How Long Do Windows Last?
· Lifespans from InterNACHI · Warranty terms from 10 makers' own documents
Vinyl and fiberglass windows last 20 to 40 years, wood 30+ and aluminum 15 to 20, according to InterNACHI's life-expectancy chart for home inspectors. In Florida's heat, sun and salt air, its separate Florida chart cuts vinyl and fiberglass to 10 to 30 years. The sealed glass unit usually fails first, at 8 to 20 years.
Window lifespan by material and climate
| Component | Typical US home (years) | Florida & similar coast (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl or fiberglass windows | 20 to 40 | 10 to 30 |
| Wood windows | 30+ | 15+ |
| Aluminum or aluminum-clad windows | 15 to 20 | 10 to 15 |
| Double-pane glass (the sealed unit) | 8 to 20 | 5 to 15 |
| Window glazing | 10+ | 8+ |
| Skylights | 10 to 20 | 5 to 15 |
Source: InterNACHI Estimated Life Expectancy Chart and its Florida chart, both read November 4, 2026. Both assume regular maintenance and normal wear.
InterNACHI says its national figures assume normal wear, “and not extreme weather.” Its Florida chart exists because, in its words, “those items that are regularly exposed to saltwater, wind, sun and heat are particularly vulnerable to premature failure.” It says the Florida figures may also apply to nearby coastal states with a similar climate.
That is the only published climate comparison we found. Many window sites say cold winters or desert sun shorten a window's life by a set number of years, but none we read cites a source for it. So this page gives no figure for any other climate. For what to buy where you live, see the best windows for your climate.
What fails first: the glass seal
A double-pane window is two panes sealed around a gas-filled gap. When the seal fails, moisture gets in and the glass fogs between the panes. InterNACHI gives the sealed unit 8 to 20 years, shorter than any frame material, and 5 to 15 years in Florida. That is why the glass seal has its own line in every warranty below.
What 10 window warranties actually cover
We read the newest copy of each maker's warranty we could get for one mainstream line and copied the terms. Some are years old, so the table shows each document's date. Three things stand out:
- “Lifetime” means while you live there. 6 of 10 (Alside, JELD-WEN, MI, Milgard, Pella and Simonton) drop to 10 years or less once the home is sold.
- The glass seal is usually 20 years. 6 makers cover it for 20 years. 4 (Alside, JELD-WEN, ProVia and Simonton) cover it for as long as the original owner stays.
- Labor is the gap. 4 (Andersen, Marvin, ProVia and Simonton) don't promise to pay for installing a replacement part. Alside is the only one that covers labor for life.
| Brand · line | Frame / unit | Glass seal | Labor | If you sell | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alside · Mezzo, Fairfield 80, Fairfield 70 (vinyl) | Lifetime, while the original owner owns and lives in the home | Lifetime, same condition | Lifetime, original owner | One transfer within 10 years of installation; ends at year 10 | 2021 |
| Andersen · 400 Series and 200 Series | 10 years (5 years with a wood exterior) | 20 years | Not included | Transferable for the rest of the term | 2019-05-07 |
| JELD-WEN · Vinyl and metal-clad vinyl windows | As long as you own and occupy the home | As long as you own and occupy the home (part of the basic coverage) | 2 years (skilled labor) | Capped at 10 years in total | 2019-06-01 |
| Marvin · Cross-collection windows and doors | 10 years (non-glass components) | 20 years (units under 60 sq ft) | Not included | Fully transferable | 2026-01-12 |
| MI · Replacement windows | Lifetime, while you own and occupy the home | 20 years | 2 years (skilled labor, inside MI's service territory) | Next owner gets the 10-year warranty | 2026-11-01 |
| Milgard · Replacement products (standard Lifetime Limited; a Full Lifetime upgrade is optional on V400 Tuscany, V300 Trinsic and C700) | Lifetime, while you own and occupy the home | 20 years | 10 years (skilled labor, inside Milgard's service territory) | Next owner gets the 10-year warranty | 2026-11-01 |
| Pella · Vinyl windows and patio doors | Lifetime, original buyer | 20 years | 2 years | Becomes a 10-year limited warranty | 2023 |
| ProVia · Aeris, Endure and Aspect (vinyl) | Lifetime, while you own and live in the home | Lifetime, while the original buyer owns and lives in the home (Super Spacer units) | Not included | Unit warranty transfers once | 2024-03-15 |
| Renewal by Andersen · Windows installed after January 1, 2022 | 20 years (Fibrex frame and sash); 10 years other parts | 20 years | 2 years on the installation; covered parts are installed by RbA | Transferable | 2022-01-01 |
| Simonton · 5500, 5050, Asure and Inovo (replacement) | Lifetime (residential owner) | Lifetime (residential owner) | Not included | One transfer; it ends 10 years after the original purchase | 2025-05 |
Read November 4, 2026 from each maker's document; the last column is the document's own date. Terms vary by product line, state and home type, so read your own warranty.
Warranty documents
- Alside: Alside Vinyl Window Systems Limited Warranty (printed ©2021, 10/21)
- Andersen: 400 Series/200 Series Windows & Doors Limited Warranty (Revised 05/07/19 (form 4780500); the copy Home Depot hosts. A dealer's copy carries the same revision, and Andersen's own library is search-only, so this appears to be current)
- JELD-WEN: JELD-WEN Window & Patio Door Limited Warranty (effective 2019-06-01)
- Marvin: Marvin Limited Warranty (Effective January 12, 2026)
- MI: MI Replacement Product Warranty (Effective Date: November 1, 2026)
- Milgard: Milgard Replacement Product Lifetime Limited Warranty (Effective Date: November 1, 2026 (downloaded in a browser; milgard.com blocks scripts))
- Pella: Pella Vinyl Window & Patio Door Limited Warranty (printed ©2023 (WVP0217), Pella's own copy; current per its filename)
- ProVia: Aeris, Endure & Aspect Windows & Patio Doors Lifetime Limited Transferable Warranty (03/15/2024, ©2024)
- Renewal by Andersen: Renewal by Andersen Transferable Limited Warranty (covers units installed after January 1, 2022)
- Simonton: Simonton Lifetime Limited Warranty, Replacement Products (RevA/MS/IMG/0525)
When a window is worn out
- Fog or moisture between the panes: the seal has failed.
- Soft, rotting or cracked frames or sills.
- Sashes that stick, won't stay up or won't lock.
- Drafts you can feel with the window shut and locked.
A failed seal on an otherwise sound window can often be fixed by replacing just the glass unit. See replace vs repair, then price it with the window replacement cost calculator or compare makers on the top window manufacturers.