Consumer Reports published its top-rated impact windows for 2026, awarding the WinGuard line by PGT Windows and Doors the top pick. PGT Windows and Doors is part of the MITER Brands portfolio. The publication’s staff put impact-rated windows through testing across three performance areas, including wind resistance, rain resistance and impact resistance, selecting the top eight windows.
WinGuard products topped the list, with a score of 98—the highest overall score.
“This recognition from Consumer Reports speaks to the strength of the engineering and testing behind our WinGuard products,” said Dean Ruark, SVP of engineering and product development for MITER Brands. “Our team is committed to designing impact-resistant windows and doors that deliver exceptional performance in extreme weather conditions, while also meeting the style expectations of today’s homeowners.”
Marvin’s Coastline windows were a close second, with a score of 97 and the same results in the performance areas as WinGuard.
Eco Window Systems’ Eco-Guard Series 150 came in at number three, with an overall score of 91. While the Eco-Guard Series 150 had rain resistance and impact resistance equal to Marvin’s Coastline and PGT’s WinGuard, it fell just short in the Wind Resistance 70 Degrees, scoring 4/5.
By definition, a hurricane is a tropical cyclone that has maximum sustained surface winds of 74 mph or greater. Hurricanes are grouped into strength categories 1 through 5, with Category 5 representing the strongest storms.
During testing, each window was subjected to simulated hurricane conditions, including cyclic wind-pressure tests to mimic the suction and gusts of a real storm, water infiltration checks to reveal leaks under wind-driven rain, and a projectile test.
These windows are required by code in coastal parts of the Carolinas, Florida and Texas. But more homeowners in inland areas are considering them, too, the publication’s editors point out.
“Rainwater intrusion is one of the leading causes of building damage,” says John van de Lindt, Ph.D., a structural engineer at Colorado State University. “When a window breaks in a hurricane, that opening can let in water, destabilize pressure, and lead to major structural failure. Hazard-resistant windows greatly improve the chance of maintaining the building envelope.”
Pella Hurricane Shield Series and Weather Shield Premium Coastal Services both achieved a score of 81, with identical results in three performance areas: 5/5 for wind resistance, 4/5 in rain resistance, and 5/5 for impact resistance. The Andersen was on their heels. A 4/5 for wind resistance, 4/5 in rain resistance, and 5/5 for impact resistance resulted in an overall score of 80 for the company’s 400 Series.
CWS Windpact received a 5/5 each for wind resistance and impact resistance, but a 3/5 in rain resistance dropped the overall score to 76. Wrapping up the list is ES Window ES-MX1000. With a score of 72, it also has a 5/5 each for wind resistance and impact resistance but a rain resistance of 2/5.