Can You Add Windows To Garage Doors? (Find Out Now!)

Ossiana Tepfenhart
by Ossiana Tepfenhart

Most garage doors are plain. They have a bunch of boring panels that have the same flat look. Yay. They get the job done and might also add a little charm if they’re nicely molded. You know what can be really cool, though? Adding windows to your garage doors. Surprisingly, you might be able to add them to your door panels without replacing the whole door.

It is possible to add windows to garage door panels, but it’s important to choose a professional installer to do it. Windows are hard to install and switch in, simply because it’s easy to mess up your door or throw your door off balance in terms of weight.

Windows are always a great addition to your home. It’s time to talk about how you can make this look happen for your home.

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Can All Garage Doors Get Windows Added To Them?

For the most part, it’s safe to assume that all garage doors can have windows added to them. As long as you hire a professional company to install the windows, you should expect them to do the job. The only time you might not be able to get the windows is if the garage door is dented or broken—and even then, you can usually just choose a different panel.

How Much Does It Cost To Get Garage Door Windows Installed?

Garage door windows are a lot more affordable than you would believe them to be! In most parts of the country, you can get garage door windows installed for $100 to $250. The kits and supplies to do a window installation cost $25 to $55 alone.

How Do Garage Door Windows Impact Your Home?

Garage door windows are basically all benefits with no drawbacks. People love them! These perks below say enough:

  • They improve the look of your home. Garage door windows offer up a nice punch of curb appeal. It can actually make your home look more inviting.
  • Garage door windows are going to give you more light and heat inside your home. This is true if you choose windows that are energy-efficient. Besides, who doesn’t like a sunny garage.
  • Most people will also notice an increase in property values. You get a pretty decent ROI from having windows in your garage doors. Most people will see at least a 50 percent ROI.

Why Is It Important To Hire A Pro Installer To Get Your Garage Door Windows Installed?

So, the most obvious issue is that it’s really easy to screw up a garage door when you are trying to add a window to an individual panel. However, there’s more to this than most people realize. Garage doors can weigh as much as 200 pounds, and they are controlled by springs or pulleys.

When you install garage doors, you run the risk of having the weight supported by the garage door spring system thrown off. This can cause difficulties with opening up the door. In some cases, there have been reports of people who hurt themselves going the DIY route. It’s just safer.

How Should You Pick Your Windows?

This is entirely up to you. Style and quality matters, which is why you should try to find ones that work well with your look. When choosing windows, pay close attention to the measurements. Your installers will advise you as to which ones will work with the garage door of your size.

Where Can You Install Your Windows?

Theoretically, you can install windows on any garage door panel you want—even the ones on the bottom! Most people, though, do not want that. The most common places to install garage door windows include the top visible panel and the panels that are found at eye level. Which one you choose is up to you.

Do You Need To Install An Entire Row Of Windows, Or Can You Pick And Choose?

This is actually not that easy to answer, since certain door models might be able to do a “one-off” look as long as it’s in a balanced pattern. The general rule of thumb is that you should expect to have an entire row of windows installed. Due to the weight balancing of the spring system, it’s usually the safest option out there.

If you don’t want to do a full row of windows, ask installers if they think that’s okay. It’s best to listen to the pros on this issue.

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Related Questions

Can garage door windows break?

Garage door windows might be made from fortified steel and plastic, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune to breaking. If an errant baseball smacks them, there is a pretty high likelihood of having garage doors break. The same can be said about high winds from events like hurricanes.Breakage is one of the major risks of installing a window in a garage door. Even slamming the door down can cause issues. So, if you are worried about replacing windows, skip this project.


Will your insurance company charge you extra if you have garage door windows?

Because garage door windows are prone to breakage, there is a strong chance that your homeowners insurance bill might increase. It is, after all, a liability. Here’s the scoop: not all insurers do this, though more are starting to pick up on this. If you want to see if it’s already covered by your insurance, call your homeowner’s insurance company.Once you have a better idea of the impact this could have on your insurance bill, feel free to make the decision. Don’t worry, though! It’s rarely more than a couple cents per month!


How much does it cost to replace an entire garage door?

If you want to replace your garage door with a new one, it’s going to be a lot more expensive than window installation. The cheapest garage door installation will be $630 to $1200. However, prices can easily balloon to upwards of $2000 if you choose an upscale model, have to do repairs to the track, or have to have specialty electronics installed along with it.

Ossiana Tepfenhart
Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

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