Differences Between Rooflights and Skylights

Shedding Light on Rooflights and Skylights

Bringing natural light into our homes has never been more popular. Whether it is transforming a kitchen extension into a bright, open-plan hub or adding a touch of daylight to a loft conversion, homeowners are increasingly looking upward for solutions. That is where rooflights and skylights come in, but what do these terms mean, and which is right for your project?

We know it can get confusing. You will often hear people talking about rooflights/skylights as if they’re the same thing. In reality, some key distinctions could make all the difference to your space’s look, performance, and feel.

Our blog will explain the difference between rooflights and skylights, helping you understand which option, or perhaps both, suits your home best. We’ll also touch on skylights/rooflights alternatives, like roof lanterns, so you can make a fully informed decision when planning your perfect light-filled space.

What Are Rooflights and Skylights? – Defining the Terms

While both skylights and rooflights are designed to introduce natural daylight into your home, they are not quite the same. The difference between rooflights and skylights largely comes down to their design, positioning, and how they function.

Let’s break it down.

A rooflight is typically installed on a flat roof or a roof with a very low pitch. It usually sits slightly proud of the roof surface and is often a fixed, non-opening unit designed to let in as much daylight as possible. Rooflights are popular in modern home extensions where creating bright, open-plan living spaces is a priority.

On the other hand, a skylight is more commonly fitted into a pitched roof. Skylights can be fixed, but they are often designed to open, providing light and ventilation, making them a popular choice for loft conversions or attic rooms.

Although we often hear people say rooflights and skylights as though they are the same thing, understanding the difference between rooflights and skylights will help you select the right option for your home. Each has its role, depending on your roof type and what you want to achieve, be it flooding a space with light or adding ventilation and brightness.

Key Differences Between Rooflights and Skylights

Understanding the difference between rooflights and skylights is key to choosing the right option for your home. While both bring light into your space, how they are installed, their appearance and function can vary significantly.

Here is a simple breakdown of the key distinctions between rooflights and skylights:

Installation Type

Rooflights: Designed for flat roofs or low-pitch extensions, often seen in modern, open-plan spaces.
Skylights: Fitted into pitched roofs, making them a popular choice for loft conversions or rooms with sloping ceilings.

Opening vs. Fixed

Rooflights: Most are fixed for daylight, though some opening models are available for ventilation.
Skylights: Frequently openable, they offer ventilation and light, perfect for stuffy attics and lofts.

Framing and Profile

Rooflights: Typically low-profile and sleek, with options for frameless, edge-to-edge glass for a clean, minimalist look.
Skylights: More likely to have visible frames, especially on older designs, though modern versions are becoming more streamlined.

Aesthetic Impact

Rooflights: Minimal and discreet, blending effortlessly into flat-roof extensions, especially flush, flat rooflights.
Skylights: They are subtle on pitched roofs, though frames can be more noticeable, particularly when viewed from the outside.

Functionality and Use

Rooflights: Ideal for maximising light in kitchens, extensions, and flat-roof spaces.
Skylights: Best suited for adding light and ventilation in lofts, attics, and rooms with pitched ceilings.

While rooflights and skylights are often used interchangeably, this side-by-side comparison highlights why knowing the difference between rooflights and skylights is so important when planning your project.

Where Do Roof Lanterns Fit In?

When weighing up rooflights and skylights, a third option often gets overlooked: roof lanterns. While rooflights/skylights are all about bringing in daylight with a sleek, discreet finish, roof lanterns are designed to make a statement.

A roof lantern is a glazed, multi-pitched structure on a raised frame, typically installed on flat-roof extensions. More than just a light source, a lantern acts as an architectural feature, transforming kitchens, dining rooms, or open-plan spaces into bright, sky-filled areas with a real sense of height and drama.

How do they compare to skylights and rooflights?

Roof Lanterns: Larger, elevated designs that offer panoramic sky views from multiple angles. Perfect for creating a feature in the heart of your home.
Rooflights and Skylights: These slimmer, lower-profile options are ideal for minimal, contemporary spaces or where subtle light enhancement and ventilation are priorities.

