diff --git a/cibuildwheel/platforms/windows.py b/cibuildwheel/platforms/windows.py
index 29665b2ee..07d768b2e 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/platforms/windows.py
+++ b/cibuildwheel/platforms/windows.py
@@ -321,12 +321,22 @@ def setup_python(
 
     log.step("Installing build tools...")
     match build_frontend:
+        case "pip":
+            call(
+                "pip",
+                "install",
+                "--upgrade",
+                "delvewheel",
+                *constraint_flags(dependency_constraint),
+                env=env,
+            )
         case "build":
             call(
                 "pip",
                 "install",
                 "--upgrade",
                 "build[virtualenv]",
+                "delvewheel",
                 *constraint_flags(dependency_constraint),
                 env=env,
             )
@@ -340,9 +350,25 @@ def setup_python(
                 where_python,
                 "--upgrade",
                 "build[virtualenv]",
+                "delvewheel",
+                *constraint_flags(dependency_constraint),
+                env=env,
+            )
+        case "uv":
+            assert uv_path is not None
+            call(
+                uv_path,
+                "pip",
+                "install",
+                "--python",
+                where_python,
+                "--upgrade",
+                "delvewheel",
                 *constraint_flags(dependency_constraint),
                 env=env,
             )
+        case _:
+            assert_never(build_frontend)
 
     if python_libs_base:
         # Set up the environment for various backends to enable cross-compilation
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python310.txt b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python310.txt
index 2c5a63897..8d24e818b 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python310.txt
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python310.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ build==1.5.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 delocate==0.13.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
+delvewheel==1.12.1
+    # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 distlib==0.4.0
     # via virtualenv
 filelock==3.29.0
@@ -20,6 +22,8 @@ packaging==26.2
     # via
     #   build
     #   delocate
+pefile==2024.8.26
+    # via delvewheel
 pip==26.0.1
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 platformdirs==4.9.6
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python311.txt b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python311.txt
index cd2a64268..9f48e79b5 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python311.txt
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python311.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ build==1.5.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 delocate==0.13.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
+delvewheel==1.12.1
+    # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 distlib==0.4.0
     # via virtualenv
 filelock==3.29.0
@@ -18,6 +20,8 @@ packaging==26.2
     # via
     #   build
     #   delocate
+pefile==2024.8.26
+    # via delvewheel
 pip==26.0.1
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 platformdirs==4.9.6
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python312.txt b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python312.txt
index cd2a64268..9f48e79b5 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python312.txt
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python312.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ build==1.5.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 delocate==0.13.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
+delvewheel==1.12.1
+    # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 distlib==0.4.0
     # via virtualenv
 filelock==3.29.0
@@ -18,6 +20,8 @@ packaging==26.2
     # via
     #   build
     #   delocate
+pefile==2024.8.26
+    # via delvewheel
 pip==26.0.1
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 platformdirs==4.9.6
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python313.txt b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python313.txt
index cd2a64268..9f48e79b5 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python313.txt
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python313.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ build==1.5.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 delocate==0.13.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
+delvewheel==1.12.1
+    # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 distlib==0.4.0
     # via virtualenv
 filelock==3.29.0
@@ -18,6 +20,8 @@ packaging==26.2
     # via
     #   build
     #   delocate
+pefile==2024.8.26
+    # via delvewheel
 pip==26.0.1
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 platformdirs==4.9.6
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python314.txt b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python314.txt
index cd2a64268..9f48e79b5 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python314.txt
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python314.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ build==1.5.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 delocate==0.13.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
+delvewheel==1.12.1
+    # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 distlib==0.4.0
     # via virtualenv
 filelock==3.29.0
@@ -18,6 +20,8 @@ packaging==26.2
     # via
     #   build
     #   delocate
+pefile==2024.8.26
+    # via delvewheel
 pip==26.0.1
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 platformdirs==4.9.6
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python38.txt b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python38.txt
index e53d14813..ad0395a0b 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python38.txt
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python38.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ build==1.2.2.post1
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 delocate==0.12.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
+delvewheel==1.10.0
+    # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 distlib==0.4.0
     # via virtualenv
 filelock==3.16.1
@@ -20,6 +22,8 @@ packaging==26.2
     # via
     #   build
     #   delocate
+pefile==2024.8.26
+    # via delvewheel
 pip==25.0.1
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 platformdirs==4.3.6
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python39.txt b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python39.txt
index c98a2d2a4..8bf098fa7 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python39.txt
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints-python39.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ build==1.4.4
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 delocate==0.13.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
+delvewheel==1.12.1
+    # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 distlib==0.4.0
     # via virtualenv
 filelock==3.19.1
@@ -20,6 +22,8 @@ packaging==26.2
     # via
     #   build
     #   delocate
+pefile==2024.8.26
+    # via delvewheel
 pip==26.0.1
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 platformdirs==4.4.0
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
index 50bfabb6e..8f40eb610 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 pip
 build
 delocate
+delvewheel
 virtualenv
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.txt b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.txt
index cd2a64268..9f48e79b5 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.txt
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.txt
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ build==1.5.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 delocate==0.13.0
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
+delvewheel==1.12.1
+    # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 distlib==0.4.0
     # via virtualenv
 filelock==3.29.0
@@ -18,6 +20,8 @@ packaging==26.2
     # via
     #   build
     #   delocate
+pefile==2024.8.26
+    # via delvewheel
 pip==26.0.1
     # via -r cibuildwheel/resources/constraints.in
 platformdirs==4.9.6
diff --git a/cibuildwheel/resources/defaults.toml b/cibuildwheel/resources/defaults.toml
index 78895bf9a..2807a1a54 100644
--- a/cibuildwheel/resources/defaults.toml
+++ b/cibuildwheel/resources/defaults.toml
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ repair-wheel-command = "auditwheel repair -w {dest_dir} {wheel}"
 repair-wheel-command = "delocate-wheel --require-archs {delocate_archs} -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel}"
 
