Basement Window Wells

Our experts are often approached by confused homeowners, unsure what size window well they need. Don’t worry! The general rule of thumb is:

• Depth: min 8-12 inches below the lower sill of your basement window.
• Width: leave a minimum of 2” on either side of your window’s rough opening to keep concrete from cracking during installation.
• Projection: Depending on the use of the well (egress or not) might vary. Wells for a basement bedroom must have at least a 36″ projection. Please, consult your local building inspector.  See our list of your state’s egress codes here.

IMPORTANT: Our basement window wells are sold by the inside measurements.  This does not include the 2-inch flange on either side.

See our window well measuring guide here.

There is simple answer to this question–everything depends on the reason you need the well and the size of the well that may be required by code. In addition, the weather and ground conditions in your area can influence the choice of the most suitable window well.

There are several factors to consider:

We offer a wide array of basement window wells and each well is designed to last, not bend under pressure, and keep water, soil, and landscaping materials away from your basement window. Keep in mind to install your window well according the the manufacturer’s instructions for the best possible result.

• Egress Compliance – is the most critical consideration when purchasing a window well. If the basement window is meant for emergency exit, your window well must comply with your local “means of egress” codes.
• Aesthetics – Standard corrugated steel wells are a great, sturdy option, but sometimes you want to improve your view out your window. We have decorative wells in egress sizes, or if you like, Decorative Liners are an economical way to improve the look of smaller wells.
• Durability – We proudly offer the best wells on the market. Correct installation and a well-fitting cover will extend the life of your window wells, keep animals and debris out of your well, and most importantly, keep snow and rain outside the well, where they belong.

We offer a range of egress window wells such as white, decorative stone-look, and fiberglass wells. Also we offer complete code compliant package deals with our Egress Kits. 

Egress codes vary on the State and County level. If you have a question on the window well sizing requirements to make your basement egress code compliant, please call us at 1-866-983-6316.

Aside from the most commonly available galvanized steel basement window wells, we also provide a number of other options.

Stone look galvanized steel basement wells in gray or tan tones are ideal when you want the strength of a galvanized steel well, but would like a more attractive view through the window. These products gives an attractive stone look without the price of  installing a stone well, and avoiding a natural stone well’s possible leaks.

Our white egress-sized wells have a clean, bright look and will reflect natural light into your basement.

All our steel basement window wells come in a wide variety of sizes, some are also available in heavy duty gauge for deeper wells. Please see product pages linked for specifics.

Quarry View fiberglass window wells by Monarch are one-piece egress size wells. These deluxe products have built-in steps for emergency egress, with an attractive molded stone texture. They are available in two widths to accommodate larger windows. In addition, these rigid, sturdy wells will not warp, shift or collapse.

Some window wells, like the Quarry View well by Monarch, have a built-in egress ladder, so it is unnecessary to purchase anything else to meet IRC code. When buying these, you do not need to buy a separate egress ladder.

Steel wells such as galvanized, decorative stone look and white window wells more than 44″ deep will need a ladder to be egress-code compliant. Ladders are sold separately. Please see our egress ladders here.