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Living in a region prone to severe storms can be a stressful situation during hurricane season. But there are things you can do to enhance your home’s chances of surviving a storm with very high winds. Installing hurricane-proof windows is a great starting point. If you’re considering building or purchasing a brand-new home in a region that gets hit by hurricanes or other big storms every year, considering this added expense is a must. Hurricane windows may be pricey, but they’re a great way to protect your investment.

But if you already own a home or you’ve purchased a home without storm windows, it’s time to consider upgrading your windows. But what is the cost of hurricane windows? We’ll explore that and much more here, so consider this your definitive guide to purchasing and installing hurricane-proof windows.

Hurricane-proof windows are designed to help your home withstand a storm with winds up to 200 miles per hour. That’s about the wind speeds found in a Category 5 storm. These windows are made with impact-resistant glass that’s treated with a protective layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).

This resin offers protection from glass and other flying objects, but sadly, it doesn’t mean your windows won’t break in the event of a hurricane. But the advantage lies in the fact that when and if windows do crack as a result of flying objects or high winds, they’re built to remain attached to the window frame, creating much less of a hazard for homeowners.

The cost of hurricane windows can be prohibitively high in some cases, so if that’s not part of your budget as storm season approaches, you could consider simply adding a surface coating of resin-like material that will cover the window glass and improve the shatter-resistant quality of your home’s windows. While it may not be quite as effective as a window marketed as a hurricane window, it’s still better than a standard window when it comes to standing up to strong winds.

Related: How to Install a Storm Door

While natural disasters can hit just about anywhere in the U.S., the East Coast, in particular, bears the brunt of hurricane damage. The five states most likely to get hit with a hurricane, in order, are Florida, Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina. And if you’re in Gulf Coast-hugging Mississippi, you’re not in the clear, either.

It’s estimated that when a hurricane does hit Mississippi, two out of five of them are major storms. Even places with high winds, like mountainous regions of Wyoming, Alaska and New Hampshire, sometimes experience winds that could require hurricane windows.

If your home’s windows are dated or aging, you might be tempted to simply wait until they sustain actual damage to replace them. But that can be a costly mistake. Pressure changes brought about by blown-out doors and windows can actually cause cracks in your home’s foundation and can even lead to roofs being blown off by high winds.

Both of these occurrences make it more likely that your house will collapse in a bad storm. So it’s best to replace your windows right away if you don’t think they could withstand high wind damage.

The frames of hurricane windows are just like any standard window; they’re available in wood, vinyl, aluminum or steel. Here, we’ll explore pros and cons of each type, along with typical pricing.

These types of hurricane windows are the strongest you can buy. HomeAdvisor puts the average cost of materials for aluminum frames around $160 per window. This low-maintenance option can last up to 45 years.

With an average price of materials around $200 per window, vinyl-framed hurricane windows are a good option that lasts between 20 and 40 years if well maintained.

Wood frames are a popular, attractive option for windows. They can be stained or painted to match your home’s exterior, providing excellent curb appeal. Properly maintained wooden window frames can last as long as 30 years, but without regular painting and upkeep, 10 years is the more likely lifespan. The average cost of materials for a wood-framed hurricane window is about $290, making it one of the most expensive options.

HomeAdvisor states that the average cost of installing hurricane-proof windows on an entire home ranges from $2,449 and $13,395, or $7,922 on average. That comes to about $55 per square foot of window. Each window, depending on size and customization, ranges between $90 and $400.

If you’re not up for the high cost of hurricane-proof windows, you could consider installing panels of storm-resistant glass in the interior of your windows. Doing this means your outer windows would not be resistant to high winds, but if they were to break, the interior glass would provide a separate level of protection for your home. Interior storm windows cost about $24 per square foot, or $250 to $400 per panel. Doing this will save you as much as $30 per square foot over the more expensive exterior windows.

If you don’t live in a state that gets hurricanes or high winds (like tornadoes, severe thunderstorms or high-elevation winds), you likely don’t need to invest in hurricane windows. It’s an added expense that you may not get back when you sell your home, since other buyers aren’t likely to appreciate the need for them. Instead, consider simply installing glass windows that provide UV-protection (which protects flooring and furniture from the sun’s rays).

Hurricane windows are much more expensive than regular glass windows, so it’s best to make this investment if you truly need them. In addition, the type of glass used in hurricane windows can yellow slightly with time, reducing visibility and attractiveness.

Christin Perry is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous outlets, including WeddingWire, The Knot, Parents and Verywell Family. When she's not working, Christin enjoys reading, gardening and hanging out with her husband and four young kids. She also loves to do small home improvement projects any chance she gets.

Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair. She edited home repair and design content at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also has hosted videos on DIY home tips and solutions and launched multiple home improvement review boards staffed with licensed pros.