When it comes to windows and glazing for residential properties, and you want to find the best aluminium windows to replace dated windows or for a new extension or new build, this article tells you all the essential things you need to know.
We will also delve into the practical aspects of design and options, security, energy efficiency, and colours. These tips are designed to make your search for the best aluminium windows easier, especially when you need French, bifolding, or sliding doors to match.
The best aluminium windows depend very much on their intended use, the style you want, and, in many cases, the brand. If you would like personal help and advice, please get in touch with your specific questions.
I’m often asked to name the best aluminium windows. There are many designs so it’s hard to point to an absolute best. In my opinion, for contemporary windows it’s the Schüco AWS 80 SC Windows. For steel look it’s the Product of the Year 2024, Elite, by Aluco. However, “best” is subjective; aside from budget, it depends on the intended usage, and specifications.
Nick Dardalis
How the Door and Window Experts Website reviews windows
We regularly visit systems companies, fabricators, and installers to see their windows being manufactured and fully installed in a display setting. We also see products in homes and commercial buildings. This hands-on approach gives us routine and valuable feedback from those who manufacture, install, and sell these products to the trade or public.
The technical manuals for each new window system contain critical details about design, aesthetics, sightlines, and technical specifications. At the Door and Window Experts Website, we’ve been part of the glazing industry since 1989, gaining experience across a wide range of window brands. This expertise allows us to interpret and explain technical manuals accurately and impartially.
Evaluating Quality When Choosing the Best Windows
Windows vary in design, quality, price, and features. The good news is that there are no inherently bad products on the market. When well-made and properly installed, even more affordable window options can offer reliability and excellent performance. So choose the supplier as carefully as your windows.
Each homeowner or specifier will have different criteria for selecting the right windows. The best choice often depends on the intended use and location, whether for a new build, a period property restoration, or as part of a contemporary extension. Some windows may prioritise aesthetics, while others focus on meeting specific performance requirements like enhanced thermal efficiency or sound insulation.
For residential or light commercial projects, modern aluminium windows are a popular choice due to their slim sightlines, durability, and versatility. In this guide, we focus on aluminium-framed windows.
When it comes to security, energy efficiency, and weather resistance, aluminium windows generally offer excellent specifications. Make sure your installer demonstrates how your windows will meet the all-important U-Values, weather or security specifications and ask for documentrary proof.
Nick Dardalis
How to choose the best aluminium windows.
Based on the opening type and the look you want to achieve, here are the best aluminium windows by category:
Best casement slimline windows
Looking for the slimmest possible windows? New build openings typically allow you to have narrower frames. You’ll find window replacements call for a slightly thicker front-to-back or frame width dimensions, but the most suitable replacement window very much depends on the survey.
Schüco AWS 80 SC – Door and Window Experts Website choice.
The new AWS 80 SC window system is the latest generation window from top brand Schüco. Elegant, stylish, sleek and refined. At the same time the thermal perfomance is excellent and the entire system is security tested in all combinations of product which is outstanding and unique in the market.
All Schüco products are beautifully made, superbly engineered and you’re investing in a renowned bran d. Schüco AWS 80 windows prove that beauty and performance can go hand in hand. Read our review of the new Schüco AWS 80 SC Window.
Reynaers Slimline 68
One of the better aluminium windows brands, Reynaers Slimline 68 delivers contemporary sightless, infinite design options and thin frame and opening sash profiles. With sightlines of between 15mm and 65mm depending on the configuration, Reynaers SL68 promise beautiful styling, gorgeous window handles and the legendary Reynaers engineering and quality.
Smart Systems Alitherm 400
Alitherm 400 is very stylish, and affordable and comes with a matching range of residential side and back doors. Available double or triple-glazed, Alitherm 400 comes with side or top opening windows at impressive sizes, meaning bigger panes of glass and fewer mullions and transoms. It’s, therefore, very good for contemporary windows in new extensions or new-build homes.
With substantial frame options, Alitherm 400 creates windows in several frame styles and has very pleasing slim sightlines of 59mm with a fixed module and 71mm with an opening vent.
