Exterior Storm Windows

Exterior storm windows mount on the outside of your existing opening and trap a layer of still air against the primary glass. That air gap is what stops the draft, quiets the street, and cuts the heating load, all without removing or replacing the window you already have.

Every unit is fabricated to your measurements in aluminum, finished in one of five colors, and shipped direct to your door. There is no contractor markup and no waiting on a sales appointment.

Shop All WindowsHow to Measure

Why Mount on the Exterior

A storm window can sit on either face of the opening, and the choice changes what the unit actually does for you. Mounted outside, the storm panel takes the weather first. Rain, wind-driven grit, and UV hit the aluminum and the storm glass instead of your original sash, so the primary window stays dry and stops weathering. On an older home with original wood windows, that protection is often worth more over time than the energy savings.

Exterior mounting also puts the insulating air gap on the cold side of the primary window, which is where it does the most thermal work and where it keeps the interior glass surface warmer. A warmer interior pane is less likely to reach the dew point, which is the practical reason exterior storms tend to reduce winter condensation on the primary glass rather than cause it.

The tradeoff is access. Installing and cleaning an exterior unit means working from the outside, which is straightforward on a first floor and more involved on upper stories. If the exterior face cannot be altered at all, our storm window inserts and the full interior vs. exterior comparison cover the alternatives honestly.

Three Exterior Configurations

Which one you need is decided by the opening, not by preference. Match the storm window to how the primary window operates.

Two-Track

vertical two track storm window in white

One glass sash and one screen in a two-channel frame.

Slimmer sightline on the exterior face
Best on single-hung and secondary openings
Lower cost per opening across a whole-home project

Triple-Track

vertical triple track storm window in white

Two glass sashes and one screen in a three-channel frame.

Full glass coverage for winter, screen ready for summer
Best on double-hung primary windows
Screen position moves independently of the glass

Fixed Picture

fixed picture storm window in white

A stationary glazed panel with no moving parts.

Continuous seal with no track gaps
Best on picture windows, transoms, and sidelights
Lowest cost per square foot in the catalog

Five Exterior Finishes

The frame is the part of a storm window people actually see from the curb. Matching it to your existing trim is what keeps the addition from reading as an add-on. The manufacturer-confirmed choices are Mill, White, Tan, Bronze, and Black. Black is a powder-coat upgrade.

Mill (Silver)WhiteTanBronzeBlack

Built to Your Opening

Nothing here is a stock size trimmed to fit. You supply the measurements and the unit is fabricated to them.

ConfigurationMaximum size
Vertical two-track52" W x 80" H
Vertical triple-track52" W x 80" H
Horizontal slider80" W x 60" H
Fixed picture36" W x 63" H

Larger opening? Send us the dimensions and we will quote it directly.

Current Estimated Lead Time

Current estimated lead time is 4 to 6 weeks from order to delivery. Because these are made to your measurements, that window is fabrication time, not shipping delay. Timing can shift with order volume, materials, weather, and shipping conditions.

If the goal is to have them in before the cold, work backward from the first hard freeze in your area and add about a week for installation:

Upper Midwest and northern New England: order by mid-August
Great Lakes and Northeast: order by early September
Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley: order by late September
Upper South: order by early October
Deep South and Gulf: order by late October

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an Exterior Storm Window?+

An exterior storm window is a secondary window that mounts on the outside face of your existing window opening. It creates a sealed pocket of still air between the storm panel and your primary glass. That trapped air is what slows heat transfer, which is why the storm window reduces drafts and heating costs without your original window being altered or removed.

Are Exterior Storm Windows Better Than Interior Storm Windows?+

For most homes, yes. An exterior storm window also shields the primary window from rain, wind-driven grit, and UV exposure, so it protects the original sash as well as insulating it. Interior units cannot do that. Exterior mounting also keeps the insulating air gap on the cold side of the assembly, which is where it does the most work. Interior storms make more sense when the exterior face cannot be altered, for example on a landmarked facade or an upper floor with no safe access.

Do Exterior Storm Windows Come with Screens?+

Two-track and triple-track configurations include the screen as part of the unit. The screen rides in the same frame as the glass, so there is no separate panel to buy or store. Fixed picture panels have no moving parts and therefore no screen, which is why they are used on windows that never open.

Will Exterior Storm Windows Damage or Trap Moisture Against My Original Windows?+

Not when they are vented correctly. Every unit we build includes weep openings at the sill so any condensation that forms in the air gap can drain and the cavity can breathe. Problems occur when a storm window is sealed airtight on all four sides, which traps moisture against the primary sash. Seal the top and the sides, and leave the weeps at the bottom clear.

What Sizes Can Exterior Storm Windows Be Built To?+

Every unit is fabricated to the dimensions you provide rather than cut down from a stock size. Vertical units build up to 52 inches wide by 80 inches tall, horizontal sliders up to 80 inches wide by 60 inches tall, and fixed picture panels up to 36 inches wide by 63 inches tall. If your opening is larger than those limits, contact us and we will quote it.

How Long Does It Take to Get Exterior Storm Windows?+

Current estimated lead time is 4 to 6 weeks from order to delivery, because each unit is built to your measurements rather than pulled from stock. Lead times can change based on order volume, material availability, weather, and shipping conditions. If you are targeting installation before cold weather, order roughly seven weeks ahead of the first hard freeze in your area to leave room for fabrication, shipping, and install.

Keep shopping

Shop related collections

Exterior storm windows on a townhouse

Planning Exterior Storm Windows?

Two-track, triple-track, and fixed picture units are made to your opening, finished to match your trim, and shipped nationwide.

Shop All WindowsGet a Custom Quote