Board-Up Costs: What You'll Pay per Window, Door and After a Fire

Boarding up one standard window (about 25 sq ft) costs roughly $207 to $365 per opening across NY, NJ, PA and CT in Homewyse's 2026 estimates, with Manhattan at the top of that range. Angi puts the national average at about $250 ($50 for a small window up to $500 for an oversized one). Emergency calls add a fee (Angi: $50 to $100 per job).

Openings exposed right now? Our crews answer 24/7 at (845) 294-8919 and typically arrive within 90 minutes in nearby service areas.

Emergency board-up means covering broken windows, doors and other openings with exterior plywood right after a fire, storm or break-in, so weather, intruders and animals stay out until repairs start. How the work is done is in our complete emergency board-up guide; this page covers the bill. Ready for a crew? See our emergency board-up services.

Board-Up Cost at a Glance: NY, NJ, PA and CT (2026)

Labor rates differ by ZIP code, so we ran the Homewyse calculator for each of our office areas.

Area (ZIP)	Per opening*	ADRI office nearby
Manhattan (10001)	$303-$365	New York City
Rockland / Orange (10958)	$274-$330	New Hampton
Fairfield / East Hanover, NJ (07004 / 07936)	$255-$307	Fairfield, East Hanover
Kingston / Hudson Valley (12401 / 12582)	$246-$296	Kingston, Stormville
Toms River, NJ (08753) and Marlborough, CT (06447)	$236-$284	Toms River, Marlborough
Allentown / Lehigh Valley (18109)	$226-$273	Allentown
Harrisburg (17111) and Scranton area (18452)	$207-$249	Harrisburg, Peckville

*Homewyse calculator estimate for one 25 sq ft opening, basic work in readily serviceable conditions, checked October 24, 2026. Not an emergency or after-hours price, and not an ADRI quote.

National reference point	Figure
Homewyse national estimate (January 2026)	$237-$286 per opening
Angi national average	$250; $50 small first-floor window to $500 oversized
Emergency or same-day fee	$50-$100 per project, not per window
Emergency roof tarp	Priced separately; see our emergency roof tarping cost guide

Sources: Homewyse, Cost to Boardup Window; Angi, How Much Does It Cost to Board Up a Window? (2026 data).

What the online estimate leaves out. Homewyse states that its figure excludes repairs to existing framing, hazardous material testing, sales tax, permits and inspections, and general contractor overhead (it suggests adding 13% to 22% when a contractor supervises). That is why a real emergency invoice can land above the calculator.

How we sourced these numbers: Homewyse calculator runs per office ZIP (October 24, 2026) and Angi's published 2026 cost guide. Insurance statements come from NY DFS, FEMA, IRMI and published ISO policy wording. None of the figures are ADRI prices.

A breach like this one, with framing torn open, doesn't fit a per-window estimate. It gets covered as a wall opening: more sheets, more lumber, more time.

How Emergency Board-Up Is Billed (and What to Ask on the Phone)

Standard rates apply to scheduled daytime work. Angi lists an emergency board-up fee of $50 to $100 on top of the per-window price, paid once per project. Other companies bill a flat after-hours dispatch fee or a higher hourly rate, so ask which applies, whether removal is included and how materials are billed.

Most invoices follow one of four models, or a mix of them:

Model	How it's billed	What to ask
Per opening (flat)	One price per window or door, sized by sheet count	What counts as one opening? Is a slider two?
Time and materials	Hourly labor plus plywood and fasteners, usually with a minimum (Homewyse builds in a 2-hour labor minimum)	What is the minimum, and does travel time count?
Flat same-day or after-hours fee on top	Angi: $50-$100 added once per project	Is the fee per job or per opening?
Higher hourly rate after hours	Night, weekend and holiday labor billed at a premium rate	When does the premium rate start and stop?

Five questions before the crew rolls (even at 2 a.m.)

1. Which billing model applies to my job? A flat per-opening price and an hourly rate can land far apart on the same job.
2. Is there a trip, dispatch or after-hours fee, and is it per job or per opening? A per-opening fee multiplies fast on a fire or storm job with many openings.
3. Is board removal included? If the same company will do the restoration, it often is. If not, get removal priced as its own line.
4. Are materials charged per full 4x8 sheet? Angi notes that pros usually charge for a full 4x8 sheet of plywood no matter how much of it a window uses, which is why the smaller sizes in the table below all sit at $250.
5. Will I get dated photos and an itemized invoice? Without them, reimbursement gets slower.

