18 Types of Windows: Find the Perfect Match for Your Home

When you think of what kind of windows to get for your home, you may be thinking that there are just a couple of types and you have a limited selection. However, that isn’t quite the case. There are plenty of different options for a window, such as shapes, purpose, and design.

This article covers a variety of 18 types of windows so you can find the design you want the most for your home so it looks nice and is unique.

18 Types of Windows

1. Single-Hung Windows

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Single-hung windows are the ones you may be most familiar with. These are square windows that have sliders on either side. The bottom pane of the window can open up, letting in air from the bottom pane.

2. Double-Hung Windows

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Double-hung windows are most often seen in bathrooms or laundry rooms where there are smaller windows but ventilation is often necessary. These can look similar to single-hung windows when they are closed.

However, the main difference is that double-hung windows open in two places. Often the top and bottom panes both open. Instead of sliding up like single-hung windows, they often crack open at an angle.

Some models slide open like single-pane windows, but you can only open the top or the bottom in this model, and not both. These options are best for people that have children or pets that could potentially fall through an open bottom pane.

3. Garden Windows

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Garden windows are often placed in the kitchen. They are very similar to bay windows but smaller. Their name comes from the fact that they act like miniature greenhouses and are the perfect place to put small indoor plants like flowers and herbs.

They can also be used in a room to make the space look bigger and more open. The small windows on the side often open up to allow for ventilation and reduce some of the heat coming in.

4. Arched Windows

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Arched windows are designed to look large and regal. They are often placed at the front of the house to draw the attention of any passersby. They allow in a lot of light. However, these windows are made more for decoration. They don’t provide much besides decoration.

As the name suggests, arched windows are usually big windows that reach from low on the wall to almost the ceiling. On the bottom, they are often square in shape, while they taper off to an elegant arch at the top.

There are many different ways to design arched windows. Some have two basic rectangle windows at the bottom with the arch part being separate. Sometimes, there is just one rectangle window at the bottom. Others have long, vertical panels, and others just do individual panels in square shapes that are cut off at the top of the arch.

Sometimes, certain panels inside of the arch can open, but more often than not, the window is placed in a room with lots of other windows that can open and allow ventilation.

5. Skylights

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A skylight is a window that is designed with the purpose of letting in light. They are often installed on the roof and let in light from the ceiling. Some can open for ventilation via a long crank or the press of a button, while others are sealed shut.

They have some difficulties, such as when it comes to cleaning, and opening and closing them manually can be a bit of a pain. However, they provide a mix of natural light and heating, and can brighten up a space that would normally be dark.

Skylights come in a variety of appearances. They can be long and rectangular, small and circular, or square.

6. Gable Windows

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Gable windows are often used in attics or homes with A-frame designs. They are made to fit in between the peak slope of the home where the roof angles to either side. This is known as the gable end of a roof, which is why these windows are called gable windows.

These are often used to allow ventilation at the top of homes, where heat often builds, but they also are used for decoration as they can significantly improve the appearance of a house.

7. Casement Windows

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Casement windows also have the name crank windows, as they are usually opened through a cranking method like old cars. Like a door, they usually swing open and outward. Despite their unique way of opening, they have strong seals and are weathertight while allowing for airflow.

Because of the way they open, it can be hard to get screens. Though it is possible, they are often a little more special in their design and maybe a bit more expensive. They also tend to break more often than other windows.

8. Egress Windows

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Egress windows are the windows used most often in basements, and are specifically used in basements that are fully or mostly underground. Since they are usually hard to see, they are designed with safety in mind more than anything.

Egress windows should always open up, as they allow an escape from the basement during an emergency situation, such as when there is a fire. They are often very expensive, because they involve digging into the earth in front of your home to install, and they often need a wall surrounding them, but they are required for safety reasons.

9. Lantern Windows

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Lantern windows aren’t often added to homes, but it is always a possibility. They are designed to go on the roof of a building, specifically a flat roof. They work somewhat like skylights, where they provide light into a room.

However, they aren’t flat and instead usually have a sloped appearance somewhat like a house roof. This 3D form allows more air circulation throughout the home or building as well.

