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Window & door types

All window types

Bow window

Four or five matched panels form a gentle curve outward, with operable casement or vented sections.

Bow 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

A bow window is four or five matching windows joined side by side at small angles, so together they make a gentle curve out from the wall. Some of the panels are fixed and some open, most often as casements; in the model the two outer panels open.

Like a bay, the curved unit stands out from the wall and needs its own structure: a seat or base under it, a roof or a cap above it and support for its weight, sealed and insulated where it meets the wall. In the 3D model above you can check how the opening panels work.

Why you'd want it

A bow window gives the widest view and the most light of all the types, with a soft curve instead of sharp corners, and adds a shallow nook or seat inside. It suits a wide wall where the window is the main feature of a room.

A bay has three panels with angled sides, usually costs less and fits a narrower wall. A casement is a single opening window, and a picture window gives a large flat glass without projecting.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • The widest view and the most daylight of all types, across a gentle curve.
  • It adds a shallow nook or a window seat inside.
  • Several opening panels let air in from different directions.

Cons

  • It usually costs more than a bay and more than an ordinary window.
  • It has many joints between panels and with the wall, so the installation must be careful.
  • It needs a wide opening, support and a roof above, and the base must be insulated.

It's for you if…

  • A wide living room wall looks onto a garden or a street you want to see in a broad sweep.
  • You want a rounded look on an older house that already has curved details.
  • You are replacing an existing bow window and want to keep its shape.

Don't overpay if…

  • The wall is not very wide: a bay with three panels fits it and usually costs less.
  • You only want more light: a large picture window in the wall gives much of it without the structure.
  • You need a window that opens for air in a small room: a casement does that and usually costs less.

How it affects the price

A bow window is usually the most expensive window type: it joins four or five windows into one curved unit and needs a base, a roof or a cap, support and insulation. It usually costs more than a bay of the same width, which has fewer panels, and more than a casement or a picture window.

Within the type the number of panels, how many of them open, the frame material and the roof finish move the price.

All window types and their impact on the price →

Lifespan and care

Each season, check the roof or the cap above the bow and the sealant at the joints between panels and with the wall, renewing it where it cracks. Once or twice a year clean and lubricate the hardware of the opening panels and check their weatherstripping. Damp or cold spots on the seat inside point to a leak or a gap in the insulation.

Figures with sources

How casement panels open
Casement windows have hinges on the sides of their sashes, and open by swinging out or inSource:Window Types — NFRC Consumer Guide to Windows (Efficient Windows Collaborative)
The fixed panels
Fixed windows don’t openSource:Window Types — NFRC Consumer Guide to Windows (Efficient Windows Collaborative)
How ENERGY STAR sets its criteria for windows
Performance criteria for windows and skylights are based on ratings certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), and vary for each of the climate zonesSource:ENERGY STAR Key Product Criteria: Residential Windows, Doors and Skylights (U.S. EPA)

What it pairs with

A bow window is almost all glass across a curve, so the glass unit and its Low-E coating decide much of how warm the room is in winter and how hot in summer sun. The installation matters even more than for a bay: many joints, a base and a roof must be supported, sealed and insulated. The frame material and the hardware of the opening panels are chosen as for their own type.

How projecting windows are installed →Which glass unit to choose →

Compared with similar types

Frequently asked questions

Why does a bow window cost more than a bay?

It has more panels and more joints, so there is more frame, glass and work, and the curved roof and base take more effort. The difference depends on the size and on how many panels open.

How many panels does a bow window have, and do they open?

Usually four or five. Some of them are fixed and some open, most often as casements; you choose which ones open when you order.

Do the base and the roof need insulation?

Yes. The unit stands out from the warm wall, so its base and roof are exposed on several sides. Without insulation the seat and the floor of the nook get cold and can gather condensation.

Is it a good fit for an older house?

It often suits older houses with rounded details, but the wall opening and the support must be checked first. An old wall may need a new header or support to carry the projecting unit.

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