Origin OW-70
Expertly made by Origin, their slimline OW-70 aluminium windows promise slim sightlines, high quality hardware and a dependable manufacturer guarantee. These, too, come with a 65mm sightline but don’t come in every possible configuration, for example, bay windows. However, they’re widely available, meaning prices stay competitive.
The exterior flush casement design is also very pretty compared with the overlapping nature of window vents on other systems. The OW-80 by Origin is even better in terms of performance but quite a bit thicker.
Best floor to ceiling windows
Choosing a well-designed system with floor-to-ceiling windows is limited only by the capabilities and maximum sizes of the glass and the competence of the window company. Essentially any current aluminium window will work as a fixed floor-to-ceiling window. Therefore, there isn’t an overall best system, but there are products designed to create the best possible floor to ceiling glazing and glass walls.
Cortizo COR 70
A more affordable option, Cortizo COR 70 has pleasing European styling and looks great as a fixed or opening window capable of large widths and heights. This system also comes as a hidden vent option allowing for slimmer windows but also opening for ventilation, without the bulk of traditional casements.
Reynaers Masterline 8
The top end window system by Reynaers, Masterline 8 stands out for its gorgeous frame styling and impressive capability. Masterline 8 also combines doors and windows but is styled in such as way that any floor to ceiling window looks ultra-modern, sleek, elegant and also timeless. Options include glass corners and opening elements if required.
Schüco AWS PD.SI
Schüco is renowned for the engineering and design of its systems and the PD, or Panorama Design, is no exception. Better suited to contemporary new builds, Panorama Design comes as floor to ceiling windows that can be fixed, have a hidden opening system and even a fully opening element for ventilation.
Schüco AWS PD.SI promises minimal framing and excellent thermal insulation. It’s the kind of system you see in ultra-modern Grand Designs houses created with glass walls in every room.
Best tilt and turn aluminium windows
Tilt and Turn windows aren’t as popular in the UK as they should be, but they’re better than casement windows in several ways. First of all, the size capability of tilt and turn windows is significantly better than side or top-hung outward-opening windows. With heights up to the size of a standard door, tilt and turn windows are great for flat roof terraces or when you simply want bigger opening windows.
Their main function is tilting inwards for ventilation. Then you can rotate the handle in the opposite direction, and the entire opening element swings inwards. Not everyone likes the idea of an opening inwards window, however, they also have the advantage of letting you clean the outside pane of glass from inside the room.
Once again, Schüco arguably makes the best tilt-and-turn window because theirs has passed security testing in the open tilt position. In contrast, every other window is tested in the fully closed and locked position! Smart Systems, Aluk and Reynaers and aïr MOD also make excellent tilt and turn windows worthy of consideration.
Hybrid windows use aluminium outside and real wood inside. These have been available as tilt and turn for many years already and, in our view, are also some of the best, not to mention the warm-to-the-touch inside of real wood and its timeless style. You can get in touch with us for more information on hybrid windows or doors.
Best flush casement aluminium windows
The flush casement or timber-look window is relatively new in aluminium. However, the flush design where the opening vents are flush with the mullions or frame has been around for longer with plastic windows and also hybrid materials.
Cortizo Casement
Cortizo designed the Casement Windows suite for the UK market. Slim profiles, modern design, good U-values triple glazed and PAS security tested. These should be considered as a cheaper and arguably better alternative to Origin’s OW-70, older Alitherm windows and Aluk windows. The flush model looks modern and appealing.
Origin OW-80
Origin’s OW-80 window is our top choice for the best flush casement aluminium window. The styling is excellent, also being unique in having a flush look on the inside too. It’s well-priced, widely available and has features top-brand hardware and excellent insulation when upgraded with Aerogel.
Smart Systems Alitherm 400
Another excellent flush casement aluminium window, Alitherm 500 comes as fixed or opening windows, including large openers and a top or side-hung opening design. You can use this window in dwellings or light commercial projects. The window has reasonable U-Values depending on the glass used and the typical 65mm sightline also makes them much slimmer than the Origin version. Another great styling feature of the Alitherm 500 is the integrated trickle vent section, essential in all new windows now, and a very smart cill section that looks streamlined with the window.
