What does the cost category "windows" means to you? Does it include installation, exterior doors, skylights, trim and flashing? How big is the house? where is it located? What kind of windows? In general, I find rules of thumb to not be helpful at best and misleading at worst.

Thanks, Owl...that was the sort of 'ballpark' I was looking for.
And thanks, too, mightyanvil: I am looking for just the price of the windows and doors, as provided by the manufacturer, before installlation, etc.

A clad wood LowE insulating glass, simulated mullion, double-hung window of average size and quality should cost about $500 delivered to the site with no OH&P or installation.

Adjust this number for different sizes, quality, special features, operation type (casements and awning windows are more expensive), region and the type of the supplier (Home Depot vs regional distributer).

What percent this might be of the total construction cost seems irrelevant since the variables could result in values from 2% to 7%.

I'm finding the windows for my build are averaging just about 9% of the budget.... this does not include any doors or installation. The windows I'm looking at are about twice as much as what's mentioned in the previous post.... from what I can determine, there's a wide range of features, quality and configurations that can drive the cost. Windows (for me) seem to be a large chunk of the budget :-(

I am curious to know what kind of residential window might cost as much as $1,000 without OH&P or installation.

I looked at Pella....most of our window specs call for double hung, wood, (architect series). One window is sized 45 by 71 inches, 12 over 8 lites, with cedar subsill, 5/4 primed casings... each window is $1,500. That is the largest window in our plan. Some are smaller, 9 over 6, some 9 over 9. They hover around $1,000 each. All windows are insulated, simulated divided lite. They're nice windows, just wish they weren't so much $$.

If you are buying from a Pella Store you are paying a premium for that. You are also paying a premium for Pella's top of the line, for size, for an unusual number of simulated muntins, for reverse cottage style sash and you have included 5/4 trim and sill nosing in the material cost of the window.

From my experience and the experience of many of my architect friends, I recommend avoiding Pella. For a good aluminum clad wood double-hung window, I recommend Marvin's Ultimate Double-Hung. If your budget is tight I would also try Eagle's Talon. If PVC cladding is acceptable, I would recommend Andersen's Woodwright.

Otherwise, the only way to reduce the cost is to modify the window design and I couldn't make a recommendation without seeing the design.