What is the difference between single-hung and double-hung windows?

On a single-hung window only the bottom sash moves. On a double-hung window both the top and bottom sashes move, and most tilt inward for cleaning.

Are double-hung windows worth the extra cost?

Usually on upper floors, where tilt-in cleaning saves a ladder, and in bedrooms and kitchens where opening the top sash helps airflow. On ground-floor or basement openings, single-hung often gives the same result for less.

Which is more energy efficient, single-hung or double-hung?

A single-hung window has one fixed sash and fewer moving seals, so it is marginally tighter. The glass package and installation quality matter far more than the hung style.

How much do single-hung and double-hung windows cost?

Angi 2026 figures put single-hung windows at about 100 to 400 dollars each and double-hung at about 150 to 650 dollars each, before installation.

Single-Hung vs. Double-Hung Windows: Which Should You Buy?

Short answer: On a single-hung window only the bottom sash moves; on a double-hung both sashes slide and tilt in. Single-hung costs less (Angi, 2026: about $100–$400 per window versus $150–$650 for double-hung) and has fewer moving seals. Double-hung is easier to clean from inside and lets you open the top for airflow while the bottom stays locked. For a two-storey house, double-hung upstairs is usually worth the difference.

The one real difference

A single-hung window has a fixed top sash and a bottom sash that slides up. A double-hung window lets both sashes slide, and on most modern units both tilt inward so you can wash the outside glass from inside the room.

From the curb you cannot tell them apart. The choice is about how you use the window, not how it looks.

What each one costs

Angi’s 2026 figures put single-hung windows at roughly $100–$400 each and double-hung at roughly $150–$650 each, before installation. The spread inside each range is frame material (vinyl, fiberglass, wood), glass package and brand far more than the hung style.

Across a whole house the gap adds up, which is why many homeowners mix them: double-hung where cleaning and airflow matter, single-hung where they do not.

Where single-hung makes sense

Ground-floor rooms you can clean from outside, basements, and budgets where the money is better spent on a better glass package. With one fixed sash there is one less pair of seals to leak air, so a quality single-hung is marginally tighter than an equal double-hung.

Where double-hung earns its price

Second floors and above. Tilt-in sashes mean no ladder to clean the glass.

Bedrooms and kitchens. Open the top a few inches to let hot air out while the bottom stays locked, which also suits homes with small children or pets.

Older Maryland and Virginia homes that had double-hung wood windows originally, where matching the look and operation matters.

How we quote it

We quote each opening, not a house average: the room, the floor, and the style that fits how you use it, in one written, line-item price. If a single-hung saves you money without costing you anything you would notice, we will say so.

MHIC #111971 in Maryland, Virginia Class A #2705183185, family-owned since 2005.

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