The standard window height in a house is 1100mm (or 41 inches) from the floor, with requirements for 900mm on the main floor. The mezzanine can be as tall as desired, and some houses have windos. The standard window height from the floor to the top edge of the window frame should be between 0.5 and 1.5 inches below the interior wall finish. In most houses, the typical height for windows is around 0.91 meters from the floor, which allows for furniture placement. A standard window is set about three feet from the floor, leaving room for furniture placement.
For rooms used for habitation, the distance between the floor and the sill of an operable window should not be less than 1 meter. Windows are usually about three feet from the floor and approximately 18 inches from the ceiling, leaving a header above the window for proper installation and space. The bottom of the window should start around two to three feet from the floor, and the top should reach at least 16 inches. As of 2018, the International Residential Code (IRC) states that the bottom edge of a window’s lowest opening must be no less than 24 inches above the floor when the window is more than 6 feet above the floor.
The standard range for a window is between 800mm to 1200mm for most rooms, with the minimum depth for most blinds being three inches. The average home window will align with the top of the doorway (2040mm from floor in Scotland). The height from the floor is typically 32 to 36″, but this may be too low in bedrooms.
Window height is a crucial element in building design, impacting safety, accessibility, and natural lighting of living spaces.
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How much clearance does a window need?
It is essential that the rough opening be between 3/4″ and 1″ larger than the width and height of the window in order to ensure that it is plumb, level, square, and not twisted.
What is the standard height of windows from the floor in CM?
Standard window sizes are influenced by various factors, including the type of opening windows, the material used, and the architectural style of the home. Common options include hinged and bottom-hung openings, casement openings, and vasistas openings, which are suitable for areas with limited outdoor space.
Materials like wood, aluminum, and PVC joinery can be used to make standard windows, each with its advantages and disadvantages. When planning or restoring a residence, window dimensions are crucial as they determine the entry of natural light into spaces. Modern window solutions aim to provide optimal thermal and acoustic insulation, but they must comply with specific structural characteristics.
In modern buildings, windows with standard heights of 120-140 cm are preferred, and legal requirements for minimum window heights must be met. Window frames must be installed at least 1 meter above the floor.
Recommendations for choosing window sizes include considering the orientation of the home, maximizing natural light and panoramic views, choosing low-e glass for better climate control, maintaining style and aesthetics, and checking local laws for minimum heights. By considering these factors, homeowners can make informed decisions for their living spaces.
What is the minimum height from floor to bottom of window?
The 24-inch minimum window sill height is designed to minimize the risk of injury to children from falling through open windows. This is due to the fact that windows are typically above the center of gravity of children, thereby reducing the likelihood of them toppling over the sill.
How far off the ground should a window be?
The height of the windowsill from the floor can significantly impact the room’s feel and functionality. Traditional sill heights are typically around 3 feet, but lower sills can increase ventilation and expand views. However, safety considerations should be considered, especially in children’s rooms or with floor-to-ceiling windows. Customizing window dimensions can also be done to suit specific needs, such as maximizing views, improving proportions, or addressing unique architectural features. Fiberglass windows offer excellent durability and can be customized to fit various dimensions and styles. Balancing aesthetics and functionality is crucial for successful window placement.
What is the ratio between window area and floor area?
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has recently published a recruitment notification for 13 Draughtsman – B positions. The total area of window-openings is typically between 10 and 20 percent of the room’s floor area, with this figure varying according to climatic conditions. Those interested in applying for these positions are invited to do so between September 19th and October 9th, 2024. Applications will be accepted for both civil and mechanical positions.
What is the distance between floor and window?
Window design is crucial for safety, accessibility, natural lighting, and aesthetics. Height should prevent accidental falls and facilitate emergency egress, with operable windows typically no less than 1 meter from the floor for habitable rooms. Accessibility should be accessible to all users, including those with reduced mobility. Properly positioned windows reduce reliance on artificial lighting, contribute to energy savings, and enhance indoor environment quality.
Architectural style can also influence window size and design, with Georgian-style homes featuring tall, narrow windows and modern homes featuring larger, more expansive designs. Window height also influences the overall appearance of a building, with higher windows adding grandeur and verticality, while lower windows emphasize horizontality. Windows should be placed to maximize panoramic views and create a harmonious visual connection with the surrounding environment.
How much space do you need around a window?
It is essential that the rough opening be between 3/4″ and 1″ larger than the width and height of the window in order to ensure that it is plumb, level, square, and not twisted.
What is the standard distance between ceiling and window?
Window replacement is typically determined when designing a house’s exterior, with the height set to the standard door height of 6 feet and 8 inches. This placement leaves a 16-inch margin between the top of the window and the ceiling, which is ideal for standard headers and plates and accommodates even the biggest cornice moldings and window trims. However, for rooms deeper than 12 feet, the wall band may obstruct the view, and keeping the top of the window at 6 feet 8 inches may not be practical for 9 or 10-foot ceilings. To ensure the design is right, set the top of the window clear up to the cornice trim and possibly use it as the window’s head trim.
What is the window area to the floor area?
