Most Common Types of Windows

A picture of 2 windows on a house

The most common types of windows include sash windows (single and double-hung), casement windows, sliding windows, picture windows, and protruding windows (bay and bow). 

Each style of window has its own unique characteristics. Take it from me; I have bay windows and glass block windows in my home and they’re both visually interesting. The glass block windows are also quite private, but let a lot of light in.

Types of Windows Illustration
Infographic by Aris Berroya

Sash Windows

Sash Windows in a house
Photo Credit: Geoff Henson / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

Sash windows have two panels called sashes that slide open vertically. They can be divided into single-hung and double-hung windows, and they’re some of the most popular windows in homes across the U.S.

Single-Hung Windows

The exterior corner of a vintage wooden building with a closed glass single hung window. The wall is covered in white shingles. There's a yellow wooden building in the background with white trim.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Best for:

  • Rooms on the ground floor, especially those that don’t need much ventilation
  • Rooms that have obstructions outside that would prevent casement windows from opening
  • Rooms where you plan to install an air conditioning unit
  • Homeowners on a budget
  • Both traditional and modern-style homes

Cost: $245 to $635 per window

ProsCons
• Very affordable and easy to buy
• Easy to install and maintain
• Comes in many designs
• Can accommodate window air-conditioning units
• Larger ones can be used as an emergency exit
• More difficult to clean, especially on upper floors
• Not great for ventilation
• Not safe for kids

Single-hung windows are called such because only their lower sashes are operable (movable). The top sash in a single-hung window is fixed and cannot be opened. The fact that you can keep half of the window closed makes it a good window for those who plan to install AC units in separate rooms.

These windows are more affordable than their double-hung counterparts because of their simpler designs. Their design also makes them easier to install and maintain (due to fewer moving parts).

However, the outside of these windows are more difficult to clean from the inside as they can’t be tilted inward like some double-hung windows can.

Double-Hung Windows

Double-Hung Windows in a house
Photo Credit: Andersen Windows / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

Best for:

  • Homes with young children and pets
  • Rooms that have obstructions outside that would prevent casement windows from opening
  • Rooms where you plan to install an air conditioning unit
  • Homeowners on a budget
  • Both traditional and modern-style homes

Cost: $250 to $975 per window

ProsCons
• Affordable and easy to buy
• Comes in many designs, even more than single-hung windows
• Top sash can be opened instead of bottom sash
• Can accommodate air conditioning units
• Easy to clean
• Larger ones can be used as an emergency exit
• Not as secure as single-hung windows
• Not good for ventilation (but better than single-hung windows)
• Not as energy-efficient and has more opportunities for air leaks compared to most types of windows

Double-hung windows are by far the most popular type of window in the U.S. and for good reason. Double-hung windows come in many styles and provide better ventilation than single-hung windows for a slightly higher price.

These windows have two operable sashes. So, you can open either the top sash or the bottom sash. Opening the top sash lets air in without compromising the safety of your little ones, as they will have a harder time reaching the opening up top.

Some double-hung windows even have tilt-in sashes, which make them easier to clean and provide even more ventilation.

However, the two operable sashes mean that double-hung windows have more moving parts that can fail, making them harder to maintain than single-hung windows. They’re also less energy-efficient as none of the sashes are tightly sealed. The second operable sash also provides another point of entry that thieves can try to open. 

Casement Windows

Two person replacing casement windows
Photo Credit: Andersen Windows / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

Best for:

  • Rooms that need a lot of ventilation
  • Homeowners who want energy-efficient windows, like those who experience cold winters
  • Areas where you can’t easily reach to open a window, like above the kitchen sink
  • Homeowners who need an accessible and easy-to-open window
  • Both traditional and modern-style homes

Cost: $430 to $1,060 per window

ProsCons
• Easy to use
• Great ventilation
• Very energy-efficient
• Can provide a mostly unobstructed view of the outside
• Versatile design (comes in various materials and sizes)
• Larger ones can be used as an emergency exit
• Can’t be used in rooms that have obstructions outside
• Cranks can break down, so they need more maintenance
• Can be difficult to clean from inside the house, especially single-pane models

Casement windows are swung open like a door, often with a hand crank (which is why they’re also called crank windows). These hand cranks make the windows easier to open, since it would normally be difficult to reach to open a window (such as over a kitchen sink). 

Casement windows come in single-pane or double-pane configurations, with the latter opening like French doors.

