How Deep Does an Egress Window Well Need to Be?
The window well has to be sized so the window still meets egress code — the sill can be no more than 44 inches above the basement floor inside — and the well itself must give at least 9 square feet of floor area with a minimum 36-inch projection out from the foundation wall.
If the well is deeper than 44 inches from the outside grade, code requires a permanently attached ladder or steps so someone can climb out. We size and build every well to these numbers and add the drainage that keeps it from turning into a bathtub.
Two numbers set the well size. The floor of the well has to be at least 9 square feet, and it has to stick out at least 36 inches from the foundation. So a well that is 36 inches wide and projects 36 inches gives you 9 square feet — the minimum that still lets a person stand and climb out.
Depth adds one more rule. If the bottom of the well sits more than 44 inches below the ground, the code requires a permanent ladder or steps that stay in place. We build these into the well so they never block the window opening. The last piece is drainage: every well we set gets a gravel base and a drain line, so a deep well doesn't turn into a bucket that holds water against your foundation.
READY TO ADD AN EGRESS WINDOW?
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