To effectively control heat gain and loss in a building, consider window type, area, orientation, and shading. These factors depend on the site’s climate and construction method. In temperate climates, higher thermal mass allows for more windows. The total window area should be less than 25% of the house’s floor area. Most windows should be located north for easy solar access, with minimal amounts on east and west facades. Windows on the south can encourage good ventilation but can cause heat loss.
The types of glazing, framing, openings, and seals used in windows and doors significantly impact their effectiveness. Investing in these elements is crucial for maintaining a comfortable and energy-efficient building.
How high off the floor is a standard window?
The information on window height is unclear, but it is generally believed to be 32″. The top of the window should match the top of the door. The current windows in a 30 year old house are 32″ x 52″, 32″ from the floor. However, the windows for new construction are 36″ x 60″, which would put the top of the window nearly to the ceiling, way above the height of an exterior door. Matching the top of the window with the door would result in a lower bottom of the window.
What is the floor area ratio for windows?
It is generally accepted that a house’s total glazed area should be between 20 and 30 percent of its total floor area when ordinary windows are used.
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I did not know that about windows. Thank you! Also, I’m getting ready to start framing a full house for my first time and that will obviously include framing window openings. I’m using European style windows, which open to the inside, similar to doors. This makes it so the clear opening of a European window does not require as big a overall window size, to meet egress code (5.7 sq-ft is my min clear opening size by code). Because the overall window size does not have to be as large, the overall height doesn’t have to be as tall. All that to say, if I bring my window header height up to my door header height, it may bring the bottom of the window opening higher than allowed for egress code (in bedrooms). No problem, I’ll just measure my windows and see where the bottom of the window opening height would land, and adjust if needed.
What you were saying is correct, but I would’ve explained why the 6′-10″; that the door RO (rough opening) are typically framed at 2″ over in both width and height over the nominal dimensions. For example a wood jamb door of 2′-6″ by 6′-8″ has an RO of 2′-8″ by 6′-10″. Here in California it’s common practice to use a 4×12 for all headers regardless if it’s load bearing or not to save time and reduce the number of pieces and cuts needed. It typically gives you an RO hight of 6′-10½” using the standard 92¼” studs, but still small enough of a gap to be covered with a typical 1⅝” casing.
Wow! I didn’t know that and I will be starting to work with a draft person this year for my build in 2 yrs from now. I am on the builders list and there is a 2 yr waiting list. Thank you for this info. With your website and the Build Show Network with Matt Risinger, Steve Bazcek-architect, Scott True builder and Jake Bruton, builder, lots of valuable info I wrote down in details for the build. Pocket headers, california corners, exterior insulation, rain screen, 24 oc and electrical service cavity by using 2×4 horizontally over the Intello material that is over the studs to the interior. Thank you for this tid bit of info. Cheers from Atlantic Canada, Prince Edward Island.
What about hanging curtains with a radiator under the window? I’d love the look of full length curtains but don’t want to cover the radiator and block out the heat when closed. Should full length curtains be used on half length smaller windows? I currently have roller blinds that stop at the window sill, but in winter I’d really like something more full and thick to retain heat
Thank you so much for such a well detailed article and thanks so much for the organized links in the description of your favorites!! I’ve been looking for a thorough but not overly complicated article on curtains and yours is just the right balance so I’ll definitely be referencing everything when I decide to change my curtains!! ❤
This is the BEST covering draperies, comprehensive, and not overly verbose. Probably why Reynard is my favorite. Can I add one little thing? OK. When you hang drapes far above the top of the window it looks the best. BUT. Your drapes are usually open, so there is that blank block that bothers me above the window. I have added a flat shiny thing in those voids, like a round mirror, OR some kind of chrome shiny thing there. FLAT so as not to impede the drape. For me, an 18″ round or oval mirror pulls the eye up, and makes sense out of that void. Bonus last thing, who is to say you cannot mount a decorative rod to the ceiling? You just have to see how it looks.
@Reynardlowell how do you feel about cornice (box valance). I have a concrete apt and drilling higher holes for rods is a task. I also live in another country so shipping the wall brackets is costly. Thinking of doing a basic cornice to cover the low existing rods and grommets but want it to not look dated.
Would love some advice about a window with a thru-the-wall ac unit underneath protruding 7 inches. In addition, there is a baseboard heater on the same wall running the width of the room. I feel like my only option is to hang a track the width of the room, and place it about 9″ from the window to accommodate the ac. That wall has too much going on and is a nightmare!
I was recently out of the country and my sister made my curtains which I brought back with me. The length of the triple stack was 8 meters and around the corner was three meters. I inadvertently told her 2.3m instead of 2.4. We tried to hang the curtains yesterday OMG. It was 8-10 cm short. My husband couldn’t lower the rods because it is in line with the dining room curtains. I bought new hooks, the -8mm which gave me 2cm. Today I will let out the hem and try to get 7-8cm. Maybe. I don’t sew but I have many reels of the glue iron and hemming tape which I bought a year ago at Aldi. I will update my results 😅
Hello, I found this article so helpful. I was wondering what type of colors you like for curtains. Should one go for something light and airy or dark and saturated? I have a very warm brown living room with hints of rust and I’m debating whether I should go for a saturatedcurtain or something more in the warm, beige tone to lighten it. I don’t mind moody, but I just need some direction.
