If you’re deciding between Velux and Fakro for a loft conversion or extension, both are established pitched roof window brands, and the right choice usually comes down to budget, roof type, and how much weight you put on installer familiarity versus price.
Toughened Glass Systems supplies Fakro roof windows directly, so the figures in this guide reflect real UK pricing and lead times rather than manufacturer brochure ranges. “We don’t stock Velux ourselves, so to keep the comparison fair, we’ve priced the closest equivalent Velux model, centre pivot and top hung, from a leading UK retailer rather than relying on a manufacturer’s list price.”
We don’t install roof windows ourselves, which means we have no reason to steer you toward whichever brand happens to be easier for a fitter to work with. The comparison below is based on the product, not on who ends up fitting it. If you’re weighing up more than just these two brands, our guide to Velux alternatives covers Keylite, Roto and Dakea as well.
There’s also a third option worth ruling in or out before you commit to a pitched window at all. If your project involves a flat or near-flat roof, such as a single-storey extension, the Velux vs Fakro question may not apply to you in the first place. That’s covered later in this guide.
Velux vs Fakro at a glance
| Velux (manual) | Fakro (via TGS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Centre pivot price (ex VAT) | £255.81 to £562.72 across common manual sizes | £252.33 to £574.05 |
| Top hung price (ex VAT) | £420.14 to £609.18 across common manual sizes | £374.79 to £689.17 |
| U-value | Around 1.0 to 1.3 W/m²K depending on glazing spec | 0.97 to 1.3 W/m²K depending on glazing spec |
| Warranty | 10 years on roof windows, flat roof windows and modular skylights | 10-year manufacturer’s warranty |
| Lead time through TGS | Not supplied by TGS | 3 to 6 working days (manual opening version) |
| Strongest for | Installer familiarity, resale value | Comparable performance at a lower average price, wider opening angle on some models |
Like for like, the picture depends on window type. On centre pivot windows, the two brands sit within a few pounds of each other across most common sizes, close enough that this alone shouldn’t decide it. On top hung windows, Fakro’s cheapest option (£374.79) undercuts Velux’s cheapest manual GPL (£420.14) by around 11%. This is based on live pricing for common sizes rather than every size either brand makes, so treat it as a strong indicator rather than an exhaustive audit. If installer familiarity matters more than price, Velux remains the brand most UK roofers have fitted before, which can reduce the risk of a fitting error on a first-time installation.
Velux roof windows: what you’re paying for
Velux was founded in Denmark in 1941, and delivered its first patented roof window the following year, according to Velux’s own company history. It’s the brand most UK roofers have encountered before.
A manual Velux GGL centre pivot window typically costs from £255.81 to £562.72 ex VAT across common sizes, while a manual Velux GPL top hung window runs from £420.14 to £609.18 ex VAT, based on live UK retailer pricing from one large supplier. Electric INTEGRA versions of both (GGU and GPU) cost noticeably more and aren’t a fair comparison against a manual Fakro window. Standard double glazing achieves a U-value of roughly 1.0 to 1.3 W/m²K, with the lower end of that range reserved for premium triple-glazed units, consistent with Velux’s own published glazing options. Velux backs its roof windows with a 10-year guarantee, though full validity typically depends on installation by a competent or certified installer.
Fakro roof windows: where the value is
Fakro is a Polish manufacturer with a well-established presence in the UK roof window market. TGS supplies two Fakro ranges directly. First, the centre pivot window, suitable for roof pitches between 15° and 90° and which rotates around a central hinge so both sides of the glass can be cleaned from inside the room. The second is the top hung window, suitable for pitches between 15° and 55°, which opens from the top rather than pivoting centrally for a wider unobstructed opening and won a Build It Award for Best Roofing or Cladding System. Browse our full range of pitched roof windows for other sizes and specifications.
Because we supply these directly, the pricing below is what we actually charge, not a manufacturer’s list price. Our Fakro centre pivot window runs from £252.33 to £574.05 ex VAT depending on size, with a 3 to 6 working day lead time for the manual opening version (the fixed, non-opening version has a longer 15 to 30 working day lead time). The top hung version, which sits taller and opens further, runs from £374.79 to £689.17 ex VAT on the same manual lead time.
Fakro’s glazing achieves a U-value of 1.3 W/m²K on standard double glazing, improving to 0.97 W/m²K on the triple-glazed option, according to Fakro’s own UK product specification. The brand backs its windows with a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty. On specification alone, there’s little separating the two brands. The gap is mostly in price and in how familiar your installer already is with the product.
