Window type compare: cost & fit by style

Two window styles, your own prices: this tool lines up any two types — double-hung, casement, sliding, awning or picture — and reports the per-window difference against the labeled installed bands.

Planning estimate: this is a planning estimate from the numbers you enter — not a bid or a contract. Window and door pricing depends on size, type, frame material, glass package, full-frame vs insert, trim, disposal, height/access and local labor. Get itemized written quotes from licensed, insured window/door installers before you commit.
Your result
Per-window difference$200.00
Casement (10 × $700.00)$7,000.00 — band $400.00–$1,000.00
Double-hung (10 × $500.00)$5,000.00 — band $300.00–$800.00

At your prices, Casement runs $700.00 a window vs $500.00 for Double-hung — a $200.00 per-window difference. Casement and awning windows seal tighter and (casement) open fully for egress; double-hung and slider are the value default — a labeled compare from YOUR prices, not a verdict.

Calculator inputs

windows
$/window
$/window

Window type (also called operation or style) drives three things at once: how the window opens and ventilates, whether it can serve as an emergency egress exit, and what it costs to buy and install. This tool holds the cost axis steady — you enter the real per-window price from your own quotes for two styles — and shows the per-window and whole-job difference next to the labeled installed band for each type, so a marked-up quote stands out.

Use it the way a contractor sizes up a swap: pick the style you have, pick the style you are considering, and read the delta. The verdict is a labeled compare from your numbers, not a recommendation of one brand or product over another.

Formula

For each style, the job total is simply count times your installed price:

totalA = count × priceA
totalB = count × priceB
per-window difference = |priceA − priceB|

Each total is shown against the labeled installed band for that type (for example, casement $400–1,000/window, double-hung $300–800/window), a sanity guide only.

Worked example

Say you are weighing casement at $700/window against double-hung at $500/window across a 10-window job:

  • Casement: 10 × $700 = $7,000 (band $400–1,000/window)
  • Double-hung: 10 × $500 = $5,000 (band $300–800/window)
  • Per-window difference: |700 − 500| = $200/window

Both prices sit inside their bands, so the $200 gap is the real fit-vs-value trade-off, not a padded quote. Over 10 windows that is $2,000 — worth it where you want the tighter seal and full egress opening of a casement, less so on a run of value bedroom windows.

Background & practice

Fit, not just price. Casement and awning windows crank shut against the frame, so they seal tighter than a double-hung or slider, and a casement opens its whole sash — which is what makes it egress-friendly in a bedroom. Double-hung and sliding windows are the value default and are easier to clean from inside on upper floors. Picture (fixed) windows have the best U-factor because nothing opens, but they give you zero ventilation and cannot serve as egress.

What to check before you compare. Confirm the two quotes are for the same frame material, glass package and installation method (insert vs full-frame) — otherwise you are comparing a stripped price to a loaded one. If a bedroom is involved, run the egress checker before you commit to a style, because a slider that meets width and height can still fail the clear-opening area.

Common mistake. Comparing sticker price per unit while one style needs a structural change (bay/bow, or enlarging an opening) — that carpentry is a separate line item and is not sized here.

Reference table

Window typeTypical installed band ($/window)Character
Double-hung$300.00–$800.00/windowTwo vertical sashes; the value default
Casement$400.00–$1,000.00/windowCrank-out; seals tight, opens fully for egress
Sliding$350.00–$900.00/windowHorizontal glider; value option
Awning$400.00–$1,000.00/windowTop-hinged; vents in rain
Picture$300.00–$1,200.00/windowFixed; best U-factor, no ventilation
Bay / bow$1,500.00–$4,500.00/unitProjecting multi-panel unit

Installed (material + labor) planning bands, not a quote — you enter the real per-window price above.

Frequently asked questions

Which window type is cheapest?
Across the labeled installed bands, double-hung and sliding windows are usually the value default (~$300–900/window installed), while casement and awning run a little higher (~$400–1,000) and bay/bow units are in a class of their own ($1,500–4,500). But your quoted price is what matters — enter it above to compare.
Are casement windows more expensive than double-hung?
Typically yes, modestly. Casements use a crank operator and a tighter compression seal, so their installed band (~$400–1,000/window) sits a bit above double-hung (~$300–800). In the worked example the gap is $200/window. Whether it is worth it depends on the seal, the view and whether you need the full egress opening.
What window type is best for egress?
A casement, because it swings its entire sash out of the opening, giving the largest clear opening for its size. Double-hung and sliders only ever clear half the frame, so they need to be physically larger to pass the 5.7 sq ft IRC minimum. Always confirm with the egress checker.
Does this tool tell me which window to buy?
No. It is a labeled cost-and-fit compare from the prices you enter — not a bid, not a product recommendation. Get itemized written quotes from licensed, insured installers and confirm sizes, egress and energy ratings on the exact product.

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