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Dormer windows: How to pick out the perfect ones for your home

Though jokingly referred to as “the eyes of your home,” dormer windows do more than create visual interest. They can bring sunlight into hard-to-reach spaces, increase airflow, and add curb appeal.
What's a dormer window?
Here’s what you need to know to pick the right windows for your dormer.
Roof v. wall dormers
Dormers can either be built into the wall and extend upward into the eaves of a roof, or they can be built into the roof itself. A wall dormer is typically more vertical and smaller in scale than a roof dormer. Roof dormers run the gamut, from featuring a single window to running nearly the length of the roof. The right window will depend on the type of dormer. Here’s your primer on dormer types.

What's a dormer window?
Gabled dormers

What type of windows work well in a gabled dormer?
While symmetry is certainly characteristic of a Cape Cod, asymmetry is characteristic of a Tudor — another home style that typically features gabled dormers. If your home’s exterior style is more symmetrical, consider matching your dormer window to your first-floor windows. If it’s asymmetrical, you could go for a statement window in the dormer and maybe even choose an interesting shape.
Scroll down to “How to pick out dormer windows” for a step-by-step method that’ll help you through the selection process.
Hipped dormers

What type of windows work well in a hipped dormer?
When selecting windows for a hipped dormer, ask yourself: Is my home more traditional or modern in style? Casement windows are a go-to style for creating a modern look, so they work well on prairie or midcentury homes, while double-hung window with grilles fit in well with the more traditional look of French eclectic or shingle-style colonial homes.
Scroll down to “How to pick out dormer windows” for a step-by-step method that’ll help you through the selection process.
Shed dormers

What types of windows work well in a shed dormer?
Scroll down to “How to pick out dormer windows” for a step-by-step method that’ll help you through the selection process.

Eyebrow dormers

How to pick windows for a dormer
As you know by now, in most cases, many different types of windows can work in a dormer. To help you pick the best option for your home — work through the following questions:
- What role does my dormer play? Is it adding a distinctive architectural feature to your home? This might be the case if the window is very small or if it’s in a room that’s rarely used. If instead, it’s about improving the livability of an attic or half-story, you’ll definitely want the biggest windows that will fit.
- What size window best fits my dormer? Think about the shape of your dormer and what window will best take full advantage of the space it provides. This will help you maximize light, air flow, and views. Windows that fit a dormer fully will also be more aesthetically pleasing from the outside.
- What style of window complements my home’s architectural style? For a distinctive look, do a little research into the style, shape and proportion of windows that are typically used in homes like yours. Our Home Style Library will help you get started.
- Will certain types of windows be easier to maintain? Since dormers are attached to the roof, tilt-wash double-hung windows and casement windows are both good options. They can be cleaned (inside and out) from inside the house — no ladder-climbing required.
There you have it — your primer on dormer windows. Up next: Learn how to bring more light, air, and views into your home.
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