Because the whole window can be opened, casement windows offer great airflow. When closed, the window forms a tight seal, which leads to good energy efficiency. Most casement windows also provide an unobstructed view of the outside, especially single-pane models.

These windows are not perfect, however. Casement windows can’t be opened if something is blocking them outside. The outside of the window can be hard to clean, especially single-pane models on higher floors. Lastly, the cranks can fail and will need to be maintained.

My Tip: Our casement windows actually have handles instead of hand cranks. I generally have no issues opening our windows and prefer the handles over turning the hand crank. The handles also have fewer moving parts, so the only issues I’ve had are the windows themselves needing lubrication.

Our windows do need to be hooked closed though, since they have no arms (the part that opens the window in hand crank models).

Hopper Windows

Red hopper windows installed in a house
Photo Credit: Macrobertson / Wikimedia Commons /CC BY-SA 3.0

Best for:

  • Rooms without much space for windows but still need good ventilation, bathrooms, basements, and utility rooms
  • Both traditional and modern-style homes

Cost: $250 to $750 per window

ProsCons
• Easy to use
• Great ventilation
• Very energy-efficient
• Come in smaller sizes
• Easy to clean
• Cranks can break down, so they need more maintenance
• Can’t be used as an emergency exit

Hopper windows are a type of casement window that’s hinged at the bottom. However, hopper windows swing inward from the top and can be opened at 45 or 90 degrees even if there is an obstruction outside. They’re installed high up a wall near the ceiling.

They come in smaller sizes and are often used in spaces without much space for windows, such as bathrooms and basements.

Awning Windows

Awning Windows in a house
Photo Credit: ntm1909 / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

Best for:

  • Homeowners living in rainy climates and coastal areas
  • Rooms with little space for a window
  • Both traditional and modern-style homes

Cost: $295 to $655 per window

ProsCons
• Easy to use
• Great ventilation
• Very energy-efficient
• Can be opened even when it’s raining
• Versatile design (comes in various materials and sizes)
• Cranks can break down, so they need more maintenance
• Can be difficult to clean from inside the house
• Can’t be opened if there’s an obstruction outside
• Can be dangerous if they’re installed low, like on the first floor
• Can’t be used as an emergency exit

Think of awning windows as the opposite of hopper windows. They’re hinged at the top and swing out when opened, creating an “awning” similar to a traditional window awning. This lets air in but rain out even when it’s pouring outside.

Like hopper windows, awning windows often come in smaller sizes. They’re usually installed in high and narrow areas. However, these windows can’t be opened if there’s something outside blocking the window.

Be careful where you install your awning windows though. If you install them on the first floor, people might run into them when they are open.

Sliding Windows

Sliding Windows placed on a floor
Photo Credit: Steve Anderson / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Best for:

  • Rooms with limited vertical space and a lot of horizontal space
  • Homes with low ceilings
  • Homeowners who need an accessible and easy-to-open window
  • Rooms that have obstructions outside that would prevent casement windows from opening
  • Rooms where you want a lot of ventilation and view
  • Both traditional and modern-style homes

Cost: $415 to $1,270

ProsCons
• Very easy to use
• Can be opened even if there’s something blocking the window from outside
• Versatile design (comes in various materials and sizes)
• Offers relatively unobscured views of the outside
• Larger ones can be used as an emergency exit
• The tracks need regular cleaning
• Not as energy-efficient

Like their name suggests, sliding windows slide to open on tracks. While they can open vertically, the vast majority of sliders open horizontally and are much wider than most windows. They can come in single-slider and double-slider models, with the latter allowing more ventilation.

Since they don’t open outward or inward, slider windows are great for rooms that can’t accommodate a casement window. As a bonus, they also offer unblocked views.

Slider windows do have drawbacks. Like sash windows, they’re less energy-efficient than casement windows. Their tracks also get dirty quickly, so they need to be cleaned often.

My Tip: When I wanted to turn my screened porch into an office area, I installed large sliding windows all around the porch area. This allowed me to convert that space into a room with air conditioning and heat. The sliding windows were great because I could keep them closed when it was too hot or too cold, but on mild days I could slide them open to allow the outside air flow into my office. The large, open windows also offered an excellent, unobstructed view of my serene backyard. It made for an excellent home office.

