Skip to content
Price Your WindowsGet your estimateMy estimates

Window & door types

All window types

Picture window

Fixed frame — does not open, maximizing glass area and airtightness.

Picture 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 picture window does not open: the insulated glass unit is set straight into a fixed frame, with no sash, no hinges, no tracks and no lock. The glass is sealed into the frame all around, so there are no moving joints for air to pass.

Because there is no sash, the frame is narrow and most of the window is glass. Both sides of the glass are cleaned where they are: the inside from the room, the outside from outside. The 3D model above marks this type as one that does not open.

Why you'd want it

A picture window gives the most glass and light for its size, the clearest view and the tightest seal, because nothing in it moves. It is often the large center of a wall of windows, with opening windows next to it, above it or below it for air.

A casement gives a similar clear view and opens for air, but costs more. A single-hung opens at the bottom, and a bay window projects out from the wall, usually with a fixed center and opening side windows.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • The most glass and daylight for the size of the opening, with a narrow frame.
  • No moving parts, so nothing to wear out, adjust or lubricate.
  • It has the fewest joints for air to pass of all types.

Cons

  • It does not open, so it gives no fresh air: the room needs other windows or ventilation.
  • It cannot serve as a way out of a bedroom in an emergency.
  • A large glass unit is heavy, and replacing it after a crack costs more than a small one.

It's for you if…

  • You want a large view of a garden or a landscape from a living room.
  • The window sits high on a wall or above a staircase, where nobody would open it.
  • You are combining it with opening windows next to it that will take care of the air.

Don't overpay if…

  • The room needs fresh air and has no other window: an opening window is needed, a casement or a hung window.
  • It is a bedroom: it needs a window that opens wide enough to climb out, so a picture window alone will not do.
  • You are tempted by a projecting bay for more light: a large flat picture window gives much of the light and usually costs less.

How it affects the price

A picture window is usually the least expensive type for its size: no sash, no hinges, no balances and no lock. It usually costs less than a casement or a single-hung of the same size and less than a bay window, which needs a frame of its own, support and a roof.

Within the type the size and the glass unit move the price the most: a large opening needs a thicker, heavier glass unit, and a special shape or tinted glass adds to it.

All window types and their impact on the price →

Lifespan and care

There are no moving parts to look after: wash the glass and the frame once or twice a year and check the exterior sealant around the frame each season, renewing it where it cracks. If you see fog between the panes, the seal of the glass unit has failed, and the glass unit is replaced, not the whole window.

Figures with sources

Whether it opens
Fixed windows don’t openSource:Window Types — NFRC Consumer Guide to Windows (Efficient Windows Collaborative)
Share of the window area taken by the sash and frame
the sash and frame represent from 10–30% of the total area of the window unitSource:Window Frames — 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

In a picture window the glass is almost the whole window, so the choice of the glass unit and its Low-E coating decides most of how warm, bright and quiet it is, and a large one needs a thicker glass unit. The frame material decides how narrow the frame can be. How the window is set into the opening decides how well it seals.

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

Compared with similar types

Frequently asked questions

Can a picture window let in fresh air?

No, it does not open. For fresh air the room needs another window that opens, often placed next to it, above it or below it, or a ventilation system.

What do I do if the glass cracks?

The glass unit is replaced, not the whole window: it is made to the size of the opening and set back into the frame. Ask the maker or the installer for a glass unit of the same type and size.

Why is a picture window so airtight?

It has no sash, so there are no moving joints and no weatherstripping that wears out; the glass is sealed into the frame all around. How well it is set into the wall still matters.

Can I put a picture window in a bedroom?

Not as the only window: a bedroom usually needs a window that opens wide enough to climb out, and the rules depend on your local building code. A picture window can be combined there with an opening window.

Price it for my home