Bay Windows: Benefits, Styles & Prices

A bay window is any type of window that projects out from the main walls of a property to form a bay within the room.

By having bay windows installed, you can benefit from better views of the outside, increased light into the home and more ventilation during the summer months.

What are bay windows?

Rather than being flat across the wall, bay windows project outwards to create a unique selling point from the outside while making an internal room more spacious.

Typically, bay windows have 3-5 panels, with 5 panels offering more panoramic views and increased ventilation as there are more panels to open up.

Bay window styles

All bay windows are the same in the sense that they project outwards from a flat wall but there are several styles that each offer a unique look to the outside of a home.

Box windows
Box bay windows are shaped like a box, with flat sides protruding out of the wall that are connected by a flat front.

Bow windows
Bow windows are curved, creating a rounded appearance on the outside of the home. Featuring more windows than a typical bay window, they allow more light into the room. Normally, bay windows have 3 openings, available in angled projections, bow windows, on the other hand, usually have 4 or 5 openings.

Circle bay windows
Circle bay windows are the most rounded style – a smooth semi-circle coming out from the property featuring several window panes all the way around.

Bay window materials

The most common material for bay windows across the UK is uPVC, mainly because it’s the cheapest, but due to its white plastic appearance it isn’t the most charming of materials.

Timber is often the most sought after material for new windows but can be expensive. If you’re after the look of wood, closer to the price of uPVC, it’s possible to get uPVC with woodgrain effect.

Another choice is aluminium, a modern, strong and resilient material that has the best energy efficiency qualities of any window material.

What are the benefits of bay windows?

From the outside bay windows add a traditional charm to a home that can make for a real selling point, while inside they help to make a room more spacious and comfortable. These are some of the benefits that installing bay windows can bring to a home:

• Better all-round views
• Adds a charming and traditional elegance
• Increased ventilation
• Allow more light into the room
• Make the room feel much more spacious
• Could add value to your home
• Often involve low maintenance
• Durable choice of window that can withstand just about any weather condition

As well as the above, the additional space created within the home where the bay window goes outwards can be turned into a bench or storage space.

Are there any downsides to installing bay windows?

The benefits of bay windows definitely outweigh the potential downsides but there are still a few things to consider:

• Installation can be complicated making them more expensive than other window styles
• More light can mean a hotter room during the summer so you might want to consider glass with UV protection

It’s also important to consider insulation as any heat escaping your home will only add to your energy bills.

Bay window insulation

As with any windows around your home, it’s important to consider the insulation so that heat isn’t escaping your property – which, in turn, will mean your central heating system has to work harder, increasing your energy bills.

So, when having bay windows installed, we highly recommend considering the following:

• Double glazing: rather than a single pane of glass, double glazing has 2 which are separated by a gas (commonly argon) acting as an additional layer of insulation.
• Ceiling to floor curtains: bay window curtains are a less subtle form of insulation that has more impact on the decor of the room than other forms of insulation. Whether or not you feel they will compliment the room, curtains are an effective way of keeping the heat in and the cold out.

How much do bay windows cost?

The total price of bay windows comes down to a number of things:

• Material
• Size of the window
• Number of panels (normally 3-5)
• Glazing of the window panes (single, double or triple)
• Floor of the property
• The installer carrying out the installation

You can get an idea of how much you can expect to pay for bay windows of various sizes, before installation, in the table below.

Number of panels	3 panels	4 panels	5 panels
uPVC	£1,000 – £1,300	£1,400 – £1,700	£2,000 – £2,500
uPVC (wood grain effect)	£1,000 – £1,400	£1, 400 – £1,900	£1,750 – £2,500

Bay windows are an expensive type of window, as you can see when comparing the potential costs with other styles. Please note that the prices in the table below aren’t exact figures and will vary based on size, material and glazing.

Type of window	Potential cost per window (not including installation)
Bay window	£1,000 – £1,300
Casement	£150- £575
Sash	£550 – £850
Tilt & turn	£450 – £600

Bay window prices online

To help you find the best possible price for a bay windows installation from a fully-qualified installer, we can connect you with up to 3 installers who will each provide a free quote.

At Windows Guide, we have a network of window installers right across the UK and by simply completing our online form, you’ll get free quotes from up to 3 local installers. Why 3? Well, we highly recommend comparing quotes when it comes to a new window installation as this will give you the confidence that you’re getting a great price from a reliable installer.

Latest News

In architecture, a bay is the space between architectural elements, a recess or a compartment. The word itself actually comes from the old French word ‘baee’, which means opening or hole. Bay windows are a combination of three or more windows which angle out beyond an exterior wall in a square, hexagonal or octagonal shape. Because they angle out beyond the exterior wall, this creates a compartment. As a compartment falls under the definition of a bay in architectural terms, they are known as bay windows. Reach out to us today, we can give you a unique and bespoke bay or bow windows quote!

What is the origin of bay windows?

Bay windows have their roots in the mansions of the English Renaissance period (late 15th century – early 17th century). During this time, the majority of them were oriel windows, a form of bay window that extends from a building’s wall but does not touch the ground. They were usually placed at the end of a great hall, behind the raised dais that seated the mansion’s lord. Their use in the Gothic era extended to small chapels in larger churches that could be used for private worships. During the Victorian era, they were a regular feature on newly built homes and other architecture from the time.