Picture Windows

Picture Windows in a dining room
Photo Credit: Wollwerth Imagery / Adobe Stock Free / License

Best for:

  • Rooms facing beautiful landscapes
  • Homeowners who want lots of natural light
  • Modern-style homes

Cost: $200 to $775

ProsCons
• Offers the best, unobstructed views of the outside
• Great for natural light
• Excellent energy-efficiency
• Comes in larger sizes
• No moving parts that need maintenance
• Cannot be opened, so there is no airflow
• Can cause your home to heat up quicker in the summer
• Cannot be the only windows in a bedroom or basement
• Can’t be used as an emergency exit

Picture windows are the king of picturesque views and natural light. Picture windows are often large single-pane rectangles with barely visible frames, but some larger ones have metal insets built-in to help keep them from breaking. Picture windows are often used as front windows.

Picture windows are fixed windows and cannot be opened. This makes them some of the most energy-efficient windows (because of their tight seals) and the worst for ventilation.

Another caveat is that you probably can’t have only picture windows in your home. Aside from providing no airflow, using only these windows will be a violation of building codes as you need a point of egress or escape in case of an emergency.

Protruding Windows

These types of windows protrude from your home’s exterior wall, giving you more interior space. There are two types of protruding windows: bay and bow windows.

Bay Windows

Bay Window in a house
Photo Credit: Sharon Sullivan

Best for:

  • Victorian-style or traditional-style homes
  • Homeowners who want more curb appeal
  • New construction homes

Cost: $1,125 to $4,790

ProsCons
• Visually interesting
• Gives your home extra space
• Can be used as a seating or shelving areaIncreases your home’s property value
• Allows a lot of natural light in your home
• More expensive to install and repair
• More difficult to install in existing homes
• Harder to find window treatments for bay windows
• Can’t be used as an emergency exit

Bay windows are made of three lites (or units), typically a big picture window in the middle flanked by two smaller side windows set at an angle (usually 45 or 90 degrees). The side windows can be fixed, but are often operable models like casement or sash windows.

These windows give you both form and function, as they’re visually striking but also provide extra square footage to your home. While bay windows are more common in homes with more traditional aesthetics, you can find them in modern homes as well. You will often see these windows in kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms.

However, bay windows come at a hefty price tag. They’re very expensive to install, maintain, and repair. If you want a bay window in your home, you’ll also need to make structural changes if there is no space to accommodate it. They’re better suited for new construction homes.

My Experience: We have four of these windows at home and they’re pretty neat – one in the living room and three in bedrooms. We use the one in the living room as a sitting area.

You can use operable windows all throughout if you want more ventilation. Instead of the typical picture window in the middle, our bay windows have multiple casement windows in the middle.  You may want to use sash windows though. We don’t get to open the middle ones in the living room because we have plants outside that block the casement windows.

Bow Windows

closeup of Bow Windows in a house
Photo Credit: Spencer Means / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Best for:

  • Victorian-style or traditional-style homes
  • Homeowners who want more curb appeal
  • New construction homes

Cost: $2,190 to $6,140

ProsCons
• Visually interesting
• Gives your home extra space and makes your room look larger
• Increases your home’s property value
• More flexible than a bay window
• Allows a lot of natural light in your home
• More expensive to install and repair, even more than a bay window
• More difficult to install in existing homes
• Can be horrible for ventilation
• Harder to find window treatments for bay windows
• Can’t be used as an emergency exit

Also called compass windows, bow windows provide much of the same functionality and visual appeal as bay windows. However, they’re made up of four to six lites arranged in a gentle curve instead of three in sharp angles.

The lites in a bow window can be operable or fixed. Depending on the configuration of the lites, a bow window can be better or worse for airflow than a bay window.

Because bow windows have more lites than a bay window, they’re even more expensive to install, maintain, and repair.

Other Types of Windows

Here are some other types of windows that aren’t as common:

  • Garden windows
  • Glass block windows
  • Egress windows
  • Arched windows
  • Jalousie windows
  • Storm windows
  • Transom windows
  • Skylights
  • Custom windows

Garden Windows

garden view from garden windows
Photo Credit: daryl_mitchell / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Best for:

  • Kitchens
  • Both traditional and modern-style homes
ProsCons
• Adds some space to your home
• Can be used to provide light and warmth to small, potted plants, much like a greenhouse
• Adds a lot of natural light
• Expensive to install and maintain
• Can be an obstacle in common outside areas as it protrudes
• Hard to access if it’s installed up high
• Can’t be used as an emergency exit

Garden windows are made up of four windows – three sides and a glass roof. These windows are small and often installed in kitchens. They’re like mini-greenhouse shelves that provide a perfect sunny space for plants, pets, and small objects. 

