Andersen window series explained: 100, 200, 400, A-Series and E-Series

Andersen sells its windows in several series, and the names do not explain much on their own. In short: the 100 Series is a durable composite window at the lowest Andersen price, the 200 Series is a wood window in standard sizes for budget projects, the 400 Series is Andersen's classic and most popular wood window with a low-maintenance exterior, the A-Series is a premium architectural line, and the E-Series is the custom line with the most colors, shapes and sizes. Which one fits depends on your house, the openings and how much you want to spend.

Lower Merion TwpOct 2025

Andersen updates its product lines from time to time, so check the current specifications for any window you are ordering. What follows is how we explain the series to homeowners at an estimate.

The series at a glance

Renewal by Andersen is a separate company owned by Andersen. It sells its own Fibrex windows through its own sales and installation crews, not through independent contractors.

100 Series

The 100 Series is made of Fibrex, Andersen's composite of recycled wood fiber and thermoplastic polymer. Andersen says Fibrex is twice as strong as vinyl. It does not need painting, it handles dark colors better than most vinyl, and it is the lowest-priced Andersen window.

Good fit:

• Newer houses and ranches where a painted wood interior is not needed.
• Rentals and second homes where low maintenance matters.
• Owners who want something better than basic vinyl without the cost of wood.

Less good fit:

• Historic houses where a wood interior and traditional profiles matter.
• Very large or unusual openings.

200 Series

The 200 Series is a wood window with a low-maintenance exterior, offered mainly in standard sizes. It is a way to get a wood interior at a lower price than the 400 Series.

Good fit:

• Houses with standard-size openings, often newer construction.
• Owners who want wood inside on a tighter budget.

The limit is sizing. Older houses, especially stone and plaster houses, rarely have standard openings, so the 200 Series often does not fit without changing the opening.

400 Series

The 400 Series is Andersen's longest-standing and most popular line. It has a wood interior that can be painted or stained and a low-maintenance exterior that does not need paint. It comes in a wide range of styles and sizes, including replacement versions made to fit existing openings.

Good fit:

• Most houses in our area, from colonials to farmhouses.
• Replacement projects where openings vary a little from standard.
• Owners who want a wood interior and a good balance of cost and quality.

This is the series we quote most often when someone asks for "Andersen windows" without a specific line in mind.

A-Series

The A-Series is a premium line aimed at architectural projects, with slim sightlines, larger glass and more design options. It has a wood interior and a composite exterior. It costs more than the 400 Series.

Good fit:

• New additions and high-end renovations where the window design is a feature.
• Modern and transitional houses with large glass.

E-Series

The E-Series is Andersen's most customizable line, with an aluminum-clad wood frame, many exterior colors, interior wood species and finishes, specialty shapes and custom sizes.

Good fit:

• Older houses with openings that are not standard sizes.
• Historic houses where a profile, color or lite pattern has to match.
• Projects with arched, round or unusual shapes.

It is also the most expensive Andersen line.

Window styles in each series

Most series come in the common styles, though not every style is in every series:

• Double-hung: both sashes slide. The most common style in older Pennsylvania houses. Tilt-in sashes make cleaning easier.
• Casement: hinged at the side, cranks out. Seals tightly and opens fully.
• Awning: hinged at the top, opens out at the bottom. Good above a counter or under a large fixed window.
• Gliding or sliding: sashes slide side to side.
• Picture and fixed windows: no opening sash, maximum glass.
• Bay and bow: combinations of units that project from the wall. Our bay window cost guide covers those.
• Specialty shapes: arches, half rounds and custom shapes, mainly in the E-Series and A-Series.

On the stone house in Lower Merion, we installed Andersen windows into new walls and old fieldstone openings, including double-hungs and a wide picture window with a new jamb extension and casing inside.

Lower Merion TwpOct 2025

What Andersen windows cost

Prices vary with size, glass, color and hardware, and with how much carpentry the opening needs. As a rough guide for 2026, installed:

These ranges are drawn from national cost guides and our experience of how quotes break down. Full-frame installs in stone or plaster walls, special shapes and custom colors sit at the top. Our window replacement cost guide for Pennsylvania explains what drives the installed price.

Andersen or Marvin

The other brand we install most is Marvin. Both make excellent windows. The choice usually comes down to the specific line, color and profile options, lead time and price for your sizes. Our Marvin versus Andersen guide compares them directly. We have trimmed out Marvin double-hungs in a full renovation in Lower Merion as well.

Lower Merion TwpApr 2026

The install matters more than the series

A 400 Series window installed badly will leak and stick. A 100 Series window installed well will work for decades. Whatever series you choose, the parts that decide how it performs are the same:

1. Remove the old window and check the sill and framing for rot.
2. Install a sloped sill pan or flashing at the bottom of the opening.
3. Set the window level, plumb and square on shims.
4. Fill the gap with low-expansion foam or backer rod.
5. Flash the sides and head in the right order.
6. Trim inside and out, and caulk only the joints that should be sealed.

Andersen publishes detailed installation instructions for each product, and following them is also what keeps the warranty valid.

Warranty

Andersen offers a limited warranty that is transferable to the next owner, with different terms for glass and for other parts. The terms change from time to time and differ between product lines, so read the current warranty for the series you choose. Installation by a contractor who follows Andersen's instructions matters for warranty claims.

Choosing for an older house

Older houses in Malvern, the Main Line, Lancaster and Chester Counties have their own needs:

• Odd sizes: openings that vary from standard push you toward the 400 Series replacement options or the E-Series.
• Thick walls: stone and plaster walls need wide interior jamb extensions.
• Matching the look: simulated divided lites that match the original grille pattern, and interior wood that can be painted to match the trim.
• Historic districts: some commissions prefer wood or clad wood windows with specific profiles on street-facing walls.

How to order the right window

1. Count and measure every window, or have a contractor do it.
2. Decide insert or full-frame for each one.
3. Choose the series, then the style for each opening.
4. Pick exterior color, interior finish, glass, grilles and hardware.
5. Confirm lead time, which can be several weeks for custom sizes and colors.
6. Get a written estimate that lists the series and options for each window.

Contracts in Pennsylvania

Window replacement is home improvement work under Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. A contract over $500 must be in writing, you have three business days to cancel, and on jobs over $1,000 the deposit is limited to one third of the price plus special-order materials, which includes most Andersen windows.

Questions people ask about Andersen windows

Which Andersen series is best? There is no single best. The 400 Series suits most houses. The 100 Series is the best value for low maintenance. The E-Series is best for custom and historic work.

Is the Andersen 100 Series vinyl? No. It is made of Fibrex, a composite of wood fiber and polymer, which Andersen says is stronger than vinyl.

Can I buy Andersen windows and have any contractor install them? Andersen windows are sold through dealers and installed by independent contractors like us. Renewal by Andersen is the exception, sold and installed only by its own crews.

How long do Andersen windows take to arrive? Stock sizes can be quick. Custom sizes, colors and the E-Series often take several weeks.

Is the estimate free? Yes. We measure every window, look at the frames and walls, and recommend a series and style for each opening.

See our window replacement service, the Andersen windows in the Lower Merion stone house and our Malvern window page.

Ask us to price Andersen windows