By standard window sizes, we are saying window sizes that fits most of the openings of most buildings. To turn it another words, you could be easier to get them in most of windows manufacturers, not only spend more money to look for customized size windows. Windows types are named after its frame materials or its opening ways. Take opening ways or styles as examples, we would like to introduce some of commonly seen windows types and their standard sizes to help with your projects.

Standard Picture Window Sizes

Fixed windows, or called picture windows, are those windows that cannot be opened, it doesn’t matter they are in regular shapes or specialty shapes (like half-circle). Fixed windows are the most energy efficient windows. They don't require maintenance and cost-friendly. You could find widely used in living room, bedroom and other places. The standard picture window sizes go from 24 inches to 96 inches for width, and their height goes from 12 inches to 96 inches.

Picture Window Standard Sizes (inches)

Standard Double Hung Window Sizes

Double hung windows are one of classic windows type in American housing. They have two sashes to slide on the vertical track to allow for flexible ventilation. You could say, double hung windows are somehow the vertical sliding windows. Double hung windows are classic and they look elegant with colonial styles grilles design. The standard double hung window sizes go from 24 inches to 48 inches wide, and their height goes from 36 inches to 72 inches.

Double Hung Window Standard Sizes (inches)

Standard Casement Window Sizes

Casement windows are the other classic window type in American housing. They could be simply divided into crank casement windows and tilt turn casement windows. Their similarity is both of them swing open to allow for the maximum ventilation. For difference, crank casement windows swing open outward with a crank on the bottom and a latch to lock them tight when closed. Tilt turn windows have two ways of inward opening by different positions of the handle. Tilt turn casement windows are modern. They usually combine with fixed windows in a big opening and they could be in French casement windows type. The standard casement window sizes go from 14 inches (356mm) to 35.5 inches(902mm) for width, and their height goes from 29.5 inches(749mm) to 77.5 inches(1969mm).

Standard Sliding Window Sizes

Sliding windows are good wide openings. They slide left and right to allow for half area of ventilation of the opening. They are easy to operate and budget-friendly. They are good for places like above the kitchen sinks. The standard sliding window sizes go from 36 inches to 84 inches for width, and their height goes from 24 inches to 60 inches.

Sliding Window Standard Sizes (in)

Standard Awning Window Sizes

Awning windows are hinged at the top and open outward. They have good ventilation don’t take up any inside space, so they are great for places like bathrooms and kitchens. The most splendid feature is you could keep the awning windows open for ventilation, even for raining days which is other windows types could not compare. They usually combine with fixed windows in a big opening. The standard awning window sizes go from 24 inches(609mm) to 46 inches(1168mm) for width, and their height goes from 20 inches(508mm) to 93 inches(2362mm).

Customized Window Sizes

Above are some of common windows types with their standard sizes. If they don’t fit your rough openings, you might need customized sizes, that’s to say the manufacturers actually products to your sizes to fit the opening. You will have to pay more, however the windows and doors are tailored to your unique projects.

Many people out there fail to get an accurate estimate of the building cost of their house or property, which is why they face extreme challenges when they have to cut costs to stay within their budget. People usually opt to acquire standard windows rather than customized windows in these situations. However, before cutting the window openings to the exact measurements, it is better to make yourself familiar with the manufacturers’ dimensions, such as China WDMA, standard window products.

How are Windows of Standard Sizes Identified?

Some window manufacturers and retailers have windows that can be identified by whole numbers for the rough openings of standard sizes. Here, the thing to understand is that even though the window’s identifier is a real number, the actual measurements of the window are half-inch less. You can clearly understand this by the following example. A rough opening, 44 by 44 inches in size, has the window with the identifier “3838” fixed in it. The windows are 3 feet and 8 inches long in width as well as length. The identifier does not include the half-inch, which was taken off for the window’s actual size.

Why A Half-Inch Less?

You might wonder that even though a manufacturer recognizes a window by its rough openings, why does he remove half an inch from each window. The answer is simple. Before a window is installed in its rough openings, flashing materials are fitted in the corners so that when the window is fixed, it functions optimally. The flashing materials could not be equipped if the window is the exact size of the space between the rough openings. For ease of installation, half an inch is always removed from each dimension of the window. Once the window is installed, manufacturers add shims to it to become intact in its place, and the window is adequately secured to the rough opening.

Sliding Windows

While building a house, everyone can either order customized windows or take them off the shelf. Most of the window types are available through the latter method if you possess standard-sized rough openings. If you go for the off the shelf windows, you will save a lot of money since they are cheaper than the customized ones and are made in bulk. Every window has its standard sizes. If you go for a sliding window, it comes in various standard sizes such as 36, 60, and 72 inches. However, you must remember that the windows are 36 ½, 59 ½, and 71 ½.

Picture Windows

If you want to acquire picture windows, then do not worry since they come in standard sizes as well. You will have more options to choose from if you go for this type of window. Since these windows are designed so that they are fully closed, their dimensions are much broader and taller. Standard widths and heights of these windows are in whole numbers, but ½-inch is taken from each rough opening for the window’s real size.