Double Hung vs. Sliding Windows: Key Differences

Double hung and sliding windows have more in common than most window styles. Both open by sliding a sash along a track, and neither swings out into the yard. The main difference is direction: a double hung sash moves up and down, while a slider moves side to side. That single difference shapes where each one fits best.

This guide compares them so you can choose window by window. For full product details, see our double hung windows and sliding windows pages.

How Each Window Works

Double hung windows have two sashes stacked one above the other. Both slide up and down, held in place by spring balances in the side tracks. On Empire’s Fusion^® and Mezzo^® double hung windows, the sashes tilt in so you can clean the outside glass from inside.

Sliding windows (sometimes called gliders) have sashes side by side. One or both glide horizontally along a track at the bottom of the frame. There are no balances holding the sash up, since it isn’t moving against gravity. On Empire’s Fusion^® and Mezzo^® sliders, the sashes lift out so you can clean the glass and the track from inside.

Empire offers both styles in our Fusion^® and Mezzo^® vinyl product lines, so in many cases the choice comes down to the opening and the room rather than the product.

Double Hung vs. Sliding at a Glance

Tall or Wide? Start With the Shape of the Opening

A double hung window works best in an opening that’s taller than it is wide. The sashes stack vertically, so a tall opening gives each one room to move. In a very wide, short opening, a double hung window ends up with short, wide sashes that look out of proportion and can be awkward to lift.

A sliding window is the reverse. It works best in an opening that’s wider than it is tall, where the sashes have room to glide side by side. That makes sliders a natural fit for spots like:

• The long, low windows often found on ranch and split-level homes
• Over a kitchen counter or sink, where the window sits high on the wall
• Basement windows, which are often short and wide
• Rooms where you want a wide, uninterrupted view without a rail across the middle

If you’re replacing windows in an existing opening, the shape of that opening will often point you toward one style before anything else does.

Operation, Cleaning, and Maintenance

Opening and closing. A slider doesn’t have to be lifted against gravity, so it takes a sideways push instead of an upward pull. That makes sliders easy to operate even for people with limited mobility. That can matter in a kitchen where you’re reaching over a counter, or for anyone who finds lifting a sash difficult.

Cleaning. Both styles can be cleaned from inside. Double hung sashes tilt in and Empire’s sliders have removable sashes, which also gives you access to the track.

What wears out. The two styles wear in different places:

• A double hung window depends on its balances to hold the sash up. When they wear out, the sash won’t stay open. Our guide to why windows won’t stay open covers that repair.
• A slider doesn’t need balances, so it has fewer parts working against gravity. What it does need is a clean track. Dirt and debris in the bottom track can make a slider drag or stick, so vacuuming the track now and then helps it glide.

Ventilation. Each style opens up to about half its glass area at once. A double hung window has one extra option: opening both the top and bottom sashes a few inches lets warm air leave at the top while cooler air comes in at the bottom. A slider opens at a single level, but in a wide opening that can still mean a lot of fresh air.

Energy Efficiency and Air Sealing

On energy efficiency, these two styles are closer to each other than either is to a casement. Both seal with weatherstripping that the sash slides past, rather than a compression seal that’s squeezed shut. Natural Resources Canada notes that hinged windows like casements are more airtight than windows that slide. So if the tightest possible seal is your top priority, a casement is worth a look. See Double Hung vs. Casement Windows.

Between double hung and sliding windows, the bigger efficiency question is usually the glass. The U.S. Department of Energy says the choice of glazing is the most important energy-efficiency decision for most windows. Empire’s sliders are available with low-E glass, argon gas, and warm-edge spacer systems, and our Fusion^® and Mezzo^® double hung windows are ENERGY STAR certified.

Tip: To compare specific products, look at the U-factor on the NFRC label, and check whether the label lists an air leakage rating. Lower numbers are better for both.

Bedrooms and Escape Openings

Under the International Residential Code, which Ohio’s residential code is based on, every bedroom needs an emergency escape opening. For a window, that generally means a clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet (5 square feet at ground level), at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide, with the sill no more than 44 inches off the floor.

Double hung and sliding windows both open only about half their glass area, so neither has an advantage on total opening size. The difference is which dimension gets cut in half:

• A double hung window opens about half its height, so it needs to be tall enough that the open half still clears 24 inches.
• A slider opens about half its width, so it needs to be wide enough that the open half still clears 20 inches.

That’s why a wide, short opening often works better as a slider for egress, while a tall, narrow one often works better as a double hung. If neither fits your opening, a casement opens almost its full size and can meet the requirements in a smaller window.

Replacement windows in existing openings may qualify for an exception, and local rules vary, so confirm with your city’s building department or your installer before ordering windows.

Style and Room-by-Room Guide

Matching your home’s style. Double hung windows are the traditional choice for colonials, bungalows, Cape Cods, and many of the older homes found across Cleveland and Akron. Sliders tend to suit ranches, split-levels, and mid-century and contemporary homes, where long horizontal lines are part of the design. On a traditional home, sliders can still work well where they’re less visible, like a kitchen at the back of the house or a basement.

If your home is in one of Cleveland’s locally designated historic districts, window replacements are reviewed by the Cleveland Landmarks Commission, and changing a window’s style on a main facade may need full design review. Check with your city before switching styles on a street-facing wall.

Reminder: You can mix both! One approach is to use double hung windows on the front of the house and sliders in kitchens, basements, or other wide openings where they work better. For a hinged option, see Double Hung vs. Casement Windows.