10. Awning Windows

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Awning windows are very similar to casement windows. However, instead of opening like a door, on a horizontal axis, they open up and down, on a vertical axis. They are designed to provide ventilation and seal well.

Since they open vertically, they are often short and squat, so they work in higher locations, or places that are narrow or where only a small window will fit. The crank is designed for this purpose and is often easy to operate, even when stretching is required to reach them.

11. Bay Windows

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Bay windows are like garden windows. They are designed to be 3D and usually extend outside of the house. They can match the walls of a house, to create an extended nook area, but they can also be placed against one flat wall.

They often contain one large window and two smaller windows on the side, but can come in all sorts of different styles. Some may be more angled and some may be more square.

These windows are expensive to install but can add charm to the house from both the outside and inside. They also provide a little boost to the square footage of a home and make a space seem bigger.

These are often in areas where getting a lot of light might be nice, such as offices and living rooms. They are very pretty but can be difficult when it comes to decorating the house, as many people don’t know how to style them correctly.

12. Fixed Windows

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Fixed windows aren’t technically their own type of window, but can be used to add a description to a window. As the name suggests, fixed windows are windows that are fully fixed into the wall. They often don’t open and are designed more for decoration and light than ventilation or possible escape.

13. Sliding Windows

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Sliding windows are somewhat like fixed windows in that they describe a set of kinds of windows rather than specific designs or shapes. These are windows that are made to slide.

They often look like sliding glass doors but in miniature. You see them in homes some of the time, but they are most often used in coffee shops and restaurants that have drive-through ordering.

14. Pivoted Windows

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Pivoted windows are yet another descriptor of windows. These are windows that open, but don’t slide open. Instead, they often pivot, opening at an angle. These are usually windows you have to crank, like the sides of garden windows or awning windows.

Additionally, other countries besides the United States have these windows as a standard in homes and apartments as they provide the additional safety benefit of not opening fully. This allows for ventilation and light, without as much risk of a child or animal falling out.

15. Glass Block Windows

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If you want a more unique and decorative option than most of the others on this list, you may want to look at glass block windows. These are the simple versions of stained glass windows. However, instead of abstract or specific designs, they are just squares or rectangles of various stained glass. If you want, you can just pick plain clear glass as well.

With these, you often have a degree of freedom in choosing your colors and shapes. You can pick colors that catch the light nicely, or that match your color scheme. They also have the additional benefit of providing privacy.

These are often used in bathrooms with windows, but can, realistically, be used anywhere in your home. While they don’t allow you to see outside of the window, they still allow for light.

Some people find the stained glass’s appearance to be somewhat dated. However, that also can be a benefit. It means this look isn’t used as often anymore, which makes it even more unique, but it also works well when renovating older homes.

Due to their design, they don’t often open and are mostly just for privacy and appearance. They are pretty difficult to get and require specific installation, so they aren’t always a great option for someone trying to get a quick and easy replacement.

16. Hopper Windows

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Hopper windows are very similar to awning windows. However, they most often open inwards instead of outwards. They are similar in shape to awning windows and fit well in places without a lot of wall space where ventilation would still be appreciated.

They are pretty cheap, but the window opening inwards can sometimes make a room feel smaller when they are open. Additionally, they do best when placed up high in a room, so the opening doesn’t mess with the decorations.

17. Corner Windows

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As you may be able to guess from the name, corner windows are windows that wrap around the corner of a room. You see them quite often in new apartments that are trying to let in a lot of light for the renters or owners. However, you can sometimes see them in newly renovated homes.

They aren’t often used in older homes, though you can sometimes find two windows with their own paneling on either side of a corner so it almost looks like a corner window.

This is a great option to provide extra light while not taking up a lot of extra space or having to have multiple windows around the room. It also allows light to come from two different directions, so you can often get light throughout the whole day in one room.

18. Dormer Windows

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Dormer windows are windows that, like gable windows, are designed for slopes. However, instead of fitting into a slope of the roof, a slope is projected out from the roof to provide these windows. They allow for a unique characteristic of the home while also providing light, ventilation, and a little more space in whichever room.