 [tool.cibuildwheel.windows]
+repair-wheel-command = "delvewheel repair -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel}"
 
 [tool.cibuildwheel.android]
 
diff --git a/docs/options.md b/docs/options.md
index 7e916cad1..ddaaf0641 100644
--- a/docs/options.md
+++ b/docs/options.md
@@ -922,6 +922,7 @@ Default:
 
 - on Linux: `'auditwheel repair -w {dest_dir} {wheel}'`
 - on macOS: `'delocate-wheel --require-archs {delocate_archs} -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel}'`
+- on Windows: `'delvewheel repair -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel}'`
 - on Android: There is no default command, but cibuildwheel will add `libc++` to the
   wheel if anything links against it. Setting a command will replace this behavior.
 - on Pyodide: You can use `pyodide auditwheel repair --libdir /path/to/libraries --output-dir {dest_dir} {wheel}` command to repair the wheel.
@@ -946,29 +947,35 @@ The command is run in a shell, so you can run multiple commands like `cmd1 && cm
 Platform-specific environment variables are also available:<br/>
 `CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_MACOS` | `CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_WINDOWS` | `CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_LINUX` | `CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_ANDROID` | `CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_IOS` | `CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_PYODIDE`
 
-!!! tip
-    cibuildwheel doesn't yet ship a default repair command for Windows.
+!!! note "Windows: telling delvewheel where to find DLLs"
+    On Windows, delvewheel searches the directories on `PATH` for external DLL dependencies. If your DLLs are already discoverable via `PATH`, (say, installed by a package manager that adds itself and the relevant directories to `PATH`), the default repair command should be sufficient.
 
-    **If that's an issue for you, check out [delvewheel]** - a new package that aims to do the same as auditwheel or delocate for Windows.
+    If your project links against DLLs in a custom location – such as a [vcpkg](https://vcpkg.io/) or [Conan](https://conan.io/) install tree, or a manually built library directory, you may pass `--add-path` to tell delvewheel where to look. The flag can be used multiple times for more than one directory:
 
-    Because delvewheel is still relatively early-stage, cibuildwheel does not yet run it by default. However, we'd recommend giving it a try! See the examples below for usage.
+    ```toml
+    [tool.cibuildwheel.windows]
+    repair-wheel-command = "delvewheel repair --add-path C:/vcpkg/installed/x64-windows/bin --add-path C:/mylibs/bin -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel}"
+    ```
 
