Europe Doors and Windows Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2024-2029

MARKET OUTLOOK

The Europe doors and windows market size was valued at USD 58.75 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 71.05 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 3.22% during the forecast period. Doors and windows of all segments have an established European market driven by the demand for new units. This is due to new building fenestration or the replacement of old units with innovative ones and high thermal efficiency. Doors and windows have always been a standard component in residential and non-residential buildings, including commercial and industrial buildings, and they have a long-established market. Government and regulatory bodies have identified enhancements at the building level to achieve energy conservation targets and control climate change while improving the security and availability of energy across the region. Further, Germany is the leading country in the Europe doors and windows market. Also, sustainability and energy efficiency are now predominant in innovation in the doors and windows industry, reflecting a collective dedication to environmental stewardship and resource conservation.

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Increasing Demand for Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
The doors and windows industry has significantly reduced its environmental footprint by adopting sustainable practices. A key initiative is using recycled materials, such as wood, aluminum, and composites, to manufacture eco-friendly doors and windows. Additionally, there has been a notable rise in the adoption of energy-efficient glazing solutions, including triple-pane and vacuum-insulated glazing units. These advanced technologies provide excellent thermal performance, reduce noise, and significantly enhance energy efficiency. Furthermore, sustainability and energy efficiency are now predominant in innovation in the Europe doors and windows market, reflecting a collective dedication to environmental stewardship and resource conservation. Using recycled materials and energy-efficient glazing represents a shift towards comprehensive sustainability, considering both product performance and ecological and social impacts. As these trends progress, they transform the industry, underscoring the significance of sustainable design and construction in fostering a more environmentally responsible future.

Rising Home Improvement Activities
Homeowners are increasingly choosing to renovate and improve their existing properties rather than moving to new ones. This trend is driven by the rising costs of new construction, the desire to personalize existing spaces, and a growing emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability. The surge in home improvement activities across the region is expected to continue driving growth in the Europe doors and windows market, affecting both the replacement and new installation segments. Also, most homes and buildings in the EU are several decades old and require renovation to meet the EU's goal of achieving a zero-emission building stock by 2050. Enhancing Europe’s building stock can be supported by independent service hubs that provide property owners and residents with technical advice and funding information for renovations. An EU-funded project developed hubs, known as one-stop shops, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Valencia, Spain.

INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS

Subdued Market Expansion in Europe
In recent years, the Europe doors and windows market has faced significant challenges originating from economic factors impacting construction activity, particularly in Europe. High interest rates and soaring building costs have reduced demand for new buildings across the region. While ongoing projects and a focus on sustainability have mitigated the decline thus far, clear signs indicate that construction volumes are expected to shrink, posing a challenge for manufacturers and suppliers in the doors & windows market. Furthermore, the economic landscape, characterized by high interest rates and increased building costs, has dampened demand for new buildings globally. Homebuyers and firms hesitate to invest in new premises due to economic uncertainties and higher construction costs. This reduced demand directly affects the doors and windows market, as fewer new construction projects result in lower requirements for such solutions.

SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS BY PRODUCT
The Europe doors and windows market by product is segmented into doors and windows. By product, the windows segment dominates the segmental market share in 2023. The European window market is driven mainly by the growth in home improvement activities. The demand for domestic consumption of windows is higher in Western and Northern Europe, whereas Central and Eastern Europe are more focused on production and exports of window units. Tilt-and-turn windows are among the most popular window types in Europe. They offer unique functionality and design, enhanced security, high quality, superior thermal efficiency, and exceptional durability and longevity. Further, in recent years, the construction and home improvement industry has seen a significant rise in the demand for colored uPVC windows. European aluminum windows have also become highly popular in global markets thanks to their superior quality and stylish design. Aluprof, Schuco, and Reynaers Aluminum are some of the key brands offering aluminum windows.

INSIGHTS BY END-USER
The residential end-user segment dominates the Europe doors and windows market. Regarding new construction projects, the demand for residential windows is a significant driver of new demand. However, Europe still has a high demand for renovation and retrofit projects to achieve better thermal efficiency and minimize heat loss. The demand for new windows and doors for installations in renovation projects is the highest in southern Europe, where renovation activities constitute more than 70% of the total doors and windows market. Also, the demand for new construction in the residential segment is currently driven by new government-funded housing projects, especially due to the rising immigrant population. Government-funded projects are focused on high-cost efficiency, thus increasing the demand for plastic windows and doors as they are more expensive and thermally efficient than their wood and metal counterparts.

