The verdict in three sentences
For a window and door manufacturer selling through installers, an online product configurator costs 15,000 to 30,000 EUR excl. VAT in 2D and 35,000 to 70,000 EUR in 3D in 2026. Its value comes first from manufacturing rules and real-time pricing, which cut quote time from 48 hours to 10 minutes and remove most dimension errors. 3D wins hearts at trade shows, but the rules engine and the production export are what pay for the project.
What you actually pay for in a configurator
The visual rendering rarely exceeds 30% of the budget. Most of the work is turning your technical catalogue (profiles, minimum and maximum sizes, glazing, hardware, RAL colours) into rules the software can execute.
| Component | Scope | 2026 budget (EUR excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Product rules modelling | 3 to 6 ranges, size constraints, incompatibilities | 6,000 to 18,000 |
| Real-time pricing engine | Price per m², options, installer discounts | 3,000 to 9,000 |
| 2D visualisation (parametric SVG) | Dimensioned drawing, opening direction, colours | 4,000 to 8,000 |
| 3D visualisation (WebGL) | Material rendering, rotation, in-situ view | 15,000 to 35,000 |
| Installer portal and PDF quotes | Accounts, margins, logo, history | 3,000 to 8,000 |
| Production export (ERP, manufacturing software) | Bill of materials, cutting lists, shop file | 4,000 to 12,000 |
| Maintenance and updates / year | New ranges, prices, hosting | 3,000 to 9,000 |
A complete 2D configurator with shop-floor export lands around 22,000 EUR excl. VAT. The 3D version with in-situ view and ERP integration often exceeds 55,000 EUR.
2D, 3D or off-the-shelf CPQ: comparing the options
| Criterion | Custom 2D configurator | Custom 3D configurator | Subscription CPQ software |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront investment | 15,000 to 30,000 EUR | 35,000 to 70,000 EUR | 5,000 to 20,000 EUR setup |
| Recurring cost | 3,000 to 6,000 EUR / year | 6,000 to 9,000 EUR / year | 800 to 3,000 EUR / month |
| Time to launch | 10 to 14 weeks | 16 to 24 weeks | 8 to 16 weeks |
| Fit with window and door rules | Full | Full | Partial, engine-dependent |
| Mobile page weight | 300 KB to 1 MB | 3 to 10 MB | Variable |
| Code ownership | Yes | Yes | No |
| 5-year total cost (rough estimate) | 35,000 to 55,000 EUR | 70,000 to 115,000 EUR | 60,000 to 200,000 EUR |
For installers who quote on site from a tablet, a well-built 2D tool is often enough. 3D makes sense if you also sell direct to homeowners or if your range is design-led.
Measuring the sales impact
Three metrics matter. Quote turnaround: going from 48 hours to 10 minutes lets the installer close during the visit. Order error rate: an out-of-tolerance dimension costs 150 to 600 EUR to remake per unit; a rules engine removes most of them. Quote conversion rate: as a rough benchmark, it rises 5 to 10 points when the quote is handed over on site. Run a 6-week pilot with 20 installers before full rollout.
Mini case study
Claire, marketing director of an aluminium and PVC window manufacturer near Lyon, runs a network of 300 installers sending about 9,000 quote requests a year. Today, 3 technicians produce quotes in 48 hours and 2% of orders ship with an error: 180 remakes at 350 EUR, or 63,000 EUR a year. She picks a 2D configurator with shop-floor export at 28,000 EUR excl. VAT. Errors drop to 0.3% (27 cases, 9,450 EUR), saving 53,550 EUR. Two technicians move to installer support. With conversion up 4 points on an average order of 4,200 EUR, extra margin exceeds 150,000 EUR a year. Payback comes in under 6 months (estimate).
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FAQ
How much does a window and door configurator cost in 2026?
Budget 15,000 to 30,000 EUR excl. VAT for a custom 2D version and 35,000 to 70,000 EUR for 3D. Annual maintenance is 10 to 15% of the initial budget.
How long does it take to launch?
10 to 14 weeks for 2D, 16 to 24 weeks for 3D. The longest phase is formalising technical rules, which takes your engineering office 2 to 4 weeks.
Can the configurator feed the shop floor directly?
Yes, through a bill-of-materials and cutting-list export to your ERP or manufacturing software. That connector costs 4,000 to 12,000 EUR depending on how open your system is.
Should we show public prices?
Rarely for a B2B network. The engine shows the net installer price, and the installer adds their margin (often 25 to 40%) before issuing a branded quote.
Isn't an off-the-shelf CPQ cheaper?
Over one year, yes. Over 5 years, a 1,500 EUR monthly subscription costs 90,000 EUR before setup, and window-specific rules are often poorly covered.
Let's scope your project. Send us your product ranges, manufacturing rules and distribution network and we will price a 2D or 3D configurator, from 15,000 to 70,000 EUR excl. VAT, on a 10 to 24 week plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
