Single-Hung vs. Double-Hung Windows

Single-hung and double-hung windows are the most common types of windows used in housing and commercial buildings in the U.S. Single-hung windows, which cost less, are more common, particularly in older construction, but they are harder to clean. Double-hung windows allow for greater ventilation flexibility and are easier to clean; however, they cost more to install and repair.

«Hung» here refers to a window’s sash(es) — i.e., the glass panels of a window. While it is common to think the sash refers to the movable panel of a window, both single-hung and double-hung windows have two sashes (panels). Confusion stems from the fact that a single sash is movable in a single-hung window, while both sashes are movable in a double-hung window.

Comparison chart

Double-Hung Windows versus Single-Hung Windows comparison chart

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	Double-Hung Windows	Single-Hung Windows
How They Open	Double-hung windows have two movables panels (sashes) and can often tilt inward individually as well.	Single-hung windows only have one movable panel (sash).
Sashes	2, both of which are movable	2, one of which is movable
Ventilation	Offers a more variable ventilation pattern depending on which panel is open and by how much; better-suited for highly-variable climates.	Provides ventilation control only by the amount of space provided between the lower panel and the bottom frame.
Installation	Comes in standard sizes, but not as easy to install as single-hung windows, as the window unit is heavier and requires more precise placement. Best installed by a professional or an experienced DIYer.	Easier to install than double-hung due to lighter weight and fewer moving parts. Can be a DIY project with a little help lifting the window in place.
Cost	Higher installation and repair costs, though maintenance costs for windows on upper floors is often cheaper.	About 10-25% cheaper than double-hung windows. Repair costs less as well.
Maintenance	Easier to clean as each panel can often tilt inward for access.	More difficult to clean, especially on upper floors, because the lower panel impedes access to the higher panel.
Popularity	A very popular choice since the 1990s, but lost some market share after 2008 recession. Most popular choice for new constructions.	Most common type of window installed in U.S. housing, but less popular in modern construction.

Appearance

Single-hung windows, the most common type in the U.S., are those that open by lifting the bottom panel. This panel slides up and overlaps the top panel, which is fixed in place. In double-hung windows, each panel opens separately, often by sliding or tilting, allowing for greater flexibility in ventilation. Alternatively, some designs feature panel(s) that slide to one side.

As for aesthetics, both window types come in a wide range of styles and materials that are suitable for all kinds of architectural designs. However, as the more expensive option, double-hung windows tend to have a slightly larger variety of options when it comes to materials, colors, etc.

Watch the video below to learn more about different types of windows, including single-hung and double-hung windows.

Maintenance

Single-hung windows are more difficult to clean, especially if they are on an upper floor, as when the bottom window panel slides up, it partially covers the top panel. Cleaning the complete surface of the panels or the window’s frames becomes difficult.

With double-hung windows, tilting or sliding each panel individually allows for easier access, especially from inside the home. On double-hung windows that tilt open and closed in either direction, it is especially easy to clean the outside of the window while inside the home.

For single-hung windows on second floors and higher, a ladder and/or long brush may be needed. However, the brush must have soft bristles to avoid scratching the frame or pressing too hard on window panes, possibly breaking them. With double-hung windows, water pressure is often enough to clean those on second floors or higher because there’s no obstacle to reaching the panes or frames, but the water stream pressure must be moderated to avoid stripping paint or loosening the frame due to water infiltration. This type of cleaning is not advisable for single-hung windows, which are lighter and less sturdy.

Cost and Installation

Due to their simpler construction, single-hung windows are about 10-25% cheaper to buy and install, with prices ranging from $95 to $800 depending on materials and features (double-paned for insulation, UV protection, etc.). The window comes as a fixed unit in standard sizes that can be installed in a frame, then secured. Because of standardization, installation can be a DIY project with only a small amount of effort needed to lift and place the window properly. To learn how to install and/or replace a single-hung window, watch this video.

Double-hung windows present a different challenge, as each panel (upper and lower) requires its own installation check to ensure that it will open and close properly. Although double-hung windows also come in standard sizes and fit all common frames, they are heavier and require more precise seating in frames. Professional installation is recommended unless the person is an experienced DIYer. Average prices range from $150 to $1,000, depending on materials and features.

Energy Efficiency

In most buildings, roughly 40% of heat transfer occurs through windows, so one factor to consider when choosing between single-hung windows and double-hung windows is their energy efficiency.