I want to propose a creative solution for the wall to wall window situation: use a ceiling mounted curtain guide and have it make a 90 degree turn at the walls so that the curtains will stay on the walls rather than windows. (only makes sense if the windows is big as you will still get some curtain visually in form of the windows but it will “flatten out” long length of cuortains
I have a serious curtain dilemma that i cannot find any articles that addresses my issue. My living room has an angled bay window that I would use angled poles to hang curtains but on the other wall there is a square bay window and a small regular window sharing a wall. My question is do I use an angled curtain rod on the square bay window? or do I put the curtain rod straight across the outside of the window so that it is aligned with the curtains on the other window that shares the wall? If the latter is the answer, I would just keep the curtains open b/c closing them would make the room appear smaller and I intend on placing a chair and drink table in the space.
Wow thank you! Man, I don’t know much about design but am redoing my bedroom and your articles have saved me from making so many mistakes. Just seeing the “don’t do this” pictures alone is enough for me to say “yup, I totally would have done that” 😅. Got some great looking curtains at IKEA today but I need to return them. They are too short 😔. They have only 2 inches from the ceiling but like 6 inches from the floor. They look terrible. Also, I have that same stud finder! Pricey, but by far the best stud finder I’ve ever used.
Love you website! Q: I’m redoing my bedroom and I had 4 plantation shutters as a window covering but when you open the middle 2 completely not just the shutters they get in the way of the room, so i removed the middle ones. The outer 2 are also left open as my bedroom looks out to the backyard and has full privacy. I was considering no window fittings at all as I’m looking for that clean minimal look and if I got curtains they would be open almost all the time. Your thoughts on no window coverings?
HELP Reynard. I only need privacy at the bottom half of my windows, I think this is common. Café curtains look only good in a kitchen, or a café. I want the option of seeing the veiw, but at times, don’t want people looking in. Any solutions??? What I did does not work, doesn’t look bad, but didn’t solve the problem. Hate to admit I still have the mini-blinds, but that is the only thing that works. H E L P ?
Question: I have a window in my bedroom that measures 160 cm by 110 cm, with one side positioned directly against the wall. Additionally, there’s a piece of furniture, a drawer, placed at the bottom of the window frame, making it impractical to install a curtain that extends to the floor. I’m also concerned that installing a curtain rod near the ceiling or midway down the wall might look awkward, as there’s nearly 1 meter of space between the window frame and the ceiling. Could you suggest an aesthetically pleasing and practical solution for this situation?
Adding, or maintaining, proper weights in the hem of your draperies also makes a huge impact in how they hang, swing, and, remain smooth-looking. Attaining the look of custom window treatments is about knowing the tricks of this trade. Interior designers who know their stuff, are rich repositories of this knowledge. (Such as yourself). So are workroom craftspeople, as long as there isn’t too much of a language barrier. Great article, thank you!
To “kiss” the floor, you have to rely on the fabricator to make very straight panels. Which can be very hard to pull off with some fabrics. The fabric almost always stretches between side hems, as there is nothing holding the fabric from stretching. Panels are almost always longer in the middle, which makes kissing the floor across the whole panel difficult . You end up with fabric kissing the floor a lot more in the middle. Designers can have a hard time understanding that. It’s not a problem of the drapes being made wrong, its just the nature of fabric…it stretches. It’s the most popular look right now. And has the least margin of error . And that’s on top of taking accurate measures, and planning correctly. Good article. Good info.
And what to do if you have a double glass door/window to the balcony and windows attached, but beneath the windows there is a heather… so i cant hang curtains or i have to use blinds but i cant hang blinds before the double doors.. XD and the other way around, i cant hang curtains above the heather because then the curtain is shorter in front of the windows/above the heathers and long in front of the door. and i cant have them lpong above the heathers because then the heath will get stuck behind the curtains
Hi Reynard! Your website has been a guiding light in my interior design process. Quick question: You mentioned what to do if you don’t have wall clearance on both sides, but what if you don’t have wall clearance only on one side? Do you still follow the 6″-10″ rule, but only on that one side? Or would you double it? I have a right-adjusted sliding door that’s about half the length of the wall, but it’s almost completely flush with the adjacent wall. Having trouble deciding between full wall coverage or some overhang on that one side…
Hi Reynard, thank you for this great and timely article. I am renovating my appartement and obsessed with the full height sheer curtain you use. Would be great to know what to look for these specifically: link to the curtains or better specifications. Is it a poly linen blend? Etc… I am in France so won’t buy the same but would appreciate as much references to try and replicate. Now on to perusal all your other great articles. Awesome work!
So.. what if you want 10 ft floor to ceiling blackout curtains, but my ceiling isn’t level (dips down in the corners, building quality issue)? Should I opt for a wall-mounted track system to compensate? Or ceiling-mounted tracks should be fine? Apartment renter, so if I install in the ceiling I’ll likely have to leave them behind when I move down the road to avoid fees.