Demand surges after Northeast storms

After a nor'easter or coastal storm hits the Jersey Shore, Long Island Sound or the Hudson Valley, many properties need the same crews and plywood at once. Scheduling tightens, and Homewyse notes that work during local labor shortages can cost more. Our Toms River and Fairfield offices handle Jersey Shore and North Jersey storm callouts. For the bigger picture, compare storm damage repair costs by state or see our storm damage restoration work.

How Much Does It Cost to Board Up a Window?

About $250 per window on average nationally, according to Angi, and $207 to $365 per standard opening across our service area based on Homewyse ZIP runs (see the table above).

Window size (ft)	Angi average cost to board
4 x 3	$250
5 x 4	$300
6 x 4	$350
8 x 8	$500

Number of windows changes the unit price. Angi's figures: about $250 for one window, about $200 each for five, and $175 to $200 each for ten. That's why boarding a whole house costs less per opening than a single broken pane.

What goes into one opening. Homewyse's estimate is built from a sheet of 15/32-inch exterior plywood, labor to fabricate and fasten it, job supplies, debris disposal and the unused balance of a 2-hour labor minimum. Those line items shift with ZIP code. Our crews use 5/8-inch or thicker exterior-grade plywood, which costs more than the thinner sheet in the estimator, so a professional emergency quote can sit above it.

Why some windows cost more:

• Upper floors need a ladder or lift and usually a second person.
• Picture windows and sliders take extra sheets plus 2x4 strongbacks.
• Storm calls often add roof tarping.

Commercial storefront board-up

Storefront glass is larger and heavier, often needs a lift, and the work frequently happens after closing. Most businesses also need one entrance kept usable, so storefront jobs rarely match residential per-window figures. See how we handle commercial property restoration.

Boarding Up a Broken Back Door or Patio Door

Boarding up a broken back door or patio door is usually priced like one opening. Homewyse's board-up labor covers a 25 sq ft "window or door opening", so expect the per-opening range in the table above, plus a hasp and padlock if the door has to stay usable.

Board it, lock it, or replace it?

• Board it when the jamb is splintered, the glass is gone or the door won't latch, and replacement has to wait for the adjuster or a special-order unit.
• Add a hasp and padlock when this door is how you and the adjuster will get in and out.
• Replace it when only the slab is damaged and a pre-hung door is in stock locally.

Sliding patio doors behave like oversized windows: two sheets and a strongback.

Fire Board-Up: What's Different (and What Drives the Cost)

Once the fire department allows access, a board-up crew checks which framing is still sound, covers broken windows, doors and firefighter vent holes with exterior plywood fastened to solid framing, tarps roof openings, and typically leaves one lockable access door for the owner and adjuster. That keeps rain, theft and animals out while the claim is inspected.

Access comes first. The U.S. Fire Administration's After the Fire guide is plain about it: "Do not enter your damaged home or apartment unless the fire department says it is safe." The same guide adds that you may need to board up windows and doors so no one can get in.

When a frame is charred like this one, screws have nothing solid to bite into. Crews reach past the burned wood to sound framing.

Why a fire board-up usually costs more than a storm or break-in job:

• More openings. Firefighters break windows and cut vent holes, and every one needs a cover.
• Roof work. Vent cuts and burn-through need a tarp as well as plywood; tarp pricing is in our roof tarping guide.
• Extra fastening into damaged framing, which takes time and lumber.

In pre-1980 homes, common across NY, NJ, PA and CT, burned plaster, siding or old glazing may contain asbestos or lead, so crews avoid disturbing suspect material. More in our article on asbestos in older homes.

Need a fire board-up tonight? Our fire damage restoration team secures the property and starts restoration. Call (845) 294-8919. For what comes next, read about the first 24 hours after a house fire and fire damage repair costs in New York.

Board-Up Materials, Alternatives and Doing It Yourself

Plywood is the default: fast, cheap and strong enough. When boards stay up for months, a building starts to look abandoned and invites vandalism, which is when owners switch to polycarbonate or steel.

