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Types of windows: which frame fits your home?
Choose Vinyl for a frame that needs no painting; Aluminum for a very strong, light frame; Wood or clad wood for a frame that insulates relatively well; Fiberglass for a frame whose insulation-filled air cavities give it "superior thermal performance compared to wood or uninsulated vinyl"; Composite wood for a frame with "better moisture and decay resistance" than conventional wood.
The right choice depends on how much upkeep the frame needs and how well the frame resists heat flow (DOE says "vinyl, wood, fiberglass, and some composite frame materials provide greater thermal resistance than metal", and rates insulation-filled fiberglass and insulation-filled vinyl above wood).
| Type | Best for | Main advantages | Main drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | a frame that needs no painting | good moisture resistance; with its hollow cavities filled with insulation, DOE rates it "thermally superior to standard vinyl and wood frames" | uninsulated, it is behind insulation-filled fiberglass: DOE says that fiberglass has "superior thermal performance compared to wood or uninsulated vinyl" |
| Aluminum | a very strong, light frame | needs almost no maintenance | metal is a very poor insulating material; DOE says metal frames should have a thermal break, an insulating plastic strip between the inside and outside of the frame and sash |
| Wood or clad wood | a frame that insulates relatively well | aluminum or vinyl cladding reduces the maintenance it needs, DOE says | DOE says insulation-filled vinyl is "thermally superior to standard vinyl and wood frames"; expands and contracts in response to weather conditions; requires regular maintenance (less with cladding) |
| Fiberglass | a frame whose insulation-filled air cavities give it "superior thermal performance compared to wood or uninsulated vinyl" | dimensionally stable | no official source names one |
| Composite wood | a frame with "better moisture and decay resistance" than conventional wood | DOE says these composites are very stable and have "the same or better structural and thermal properties as conventional wood" | no official source names one |
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What are the five types of windows?
By frame material, the U.S. Department of Energy's Types of Windows guide (undated) describes five: aluminum or metal, composite, fiberglass, vinyl and wood, and a wood frame can carry aluminum or vinyl cladding. DOE gives no count of window types. It describes composite frames as "composite wood products, such as particleboard and laminated strand lumber." Window styles, meaning how a window opens, are a separate choice this guide does not cover.
DOE's summary is that "vinyl, wood, fiberglass, and some composite frame materials provide greater thermal resistance than metal", and that metal frames should have a thermal break, an insulating plastic strip between the inside and outside of the frame and sash.
What are the four main types of windows?
DOE's Types of Windows guide (undated) names no four main types; it sorts windows by frame and by glass, saying "Windows come in a number of different frame and glazing types." The five frames are in the table above. On glass, DOE describes these glazing types:
Insulated glazing: "Insulated window glazing refers to windows with two or more panes of glass", and it "primarily lowers the U-factor, but it also lowers the SHGC."
Gas fills: some manufacturers fill the space between the panes with "inert gas -- commonly argon or krypton -- that has a higher resistance to heat flow than air".
Low-e coatings: "These low-e coatings control heat transfer by reducing the transmittance of infrared radiation."
Tints and reflective coatings: "Tinted glass absorbs a large fraction of the incoming solar radiation through a window, reducing the SHGC, VT, and glare", and "Reflective window glazing is commonly used in hot climates to control solar heat gain."
The frame is only part of the choice. DOE's guide says improving the frame's thermal resistance "can contribute to a window's overall energy efficiency, particularly the U-factor", and adds: "In addition to choosing a frame type, you will need to consider what type of glazing or glass you should use". DOE's Energy Saver Guide (2022) says "the U-factor is the rate at which a window conducts non-solar heat flow" and "SHGC is a measure of solar radiation admitted through a window", and advises: "Look for whole-unit U-factors and SHGCs, rather than center-of-glass U-factors and SHGCs." So compare the ratings of the whole window, frame and glass together.
What are the 7 types of windows?
By style, the U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) lists ten, not seven, in its product codes for residential windows (guidance updated 2021): double hung, single hung, casement, horizontal slider, tilt or transom slider, fixed, bay, bow, projected and French windows.
Those are styles, meaning how a window opens or is shaped. Any of them still needs a frame material from the table above and a glazing type, and FEMP's list ranks none of them.
| Priority | Choose |
|---|---|
| a frame that does not need painting | Vinyl |
| a strong, light frame | Aluminum |
| more moisture and decay resistance than conventional wood | Composite wood |
What does window replacement cost?
For window replacement prices, see How much does it cost to replace windows?
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Sources for the facts on this page
- U.S. Department of Energy, Building Science Education Solution Center: Types of Windows (undated), government, read 17 October 2026.
- U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver Guide (2022), government, read 17 October 2026.
- U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program, Purchasing Energy-Efficient Residential Windows, Doors, and Skylights, government, read 17 October 2026.