Single-hung windows are more energy efficient because of their immovable panel (sash), which results in fewer gaps that could let in drafts. Insulation to avoid heat loss is improved by double-paned construction, where the window has dual layers of glass with a vacuum between them. The vacuum blocks heat transfer to better regulate the house’s temperature. Though single-hung windows remain more efficient, double-hung windows have improved greatly in this respect and as also come in double-paned models.

Depending on the type of window and its energy efficiency, some windows may come with an additional benefit: a discount on an electric bill. Some local jurisdictions and state governments have created tax breaks for businesses and individuals who install energy-efficient windows.

Security

Double-hung windows are more secure than single-hung windows. Not only do double-hung windows have two locks, versus one for most single-hung windows, but they also have stronger frames and sashes to accommodate their additional weight. This makes them more difficult to break.

Single-Hung vs. Double-Hung Windows: Which One to Buy?

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Single-hung and double-hung windows are two of the most basic, classic, and timeless styles of windows you can install in your house. If you ask a child to draw a house, he or she likely will not draw a modern slider window, a casement window, or a picture window. Almost certainly, they will draw a box with a gable roof and a single-hung or double-hung window.

If these are indeed the most iconic type of window you can buy, why is this so? Does your house need either type of window? And what is the difference between these two windows that sound much alike?

What Are Single-Hung and Double-Hung Windows?

Single-hung windows and double-hung windows are two different types of windows. Though different, they will look identical from a distance. Both single-hung windows and double-hung windows are vertical-sliding windows with an upper and a lower sash. A sash is the square or rectangular frame containing the window glass and may include smaller pieces called muntins that divide the glass.

The difference is that with single-hung windows, only the bottom sash moves and the top half is permanently fixed. With double-hung windows, both sashes slide up and down. With fewer moving parts, single-hung windows conceivably are more weather resistant. Yet double-hung windows can be safer for children and pets since the top sash

Single-Hung Windows: Pros and Cons

Single-hung windows predate double-hung windows and may be preferred for an authentic look on historic homes. In modern homes, single-hung windows additionally may be preferred because they cost a bit less than double-hung windows.

Also, it is often argued that single-hung windows are less susceptible to air infiltration, or leakage, simply because the upper sash is fixed and cannot develop looseness the same way a moving sash can. This won’t be reflected in performance ratings, as both types of windows must meet the same standards. But in use, window seals tend to degrade over time, and a moving sash cannot be sealed with caulk like a fixed sash can.

If the upper sash of a single-hung window breaks, a glazier must come in and repair the window. With a double-hung window, though, the homeowner could replace the upper sash.

What Is a Glazier?

A glazier is a window expert with a very specific skill: Glaziers lessen the need for artificial lights in the home by installing glass in windows and displays.

Fewer moving parts

Not safe for children or pets when lower sash is open

Double-Hung Windows: Pros and Cons

The double-hung window is the most common style of window available today. And the reason is simple: double-hung windows are easier to clean.

Double-hung windows with tilt-in (also called tilt-out) design can be cleaned from inside the house. With single hung windows (and older double-hung windows without tilt-out function), it’s difficult or impossible to clean the outside of the lower sash from indoors. You have to reach it from the outside—easy if the window is ground-level, difficult if the window is upper-level.

Single-hung windows can also have a tilt-in or removable lower sash, but you still have to reach outside the window to clean the upper sash, a perilous task.

The ability to open the upper sash on a double-hung window is another advantage in terms of airflow. Sometimes it’s nice to open the upper sash and not have air blowing in from below. You can also create a minor recirculating effect by opening both sashes about halfway or less. In theory, this allows warmer air to escape through the upper sash and cooler air to enter through the lower sash. But in reality, this natural convection has little cooling effect on a room.

Finally, for homes with small children, double-hung windows’ top opening sash allows you to keep the lower sash closed, yet still have airflow coming through the open top.

What Are Double Hung Windows?

What exactly is a double-hung window? Find out here. We explain and show what it is.

Double-hung windows just sound like a lot more work than single-hung windows. After all, why the heck would you need to hang windows twice? Lots of people don’t know the difference between these two window types and can’t tell you exactly what double-hung windows are.

