21 Types of Windows: Styles, Uses, and Pictures

Not all new windows are created equal. There are a variety of different styles and energy-efficient options, which will differ in cost and viable applications. Here, we’ve gone into a bit more depth on the varied window styles you’ll encounter as a homeowner and included average pricing along with some basic application information for each type.

For assistance with window installation or window replacement, we recommend the following home improvement contractors:

Different Types of Replacement Windows

There are 22 major different types of windows that are commonly used for residential purposes. Your window choice will vary depending on your area’s climate, insulation, and airflow needs. Read on to learn more about each.

Single-Hung Windows

Single-hung windows are a common and budget-friendly window option, where only the bottom sash is operable. The upper sash remains fixed, while the lower portion is free to move within the window frame.

Average Cost: $300 – $450 per window

Double-Hung Windows

Double-hung windows employ dual mobile window sashes and allow for superior venting and airflow. This makes them ideal for most homes. Their use is especially popular in multi-story residences, as their latching mechanisms allow for easy cleaning of both sides of both sashes without having to access the exterior of your home. Along with the single-hung variety, these are the most common windows in use on the exteriors of most homes.

Average Cost: $330 – $700 per window

Casement Windows

Casement windows are a popular hinged option for many larger first-floor rooms and common living spaces that may require more light. These windows open from the middle outward and often work on a crank or pulley mechanism to operate. They’re available in vinyl, wood, and aluminum and are most commonly used for living rooms, dining rooms, and home offices.

Average Cost: $125 – $1,100 per window

Cottage Windows

Cottage windows are a popular type of double-hung windows that are most commonly placed on the front side of the home. These windows feature asymmetrical sashes, with the top sash often being subdivided into four or six panes by muntins to give it a more varied appearance. The bottom sash is a larger single with no muntins or subdivisions, which makes them a more varied look it presents a popular choice for front-facing windows.

Average Cost: $330 – $700 per window

Awning Windows

Awning windows are typical for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms due to their ventilation properties. They open from the bottom with a cranking mechanism. This opening method can lead to some difficult maintenance down the line; however, many homeowners who need the airflow still opt for this type of window. They come in standard double-pane variants with insulative gas fillings to provide shielding from the elements.

Average Cost: $400 – $600 per window

Arched Windows

Arched windows offer a more nostalgic feel for almost any home style and can open up the space of any room. Many homeowners opt to install these in a position that allows them to have an unobstructed view of abutting outdoor spaces. Such windows come in energy-efficient models and allow more natural light than most standard windows. However, installation can be expensive. Extensive structural alterations could be required if your home did not previously have arched windows.

Average Cost: $300 – $700 per window

Bay Windows

Bay windows are trendy options for breakfast nooks and other dining areas. These three-paned bowed windows can make any room feel larger. That said, their protruding design will require that your window installation professionals ensure the integrity of your existing foundation prior to beginning work.

Average Cost: $500 – $3,500 per window (three separate panes)

Bow Windows

Bow windows differ from bay windows in their actual structure, even if their effect on the outer profile of your home is the same. These windows protrude from your home and consist of four or more identical panes equally spaced apart. Conversely, bay windows are built with a single picture window at the center, with two smaller panes on each side.

Average Cost: Bay windows cost $1,000 – $4,000 per window (four-plus panes)

Egress Windows

Egress windows are most commonly installed in basements that don’t have bulkheads. When built properly, they provide a safe and easy means of exiting most homes. Whether your basement is finished or unfinished, adding such a window can open the space up by allowing for far greater natural light without compromising the security of your home.

Average Cost: $1,200 – $4,500 per window

French Door Windows

French doors are a more trendy option for larger homes and can be installed for both interior and exterior use. As a general practice, interior French doors are made of wood, while exterior doors are made of more weatherized materials like vinyl or another synthetic. These doors range in standard widths from 18 inches to three feet and can be hinged or sliding to work within whatever space they’re installed in.

