What You'll Find on the Market
Value-conscious consumers are no longer captive to standard, fat white synthetic frames that scream “replacement window.” To satisfy buyers on a budget who want a wood look, some manufacturers are creating vinyl windows with wood laminate finishes. They’re also making composite frames—some made of fiberglass, others a combination of wood and plastic. At the same time, costly solid wood windows are becoming a niche market.
New colors, especially for the exterior portion of the window, are offering more design options. Anthony Carrino, vice president of design at Welcome Homes, an online design-build company based in New York City, says he’s seeing more replacement windows with black exterior frames. “Utilizing black to make your windows pop off your facade adds both depth and visual interest,” he says.
Another trend: installing windows without muntins, the vertical and horizontal grids that make a full pane of glass look like it’s split into sections, Colonial-style. “Homeowners are definitely looking to maximize glass area and gain a more contemporary look,” Kleis says. “This gives the customer an open feel with lots of character.”
Key Shopping Considerations
Weighing the Benefits and Costs
In 2022, a vinyl window-replacement job was among the top five home projects in terms of return on investment, according to national estimates by Remodeling magazine. Sixty-eight percent of a window-replacement job is recouped in the selling price, Remodeling says.
New windows also can save on energy bills. Replacing clear-glass single-pane windows in a single-story, 2,000-square-foot home with new Energy Star certified windows can save a homeowner from $101 to $583 a year, the U.S. Department of Energy projects. Replacing storm windows or double-pane windows can save $27 to $197 per year. How much you’d actually save depends on your local climate, utility rates, and other factors.
If your existing frames and sills are still sound and square, you’ll save money on materials and labor by using replacement units. They’re also known as “pocket replacements” and fit into your existing frames. If your frames are too old and deteriorated, you’ll need full replacement windows, which are the same windows used in new construction. These include the frame, sill, jambs, and usually what’s known as a nailing flange, which attaches the window to the outside wall around the opening.
Finding a Capable Installer
Even the best windows won’t deliver the look or comfort you expect if they’re installed incorrectly. Professional installation is key, especially if you have an older home where, say, window frames have shifted over time and are no longer squared off at the corners.
Many major window manufacturers train and certify installers for their specific brand of window. Using the same contractor for purchase and installation means that if a problem arises later, there will be no doubt who is responsible for fixing it; the window seller can’t blame it on the installer, or vice versa.
Get multiple bids and look online for certification from the American Window and Door Institute or Installation Masters. Any bid you receive should include specifics such as window brand and model, number of windows, size, and type, plus any add-on features. Installation details should be noted, and labor and material costs broken out separately.
While contractors often have their preferred brands, don’t rely on the contractor to choose your windows for you. Check out our replacement window ratings for details on which work best to keep your home comfortable and dry.
What Our Tests Say About Different Window Materials
We tested double-hung windows for resistance to wind and rain. (We don’t test single-hung windows because they’re less common.) Working with an outside lab, we subjected the windows to heavy, wind-driven rain, and winds of 25 and 50 mph at outdoor temperatures of 0° F and 70° F. As our ratings show, we found significant differences among brands.
We test both vinyl and composite windows at Consumer Reports. You may still find some all-aluminum windows, but their popularity has declined with the development of vinyl.
Our tests find that what material a window frame is made of doesn’t guarantee performance, and neither does price. For instance, you’ll find excellent vinyl-frame and composite double-hung windows that perform better than more-pricey wood-frame windows. In fact, the highest-rated wood window in our tests is on a par, performance-wise, with a vinyl window that’s half its price. Here are the types of window materials to consider.
Wood Frame
This window frame type tends to be the most expensive. The entire structure is wood. But while the interior wood can be painted or stained, the exterior is covered in aluminum or vinyl. Those surfaces protect the outside wood from the elements, and prevent rotting and insect infestation. They also reduce maintenance, because you never have to repaint. Many wood windows are available in a variety of exterior colors, allowing you to pick a style that matches your home.
Vinyl Frame
Vinyl-frame windows are typically the least expensive—and typically white. Some models, though, come in limited exterior and interior colors, including wood-laminate finishes. Most vinyl frame windows can’t be painted or stained, so keep that in mind if you want to coordinate them with the color of the exterior paint. Vinyl frames have fewer hardware options than all-wood frames.
