Egress Window vs. Egress Door
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Both an egress window and an egress door can serve as an emergency escape and rescue opening, and the same minimum opening sizes apply to either.
Informational only.
Both can count
The IRC's escape-and-rescue rules apply to "the emergency and rescue opening where the window or door is in the open position" (2024 IRC R319.4.2 via Jefferson County), and Arapahoe County's basement guide says basements need "an egress window or door" (Arapahoe).
The same minimums apply to either
- Net clear opening of at least 5.7 sq ft.
- Clear opening at least 24 in high and 20 in wide, reached by normal operation of the window or door.
- Bottom of the opening no more than 44 in above the floor.
- Operable from inside without keys or tools, opening to a public way or a yard or court that leads to one. Source: 2024 IRC R319 as published by Jefferson County Building Safety; the same numbers appear in the 2021 IRC R310 restated by Arapahoe County.
How they differ in practice
| Egress window | Egress door | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical location | Below grade, in a window well | At grade (walkout) or opening to an areaway |
| Minimum net clear opening | 5.7 sq ft | Same rule |
| Well / areaway | Required below grade; ladder or steps if deeper than 44 in | Below-grade doors also open into an area well; same ladder/steps rule over 44 in |
| Sill height limit | 44 in max above floor | Same rule (a door usually sits at the floor) |
| Sources: Jefferson County R319; Arapahoe County. | ||
| Confirm the IRC's specific door-and-areaway provisions (bulkhead enclosures, stair requirements) with ICC or your building department before quoting. |
Cost
No prices are published here. Both involve cutting the foundation; see what drives egress cost and basement egress concrete cutting.
Related
- Egress window check: see if your window and well likely meet the minimums Do I need an egress window? · Permit guide
Services
Egress windows · Window wells · Covers · Basement egress · Code guide
Frequently asked questions
Can an egress door count instead of a window?
Yes. The IRC's escape-and-rescue rules apply to the opening where the window or door is in the open position, and Arapahoe County's basement guide says basements need an egress window or door.
Do the same size rules apply to doors?
Yes. Net clear opening of at least 5.7 sq ft; clear opening at least 24 in high and 20 in wide; bottom of the opening no more than 44 in above the floor; operable from inside without keys or tools.
How do they differ in practice?
An egress window typically sits below grade in a window well; an egress door is typically at grade (walkout) or opens to an areaway. Below-grade doors also open into an area well, with the same ladder/steps rule over 44 in.