send your exact price within minutes during business hours.
Is replacing cracked glass cheaper than replacing the window?
It's a smaller job, since you keep the frame, trim, and paint, so it usually costs less than a new window. Your photo quote shows the actual number before you book.
Can I leave a cracked window for a while?
You can tape it to hold it for a short time, but a crack usually grows and the glass is weaker than it was. It's safer to replace it before it breaks further.
How long does it take to fix a cracked window?
Regular-size clear glass is usually replaced in one visit, most of the time within 2 hours. Tempered, textured, colored, and Low-E or argon glass is measured first and installed when it arrives, usually 2 to 3 weeks later.
Do you replace cracked glass in doors?
Yes. We replace glass in sliding and patio doors, entry doors, and storefront and commercial doors. Door glass is often tempered, which always has to be ordered.
What photos should I send?
Send one photo of the full window taken from inside and one close-up of the crack. That's usually all we need to give you a price.
Do you do cracked window repair in Montgomery County?
Yes. Montgomery County is part of our service area, along with Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester counties in Pennsylvania and 13 counties in New Jersey.
What areas do you serve?
We serve Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties in Pennsylvania, plus 13 New Jersey counties: Camden, Burlington, Mercer, Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic, Ocean, Monmouth, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Morris, and Essex. Not sure about your address? Check your ZIP below, or send a few photos and we'll confirm we can get to you.
Where we work
2HourGlass is a local PA and NJ team focused on window glass and hardware repair, with repair before replacement. We handle cracked window glass repair in Montgomery, Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester counties in Pennsylvania, plus 13 counties in New Jersey. When you call or text, you reach a real person, not a call center.
