Bow Window vs Bay Window: Pros, Cons, & Differences

Both bow and bay windows are known for adding beauty, light, and gorgeous outdoor views to the interior of your home. Because of how similar they are, it can be difficult to distinguish between a bow window and a bay window. After all, these two windows are very similar.

To learn about these two window types, keep reading. This article tells you the pros, cons, and differences between bow windows and bay windows. Let’s get started.

Overview of Bow Windows:

A bow window has four or more window panes of the same size that are arranged in a round shape. Often, the windows create a turret effect, often on the corner of the home, offering wide-angle views. Bow windows are often a favorite in Victorian-style homes.

What really makes bow windows stand out is that they include at least four windows. This design of four windows or more is what allows a bow window to stand out from other window types. Because it uses so many windows, it is great for adding a lot of natural lighting to the room.

When Are Bow Windows Good Additions?

Bow windows can be a good addition to your home if you want to create an accent viewpoint for the room. Whether you want to improve the house’s entire look, improve your view, or add as much natural lighting as possible, bow windows are the way to go.

In contrast, bow windows are not the best option if you are trying to maximize space. Because bow windows include so many window panes, they don’t add a lot of square footage like other extended windows could. You can still add some storage around the bow window, but not much.

Overview of Bay Windows:

Bay windows are like bow windows, but they have fewer window panes. Bay windows typically have one large main window with two smaller window panes on both sides, resulting in three panes in total. The bay window protrudes out from the house structure to add square footage to the home, offer more light, and make the home feel more modern.

What defines the bay window is its use of three window panes in total, two of which being smaller than the large window. Because of these three windows, a bay window sets out from the house, almost like a box. This box adds extra space to the home.

• See Also: How To Replace A Bay Window in 8 Steps

When Are Bay Windows Good Additions?

Bay windows can make a great addition to your home if you want to add a little bit extra room for any particular purpose. For example, bay windows are often sat next to a nook, window seat, alcove, desk, or even hobby room to add extra lighting and space.

If you do not want a boxed window jutting out from the exterior of your home, a bay window is not for you. It does not have a rounded appearance. The three window panes make it have a box-like appearance, which sets back from the rest of your home.

What Is the Difference Between a Bow and Bay Window?

The main difference between a bow and bay window is the number of window panes on the setup. As we learned above, bow windows have four or more windows, whereas bay windows have three. Because of the different number of window panes, bow and bay windows have different shapes.

Since the bow window has four or more window panes, it has a more rounded shape from the exterior. In contrast, the three window panes that make up the bay window make it look very much like a rectangle or square. These two different shapes will change the look of the house from the outside, and it will change the amount of space you can utilize in these windows.

Should I Get a Bow or Bay Window?

Whether you should get a bow or bay window depends on your personal preferences and intention for the window.

Bow

If you are looking for a window to add additional light and viewing from your home, the bow window will be better because it offers more vantage points. Bow windows are also a good choice if you want a more regal and vintage appearance on your Victorian-styled home.

Bay

You should go with a bay window instead if you want to maximize space for a nook, desk, or some other structure inside the home. Bay windows also help increase natural lighting and make your house look more modern, but they won’t add as many vantage points for viewing.

Can’t Decide?

So, you should get a bow window if you want to have as much viewing space as possible, but you should get a bay window if you want to maximize space to work inside the home. If you just want a window to increase natural lighting, opt for whichever window looks best for your home style and your budget.

Related Read: Simonton Windows vs. Milgard: What’s the Difference?

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of similarities between bow windows and bay windows. The main difference is the number of window panes in the window. Bow windows have four or more window panes, whereas bay windows have three. Despite their differences, both window types are highly attractive and can help you maximize space and bring in natural light.

Featured Image Credit: Left: Bow window: (EmDee., Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0) | Right: Bay window: Archi_Viz, Shutterstock