They also protrude out of your home like bay and bow windows. They are three-dimensional windows that can become an obstacle to outside common areas.

Glass Block Windows

Window is made of Transparent glass bricks. Pattern of glass block wall
Photo Credit: Анастасія Стягайло / Adobe Stock Free / License

Best for:

  • Areas that need privacy and natural light
  • Rooms that need extra security
  • Rooms overlooking less desirable landscapes
  • Modern-style homes

Cost: $410 to $1,235

ProsCons
• Lets light in without compromising privacy
• Secure and durable
• Energy-efficient
• Visually intriguing
• In my experience, very low-maintenance
• More expensive than typical windows
• Doesn’t provide a good view of the outside
• Heavier than other windows and needs good support
• Can’t be used as an emergency exit

If you’re looking for a window that can brighten your home while maintaining privacy, then glass block windows might be what you’re looking for. They’re made of thick frosted or patterned blocks of glass that diffuse the view inside and out, making it quite difficult to see through.

Aside from being private, these windows are also very secure. The thick glass is difficult to break; plus, they’re mortared to the wall.

My Experience: We have this type of window in our stairwell and it lets so much light in. I have never felt unsafe even though it takes up basically half the wall. I also can’t see anything concrete, so I’m honestly not sure what is outside. 

We’ve also never had to maintain them in the many, many years we have had them. We just have to clean them from time to time – and even then, not intensely. We don’t really see the dust, to be honest.

Egress Windows

Egress Windows in a house
Photo Credit: HomeSpot HQ / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Best for:

  • A means of escape during emergencies
  • Areas where people need to sleep in or use regularly
  • All types of homes

Cost: $2,445 to $5,265

ProsCons
• Lets lots of light in
• Doubles as an emergency exit
• More expensive than typical windows because of their large size

These windows are often installed in finished basements – and in most areas, they’re required – but they can be installed above ground. too. Egress windows are large windows that double as emergency exits.

Egress windows are often large casement windows, but can also be single-hung, double-hung, sliding, or even arched windows. 

According to Section R310 of the International Residential Code, egress windows must have these dimensions:

  • Minimum clear height: 24 inches
  • Minimum clear width: 20 inches
  • Minimum clear opening: 5.7 square feet

Arched Windows

arched windows in a house
Photo Credit: Stilfehler / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Best for:

  • Homeowners who want to add visual interest to their home
  • Both traditional and modern-style homes

Cost: $355 to $1,005

ProsCons
• Visually appealing and raises your property value
• Fixed arched windows are very low-maintenance
• Expensive to install
• Curved curtains and window dressings can be more difficult to find

Arched windows can add a lot of visual interest to a room. They’re often perceived as very elegant.

These windows can be standalone or installed above existing windows. Those installed above existing windows tend to be fixed, but standalone arched windows can be double-hung or casement-style configurations that can be opened.

Arched windows come in many styles:

  • Half-round arched windows are windows shaped like semi-circles (or half-circles). They may also be called half-moon, semi-circle, or half-circle windows.
  • Quarter-circle arched windows are half-round windows cut in half vertically.
  • Full chord arched windows look like the top one-third of a circle.
  • Elliptical arched windows are widened semi-circles often installed above large windows and patio doors. They are wider and look more rectangular than full chord windows 
  • Half-elliptical arched windows are elliptical windows cut in half vertically.
  • Full arch heads look like a regular rectangular or square window, except the top part of it has been arched. If you smoosh together a regular window and a half-round, elliptical, or full chord window, you get a full arch head.
  • Half-arch heads look like full arch head heads cut in half vertically.
  • Palladian windows feature one large arched window and two smaller arched windows on either side.

These elegant windows are more expensive than normal windows because of their unusual shape. It’s also more difficult to find window dressings if you want curtains that perfectly fit the curve of an arched window.

Jalousie Windows

Photo Credit: Ken Mayer / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Best for:

  • Homes in tropical and coastal areas
  • Both traditional and modern-style homes

Cost: $165 to $400

ProsCons
• Really good at precisely controlling airflow
• Visually interesting
• Offers privacy
• Not secure
• In my experience, easy to break and requires more maintenance

These windows are quite unlike any other. Operated with a lever, jalousie windows are made of multiple parallel angled glass or metal slats that open and close kind of like window blinds. The slats (also called lovers) lie vertically when closed and tilt horizontally when opened.

