Sarah - Author
Here’s our basement window sizes guide including standard basement window dimensions, egress, hopper & slider window measurements and basement window well size.
If you’re looking for basement windows for a newly constructed home or just looking to replace old basement windows, there are many options to consider.
Basements often receive little light, and although artificial lights are always available for the inside, there is nothing quite like natural light that will not only light up the space but also ensure no molds and mildew are at bay.
One of the surefire ways to ensure that the chosen basement is suitable for the place is by knowing whether the homeowners are going for a finished or an unfinished basement. This will also dictate what types of basement windows to get.
Standard Basement Window Size
Not all basements will need an egress window, especially if the basement is considered unfinished, which will only need a small basement window for ventilation. Still, when the basement is finished, that’s another thing entirely.
Finished basements will mean that the basement will not be merely used for storage, that there will be habitable spaces, and maybe it will hold a gaming room or even a bedroom for their teenage child.
These standard basement windows utilized for a finished basement will generally have a width and height of 36 inches or around 91 centimeters.
Some will have attached ladders or steps with the window being installed 44 inches or about 112 centimeters off the floor. This ladder size will be 12 inches or approximately 30 centimeters in width and will have a space of at least 36 inches or 91 centimeters from the window to the back of the window well.
Basement Egress Window Size
Egress windows for the basement are essentially emergency exits. These are essential to any house with a basement and are dictated by many local codes to ensure safety inside the home.
If one needs to come out of the house in a hurry, whatever emergency they are having, they should be able to exit through the egress window. If one also needs to come inside the house, in cases of first responders, for example, they should be capable of doing so as well.
In a basement, especially for residential, the minimum requirement of at least one egress window down the basement is required. Another thing is that it should open without any problem from the inside, making choosing the perfect size essential for all homeowners.
Basement Egress Window Size Requirements
The International Residential Building Code, or the IRC, is the authority regarding rules concerning a home’s construction. They are also the ones who set the law for the required egress window for every home’s basement.
From the minimum height to the opening size, all of this should be followed by every home with a basement. The minimum opening height for a basement egress window is 24 inches or 61 centimeters.
On the other hand, it should have a minimum width of 20 inches or around 51 centimeters for the opening. For the net clear opening pertaining to the free space when the window is wide open, it should be at least about 5.7 square feet or 170 centimeters. The bottom part of the egress window should at least be 44 inches or 112 centimeters from the floor up.
Egress Window Height From Floor
Aside from the specific width and height of any particular egress, which will vary in size according to what look a homeowner is going for, there is the required installment size to consider for installing the window and would need to follow.
One measurement is the net clear opening of the window to ensure possible entry and escape from the egress window. This size is required to be at least 5.7 square feet or around 170 centimeters.
Other than that, another important measurement to take note of is how high the window is from the floor. That measure should be at the maximum of 44 inches or around 112 centimeters to ensure safe entry and accessibility for the people going in and out of the window.
Basement Hopper Window Sizes
One of the most common basement window choices for most homes is the hopper basement window that opens and closes inward and downward.
Aside from being an excellent basement window, hopper windows are also used in many bathrooms. Although they are easy to open, hopper windows are too small for a person to get through.
For the basement, the standard hopper has a height ranging from 12 to 24 inches or around 30 to 61 centimeters. It can be approximately 30 to 36 inches or about 76 to 91 centimeters long, depending on where it will be installed.
The great thing about these standard window sizes is these are also the minimum requirements from most fire and local construction codes.
Basement Slider Window Sizes
Another great option for basement windows is basement slider windows. They are easy to install and are also the most economical option on the list. Basement slider windows are available for walls with a primary thickness of around 8 to 12 inches or about 20 to 30 centimeters.
Basement slider windows can have a width from the smallest 30 and a half inches or approximately 77 centimeters to a bigger width of around 60 inches or 152 centimeters.
Heights for basement sliding windows also vary according to any homeowner’s needs, from the smaller 12 inches or 30 centimeters to the taller 48 inches or 122 centimeters.
Basement Window Well Sizes
Another important part when installing the egress is having what is called a window well. The window well is a cutout that allows light into the basement. It also ensures an easy route to take in cases of emergencies.
Here are some valuable measurements for any homeowner needing numbers for window wells.
The first is a space no less than 36 inches or 91 centimeters from the basement window and window well. Plus, there should be a space of 9 square feet inside the window well to ensure accessibility.
Visit our bedroom window size guide for more related content.
