Andersen makes five main window collections — the 100 Series, 200 Series, 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series. They span from budget-friendly composite windows to fully custom architectural windows. This guide compares the Andersen window series by material, performance, and price so you can find the right fit for your home and budget.
Andersen Window Series at a Glance
| Series | Material | Best for | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | Fibrex® composite | Low-maintenance value | $ |
| 200 | Wood, vinyl-clad | Classic looks on a budget | $$ |
| 400 | Wood, vinyl-clad | Most popular all-rounder | $$$ |
| A-Series | Wood, Fibrex + aluminum | Top energy performance & style | $$$$ |
| E-Series | Wood + aluminum | Fully custom, unlimited design | $$$$ |
The Two Things That Actually Separate the Series
Five collections sounds complicated, but the lineup resolves into two questions.
What is the interior made of? The 100 Series is composite through and through — there is no wood inside. The 200, 400, A-Series and E-Series all have real wood interiors you can stain or paint. If you have existing wood trim you are trying to match, that single fact eliminates the 100 Series immediately.
How much selection do you need? Moving up the line buys sizes, shapes, colors, grille patterns, and glass upgrades — not fundamentally better construction. A 200 Series window in a standard opening is not a worse window than a 400 Series one; it just comes in fewer variations.
What Is Fibrex®?
Fibrex is Andersen’s proprietary composite, made from reclaimed wood fiber bound in polymer. It matters because it solves the main weakness of vinyl: strength. Vinyl frames have to be bulky to stay rigid, which eats glass area, and they soften in heat, which limits how dark the exterior color can be.
Fibrex is roughly twice as rigid as vinyl, so frames can be narrower for the same opening, and it holds dark exterior colors — black, bronze, and deep grays — that vinyl manufacturers generally will not warrant. For a homeowner who wants a modern dark-framed look on a value budget, that combination is the whole argument for the 100 Series.
Andersen 100 Series — Low-Maintenance Value
Andersen 100 Series windows are made from Fibrex® composite — twice as strong as vinyl, low-maintenance, and available in dark exterior colors vinyl can’t offer. They’re the smart-value choice for homeowners who want durability and clean looks without a wood-window budget.
Because there is no wood anywhere in the unit, the 100 Series is also the natural pick for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and basements where humidity is a constant, and for rental properties where nobody wants to refinish window interiors between tenants.
Andersen 200 Series — Classic on a Budget
Andersen 200 Series windows bring real wood construction with a low-maintenance exterior in the most popular styles and sizes. If you want the warmth of a traditional Andersen wood window at a friendlier price, the 200 Series is the pick.
It works best on repeating standard openings — the pattern you see on most Philadelphia rowhomes and twins, where the same window size repeats floor to floor and the goal is one consistent replacement across the house.
Andersen 400 Series — Most Popular
Andersen 400 Series windows are America’s best-selling wood windows, balancing energy efficiency, style options, and proven performance. For most homeowners replacing wood windows, the 400 Series is the go-to.
The reason it dominates is coverage: double-hung, casement, awning, gliding, picture, specialty shapes, and bay and bow assemblies all live in one line, so a whole house with mixed opening types can be done consistently. It also gives you matching 400 Series patio doors for a project that includes both.
Deciding between the two middle lines is the most common question we get — our Andersen 200 vs 400 Series comparison covers it in detail.
Andersen A-Series — Top Performance
Andersen A-Series windows are architectural windows engineered for the best energy performance in the Andersen lineup, with authentic exterior styles that match specific home designs. Choose A-Series when you want premium efficiency and architectural accuracy.
The A-Series is a hybrid by design: wood interior, Fibrex sub-frame, aluminum exterior cladding. Each material sits where it does its best work, which is how the line reaches its energy numbers. The “architectural accuracy” point is not marketing either — the exteriors are shaped to match recognised American house styles rather than a single generic profile.
Andersen E-Series — Fully Custom
Andersen E-Series windows are Andersen’s most customizable collection — made-to-order in nearly unlimited sizes, shapes, and colors, with premium wood interiors and durable aluminum exteriors. E-Series is the choice for luxury homes and custom architecture when standard windows aren’t enough.
This is the line for the problems nothing else solves: a specific historic profile that has to be reproduced, an unusual shape, a colour matched to something else on the building, or an opening no standard size fits. Extruded aluminum cladding also allows narrower sightlines than composite or vinyl-clad options, which is why architects reach for it on large glass areas.
Energy Performance in the Philadelphia Climate
Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey run humid summers and cold, windy winters, so glass specification matters more here than in a mild climate. Every series uses Low-E insulating glass; the difference is how far you can upgrade.
Practical guidance: put the glass budget where the sun is. Large west- and south-facing openings that overheat in July repay an upgraded Low-E package quickly. A shaded north wall generally does not — standard glass is fine there, and the money is better spent elsewhere in the project.
Whichever series you choose, any of them is a substantial upgrade over single-pane or older aluminum-framed windows. The jump from an unimproved window to a modern insulated one dwarfs the differences between Andersen lines.
Which Andersen Window Series Is Right for You?
- Best value: 100 Series (Fibrex composite, low maintenance).
- Wood on a budget: 200 Series.
- Most popular: 400 Series — the safe all-rounder.
- Top efficiency & style: A-Series.
- Fully custom / luxury: E-Series.
- Wet rooms & rentals: 100 Series, for the moisture tolerance.
- Dark frames on a budget: 100 Series — Fibrex holds colors vinyl cannot.
How Andersen Compares to Other Brands
Andersen is most often cross-shopped against Marvin and ProVia. In short: Andersen’s strength is breadth — one manufacturer covering value composite through fully custom architectural. Marvin’s strength is fiberglass engineering and custom capability at the top end. ProVia is strongest in premium vinyl with excellent energy ratings.
See our Marvin collections comparison and ProVia cost guide for the other two.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Andersen 100 and 400 Series?
Material and selection. The 100 Series is all-composite with no wood and a core options list; the 400 Series has a real wood interior with a far wider range of styles, sizes, colors and glass upgrades.
Which Andersen series is the most energy efficient?
The A-Series is engineered for the highest performance in the lineup. That said, glass package and installation quality drive the real-world result more than the series badge does.
Can I mix Andersen series in one house?
Yes, and it is common — premium line on the street-facing elevation, value line on the rear. Ask your installer to confirm the exterior colors match acceptably across the lines you pick.
Are Andersen windows worth the price?
The value is in longevity and in being able to specify one manufacturer across every opening in a house, including specialty shapes, with consistent finishes and one warranty.
How much do Andersen windows cost?
It depends on series, size, glass, and whether the job is insert or full-frame installation. Our Andersen cost guide breaks down every factor and explains how to read a quote.
Andersen Window Installation in Philadelphia, PA & NJ
ProView Construction is a certified Andersen contractor serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. We help you compare every Andersen window series in person and install for a precise, warranty-backed fit. Request a free estimate or call 215-259-8886.