The first thing you should know is that double-hung windows are really all about the frames. There’s a lot more to know about this popular window type. When you’re looking at windows for your home, are double-hung windows the right choice for you?

Table of Contents

The Parts of a Window

If you want to understand what double-hung windows are and why they’re different from single-hung windows, it helps a whole lot if you understand window terminology. When you hear about windows being “hung,” this word refers to the number of operable sashes the window has. The sash is the part of the window that holds that glass in place. The sash is inside the window frame itself.

Both single- and double-hung windows have two sashes, an upper and a lower. However, the upper sash is operable in double-hung windows. This just means the sash can move. You can lower it or raise it to open and close the window. That may seem like a small difference, but this actually does have an impact.

The Difference in Double-Hung and Single-Hung

Double-hung windows clearly provide more ventilation than single-hung varieties. This makes it easier to clean double-hung windows because they can be tilted inward or outward. You can clean your windows completely from inside the house, which does make things a lot easier.

Single-hung windows can only move vertically, or up and down. Double-hung windows can be tiled, which gives you more airflow. This makes it much easier to cool off your home in the heat but it also makes it easier to ventilate your rooms if there’s smoke inside the house, a bad smell, or fumes that aren’t safe for you to breathe.

There’s another reason why you may want to choose double-hung windows: they’re easier to repair. A lot of people wonder if double-hung windows can be repaired. They’re actually easier to repair than single-hung windows, so much so that homeowners can do some repairs on double-hung windows themselves. Homeowners can replace the entire upper sash of a double-hung window if one of the panes break, rather than calling a professional to come out and repair it. This is a pretty big advantage.

One of the biggest advantages of double-hung windows is safety. If you have small children or pets, they may be able to climb up and get out of the lower sash of a window. If you have a double-hung window, you can open just the top sash and keep them safe because this top part of the window is out of their reach. Safety is always an important feature.

Double-hung windows are more expensive. They cost $400 to $600 per window, on average. Single-hung windows, by comparison, cost $75 to $100 per window. This means double-hung windows are also more expensive to repair. Replacement parts cost two to three times more for double-hung windows, compared to single-hung.

Double-Hung Window Style

If you’re trying to match the architecture of your home, double-hung windows may be the right choice. This style is frequently seen in Craftsman homes and Victorian-style houses. Many historic styles were built with double-hung windows so if you’re trying to maintain a historic or traditional look, these windows should definitely be near the top of your list of choices.

There’s a good reason that double-hung windows are seen in historic architecture: they’re historic. Double-hung windows date to the 17th century, when the vertical sliding sash design was created.

Before this, single-hung windows had a fixed top sash and a moveable bottom sash that could be removed with pins. The vertical sliding sash made double-hung windows possible and became the forerunner of modern window design. Double-hung windows became the look of choice in Georgian architecture of the 1700s.

Living with Double-Hung Windows

You can find double-hung windows in a huge variety of styles and sizes. Like single-hung windows, they’re made in a variety of materials, including wood, and can be purchased in a big variety of frame colors. However, it’s not all roses. There are some disadvantages to having double-hung windows, compared to other styles.

Double-hung windows have multiple moving parts. That means there’s more opportunity for things to go wrong. Over time, windows become loose and begin to provide less weather protection. Double-hung windows can’t easily be re-sealed with caulk because both the top and bottom sashes move, so there’s no quick fix for this problem.

How to Operate Double-Hung Windows

When you want to open your windows for cleaning or any other reason, you may struggle a little the first few times. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll have no trouble opening your windows.

Turn the lock near the middle of the window at the top of the bottom sash. Slide the lower sash upward about three inches. There will be two tilt latches. Squeeze and hold these latches. Slowly, pull the sash toward you to turn it to a horizontal position. Release the latches only when the sash is in position. Now, slide the upper sash down two inches. Squeeze the tilt latches on this sash and pull the sash toward you just as you did with the lower sash.

Where to Buy Double-Hung Windows

Double-hung windows are a very common window style. You can find double-hung window styles anywhere that windows are sold because this is one of the more popular, sought-after choices available on the market. Take the time to shop around and look at your choices when you’re picking new windows because you’re going to be living with the choice for a long, long while.

Many people enjoy their double-hung windows because they’re so easy to clean, they’re safer and they look amazing. Now that you know all about this window type, you may decide that double-hung windows are just perfect for you.