High Quality Vinyl Windows

Vinyl windows make up roughly 80% of the entire replacement window market. For this reason, there are literally hundreds of vinyl window manufacturers operating within the United States. Unfortunately, at least half of these manufacture cheap vinyl windows that honestly won’t provide long term value for most American consumers. This is why we wanted to offer our picks for high quality vinyl windows that provide real value to consumers.

Additionally, toward the bottom of this page are our homeowner question and answer section that deals with all things related to high quality vinyl windows. Hopefully, this Q and A, along with price quotes and brand comparisons, etc. provides valuable insight(s) into available options, general pricing, and what might be an option in different metro markets.

Dan K. - Site Editor - Publish Date: October 24, 2025
Last Update: January 9, 2026

Email our site editor Dan K. and get all of your questions answered!

Page Sections

High Quality Vinyl Windows Intro
Soft Lite Elements
Okna 800 Series
MI V5500 Series
Anlin Del Mar Series
Ideal Majestic Series
Polaris ThermalWeld Select
High Quality Vinyl Windows Q And A

Premium Vinyl Window Selections

The Soft Lite Elements is our first pick in the quest for high quality vinyl windows. This series is the company’s premium vinyl window, along with the Imperial LS series (which is nearly as impressive as the Elements. Not only is the Elements a nice looking vinyl window (not always the easiest of tasks), its construction is second to none.

From the mainframe to the sash to the components to the hardware, the Elements doesn’t skimp on quality. This is borne out in the performance numbers on the double hung: a design pressure rating of 65, a U-value of .26, and an air infiltration rating of .02. Explore all of these windows on our Soft-Lite Window Costs page.

Bottom Line: A great buy that will set you back financially, but will offer as much long term value as any vinyl window on the market.

Suggested Installed Cost: $1100

Overall Rating: 10 out of 10

Top Rated Vinyl Window: Okna 800

Our next selection is the Okna 800 DX. The 800, also known as the EnviroStar series, matches up with the Elements in almost all aspects - well built, nice looking, and fantastic performance data. While the 800 DX is a smidge thicker in the frame, the double hung delivers a design pressure rating of 60, a U-value of .27, and an industry leading air infiltration rating of .01. The window can be upgraded with some great metal hardware options and/or interior laminates that really looks like true wood grain. Explore the full lineup of vinyl windows on our Okna Windows Cost page.

Bottom Line: If you want a vinyl window that matches the performance of the best windows money can buy with the look of a real wood window, this should be top of your list.

Suggested Installed Cost: $1050

Overall Rating 10 out of 10.

[TOP OF PAGE]

MI V5500 Series

Next up in our high quality vinyl windows lineup is the MI V5500 series. MI Windows And Doors purchased Sunrise windows a few years back and incorporated their impressive lineup into theirs. The Restorations series was the best of the bunch and is now marketed as the V5500 series. A well built unit with low tolerances and chock full of high end parts and components, the V5500 marries looks and performance. As well, the V5500 is one of the more narrow frame options in the vinyl window space, which is a huge plus in many consumers checklist. From a performance standpoint the V5500 double hung has a design pressure rating of 55, a U-value of .24 and an air infiltration rating of .04. Check out Mi's full lineup of products with our Mi Windows prices page.

Bottom Line: Excellent design and construction, combined with a narrow frame, and you have one of the most versatile vinyl windows on the market.

Suggested Installed Cost: $1150

Overall Rating 9.8 out of 10

High End Vinyl Windows: Anlin Del Mar

Window number four is the Anlin Del Mar series and the only West Coast selection on our list. The Del Mar is the company’s premium vinyl window that is well built with top of the lines parts, upgrades, and components. As well, the company offers the Del Mar with lots of frame color, grid design and glass package options and upgrades. In general, Anlin manufactures a very good window and this is the best of their bunch. Discover Anlin's full product lineup using our Anlin Windows cost webpage.

Bottom Line: For homeowners in the left half of the country, this is about a good a vinyl window as you are going to get your hands on.

