US Windows & Doors Market – Industry Research Report

Report Overview

Featuring 273 tables and 74 figures

• provide optimal energy efficiency

• maximize the flow of natural light

Demand for windows and doors in the US is forecast to increase 1.7% per year to 153.7 million units, supported by:

• increases in single-family housing completions and the amount of windows installed per single-family home, due in part to consumer interest in adding more natural light to their homes

• an upward trend in average housing unit sizes, allowing for more space to install both windows and doors

• growth in commercial building construction, with rebounds in the office, trade, lodging, and institutional segments, where windows and doors are used more intensively

Market value is forecast to rise 2.6% per year to $50.8 billion in 2028. This will represent a significant deceleration from the 2018-2023 period as price growth moderates following above average increases in 2021, 2022, and 2023 that resulted from supply chain issues and other inflationary pressures.

Severe Storms in East & Gulf Coasts Results in Solid Growth for Impact-Resistant Products

More stringent building codes for new builds in some coastal states due to the increased frequency and severity of tropical storms has led to a strong increase in demand for impact-resistant windows and doors. Although many homeowners use storm shutters or simply board up their homes prior to a severe weather event, municipalities are requiring the installation of more weather-resistant products. Going forward, demand for impact-resistant windows and doors will outpace the market average.

Consumers Seeking More Energy-Efficient Homes Driving Market for High-End Windows

Government initiatives included in the Inflation Reduction Act and a general consumer shift toward more energy-efficient products has led to increasing interest in higher value vinyl and fiberglass windows, beyond those meeting the minimum ENERGY STAR certification requirements. These trends are also benefiting vinyl and fiberglass door suppliers. Both vinyl and fiberglass offer good insulation and are more resistant to warping, which allows these products to maintain a tighter seal and reduce air leaks.

Aesthetics, Durability, & Energy Efficiency Boost Fiberglass Window & Door Sales

Fiberglass windows and doors will continue to see relatively healthy gains due to a combination of their favorable aesthetics, durability and energy efficiency. Manufacturers continue to offer products (most notably doors) that better resemble natural wood that, when combined with their greater durability, allow fiberglass windows and doors to better compete against wood or vinyl types. Despite their higher price point compared to wood and vinyl, fiberglass products allow consumers to save money on energy bills through their superior insulation, Additionally, their higher cost can be offset through tax credits for products that meet ENERGY STAR criteria, as many fiberglass products do.

Historical Market Trends

Sales of windows and doors are impacted significantly by general economic trends and the boom-and-bust nature of the US construction industry. Due to its cyclicality, spending on new building construction – and associated windows and doors – is typically more volatile than that in the replacement market.

Key factors impacting demand in the new construction market include:

• trends in single-family construction activity, particularly in the replacement market

• multifamily remodeling activity and the construction of new high-rises

• commercial building construction

Prospects in the window and door renovation market are impacted by a number of factors, including:

• the current lending environment including interest rates and credit requirements

• home values, which impact homeowner ability to get home equity loans to fund improvement projects

• changing consumer preferences regarding style or material

Other factors that impact window and door demand on a year-to-year basis include:

• government regulations and tax incentive programs such as the Inflation Reduction Act, which grants tax credits to homeowners who replace older windows and doors with energy efficient products

• outbreaks of severe weather, as heavy storms often damage windows and doors, boosting replacement sales

Foreign Trade/Trade Balance

For the purposes of this study, window and door imports and exports include fully assembled window units and doors. Totals exclude components (e.g., vinyl profiles) imported by domestic manufacturers for use in the assembly of their products or in window and door repair.

Most windows and doors sold in the US are produced domestically, and the country is a minor net importer of these products. Trade levels in general are low. In 2023, imports met 6% of demand, while exports accounted for 2% of production.

The US window and door market is insulated from foreign competition due to:

• high shipping costs for fully assembled windows and doors due to their size and weight

• concerns about breakage of complete units with glass already installed

• significant customization requirements and variations in door preferences between the US and foreign markets

• variations in building codes between countries, making it difficult for producers from one region to conform to the specific codes of another

Trends in Materials

Demand for windows and doors is forecast to increase 1.7% per year to 153.7 million units in 2028, with value growth to $50.8 billion. Fiberglass will see the fastest overall growth but from a much lower base than its better-established competitors.

The prospects for various materials used to make windows and doors are strongly correlated to the performance characteristics required in the markets in which they are used:

• Metal products account for the largest share of US window and door market value (54%) due to their high cost relative to other window and door types. Their share of volume demand is supported by continuing consumer preference for metal doors despite these high prices, as they offer high levels of physical security, have long lifespans, and have low maintenance requirements.

• Vinyl products account for the largest share of window and door demand in volume terms, representing 34% of the market in 2023. Vinyl products benefit from:

  • their low cost

  • their favorable energy efficiency

  • efforts of manufacturers to offer products made from these materials with enhanced aesthetics or reinforced frames for superior strength

• Fiberglass products – while accounting for only 5% of the market in value and volume terms – will experience above average demand gains, especially in windows due to the material’s wood-like appearance, resistance to damage caused by weather or insects, and long product lifespans.