Material	Best use	Relative cost
Exterior plywood (5/8 in or thicker)	Emergency board-up after fire, storm or break-in	Lowest
OSB	Short-term security boarding only	Similar to or lower than plywood
Polycarbonate panels	Longer boarded periods where daylight matters	Higher
Steel security panels	Vacant properties at risk of break-in	Highest, often rented

Roof damage usually needs a tarp on top of any plywood patch. Here, wood battens clamp the tarp edges to the shingles so wind can't get under it.

DIY, priced honestly. Materials alone are cheap: Angi lists plywood at $24 to $40 per 4x8 sheet, plus exterior screws. The savings are real on a ground-floor window; above that, the math changes. A CDC report on work-related ladder falls noted that "43% of fatal falls in the last decade have involved a ladder" (MMWR, 2014). If you do it yourself, keep receipts and photos; insurers consider reasonable costs to protect the property, subject to your policy. The method is step-by-step in our board-up guide.

Flat roofs have no slope to shed water, so tarps run along the parapet.

Worked Example: 3 Windows and a Back Door in Toms River, NJ

A storm breaks three standard windows and the back door glass at a Toms River house (ZIP 08753). Using only the published figures above:

Scenario	Estimate
Scheduled: 4 openings x $236-$284 (Homewyse, 08753)	$944-$1,136
After hours: same + one $50-$100 same-day fee (Angi, per project)	About $994-$1,236

One fee, not four: Angi applies the same-day charge once per project.

Illustrative math from published figures, not an ADRI quote.

Does Insurance Pay for Board-Up?

Often, yes, when the damage itself comes from a covered peril. Homeowners policies typically list it as Reasonable Repairs coverage, which pays to protect insured property from further damage when the cause of loss is covered, without raising your limit of liability. Commercial property policies put it in the loss conditions: take all reasonable steps to protect the property from further damage and keep a record of what it cost (Adjusters International reproduces the clause).

• Board-up is normally treated as part of the covered loss, so your deductible and policy terms still apply.
• You usually don't need to wait for the adjuster to make emergency repairs. Call your insurer as soon as you can and ask whether they have a preferred vendor.

New York's regulator puts the duty plainly: "Property owners are responsible for protecting their property from further damage after a loss." The NY DFS disaster FAQ names covering broken windows as an example, tells owners to save all receipts showing emergency repairs, and says permanent repairs should wait until the insurer has inspected. Rules and policy wording vary, so check your own policy.

Flood is the exception. FEMA notes that most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. If the loss is a flood, protection costs fall under the separate flood policy's own terms, if you have one.

Your claim checklist:

• Photos of every opening before and after it is covered
• The itemized board-up invoice
• The date and time you called for help
• Damaged materials kept until the adjuster sees them, if you safely can

We document the board-up with photos and an itemized invoice you can submit. For fire losses, see our guide to filing a fire damage insurance claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to board up a house?

Multiply the per-opening range for your area from the table above by the number of openings. Expect a lower per-window price on bigger jobs: Angi puts it at about $200 each for five windows. Add one after-hours fee for a night call and a roof tarp if the roof is open.

How much does it cost to board up a house after a fire?

Take your area's per-opening range times the openings, including firefighter vent holes and roof cut-outs, plus a roof tarp. Fire jobs usually have more openings than storm or break-in jobs and need extra fastening into sound framing, so they run higher.

Is it cheaper to wait until morning for a board-up?

You may avoid an after-hours fee, which Angi puts at $50 to $100 per job. But an open building is exposed to rain, theft and animals overnight, and your policy expects reasonable steps to prevent further damage. If you must wait, cover openings from inside with plastic and stay out of unsafe areas.

How much does board removal cost?

There's no reliable published figure. Removal is often included when the same company does the restoration; when we handle the restoration, it is typically part of our scope. Otherwise, ask for removal as a separate line item before work starts. How long boards can stay up is covered in our board-up guide.

Do I pay for board-up up front, or does insurance pay the company?

It depends on your insurer and the contractor. Either you pay and submit the itemized invoice and photos for reimbursement, or the contractor bills the insurer with your written authorization. Ask your insurer which it accepts, and ask the company how payment will be handled before work starts.

Need a Board-Up Now?

Call our 24/7 line at (845) 294-8919. Crews typically arrive within 90 minutes in nearby service areas, and most residential board-ups are finished within 2 to 4 hours on site. You can also request a board-up crew online or contact us for a free phone consultation.