Best aluminium sliding sash windows
Unfortunately, aluminium still has quite a way to go in providing pleasing vertical sliding sash windows. Right now PVCu systems do it much better with Roseview, Masterframe and others providing authentic styling. However, if you must go for aluminium there are two excellent choices available.
Duration Royale
The Royale sash window made by Duration Windows is beautifully slim and has some of the thinnest meeting rails, typical of old timber windows at only 42mm.
This window has an excellent mix of traditional features with a chamfered sash, a choice of cills and side sections and frame depths that make installation easy. As well as the traditional sash horns, Duration Royale comes with period hardware if required, highly insulated glass units and a tilt in facility for the sliding sashes, letting you clean the glass from the outside.
Smart Systems VS 600
Suitable for dwellings or commercial buildings, Smart Systems Alitherm 600 looks really good in modern houses designed in the period style and provides a slimline sliding window, also available with optional sash horns. VS 600 is also widely used in non-dwellings where a school, care home, hotel or hospital would prefer the inline opening without opening windows projecting outwards.
How to identify a good window from a bad
The good news is there are no ‘bad’ aluminium windows. Most brands share similar material specifications, quality and production standards or security specifications and more. It is incorrect manufacturing or installation creating a bad product and customer experience. It’s rarely a design fault with the window system itself.
Aluminium systems companies invest substantial sums in testing, certifying and bringing their windows to market, even those at the mid-range or trade price. Consequently, window problems come lower down the supply chain.
Some installers dislike certain brands as they find them complicated to fit. This is however of little concern to the homeowner customer. Or reports of leaking windows or those letting in drafts are again down to incorrect manufacturing or installation.
Our top tips for choosing the best aluminium windows
- It does not matter if your doors and windows are different brands. Consider allocating more of your budget to premium doors and less to the windows.
- Ensure the information provided is factual. There is no ‘bad’ window on the market. Many share specifications and product standards.
- It makes sense to have combination windows mixed with doors from the same system. But not essential.
- Consider either opening options. Examples include sliding, reversible, opening in, pivoting, tilting and automatic windows.
- Beware the many re-brands of existing systems giving you the impression of being unique or exclusive.
- If you are buying different brands, here’s how to check your colours will match.
- View your chosen windows in a showroom or exhibition. It’s the best way of understanding their make-up, styling and operation.
- Many older windows don’t meet current Building Regualations unless triple glazed. Always ask for proof of performance.
- Remember there is an aluminium window solution for most projects. Contact us for advice or where to buy.
Are aluminium windows a good idea?
Today’s aluminium windows are slimmer, incredibly thermally efficient, and available in more styles and designs such as contemporary, classic, hidden framed, steel look and many more options.
How much do aluminium windows cost?
The price of aluminium windows varies on design, size, colour and even where you buy it from. Get in touch for prices and where to buy. Here’s some general information on typical window prices.
What makes Schüco AWS 80 SC the best alumininium windows?
Whilst best is always subjective due to many factors, taking all the current window brands into consideration, the latest generation Schüco window is gorgeous to look at, superbly engineered, expertly-crafted and the brand has for years meant a genuine investment in your home. Schüco products grace some of the worlds best buildings and the AWS 80 window is premium, affordable and desirable. It’s our top choice.
What is the Aluco Elite window?
In 2025, the Aluco Elite is the best designed aluminium steel-look window on the market. No other aluminium system gets and close to steel as Elite and its beautifully styled, well-made and luxurious. In our view it’s the best steel-look, industrial and Art-Deco window with an equally impressive set of matching doors, external and internal.
What is the best sash window?
If you’re looking for authentic sash windows to replicate timber windows, then uPVC windows are your best choice. Aluminium hasn’t managed to style the windows as well. Check our our article comparing PVCu sash windows for more expert help and advice.
What is the best flush casement window?
In aluminium, the best flush casement goes to the Alitherm 400. On price, specifications and appearance it’s hard to beat.
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