Price, insulation and warranty compared
| Velux GGL (manual centre pivot) | Fakro centre pivot | Velux GPL (manual top hung) | Fakro top hung | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (ex VAT) | £255.81 to £562.72 | £252.33 to £574.05 | £420.14 to £609.18 | £374.79 to £689.17 |
| U-value | 1.0 to 1.3 W/m²K | 0.97 to 1.3 W/m²K | 1.0 to 1.3 W/m²K | 0.97 to 1.3 W/m²K |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10-year manufacturer’s warranty | 10 years | 10-year manufacturer’s warranty |
| Lead time via TGS | Not supplied by TGS | 3 to 6 working days | Not supplied by TGS | 3 to 6 working days |
Fitting, flashing and reliability: what buyers actually want to know
Much of the real discussion around Velux versus Fakro happens on tradesperson forums rather than comparison blogs. The questions are consistent: is Fakro actually as good? Is it harder to fit? Is the price difference worth it? The honest answer is that both brands need a correctly sized roof opening, a flashing kit matched to your specific roof covering, and an installer who has fitted that brand before.
- Flashing kits are brand and roof-material specific: A slate flashing kit built for one brand will not correctly seal against another, and mixing components between brands can void the warranty on both, according to VeluxRepairs’ brand comparison guide.
- Warranty validity typically depends on the installer: Not just the product. Manufacturer guarantees on both brands are commonly tied to installation by a competent or certified installer, per VAR-Vel Solutions’ installation cost guide.
- TGS supplies Fakro roof windows only and does not carry out installation: We’d recommend getting quotes from two or three local installers, confirming they’ve fitted your chosen brand before, and asking to see recent examples of their flashing work before booking. Our guide to roof window installation costs has more detail on what to expect to pay for fitting.
Planning permission and Building Regulations
Most roof window installations, Velux or Fakro, fall under permitted development in England and Wales, meaning formal planning permission usually isn’t required, provided the window doesn’t project more than 150mm from the roof plane and doesn’t exceed the height of the existing roof, per Planning Portal guidance. Listed buildings, conservation areas, and properties with an Article 4 direction removing permitted development rights are the main exceptions.
Building Regulations still apply regardless of planning permission status, covering structural support for the new opening, thermal performance, and fire safety where the window sits close to a boundary. For the full detail on both, see our planning permission and Building Regulations guide for rooflights.
Which one should you choose?
- Budget-conscious loft conversion: Fakro’s lower price per equivalent specification makes it the more cost-effective choice, particularly across multiple windows in the same project.
- Replacing an existing Velux: Sticking with Velux usually means the existing flashing and opening size are already compatible, which can reduce both installation time and cost.
- Premium spec, resale-focused project: Velux’s stronger installer familiarity and broader brand recognition may justify the premium, particularly in a property you plan to sell.
- Tight installation timeline: With a 3 to 6 working day lead time on the manual opening versions through TGS, Fakro is a faster route to site than a bespoke or out-of-stock Velux size, though always confirm current lead times before committing to a date.
Before you decide: could a flat rooflight do the job instead?
Velux vs Fakro is a pitched roof window question. If your project involves a single-storey extension, a flat-roofed kitchen addition, or a dormer with a flat section, a flat rooflight is a genuinely different product built for a different roof type, not a spec-for-spec substitute for a pitched window. It’s worth ruling this in or out before you spend time comparing pitched brands. See our guide to flat vs pitched roof skylight extensions for how to tell which applies to your project.
Where it does apply, the numbers are worth knowing. TGS’s frameless flat rooflight is available double glazed, with a centre pane U-value of 1.1 W/m²K, from £259 ex VAT, with the first 10 standard sizes dispatched in 2 to 5 working days and other sizes or specifications on a 7 to 10 working day lead time.
The same range can also be specified triple glazed, or you can choose TGS’s dedicated triple-glazed self-clean rooflight, both of which reach a U-value of 0.9 W/m²K, better than the typical pitched window range from either Velux or Fakro. The dedicated triple-glazed product is priced from £163 to £619 ex VAT and carries a 20-year manufacturer’s warranty.
This isn’t a suggestion to abandon a pitched window if your roof is pitched. It’s a prompt to check which category actually applies to your project before comparing brands within the wrong one. Browse the full flat rooflight range if a flat roof turns out to be the relevant option.
FAQs
Is Fakro as good as Velux?
For most homes, yes. Fakro achieves comparable U-values and warranty terms to Velux, and is meaningfully cheaper on top hung windows specifically, though centre pivot pricing between the two brands is close. Velux’s main advantage is installer familiarity rather than a clear performance gap.
Is Fakro cheaper than Velux?
It depends on the window type. For top hung windows, Fakro’s cheapest option undercuts the equivalent manual Velux GPL by around 11%, and the gap holds across most common sizes. For centre pivot windows, the two brands sit within a few pounds of each other, so price alone shouldn’t be the deciding factor there.
Can I mix Velux and Fakro flashing kits?
No. Flashing kits are brand and roof-covering specific, and mixing components between brands risks leaks and can void the warranty on both products.
Do I need planning permission for a Velux or Fakro roof window?
Usually not, provided the installation meets permitted development conditions on projection and height. Listed buildings, conservation areas and properties with an Article 4 direction are the main exceptions. See our full planning permission and Building Regulations guide for the detail specific to your property.