Buying guide
Aluminium vs UPVC windows: an honest comparison
Aluminium and UPVC are the two most popular window materials in Indian homes today, and both are a big step up from old steel or wooden frames. Each has real strengths. Here's a fair comparison so you can choose with confidence, even though we make aluminium windows ourselves.
The short answer
Choose aluminium for large glass, slim frames, tall sliding doors, strong colours and a premium look. UPVC is a sensible choice for standard-sized windows on a tighter budget, where insulation matters and slim frames don't. Plenty of homes are well served by either.
Side by side
| Aluminium | UPVC | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Very strong and rigid; carries large, heavy glass. | Needs steel reinforcement inside for larger sizes. |
| Frame size | Slim frames, more glass, more view. | Thicker frames for the same opening. |
| Large openings | Ideal for big sliders, lift-and-slide and slide-and-fold doors. | Possible, but sizes are more limited. |
| Heat insulation | Metal conducts heat; thermally broken profiles and double glazing solve this. | Good natural insulation. |
| Noise | Depends mostly on the glass and seals. | Depends mostly on the glass and seals. |
| Colours | Almost any colour by powder coating, plus anodised and wood-grain. | Mostly white; colours usually come as a laminated foil. |
| Sun and heat | Doesn't soften or discolour in strong sun. | Good profiles are UV-stabilised; lower grades can chalk or yellow over time. |
| Fire | Non-combustible. | A plastic; good profiles are self-extinguishing but soften at high heat. |
| Recycling | Endlessly recyclable. | Recyclable, less commonly recycled. |
| Cost | Usually higher for premium slim systems. | Usually lower for standard windows. |
What matters more than the material
- The glass. Single glass in any frame lets heat and noise through. Double glazing makes the biggest difference. See our glass guide.
- The seals and the opening type. A casement window seals tighter than a slider in either material.
- The installation. Gaps between the frame and the wall let in dust, water and noise, whatever the frame is made of.
- The system quality. A good UPVC window beats a poor aluminium one, and the other way round.
Room by room
- Living room with a view, big sliding door: aluminium, for slim frames and large panels.
- Standard bedroom windows on a budget: either works well with good glass.
- Hill homes: aluminium with thermal break and double glazing, or UPVC; both handle cold well with the right glass. See windows for hill homes.
- Modern elevation in black or grey: aluminium, for a deep, durable colour.
Not sure? Send us your plan. We'll tell you honestly where aluminium is worth it and where it isn't.
