Once you know what your frames will be made of, the next question is which shape and opening style suits the property. This tool does not price your job: it asks a few questions about the property and how you want the window to work, then suggests a style to start from. It is a steer for your brief, not the final word, and every style it suggests has its own guide and calculator so you can dig into the detail and the cost.
The styles this tool can suggest
Casement is the versatile all-rounder and the UK default. Sash windows slide vertically and suit period and Victorian homes, particularly on the front elevation. Flush casement gives a period look that sits level with the frame, a heritage feel without a full sash. Tilt and turn windows open wide or tilt for ventilation, which makes them ideal for flats and easy cleaning. Bay and bow windows both project out to create a feature: a bay is angled and classically Victorian, a bow is gently curved and softer. A picture window is a fixed pane with no opening that maximises light and the view and is the cheapest style because it has no hardware. For the most common choice, our casement windows explained guide is the best place to start.
How this tool weighs your answers
The suggestion follows a clear order of priority. First, if the view leads and the window does not need to open, it recommends a fixed picture window. Next, a conservation area or listed status on a visible elevation overrides everything else, because a traditional style is usually required there: a sash on a period home, or a flush casement on a more modern one. After that, a flat or a strong need for a wide opening points to tilt and turn. If the view matters on a visible elevation, the tool suggests a projecting feature window, a bay for a period frontage or a bow for a modern one. Where none of those apply, a period home defaults to a sash or flush casement depending on visibility, and everything else lands on the versatile casement.
Style is only half the decision. If you have not settled on what the frames will be made of, the window frame material tool weighs uPVC, aluminium and timber against your budget, upkeep and property type. Run both tools and you will have a clear, specific brief to take to installers.
Frequently asked questions
The casement is by far the most common style. It hinges at the side or top, seals well, ventilates easily and works on almost any property, which is why it is the versatile default when nothing else strongly points to a specialist style.
Sash windows are the classic period choice, especially on a visible front elevation where the traditional sliding look matters. Where you want a heritage look without a full sash, a flush casement sits level with the frame and recreates the clean lines of an old timber window.
Both project out from the wall to create a feature and a little extra space. A bay is made of angled flat facets and is the classic Victorian and Edwardian front window, while a bow uses several equal lights to form a gentle curve that suits softer or more modern frontages.
Tilt and turn windows suit flats and apartments. They tilt inwards at the top for secure background ventilation or swing fully open, which makes them easy to clean from inside and a sensible choice above ground-floor level.