Average Cost: $2,000 – $6,000 (two doors)

Garden Windows

Garden windows get their name from their typical use, which is as an interior shelf and mini-greenhouse for small plants. This protruding structure has a picture window at its center, with panes on the side and overhead and an underlying shelf. This can serve as a space for plants or other decorative elements but will also allow far more light into the interior of your home. These are most common as an addition to the kitchen sink or dining area of a home. Despite their price, they are becoming an increasingly popular add-on.

Average Cost: $1,200 – $2,500 per window (four panes)

Glass Block Windows

Glass block windows are made of thick glass cubes or blocks separated by sealant or muntins and are typically covered in some kind of glazing or are difficult to see through. For this reason, they are popular in home windows, which serve as privacy barriers between rooms. These opaque low-maintenance windows allow light through without allowing for total transparency, which makes them a typical choice for walls in a master bedroom suite.

Average Cost: $300 – $1,400 per window

Hopper Windows

Hopper windows are almost the direct opposite of awning windows. Hoppers open from the top inward and are usually used in bathrooms and basements to allow for fresh air to flow freely into rooms that require added ventilation. These are typically side windows on most homes and are placed near decks or other common outdoor spaces to stay out of the way of people walking outside.

Cons:

Average Cost: $150 – $600 per window

Jalousie Windows

Jalousie windows are louvered windows with slats made of glass, vinyl, wood, or fiberglass. They are operated via a cranking or lever mechanism and can provide fairly quick ventilation for homes in hot climates. That said, this type of window is lacking in security, and will not suit homeowners in colder weather regions.

Average Cost: $200 – $400 per window

Picture Windows

Picture windows are fixed single window panels which are most commonly used in living rooms and other large common spaces. They offer unrestricted views to the outdoors and are most often set on the sides or back of a home. Homeowners typically opt to install curtains on these windows, since privacy can be somewhat inhibited by most picture windows.

Average Cost: $225 – $900 per window

Round Circle Windows

Circle windows have numerous applications within homes. They are commonly placed in bathrooms, higher up on bedroom walls, or in dining spaces as a unique, somewhat nautical flair. These are far from typical additions to most interior spaces but can add definite resale value for the right buyer.

Average Cost: $200 – $800 per window

Skylight Windows

While they can be fairly expensive to install, a skylight can do plenty to make any loft or room feel larger. Increased light exposure can make for brighter interior spaces. As an added bonus, these design additions are available with electrical components which can allow fresh air into your home at the push of a button. However, you can expect such skylights to cost 50% more than the figures listed below.

Average Cost: $900 – $2,200 per window

Sliding Windows

Sliding windows are generally comprised of two elongated sashes with either one or both of them being mobile. In most cases, these windows are placed higher up on a wall within smaller rooms. Depending on the design features of a given sliding window, these can make ideal spots for window air conditioning units.

Average Cost: $150 – $800 per window

Storm Windows

Storm windows are made to provide extra shielding from the elements, and are typically made to be additions to existing windows. These extra glass panels offer extra soundproofing, and protection from wind and rain, and can be installed on wood, aluminum, or vinyl windows. Potential drawbacks include higher maintenance costs and frequency, and the need for more rigorous cleaning.

Average Cost: $125 – $325 per window

Tilt & Turn Windows

Tilt and turn windows are a more unique window style that has been experiencing increasing demand in recent years. They operate with a lever that has two different settings. One allows for your window to open from the middle inwards, while the other opens your window from the top down. Both options are fairly low-profile, which makes them a good fit for tight spaces.

Average Cost: $200 – $450 per window

Transom Windows

Transom windows are an older architectural trend that has come back into style among homeowners. These windows sit above an interior or exterior entryway and allow for increased natural light within a given space. You can order these as standalone additions (which reflects the pricing below) or as a set piece as part of an entire door assembly. The latter of these two options can cost upwards of $2,000.

Average Cost: $100 – $300 per window

If any of these window types interest you, and you don’t have a means of DIY installation, then these providers can help you:

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