INSIGHTS BY TYPE
The Europe doors and windows market by type is segmented into interior and exterior. By type, the exterior segment dominates Europe's doors and windows market. The demand for exterior windows and doors is proportional to new construction activities, but exterior windows have a higher share in replacement installations. In 2023, Germany remained the largest for exterior doors and windows and is expected to continue to dominate the market during the forecast period. Further, doors made of metal will eventually gain market share due to an uptick in demand from the commercial and other non-residential sectors, innovations in design and manufacturing, and public building projects. Technological advances in uPVC and thermoplastics also contribute to the demand for plastic-made exterior windows. Plastic windows also have higher resistance to rot and rust, unlike windows made from wood and metal. Moreover, European exterior windows need high thermal efficiency, which has become crucial for regional purchases.

INSIGHTS BY MATERIAL
The Europe doors and windows market by material is segmented into plastic & glass, wood, metal, composite, and other. The plastic and glass segment holds the most significant European market share, and during the forecast period, the plastic doors and windows segment is expected to gain market share by catering to the consumer base that preferred wooden and metal doors and windows earlier. Several factors have and are still boosting the demand for plastic doors and windows in many European countries. As the overall cost of installing plastic doors and windows is comparatively lower than that of wooden or metal doors and windows, uPVC is increasingly used as the main material for manufacturing low-cost, durable, high-quality doors and windows. Further, glass doors experience high adoption in retail and corporate offices, which are part of the non-residential segment. Glass doors, and more recently frameless glass doors, are becoming one of the most common applications for glass, second only to windows. Frameless glass doors replace traditional wood, metal, and plastic doors with glass panes as sidelights or full-length glass panels in door frames.

INSIGHTS BY INSTALLATION
The replacement installation segment holds the most significant share of the Europe doors and windows market in 2023. The demand for replacement doors and windows is higher in renovation and retrofit activities, which is prevalent across the region. Germany, France, the UK, and Italy led the market for replacement doors and windows, as most of the existing building stock in these regions is not energy efficient. Furthermore, there is rising traction for adopting energy-efficient fenestration products, including doors and windows. Also, building fenestration has become increasingly important with the growing focus on energy efficiency. Consequently, consumers and building owners increasingly opt for new doors and windows for their properties, especially exterior and interior and exterior doors. Concerning new doors and windows, pre-hung units have gained more traction than fitting leaves or panels into existing or older openings or frames. Europe is a lucrative market for replacement doors and windows, as these region’s countries are actively adopting doors and windows with high thermal efficiency. 

INSIGHTS BY OPERATION
The Europe doors and windows market by operation is segmented into manual and automatic. The manual segment held the dominant European market share. Also, the manual doors accounted for the largest share due to widespread adoption in residential, corporate, and other high-traffic areas. These doors and windows are hinged or sliding variants. Aside from traditional manual doors and windows, manual revolving doors have gained popularity in developed economies as they allow for better and more regulated draft air control. They are also used in spaces where doors need to be kept open to handle heavy footfall for a short duration, such as movie theaters and school doors. Furthermore, manual doors and windows are widely used in the residential segment and small businesses for two major factors – their relatively low price and easy airflow regulation, thereby maintaining HVAC temperatures in building premises. Several other factors have supported the growth of manual doors and windows, including their cost-effective maintenance and operation.

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

The Europe doors and windows market is mainly driven by their installation in new non-residential buildings or by renovating or replacing existing structures. Countries like Germany, France, the UK, and the Nordics are making it common practice to implement fire-rated doors and windows in all commercial buildings. In line with innovations taking center stage, doors and windows made with fiberglass have gained popularity in the market. Rapidly developing infrastructure and construction output drive the growth of the doors and windows market in emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe. However, fluctuating raw material prices can be a primary challenge for the market's growth during the forecast period. Furthermore, there is a high demand for doors and windows with multiple glazed options and variants that promise high thermal efficiency by eliminating heat loss through building doors and windows. As a step toward meeting energy targets, EU member states have attempted to adopt unconventional energy conservation methods, particularly for harnessing solar energy and reducing total heat loss from buildings. The government has aimed to improve the energy performance of buildings in the region.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

The European doors and windows market is highly fragmented, with over 5,000 manufacturers across major markets. The market has long been steered by customer demand. The key players in the Europe doors and windows market are JELD-WEN, Internorm, Inwido, and VKR Group. Furthermore, following the regional trend for energy conservation, vendors are integrating high-efficiency doors and windows in their product portfolios, which enables consumers to improve the thermal efficiency of their dwellings and thereby save on energy expenses, causing innovations and investments in the market to incline toward this direction. On a broader level, the European market saw developments across zones, with some spilling over to the local level and allowing vendors to create some degree of pull demand for new and innovative products. Vendors try to keep up with the ongoing market trends and have readied themselves to cater to local and national markets.