Casement vs Double-Hung Windows Comparison Guide

When shopping for replacement windows or new-construction windows, it's worth considering two types: casement windows and double-hung windows. Though there are a few similarities, these are different windows for different uses.

After considering factors like opening styles, energy savings, opening mechanisms, costs, and durability, you'll see the clear differences between the two types of windows, and your choice should be an easy one.

Casement vs Double-Hung Windows: Major Differences

The key difference between casement and double-hung windows is how they open and close. Casement windows are hinged on one side, so they open and close horizontally like a door. Double-hung windows open and close by sliding sashes vertically up and down.

Another difference is the way they open and close. Casement windows are operated by a manual crank on the house interior. Turning the crank engages a gearbox that pushes the window open or shuts it.

Double-hung windows have both an upper and a lower sash (windowpane unit) that slide up and down. The user holds a handle and lifts either sash straight up or down.

Casement Windows

Casement windows are easy to open and close. Turning the crank and operating the lock (a lever) is easier than pushing a sash up and down.

If for this reason alone, casement windows are a better choice than double-hung windows for disabled persons or anyone with limited mobility.

Casement windows can even be opened and closed while seated in a wheelchair, though assistance may be needed to operate the latch.

Normal window unit air conditioners do not fit in casement (and slider) windows. More expensive specialty A/C units are required. Gusts of wind can catch a casement sash and rip it away.

Poorly designed casement window placement can result in conflicting windows. For example, two casement windows' sashes on an inside corner may collide with each other. Another example of poor casement design is when two nearby casement windows open opposite of each other and create an enclosure that hinders airflow.

Another downside of the cranking operation is that it can be time-consuming to open and close a large number of casements at once.

Double-Hung Windows

Double-hung windows have a built-in safety feature for children and pets: closing the lower sash while leaving the upper sash open. Double-hung windows are reliable and have a low failure rate.

Even though most double-hung windows today have swing-in style sashes, they are still more difficult to clean (the outside) than casement windows.

As long as you have close access, the double-hung window is fairly easy to operate. A spring-loaded balance aids in lifting the window and gravity helps you close it. But if you have to stretch to reach the window, it can be exceedingly difficult to operate.

Latching

• Casement windows: An interior latch must be engaged to fully secure the window shut. The casement window sash swings outward, toward the home's exterior.
• Double-hung windows: Most of the time, the upper sash remains locked in place while the lower sash slides up and down. However, the upper sash can be slid up and down, too. The two sashes lock in the middle of the window.
  

Cost

• Casement windows: Casement windows are usually more expensive than double-hung windows, often twice as much. This can be attributed to the more complex mechanical operations of casement windows, combined with the lower consumer demand.
• Double-hung windows: Double-hung windows are usually less expensive than casement windows. Higher competition among window manufacturers helps to control the costs for this popular window.

Styles

• Casement windows: Casement windows impart a contemporary style. With their simple geometry and clean lines, casement windows work well with modern style homes.
• Double-hung windows: Double-hung windows indicate a traditional, classic style. They work well with vintage cottage-style houses or with new houses that emulate an older look.

Mechanical Issues

• Casement windows: Casement windows' crank unit is usually the first mechanical part to fail. Even if casement windows do not suddenly fail, they can slowly loosen over time so that you get more air seepage into your house. 
• Double-hung windows: Double-hung windows have a lower failure rate than casement windows because fewer mechanical parts can go wrong. Dropped windows are a problem that is common with double-hung windows, a condition where the lower sash refuses to stay up. 

Energy

• Casement windows: Casements do a superior job of limiting air intrusion in your home. The window sash presses straight onto all four sides of the window frame and its seals, just like an exterior door fitting into its door frame. Latching the window further pulls the casement sash into the seals.
• Double-hung windows: The bottom and two sides of the double-hung window fit snugly in the side tracks. The only part that will allow for air seepage is along the top, but good seals can limit this.