Jalousie windows are more popular in tropical and coastal areas and are used to control the airflow coming into a room.

My Tip: My school had these windows in their classrooms. Back when I was a student, I saw that some of the slats were quite loose. A few even fell out when we opened the window! 

A few of them were also quite difficult to open because they were in desperate need of lubricant. You will need to be prepared to do some routine maintenance to keep them functional.

The type of glass used for the jalousie windows combined with the design of the windows themselves was great for privacy though. You couldn’t really see inside the classroom from the outside if the windows were closed, and you couldn’t see much outside, either. But they still allow enough light to shine into the room.

Storm Windows

Storm Windows installed in a room
Photo Credit: Rutebega / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Best for:

  • Homes with older windows
  • Historical homes
  • Homes that get hit by storms often

Cost: $125 to $415

ProsCons
• Improves insulation which can lower heating and cooling costs by up to 30%
• Protects original window from the elements
• Blocks noise
• May not be the best option if the original windows are in dire conditions

Most storm windows are single-pane windows that are installed over existing windows to make them more durable against storms and other inclement weather.

Installing storm windows is a good way to protect windows in historical homes without making changes to their architectural style.

Transom windows

transom window on a building
Photo Credit: Ramblersen2 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Best for:

  • Adding a decorative flair to doors and windows
  • Traditional and modern-style homes

Cost: $120 to $270

ProsCons
• Visually interesting
• Lets more light into your home while maintaining privacy
• Terrible in the case of a fire

Transom windows are small windows placed above a transom, a structural beam above a door or window. Transom windows are typically installed to add more visual interest to an existing door or window.

Transom windows also allow more light into a room without compromising privacy. Since the windows are so high up, outsiders won’t be able to see into a room through a transom window.

However, these windows can be a liability during a fire. During a fire, transom windows can break and funnel heat and smoke into the adjacent room. They’re very good at doing this because heat rises, and transom windows are very high up.

Skylights

Open roof window in velux style with black roof tiles.
Photo Credit: Michael / Adobe Stock Free / License

Best for:

  • Rooms that don’t have much wall space
ProsCons
• Lets lots of natural light in
• Can be installed even in rooms without much wall space
• Visually interesting
• Energy-efficient
• Fixed ones are not good for ventilation
• Expensive to install
• Can leak
• Can allow too much heat and light into your home

If you don’t have any wall space for a traditional window, then you might want to consider skylights. They’re windows installed on your roof and are great for letting more natural light into your home. 

While some skylight windows are operable, most are fixed. Operable skylights can be opened to let fresh air in and hot air out.

Roof windows are similar to skylights, but they’re not the same. Those windows are usually accessible, operable, and can double as emergency exits. 

You can learn more about skylights in these articles:

Custom Windows

Custom Windows in a house
Photo Credit: ntm1909 / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

Best for:

  • Homeowners who have very specific visions for their homes’ aesthetic
  • Homeowners who want a unique flair to their homes
  • All types of homes
ProsCons
• Visually interesting and unique• More expensive than a standard window

Custom windows are any window that is made-to-order and not carried by typical window manufacturers. These windows can give your home a unique flair that normal windows find difficult to match. 

Custom windows don’t have a standard size. They’re custom-made for your home, so they can be whatever size you need them to be.

Some custom windows include:

  • Floor-to-ceiling windows
  • Circular or round windows
  • Other unconventional shapes

Because these windows are made-to-order specialty pieces, they are typically more expensive than a typical window. They will take time to order, as each piece has to be crafted as they are ordered. They are also more expensive to install as the window pro will need to account for the custom design and dimensions of the windows.

Choose the Right Windows For Your Home

Your windows aren’t just window dressing for your home. Some styles of windows offer more privacy, are easier to use, or let more light in. Bigger and more unique windows are more expensive to install and maintain, but they’re also more striking to look at. Mix and match practical windows and more elaborate ones to find a balance between form and function.

Main Image Credit: Pexels

Janine Caayao

Janine Caayao learned most of what she knows from watching her dad, who loves fixing things and DIYing solutions to problems around the house. She also helps him assemble furniture, mainly by making sense of confusing manuals.