Knowing the role of roof lanterns alongside rooflights and skylights will help you choose the perfect glazing solution for your home, whether you are after discreet modernity or bold architectural impact.

Choosing the Right Option for Your Home

When deciding between skylights, rooflights, or roof lanterns, it all comes down to your space and the look you want to achieve.

For flat roof extensions, rooflights offer a sleek, modern finish, while roof lanterns create a striking focal point and enhance the sense of height and space. Skylights, which bring in natural light while providing ventilation, are often used in loft conversions and rooms with pitched roofs.

If minimalist design is your goal, flat rooflights/skylights with frameless, edge-to-edge glass create a clean, contemporary aesthetic. For those wanting more than just light, roof lanterns combine elegance and openness, transforming your room into a bright, architectural showpiece.

Spotlight on Stratus Premier Edge Skylight – The Modern Flat Rooflight Redefined

If you want a flat rooflight that combines cutting-edge design with outstanding performance, our Stratus Premier Edge Skylight sets a new standard. Perfect for modern extensions and flat-roof living spaces, it offers everything you could want, from rooflights to skylights.

Designed with edge-to-edge glass, the Premier Edge Skylight delivers a seamless, minimalist finish with no visible frames. From inside, it feels like an open window to the sky. From above, its ultra-low-profile design, standing just 63mm above the roof, blends effortlessly into your roofline.

But it is not just about looks. This is a high-performance rooflight built for year-round comfort. With advanced thermal insulation and a U-value of 1.3 W/m²K, it helps keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer, reducing energy costs.

Security is built in, too. The internal fixing system ensures no external fastenings, while the laminated inner glass panel offers shatterproof protection, giving you complete peace of mind.

Installation is refreshingly simple. The Premier Edge Skylight arrives in one piece, with pre-attached fixing straps, so there are no extra trims or parts to worry about. That means fitting is quick and straightforward, saving both time and hassle.

Suppose you’re considering rooflights skylights for a modern extension or flat roof renovation. The Stratus Premier Edge Skylight offers unrivalled style, performance, and security, the ultimate flat rooflight for contemporary living.

A Glimpse at Stratus Roof Lanterns – Bringing Architectural Elegance to Flat Roofs

For homeowners looking for something beyond rooflights and skylights, our Stratus Roof Lantern Range offers a premium alternative that combines natural light with architectural elegance.

Crafted from sleek, thermally efficient aluminium, our roof lanterns are available in bespoke RAL colours, allowing you to match or contrast your home’s interior and exterior.

If you favour clean, contemporary lines, our Minimalist Contemporary Lantern delivers a streamlined finish. Its ridge is supported only by hip rafters, eliminating the need for bulky supports and maximising your view of the sky.

Comfort is never compromised. We offer solar-control glazing in blue or neutral tints, helping to reduce glare and heat while keeping your space bright and inviting all year round. Designed to suit small and large extensions, our roof lanterns come in custom sizes, with configurations up to 3m x 6m and square lanterns up to 2m x 2m.

Whether creating a spacious kitchen-diner or designing an open-plan family room, a Stratus Roof Lantern can transform your flat-roof extension, adding height, light, and a striking architectural centrepiece.

Letting in Light – Your Perfect Rooflight, Skylight, or Lantern

While rooflights and skylights are often mentioned in the same breath, the difference between rooflights and skylights is clear once you understand their design, purpose, and visual impact. Choosing the right option depends on your home and what you want to achieve – ventilation, a clean, minimalist finish, or a bold architectural feature.

Suppose you are after discreet, modern styling for a flat roof extension. In that case, our Premier Edge Skylight is the ultimate flat rooflight, offering edge-to-edge glass, thermal efficiency, and security in one sleek package. For those looking to make a statement, our Stratus Roof Lanterns combine bespoke aluminium design, solar-control glazing, and striking configurations, creating bright, open spaces with skyward views.

Whatever your vision, Stratus Lantern Roofs offers premium solutions designed to bring light into your home beautifully and efficiently.

Ready to find your perfect daylight solution?

Explore our full range today: call us on 0800 046 3924, email admin@stratuslanternroofs.co.uk, or contact us to discuss your project.