Although many shoppers resort to firmly household names like Pella or Andersen, you can find an equally if not more worthwhile range of windows between Marvin and Milgard.
While you probably can't go wrong one way or the other for your new construction or replacement windows, Marvin and Milgard differ in a few key areas that could sway your decision.
Let's review those differences, namely costs, window types, and warranties, to determine whether Marvin or Miglard better fits your needs.
About Marvin
Image source: Marvin
Known for: high-end windows and patio doors
Price point: mid-high range
In terms of quality and pricing, Marvin sits firmly in the premium window market.
This sentiment is arguably best exemplified by their catalog of available window materials – two kinds of fiberglass, aluminum, and wood.
Like other window companies, Marvin breaks their products down by collection, of which they have six.
Essential: Entry-level Marvin windows made of pultruded fiberglass with an emphasis on simplicity. Previously known as Marvin Integrity.
Elevate: Fiberglass exterior for durability, wood interior for beauty.
Coastline: Thick, extruded aluminum resists corrosion with impact-resistant glass designed to survive hurricanes. Available in select Southeast coastal regions.
Modern: High-density fiberglass windows with supreme durability, energy efficiency, and clean aesthetics.
Ultimate: Premium wood and aluminum-clad windows with highly customizable design options
Infinity: Pultruded fiberglass windows with more design options and warranty coverage
The Coastline, Modern, and Ultimate lines all feature under their Signature collection, which offers you more customization options and services, including one-of-a-kind window solutions.
To cater exclusively to high-end window shoppers, the Marvin Infinity collection operates separately from the pack with its own website, branding, and dealership network.
About Milgard
Image source: VT Logo
Known for: vinyl windows and doors. Primarily serves the Western United States and Canada
Price point: mid-range
For shoppers looking for an affordable Pella or Anderson window alternative in the Western United States and Canada, Milgard presents a sound choice.
This west-coast-based window and door company manufactures an extensive selection of window and door styles in vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum.
To accommodate window shoppers on a budget, three of their six window lines come exclusively in vinyl.
Style Line: Affordable vinyl window
Trinsic: Vinyl windows with narrow sightlines to allow more light in
Tuscany: Top-of-the-line windows crafted using their proprietary vinyl formula
Ultra: Durable, pultruded fiberglass windows
Thermally Improved Aluminum: Polyurethane-insulated aluminum windows foster superior energy efficiency. Only available in select areas.
Comparing Marvin and Milgard
How Much Do Marvin Windows Cost?
Marvin can run you anywhere from $215 to $4,000 per window for materials only.
To stay on the affordable side of this wide range, look toward their entry-level Essential collection, which features durable fiberglass windows in simple profiles.
Prices start approaching the thousands as you choose more luxury products and styles, particularly their Signature Coastline, Modern, and Ultimate collections.
How Much Do Milgard Windows Cost?
At $130 to $2,800 per window for materials only, Milgard can impose high costs if you’re not careful.
Stick with their vinyl Style Line windows should you seek their most cost-effective choices.
If you crave additional style options and daylight, Milgard’s Trinsic line strikes a good balance between affordability and beauty.
Window Types
Looking at the Marvin and Milgard window style catalogs side by side, you’ll notice they overlap in most respects.
Most window companies produce core profiles like awning, double-hung, and casement windows.
But to set them apart, Marvin offers a corner window, unlike Milgard.
Window materials
Perhaps the most significant dissimilarity between Marvin and Milgard stems from their available window materials.
Marvin Signature Ultimate wood windows. Image source: Marvin
Unlike Milgard, Marvin offers wood window frames and finishes through their Ultimate and Elevate series. Milgard stopped offering wood-frame windows once they pulled the plug on their Essence series, which effectively freezes out homeowners looking for this naturally appealing but high-maintenance window material.
Milgard’s Trinsic Series vinyl picture windows. Image source: Milgard
On the flipside, Milgard also offers a staple material that its competitor snubs – vinyl. Milgard boasts an ample range of affordable and maintenance-free vinyl window options through their Tuscany, Trinsic, and Style Line collections that better accommodate budget-conscious shoppers.
As any leading window manufacturer should, both Marvin and Milgard offer fiberglass and aluminum.
Marvin further breaks down their fiberglass offerings between high-density fiberglass and their pultruded fiberglass, which they call Ultrex. They also offer fiberglass-clad wood through their Elevate series.
Milgard Ultra also uses pultruded fiberglass, but they don't have a cutting-edge name for it.
Marvin vs. Milgard window materials
|
Window Materials |
Marvin |
Milgard |
|
Vinyl |
X |
Tuscany, Trinsic, Style |
|
Fiberglass |
Elevate, Essential, Modern, Infinity |
Ultra |
|
Aluminum |
Ultimate, Coastline, Modern |
Thermally Improved Aluminum |
|
Wood |
Ultimate, Elevate |
X |
Warranties
Marvin
Marvin covers all of their bases by providing separate warranties for glass components, hardware, exterior cladding, and interior finish ranging in periods ranging from five years to 20 years. Apart from their Coastline and Infinity collections, the standard limited warranty applies to all of their window lines.
- Glass: 20 years
- Non-glass components: 10 years
- Aluminum exterior cladding finish: 20 years
- Fiberglass exterior cladding finish: 10 years
- Wood interior finish: 5 years
- Interior aluminum finish: 20 year
Marvin Infinity windows come with the assurance of a limited lifetime warranty.
Milgard
Milgard endorses their workmanship confidently through a standard limited lifetime warranty. As long as you reside in their service area, Milgard covers replacement parts and labor for manufacturing defects.
If you opt for their Tuscany line with glass breakage coverage or Trinsic vinyl windows, Milgard bumps you up to their full lifetime warranty.
Energy efficiency
Image source: Energy Star
Switching from single-pane windows to Energy Star certified energy-efficient windows can net you up to $366 in yearly energy savings.
Milgard might argue their aptly named Thermally Improved Aluminum series with integrated heat barriers demonstrate their advantage over Marvin.
In reality, both Marvin and Milgard provide enough energy-efficient tech (insulating glass, low-emittance coatings, multi-pane glazing, etc.) across their lineups to meet standards in all four climate zones, which shouldn't make your final decision any easier.
Should I choose Marvin or Milgard?
After highlighting the main differences between Marvin and Milgard, we can pinpoint a few clear-cut reasons why you should definitely pick one brand over the other for your new windows.
Choose Marvin over Milgard if:
- You need wood-framed windows
- You need corner windows
- Their Coastline collection suits your coastal home
- You live outside the Western United States and Canada
Pick Milgard instead of Marvin if:
- You need vinyl windows
- You need to keep costs as low as possible
- You value a lifetime warranty
At the end of the day, both window brands offer much of the same window styles, materials, energy-efficient capabilities, and reputation for quality