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Awning window

Hinged at the top, the bottom edge swings outward to let air in while shedding light rain.

Awning window

Drag or press ← → to rotate; Home resets the view

Pick a window or door type, drag or use ← / → to rotate the 3D model, and press the mechanism buttons to see how it opens.

How it opens and how it is built

The sash hangs on hinges along the top of the frame, and its bottom edge swings outward. A crank handle turns a gear arm that pushes the sash out and pulls it back, and a lock presses it against the weatherstripping around the frame when it is closed.

The open sash tilts out from the wall like a small roof over the opening, so light rain runs off it. It stands out from the wall at the bottom, so the space right below the window outside should be clear. In the 3D model above you can check how the sash swings open.

Why you'd want it

An awning lets you air a room in light rain and keeps working high on a wall, where a sash to lift would be out of reach. That is why it is often set above or below another window, in a bathroom or in a basement wall.

A casement is hinged at the side and opens more of the opening to catch a breeze. A sliding window opens within the wall without sticking out, and a picture window, often paired with an awning below it, does not open at all.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • The open sash sheds light rain, so the window can stay open in wet weather.
  • Closed, the sash presses against the weatherstripping, which keeps drafts out.
  • It works high on a wall and pairs well above or below a larger window.

Cons

  • The bottom of the open sash sticks out and can be in the way of a walkway or a deck.
  • It opens a smaller part of the opening than a casement, and it is often a short window.
  • The crank and the hinges are moving parts that wear and may need adjustment.

It's for you if…

  • You want a bathroom window that can stay open for air in light rain.
  • The window is high on a wall or in a basement, where lifting a sash would be awkward.
  • You are pairing a large window with a strip of opening window above or below it.

Don't overpay if…

  • You want the most air and an easy way out of a bedroom: a casement opens more of the opening.
  • The window looks onto a busy walkway at head height: a sliding window opens without sticking out.
  • The window is only there for light: a picture window has no crank or hinges to pay for.

How it affects the price

An awning is usually close in price to a casement of the same size: both use a crank, a gear arm, hinges and a lock. Both usually cost more than a sliding window and a picture window, which have simpler or no moving parts.

Within the type the size, the frame material and the glass unit move the price, and an awning set together with another window is priced as part of that unit.

All window types and their impact on the price →

Lifespan and care

Once or twice a year, clean the hinge tracks and the gear arm and lubricate them lightly as the maker advises, and check that the weatherstripping is whole. Clear leaves and dirt from the sill below the sash, where rain runs off. If the sash does not close tight or the crank gets hard to turn, clean and adjust the hardware before forcing it.

Figures with sources

Where the hinges are
Awning windows have hinges on the top of their sashesSource:Window Types — NFRC Consumer Guide to Windows (Efficient Windows Collaborative)
How the sash opens
swing out from the bottomSource:Window Types — NFRC Consumer Guide to Windows (Efficient Windows Collaborative)
Which family of opening windows it belongs to
the projected or hinged types such as casement, awning, and hopperSource:Types and Parts — NFRC Consumer Guide to Windows (Efficient Windows Collaborative)

What it pairs with

An awning works with any glass unit; in a bathroom a privacy glass is a common choice, and a Low-E coating suited to your climate matters more for comfort than the type. The frame material decides how stiff the sash is, and the hardware — the crank, the hinges and the lock — how well it closes. How the window is set into the opening decides how well it seals.

Which glass unit to choose →How a window is installed →

Compared with similar types

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave it open in the rain?

In light rain, usually yes: the open sash works like a small roof and the water runs off it. In heavy rain with strong wind, close it, because wind can still drive water in.

Where are these windows usually put?

In bathrooms, in basement walls, high on a wall for privacy, and above or below a larger window. They suit places where a short window that opens out is easier to reach than a sash to lift.

Is the opening big enough for a bedroom escape window?

Often it is not, because awnings are usually short and the sash opens only partly. The rules depend on your local building code, so check them for your area; a casement is the more usual choice for a bedroom.

Is the open sash in the way outside?

The bottom of the sash sticks out from the wall when it is open. High on a wall that does not matter, but next to a walkway or a deck at head height it can be in the way.

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