8 Best Window Brands of 2022 – Good Housekeeping

Windows are a vital feature of any home but theyre also one of the most forgotten. After all, we spend most of the time looking right through them. The fact is, windows have an enormous impact on a home's style and performance. Top-quality units enhance curb appeal and make the interior of your home more attractive, too. Good windows can also drastically improve your home's energy efficiency and ventilation, and theyre much easier to clean and maintain than lower-quality options.

While the benefits of new windows are clear-cut, shopping for new windows is anything but. Its a high-stakes decision too, with the average cost of replacing a single window coming in around $650, according to home services marketplace Angi. For a typical home, the total all-in cost is between $3,000 and $10,000.

Choosing a top window brand is a good place to start the window-buying process. The home renovation experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have been evaluating window brands for decades, so we've compiled the list of market leaders based on key criteria, including availability, selection, price range and service. Though prices can vary significantly even within the same brand, depending on the size and features, we provided the following ballpark pricing guidelines for a standard double-hung window:

$ = $150 to $200$$ = $200 to $400 $$$ = $400 to $600 $$$$$ = $600 and up

Here, in alphabetical order, are the best window brands to consider for your next project.

Courtesy of Andersen Windows

Founded in 1903, Andersen is one of the biggest names in window manufacturing. The company is headquartered in Bayport, Minnesota (the Midwest is a hotbed of window making) with more than 30 manufacturing, distribution and retail locations nationwide. The company is known for quality and innovation it developed the first wood-clad windows in 1966 and the first composite windows in 1999.

EXPLORE ANDERSON WINDOWS

A bank of double-hung windows with 4-over-4 divided lites brings fresh air and natural light to a traditional kitchen.

When it comes to sheer size, Jeld-Wen takes the prize, with more than a billion dollars in annual revenue. The Charlotte, North Carolina-based company was founded in 1960 and now boasts 117 manufacturing facilities across 19 countries. Its more mass-market than other window brands on this list, with vast lines of inexpensive replacement windows, though it also makes custom units.

EXPLORE JELD-WEN WINDOWS

Marvin is another window brand with a rich pedigree, having opened its doors in 1912, originally as a family-run lumber company. Headquartered in Warroad, Minnesota, it started making windows in the 1950s and has since opened another 10 facilities nationwide. Marvin is a major innovator in the window space; for example, it has integrated connected smart technology into its windows and skylights. It's also a leader in the big window and door movement, including bi-fold and sliding varieties.

EXPLORE MARVIN WINDOWS

Milgard Windows and Doors

Milgard started as a small glass company in Tacoma, Washington in 1958. In the ensuing decades, it has evolved into a custom window company specializing in aluminum, vinyl and fiberglass windows. Though its been bought up by large multi-nationals by Masco Corporation in 2001 and MI Windows and Doors in 2019 Milgard still takes a hands-on approach to window manufacturing, producing all its own components, from frames to insulated glass.

EXPLORE MILGARD WINDOWS

Pella

Courtesy of Pella

Pella is one of the most recognized national window brands, alongside the likes of Andersen and Jeld-Wen. The family-owned company launched in 1925 in the town of Pella, Iowa and it still preaches traditional American values, even as its annual revenues have tipped the billion-dollar mark. Pella was founded on a newfangled invention (a rollup window screen) and that spirit of ingenuity still defines the culture, with a steady flow of innovations over the years that add convenience and ease-of-use, including between-the-glass blinds and shades, retractable screens and removable wooden grills.

EXPLORE PELLA WINDOWS

Billing itself as the #1 manufacturer of windows, vinyl siding and metal accessories, Ply Gem is geared toward professional builders and developers, often on new-build projects. But it does cater to homeowners too; for example, with a full line of replacement windows.

EXPLORE PLY GEM WINDOWS

Based in Medford, Wisconsin, Weather Shield is a family-owned and operated company thats been making high-quality, all-wood and wood-clad windows since the 1950s.

EXPLORE WEATHER SHIELD WINDOWS

Window World

Founded in 1995, North Carolina-based Window World is a relative newcomer to the window category, but it has grown fast through its first quarter century and now sells about a million units a year. Billing itself as Americas largest exterior remodeler, the company is a full-service provider of all exterior components, including doors, shutters, roofing and more.

EXPLORE WINDOW WORLD WINDOWS

To put together this list of top window brands, we narrowed our focus to manufacturers with strong reputations for quality and reliability, based on decades of home renovation product testing and reviews by our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute. We also considered how easy the windows are to find; though some brands on our list have a regional focus, most can be ordered and shipped to anywhere in the country. Selection and price were other criteria; brands with a wide range of styles, materials and price points serve the widest swath of consumers.

Natural light streams into a basement living area through a trio of hopper windows.

Between style, configuration, material and features, there are literally millions of windows to choose from. Heres how to find the perfect fit for your next project.

Replacement vs. new construction: Also known as pocket replacements or retrofit windows, replacement windows are designed to sit in an existing frame, while new construction windows include the frame, sill, jambs and nailing flange, which attaches the window to the surrounding structure. If your existing frames are in good shape, youll save significantly by choosing replacement windows. Obviously if the project is a new home or addition, youll need to go with new construction windows.

Stock vs. custom: This decision also has a big impact on price and complexity of the project. Most window openings are in standard dimensions, for example 2x3 feet or 2x4 feet. Stock windows are made to fit these openings are the least expensive. Custom windows are special ordered to fit different size openings; beside costing more, they have longer lead times, maybe twenty weeks instead of the 10-12 weeks needed for stock units.

Styles: Windows come in a wide array of styles and configurations. Here are the most common options.

Double-Hung Window

Casement Window

Sliding Window

Awning Window

Material: These are the pros and cons of three main window materials:

Wood Window

Vinyl Window

Composite Window

Special Features: Once you settle on the window type and material, consider these additional features:

Before becoming a home renovation expert, Dan DiClerico worked for a remodeling company that specialized in windows, roofs and other exterior projects. He has since written dozens of articles on windows, including buying guides, how-tos on the replacement process and tips for making your existing units more energy efficient. Dan is a regular at housing trade shows, where he keeps up with the latest innovations, from impact-resistant glass to integrated screen systems. As the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Dan oversees testing of windows, along with other exterior products, like roofing, siding and doors.

Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.

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8 Best Window Brands of 2022 - Good Housekeeping