-    [Delvewheel]: https://github.com/adang1345/delvewheel
+    You can also reference environment variables expanded by the shell at build time, for example if the path is set during `before-build`:
+
+    ```yaml
+    CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_WINDOWS: "delvewheel repair --add-path %VCPKG_INSTALLED_DIR%\\x64-windows\\bin -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel}"
+    ```
 
 #### Examples
 
 !!! tab examples "pyproject.toml"
 
     ```toml
-    # Use delvewheel on windows
-    [tool.cibuildwheel.windows]
-    before-build = "pip install delvewheel"
-    repair-wheel-command = "delvewheel repair -w {dest_dir} {wheel}"
-
     # Don't repair macOS wheels
     [tool.cibuildwheel.macos]
     repair-wheel-command = ""
 
+    # Don't repair Windows wheels
+    [tool.cibuildwheel.windows]
+    repair-wheel-command = ""
+
     # Pass the `--lib-sdir .` flag to auditwheel on Linux
     [tool.cibuildwheel.linux]
     repair-wheel-command = "auditwheel repair --lib-sdir . -w {dest_dir} {wheel}"
@@ -993,7 +1000,7 @@ Platform-specific environment variables are also available:<br/>
     ]
     [tool.cibuildwheel.windows]
     repair-wheel-command = [
-      "copy {wheel} {dest_dir}",
+      "delvewheel repair -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel}",
       "pipx run abi3audit --strict --report {wheel}",
     ]
     ```
@@ -1004,13 +1011,12 @@ Platform-specific environment variables are also available:<br/>
 !!! tab examples "Environment variables"
 
     ```yaml
-    # Use delvewheel on windows
-    CIBW_BEFORE_BUILD_WINDOWS: "pip install delvewheel"
-    CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_WINDOWS: "delvewheel repair -w {dest_dir} {wheel}"
-
     # Don't repair macOS wheels
     CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_MACOS: ""
 
+    # Don't repair Windows wheels
+    CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_WINDOWS: ""
+
     # Pass the `--lib-sdir .` flag to auditwheel on Linux
     CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_LINUX: "auditwheel repair --lib-sdir . -w {dest_dir} {wheel}"
 
@@ -1027,7 +1033,7 @@ Platform-specific environment variables are also available:<br/>
       delocate-wheel --require-archs {delocate_archs} -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel} &&
       pipx run abi3audit --strict --report {wheel}
     CIBW_REPAIR_WHEEL_COMMAND_WINDOWS: >
-      copy {wheel} {dest_dir} &&
+      delvewheel repair -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel} &&
       pipx run abi3audit --strict --report {wheel}
     ```
 
diff --git a/unit_test/main_tests/main_options_test.py b/unit_test/main_tests/main_options_test.py
index 8e3794d6b..a6d20c0ec 100644
--- a/unit_test/main_tests/main_options_test.py
+++ b/unit_test/main_tests/main_options_test.py
@@ -288,14 +288,16 @@ def get_default_repair_command(platform: str) -> str:
         return "auditwheel repair -w {dest_dir} {wheel}"
     elif platform == "macos":
         return "delocate-wheel --require-archs {delocate_archs} -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel}"
-    elif platform in {"windows", "pyodide"}:
+    elif platform == "windows":
+        return "delvewheel repair -w {dest_dir} -v {wheel}"
+    elif platform == "pyodide":
         return ""
     else:
         msg = f"Unknown platform: {platform!r}"
         raise ValueError(msg)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("repair_command", [None, "repair", "repair -w {dest_dir} {wheel}"])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("repair_command", [None, "", "repair", "repair -w {dest_dir} {wheel}"])
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("platform_specific", [False, True])
 def test_repair_command(
     repair_command: str | None,
@@ -315,7 +317,9 @@ def test_repair_command(
 
     build_options = intercepted_build_args.args[0].build_options(identifier=None)
 
-    expected_repair = repair_command or get_default_repair_command(platform)
+    expected_repair = (
+        get_default_repair_command(platform) if repair_command is None else repair_command
+    )
     assert build_options.repair_command == expected_repair