Suggested Installed Cost: $1000

Overall Rating 9.3 out of 10

Ideal Majestic Series

Our fifth vinyl window to make out high quality vinyl windows list is the Ideal Majestic, which comes from one of the least known manufacturers on our list. Based in New Jersey, Ideal makes some excellent vinyl windows that achieve very impressive performance numbers. For instance, the Majestic series achieves a .23 u-value and .02 air infiltration rating, some of the best numbers in the business. The best thing about this window is often the price and the overall value that this vinyl window delivers. Ironically, if you go to the Ideal Windows website, this window won’t show up, so make sure to find a local Ideal distributor to see if they carry the Majestic series. Explore more on Ideal's full product lineup by visiting our Ideal Window prices page.

Bottom Line: Great numbers, often a great price, and probably the best value on our list of high quality vinyl windows.

Suggested Installed Cost: $925

Overall Rating 9.6 out of 10

Polaris ThermalWeld Select Series

Our sixth and final selection is the Polaris ThermalWeld Select (which was once known as the UltraWeld series). The Select series is a decent looking vinyl window that can be upgraded to a faux window interior if you want to take decent looking to very nice looking. Performance wise, the Select will deliver a .09 U-value and an impressive .001 air infiltration rate - not many windows can delver this - a testament to the quality build and low tolerances that consumers can expect. The Polaris ThermalWeld Select rating is an 4.8 out of 5 in my humble opinion. I think the one downside here is going to be availability - however if you live in the mid western states, there is probably a dealer in your area.

Bottom Line: A decent looking window that delivers exceptional energy efficiency and should offer great value if you find the right local company.

Suggested Installed Cost: $900

Overall Rating 9.8 out of 10

Consumer High Quality Vinyl Windows Q And A

Welcome to our homeowner question and answer section on all things related to premium vinyl windows -- price quotes, brand comparisons, complaints or thumbs up on local companies and their installation services, etc. If you have a question for us, drop us an email using the email link at the top of this page.

Dan K. - Site Editor

Polaris vs Joyce Windows

Hi, we would love a copy of your replacement window list. Looking at Polaris currently but also got a quote from Joyce Windows. I am a bit confused about the UltraWeld vs ThermalWeld---does Polaris still carry both those lines? Thanks! How would you say these two window manufacturers are compared with the competition?

Carolyn - Homeowner - from 2025

Editor Reply

Carolyn, first off, both Polaris and Joyce windows are excellent (maybe not their entry level options, but their mid range and premium series are great). So that's a win win there. As to Polaris Windows, I believe the company updated their lineup recently, in fact it's on my list to update some webpages to reflect the change. So now their line up is DynaWeld (lowest), ThermalWeld Plus (mid range) and ThermalWeld Select (premium). They scrapped the name UltraWeld, but the ThermalWeld Select is their top of the line and very good.

At any rate, here is my list of good and great windows for you to take a look at and let me know if you have any additional questions --

Dan K. - Site Editor - from 2025

Comparing Numerous Quality Window Brands

Dan, I’m in the process of replacing the windows in my home. Found plenty of info, including yours, but can’t find much on the Joyce windows. Do you have any experience with them? I’d appreciate any insights you might have. Trying to compare between the following: Provia, Apex Insignia, Joyce Windows, Soft-Lite.

Jay - Homeowner - from 2025

Editor Reply

Jay, you have a very impressive list of options there. Here is how I would rank the four that you mentioned: Soft-Lite, ProVia, Joyce, and Apex Windows (still good though). To really compare these would take a long time to be honest so I'll provide you with links to the different pages on the site that deal with each manufacturer (see attached).

What I would suggest is to collect your bids, summarize them for me, and shoot me another email and let's work through each one. The bottom line is we are looking for the best window (each of these companies sells multiple series), from the best local company, and at the most competitive price. Let's start here and regroup once you've had a change to get the bids.

Dan K. - Site Editor - from 2025

Top Of Page ˆ