Most window shopping comes down to three real choices, not the dozens of product names installers throw at you. We have picked one winner for each of those three situations, priced to 2026 fitted consensus and weighed on cost, lifespan, maintenance and where each one actually belongs. The figures are cross-checked across Checkatrade, the FMB, GreenMatch and installer guides, and the picks were chosen by Tom Bradley, a FENSA-registered installer. For the full approach, read our methodology.
Best Buy: uPVC Casement, A-rated Best Buy
Our top pick for 2026 is the A-rated uPVC casement, at ~£650 fitted per window. The cheapest A-rated entry point, a 20 to 25 year life and FENSA-friendly fitting. For most UK homes this is the sensible default.
The spec we recommend: A-rated (Window Energy Rating band A), low-E glass with an argon fill and a warm-edge spacer, giving a whole-window U-value of 1.0 to 1.4 W/m²K, comfortably meeting Part L. Ask for a 10-year guarantee and a FENSA certificate as standard.
Why it won: nothing else matches it on value. It is the cheapest route to an A-rating, it lasts 20 to 25 years with no maintenance, and any competent installer can fit it. For the vast majority of UK homes, spending more buys looks rather than performance. Why the others did not: aluminium and timber both cost substantially more for benefits most homes do not need. You can size up a full job with the uPVC window calculator.
Nine times out of ten I fit A-rated uPVC casements, and nine times out of ten that is the right call. Spend the money you save on better glass or a longer guarantee, not on a frame material the street will never notice.
Tom Bradley, FENSA-registered installer
Worth it: Aluminium Tilt and Turn Worth it
At ~£1,000 fitted per window, the aluminium tilt and turn is the pick when the look matters. Slim sightlines, a 30 to 40 year life and easy cleaning from inside. Worth the 30 to 40% premium if the look matters to you.
The spec we recommend: a thermally broken aluminium frame (the thermal break stops the metal conducting heat straight through), A-rated glazing, with the tilt-and-turn mechanism that lets the window tilt in from the top for ventilation or swing fully open for cleaning. Ideal on flats and upper floors.
Why it won its category: slim sightlines mean more glass and a cleaner modern look, and a 30 to 40 year life offsets the higher price over time. Why it is not the outright Best Buy: the 30 to 40% premium over uPVC is real money, and the thermal performance is not meaningfully better. It is a looks-and-longevity upgrade, not a value one. See where it sits against uPVC in our uPVC versus aluminium comparison, or price it with the aluminium window calculator.
It depends: Timber Sash, heritage It depends
At ~£1,950 fitted per window, heritage timber sash is the most expensive pick, and the most situational. Beautiful and authentic, with a 60 year life if maintained. Only worth it for period or conservation-area homes where uPVC is not allowed.
The spec we recommend: engineered timber (more stable than solid wood), a slim double-glazed sealed unit sympathetic to a period frame, and a factory-applied paint finish to stretch the time between repaints. Budget for repainting every 8 to 10 years.
Why it can win: on a Victorian or Georgian home, or anywhere a conservation officer rules out uPVC, nothing else looks right, and timber can last 60 years if it is kept up. Why it is not for most homes: the price, the maintenance and the fact that modern uPVC sash windows now look convincing for far less. Choose timber for the rules or the romance, not the running cost. Price it with the timber window calculator.
The three picks side by side
| Pick | Fitted price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC Casement, A-rated | ~£650 fitted per window | Best Buy |
| Aluminium Tilt and Turn | ~£1,000 fitted per window | Worth it |
| Timber Sash, heritage | ~£1,950 fitted per window | It depends |
Source: DGCC 2026 dataset, cross-checked against Checkatrade, the FMB and GreenMatch.
Frequently asked questions
An A-rated uPVC casement window at around £650 fitted is our Best Buy for 2026. It is the cheapest A-rated entry point, lasts 20 to 25 years, meets Part L and is easy for any FENSA-registered installer to fit. For most UK homes it is the sensible default.
It can be. Aluminium tilt and turn windows cost around £1,000 fitted, roughly 30 to 40% more than uPVC, but offer slim sightlines, a 30 to 40 year life and easy cleaning from inside. Worth it if the modern look matters or you have large openings.
Timber sash windows, at around £1,950 fitted, only really earn their place on period or conservation-area homes where uPVC is not allowed. They look authentic and can last 60 years, but they need repainting every 8 to 10 years and cost the most.
We cross-checked 2026 fitted prices across Checkatrade, the FMB, GreenMatch and installer guides, then weighed cost against lifespan, maintenance and suitability. The picks were chosen and price-checked by Tom Bradley, a FENSA-registered installer. See our methodology for the full approach.