Composite Frame
These window frames, typically in the midpriced range, are made from fiberglass or a combination of materials. They typically do not need to be painted or stained. They may have some parts made of solid wood, laminated wood, or plastic with embedded wood fibers. The combination is typically used to give the look of a solid wood window, while making the underlying structure more stable than solid wood. Fiberglass windows are made by embedding fiberglass needles in plastic, making them stronger and stiffer than vinyl; not every brand offers this option.
The Glass Menagerie: Types of Windows
In addition to materials, variables include the number of panes, how the windows are hinged, how they operate, and how much ventilation they offer. Here’s a look at the various types.
Double-Hung Windows
This is the most common type of window in homes built in the 1980s and later. The lower inside sash slides up and an upper outside sash slides down, improving air circulation and making full screens ideal.
Most new double-hung windows allow you to tilt the sashes in for easy cleaning. They’re also a smart choice if you plan to install a window air conditioner, though most now have a fairly high trim on the sill that may require significant shimming to stabilize the air conditioner.
Some double-hung windows in our tests are better than others at keeping out cold air or water. That’s important if you live in a place where it’s chilly and windy, such as Chicago, or where it’s rainy, like the Pacific Northwest.
Other Types
Awning-Style Windows
They’re hinged at the top and open outward. Like casements, the sash presses and locks against the frame, so they close very tightly.
Casement-Style Windows
A smaller part of the market, casement windows provide an unobstructed view. They’re hinged on one side, and a crank lets you open them outward. When fully open, casements allow good ventilation and easy cleaning. They’re usually more airtight than double-hung windows because when closed the sash locks tightly against the frame. However, window air conditioners cannot be installed in casement windows.
Fixed Windows
These are used where lighting but not ventilation is important. They’re airtight and are available with decorative glass accents and textures, or in unusual shapes.
Hopper-Style Windows
The opposite of awning windows, they’re hinged at the bottom and can open either inward or outward.
Single-Hung Windows
They look like double-hung, but only the bottom sash moves. (They usually cost less as a result.) The top sash is sealed to keep out cold air and water.
Garden Windows
These project from the building to create display space for potted plants or a small potted garden. Either the left or right side of the projection can open.
Video Buying Guide
Watch our buying guide video below for more information on how to find the best windows for your house, and handy shopping tips for when you’re at the store.
Features to Look For
Here are a handful of important features to consider when you are shopping for new construction or pocket replacement windows.
Cladding
Today’s wood-framed windows are clad in aluminum, vinyl, or fiberglass to protect the wood from the elements and eliminate the need for painting. Wood windows tend to be the most expensive. Many brands offer various wood types, such as pine, maple, and oak, for the interior parts of the window. Wood-frame windows can be either painted or stained at the factory, or you can add it to your to-do list.
Double or Triple Glazing
Double-glazed windows have a sealed space between two panes of glass filled with air or argon gas, which slows the transfer of heat through the window. Gas provides better insulation and is standard on many windows, but the energy savings won’t justify paying more for it. Triple-glazing adds a third layer of glass, which reduces noise significantly. Energy savings are improved, but not enough to justify cost in all but extremely cold climates or where there is a constant and very loud noise (such as near airports or major freeways).
Low-E Coating
Low-emissivity (low-E) coatings are transparent and improve the efficiency of the glass by reflecting heat yet letting in light. The coating is applied to the outside glass in warmer climates to reflect the sun’s heat out, and in colder climates it’s applied to the inside glass to keep heat in. But keep in mind that any coatings applied to glass, no matter how transparent, reduce the visibility.
Tilt-In Sashes
On single- and double-hung windows, the sashes (the moving part of a window) can be tilted in for easy cleaning. Almost all brands have this feature.
Cladding
Today’s wood-framed windows are clad in aluminum, vinyl, or fiberglass to protect the wood from the elements and eliminate the need for painting. Wood windows tend to be the most expensive. Many brands offer various wood types, such as pine, maple, and oak, for the interior parts of the window. Wood-frame windows can be either painted or stained at the factory, or you can add it to your to-do list.
Replacement Window Brands
Andersen, Marvin, and Pella are the leading window brands. Many leading manufacturers in the window industry market multiple brands. Andersen and Marvin sell some lines only to authorized installers, and home centers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot sell multiple lines. Use these profiles to compare windows by brands.
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