What Are the Common Window Sizes?
Building a house is costly, and there are always unforeseen expenditures to pay, so it makes sense to save money wherever possible. That is one of the reasons why many homeowners choose conventional window sizes over costly custom-made windows. But study up on sizing before cutting the window holes to the precise specifications of the window sizes. The methods used by window manufacturers to determine the measurements of their basic products may surprise you.
For standard-sized rough holes, home improvement and certain window merchants sell windows labelled with whole numbers. The identifier for the rough opening is always a whole number, even if the actual window specifications are normally 1/2 inch less. Sliding windows meant to fit into a 2-by-2-foot rough aperture, for example, are designated as 2020, although their actual dimensions are 23 1/2 by 23 1/2 inches. Because they are 3 feet, 8 inches wide by 3 feet, 8 inches long (not counting the 1/2 inch taken off for the actual window size), windows that suit rough openings of 44 by 44 inches are labelled as “3838” windows. On the plans, the “3838” also marks the window schedule.
A manufacturer’s windows are identified by rough opening measurements, but both window measurements are reduced by 1/2 inch to facilitate ease of installation. When installing a window, the rough aperture must be flashed first, and the window must then be centred in the area to guarantee optimal operation. The 1/2-inch decrease in window size on both dimensions gives the installer enough space to do so. Installers add shims to the window once it’s plumb to keep it in place while they secure it to the rough opening. Although each manufacturer may offer different sizes, the majority of windows have standard dimensions.
While custom-sized windows are available, if you are building a home or adding new windows, you can buy them “off the shelf” if your rough openings are standard sizes, which results in cheap house windows, or at least cheaper house windows. For example, the horizontal width of all windows is determined first, followed by their height. The windows themselves are 36 1/2, 47 1/2, 59 1/2, 71 1/2, and 83 1/2 inches wide to allow for installation. Standard sliding window widths are 36, 48, 60, 72, and 84 inches wide. 24 inches, 36 inches, 48 inches, and 60 inches are the standard heights. “6040” refers to a 6-foot-wide by 4-foot-tall window.
Picture windows have the same standard dimensions as regular windows, but there are more options to choose from. Because these windows do not open, they are able to be much larger and taller. 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet, and 8 feet are the standard widths. Standard window heights vary from 2 feet to 8 feet tall in whole numbers, with extra window heights of 18 inches, 52 inches, 54 inches, and 62 inches. Rough openings are measured in whole numbers, with 1/2 inch subtracted from each for the actual window size. A single-hung window size chart might be useful.
Double-hung windows have rough opening widths ranging from 24 inches to 48 inches, with extra window sizes of 28 inches, 32 inches, and 40 inches. The actual window opening is 1/2 inch smaller than the rough opening. Double hung window heights range from 36 to 72 inches tall, with 44, 52, 54, and 62 inches being the most common. Each dimension is reduced by 1/2 inch for the actual window size.