• Wood windows and doors account for the second largest share of demand in value terms, and a similar volume share to that of vinyl. Demand for wood products will be supported by continuing interest in the quality appearance of wood, promoting the use of wood interior doors and windows, particularly in the high-end residential market.

Demand by Market

Demand for windows and doors is forecast to increase 1.7% per year to 153.7 million units in 2028, reaching $50.8 billion. While market value will be impacted by a moderation in price growth following rapid increases during the latter part of the 2018-2023 historical period, real gains will be boosted by an increase in building construction activity. 

The residential segment accounts for a much larger portion of total sales (86% of unit demand in 2023), due to a number of factors:

• more frequent replacement of residential windows and doors (which are often less durable than commercial products)

• greater use of more costly wood windows and entry doors, especially in the large single-family segment

• a high level of homeowner interest in features that add to the value and curb appeal of a home – these features add to unit price of each window and door

• higher window-to-wall ratios and numbers of doors per square foot in residences compared to commercial structures such as manufacturing plants and warehouses

An increase in single-family housing construction and growth in residential improvement and repair spending will underpin volume increases in residential window and door sales going forward. Additionally, there has been a trend in recent years for larger sized single-family homes featuring more windows to increase natural interior light.

Demand growth for windows and doors in the smaller commercial market is expected to outpace that of the residential market through 2028. Suppliers of commercial windows and doors will benefit from such factors as:

• increasing commercial building construction, with rebounds in the office, trade, lodging, and institutional segments, where windows and doors are used more intensively

• rising curtain wall installations to increase daylighting and improve the exterior appearance of commercial buildings

While windows and doors used in commercial applications typically see greater wear than those used in residential buildings, the strength and security requirements for most commercial products result in the use of highly durable metal windows and doors with long lifespans, which can limit growth in replacement sales.

Report Details

This study examines the US market for windows and doors (also known as fenestration products) by product, material, market, and geographic region in value terms at the manufacturers’ level (i.e., excluding the value of features and services added between the manufacturer and end user). For purposes of this report, the value of installed glazing is included in the market value for all window and door products:

• Demand in unit terms for windows and exterior doors is determined by the number of openings that are filled.

• Interior door units are counted by the slab (e.g., a bifold interior door would count as two interior door units).

Historical data for 2013, 2018, and 2023 and forecasts for 2028 and 2033 are presented in US dollars and units. The study also presents unit demand and average pricing data for select window and door products. Additionally, annual market, price, and production data is presented for years 2020 through 2027.

As data in this report are at manufacturers’ level, the value of any features and services added between the manufacturer and end user are excluded.

Also for the purposes of this study, windows and doors classified as “energy efficient” are those products that meet current ENERGY STAR criteria, while those classified as “impact resistant” are those that meet local and regional building code requirements for being able to withstand high winds or impacts.

To avoid double counting, parts and components sold to, or imported by, door manufacturers for assembly into new windows and doors are excluded from the scope of this study. The value of these products is included here when they are sold as part of an integrated new window or door unit. The value of installed glazing is included in the demand numbers for all window and door products.

Also excluded from the study scope are:

• replacement window and door components and accessories, including separately sold frames, sashes, screens, hinges, locks, latches, and weatherstrip

• separately sold hardware not typically sold as part of the window or door unit (e.g., door knobs, locks, door stops, garage door openers)

• components that convert doors to handicap accessible units

• windows and doors for automobiles and other transportation equipment and vehicles

• windows and doors that are part of cabinets or furniture

• fencing gates

• shower doors and bathroom stall doors

• elevator doors

• pet doors

• moulding and trim

• strip doors

Window and door demand is segmented into the following product types:

• prime windows (double- and single-hung, casement, horizontal sliding, horizontal swing – also known as awning or hopper)

• specialty windows (curtain wall with an infill of glass, storefront, stationary, skylight, storm, roof, tilt-turn, louvered, decorative, and glass block)

• interior doors (wood panel, solid-core wood flush, hollow-core wood flush molded wood, bifold, louver, pocket, swinging, barn, pantry, and manifold)

• exterior doors (manual entry, automated, patio, residential garage, commercial overhead, storm, screen, manually operated revolving, and security)

Demand for windows and doors is also analyzed by terms of material type:

• wood (including wood lumber, engineered wood, and cladded wood)

• metal (including steel, aluminum, iron, and bronze)

• vinyl (including standard PVC and wood-plastic composite)

• fiberglass

The vinyl materials category also includes high-density polyethylene, polyester, and nitrile rubber doors. Bamboo and other wood-like niche products are included in the wood segment.

Demand is also provided in terms of market:

• residential (new and replacement single-family, multifamily, and manufactured housing)

• commercial (new and replacement office, retail, and lodging; institutional; industrial; and transportation and other commercial structures)

Window and door demand is broken out for the following US geographic regions and subregions:

• Northeast (Middle Atlantic and New England)

• Midwest (East North Central and West North Central)

• South (South Atlantic, East South Central, and West South Central)

• West (Mountain and Pacific)