Types of Windows

Written-by

Edward Richardson

Reviewed-by

Richard Burdett-Gardiner

Updated on

Dec 04, 2023

Types of Windows

There are many different styles of window to choose from if you are looking to replace them in your home or office. A lot will depend on the space that needs to be filled as well as the range of styles your installer or manufacturer tend to deal in.

Here just some of the types of window available:

Eyebrow Windows

This is fixed window that usually resembles the look of an arched eyebrow. It is more often seen on old style houses, commonly utilized for attic spaces where it is fitted into the roof top. It’s a simple and elegant way to add some style to a building.

Fixed Windows

A fixed window is any that cannot be opened and is used where the general purpose is simply to provide light rather than additional ventilation. Types of fixed windows would be ones that are fitted in high rise office blocks where opening onto the outside world is not required.

Single-Hung and Double-Hung Sash Windows

These are windows that work on a weighted pulley system which means either the top or bottom pane can be opened but lifting upwards or pulling downwards. In double hung sash windows both panes can be moved, creating a better air flow around the bottom and top. Windows can also have different opening mechanisms including clock spring balances, spiral balances or block and tackle balances.

Yorkshire Sash Windows

A variation on the sash window these move horizontally rather than vertically and are a popular choice for older buildings where the windows are being replaced.

Casement Windows

A casement or awning window has a hinge that can open the window either in or out similar to a door. You can also have the window opening from the top and from the bottom. Most modern buildings now have this type of window incorporated into the frame and they are the most common when you come to hire an installer to replace your existing ones.

Pivot Windows

Less used nowadays, a pivot window can be opened and spins on a central axis either horizontally or vertically. Many can fully reverse so that the outside pane can be cleaned more easily. Vertical pivot windows in particular use friction to ensure that the window stays in place however much you open it.

Tilt and Slide and Tilt and Turn Windows

Usually reserved for slightly bigger windows, tilt and slide window moves out from the top and can then be positioned behind another window. Tilt and turn began life in Germany and uses the handle to help position the window, turning first and then tilting the frame.

Transom Windows

These are usually positioned above a door and can be fixed or can be opened either at the top or the bottom.  

Bay Windows

These are the multi-panel windows that you usually see at the front of the house either for the main bedroom or the living room. They consist of a number of fixed and opening frames often set at different angles to protrude from the facia of the house or office.

Picture Windows

These are large panes of glass usually in a single frame which give an unimpeded view of the world outside. They are generally fixed and designed for allowing as much light as possible into a space.

Other window styles that are available include:

Oriel

Multi-Lite

Thermal

Stained Glass

French (as in French Windows)

Double Paned

Roof Lantern

Skylight

It’s not just how the window operates that defines the type, but also the construction. Grids or muntins can separate a pane of glass into smaller sections and there are variations in the materials used in the frames such as wood, PVC or aluminium. Then there is the glazing and filling of the window panes themselves. Some use low-emissivity coated glass and the insulating gas used can be argon or krypton all of which are used to reduce heat loss.