What is the difference between bay windows and bow windows?

Like bay windows, bow windows extend beyond an exterior wall, however they differ in a number of important ways. Firstly, bow windows feature four, five or six windows instead of the usual three. Their shape also differs enormously; whereas bay windows are angled in a square, hexagonal or octagonal shape, bow windows are curved. As they use more panels, bow windows tend to be wider in size too, although they usually don’t protrude as far outwards.

For more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today! We will be sure to answer all your questions in great detail!

What benefits do bay and bow windows provide?

For homeowners, either option is an excellent choice for adding a stylish and unique focal point to your home. As a combination of numerous windows, they are also great for adding large amounts of light into interior rooms. Additionally, they also create more floor space, which can be used to house a storage or seating bench, if desired. This is a fantastic option for anyone who enjoys gazing out of their window too.

High-performance bay and bow windows supplied throughout Bristol and beyond

If you live in Bristol or the surrounding area and are looking for bay and bow windows, Associated can help. We supply them with a Window Energy Rating of A as standard, meaning their heat retention is excellent, leading to lower energy bills. There’s also a variety of style and colour options to choose from so you can find the perfect option for your home. For more information or to get a quote, call us on 0117 9311777 or send us an online message.

We are a highly skilled team of double glazing installers. We take pride in providing our customers with the best installations available on the market today. Many of our uPVC windows are part of the Halo collection. This means that your property in Bristol and the surrounding areas will benefit from enhanced thermal performance, home security as well as soundproofing and weatherproofing qualities. Get in touch with the team to find out how dedicated we are to our craft and to making your house feel more like your home.

Bow And Bay Windows Prices, Bristol

We supply and install beautiful bow and bay windows for customers in Bristol and throughout Cribbs Causeway, Southmead, Lockleaze, Wells, Trowbridge, Bath, Chippenham, Weston-Super-Mare, Bradley Stoke, Thornbury, Filton, Portishead, Long Ashton and the surrounding areas.

You can get a quote from us by contacting us. We have a simple and easy contact form that you can fill out to drop us a message. Just fill out your details and put in what you’re looking for when it comes to your bay or bow window. We can then get back to you with all the information you need to know before you can make your final decision.

Our team will be with you every step of the way from the initial discussions through to the final installation. Our goal is to make sure that you’re happy with the installations that you get for your property, including our bay and bow windows.

If you would like to take a look at our other products and services, please have a look through our free design tool below.

What are Bay and Bow Windows?

Expert Overview

1. Bow windows and bay windows are projection windows and extend beyond the exterior wall of the home.
2. Whereas bow windows are curved and made of several windows, bay windows are more angular, and generally just made up of three windows (a center and two sides).
3. Bay windows and bow windows are a great choice for maximizing a pretty view and adding an interesting architectural detail to a home.

Bow windows and bay windows are elegant forms of projection windows, which means they project out from the house and over the lawn or patio. Homeowners typically install them in living rooms and dining rooms.

What’s the difference between a bay window and a bow window?

Bow windows are easily confused with bay windows, because their size, shape and function are very similar.

Both types of windows are angled or curved to create a bench-like space inside the house. Two things differentiate bay from bow: the number of windows, and the type of the angle the windows create.

Bay windows angle outward sharply and typically consist of three window panels.

Bow windows curve outward gently, and typically consist of three to six window panels, known as lites. They have a kind of church-like or Victorian appearance.

Bays usually consist of one large pane of glass (like a picture window) and two flagging lites, while bow windows have lites of equal size. While a bow window can have as few as three lites, like a bay, they typically have four, five, or six lites, and a seat board similar to a bay window.

How do bow windows and bay windows work?

Bow windows are usually made up of casements that open with a crank, to allow ventilation into the home. Casement panels open outward on hinges. Sometimes bow windows are made of single-hung or double-hung windows that lift up on tracks. Bay windows usually have an inoperable picture window in the center, and are flanked on either side by double-hung or casement windows.

Because they project outward, these windows allow more light into the home than standard double-hung, single-hung, or casement windows. Bow and bay windows are the perfect choice for sections of the house that face north or east, where direct sunlight is unavailable.

The soft, gentle sweep of a bow window is also perfect for larger homes with subtle architectural details like arched windows and doorways, round rooms, and stone exteriors.

Bay vs. bow: which is right for you?

Now that we know the difference between bay windows and bow windows, here are some things to consider when trying to decide which is the better option for your home.

• Light in the home. Bow windows have more glass than bays, and are often longer than bay windows, which enables them to cover a larger portion of the wall and allows more light.
• To curve or not? Depending on the structure, bow windows are sometimes able to curve around corners, giving the home a rounded appearance and adding an almost castle-like detail to the house. Bays don’t curve.
• Unique beauty. Bows can be more costly than some other window types, so they’re less common which can make a property unique and increase the value. The same is true of bay windows.
• Air flow. Because bow windows project into the yard, air flow in rooms with bow windows can be better than air flow in rooms with standard windows only.
• Window profile differences. Bow windows hug the edge of the house more tightly than bay types. For a home close to the property’s edge, this can be an advantage.
• Window seat considerations. Bow types tend to project a more narrow space into the yard and therefore provide less seat space in the house than a bay window would.