Window Shutter Installation Cost

How Much Do Window Shutters Cost?

The average cost for window shutter installation is around £260 to £280 per m². This means that, roughly, the average cost of shutters for a 3 bedroom house is between £2,500 and £5,000.

While window shutters are known for their high initial cost, they do potentially have a good return on investment. They can act as appealing features to future buyers, which may help boost your property’s value due to their bespoke nature.

Window shutters can also benefit your home’s insulation, helping to keep the warm air in when it's cold outside.

There are nuances to window shutter costs, however, depending on a few factors:

Interior vs Exterior Window Shutters

Whether your window shutters are internal or external will affect the price you’ll pay for their supply and installation. For instance, interior plantation shutters cost between £180 to £320 per m², while exterior shutters can be anywhere from £170 to £380 per m².

Window Shutter Material

The more premium the material, the higher the price–UPVC is the most affordable option, while composite and luxury natural woods can be more expensive.

Bespoke vs Off-the-shelf Window Shutter Sizes

As you’d expect, you’ll pay more for bespoke, custom-made sizes than you would off-the-shelf sizes. Bay windows are particularly common when it comes to commanding high prices, as they usually feature large drops and vast widths that aren’t usually catered for with regular off-the-shelf sizes.

The extra work involved in creating the larger, bespoke sizes will translate into higher prices for your supply and installation. Due to their size and scale, the larger the shutters, the more likely you’ll need professional fitting.

Number of Windows/Number of Window Shutters

You’ve guessed it–the more windows you have in your home, the higher your window shutter supply and installation costs will be. As with all home renovation projects, the more vast the scope, the higher the price is likely to be.

Similar to the last point, if you have a particularly large window expanse and need bespoke sizes created for most, if not all, of your windows, expect your prices to be far higher than those in smaller properties with more standardised window sizes.

Now that we’ve identified the influencing factors, let’s examine some sample window shutter installation prices.

Window Shutter Installation Prices

Here are some representative cost estimates for various styles of interior and exterior window shutters:

Plantation shutters are popular choices due to their timeless style and aesthetic. For supply and installation, you’ll be looking at costs between £180 to £320 per m², depending on the material you choose. Wood shutters can be fairly cost-effective depending on the wood, starting at £50 and rising to £300 per m².

Bay windows are tricky to install due to their size and configuration and usually cost around £360 to £720 per m² due to often requiring bespoke sizes with custom made shutters

Looking at external shutters, garage roller shutters vary greatly in cost, from £600 to £4,000 for supply and installation. This can depend on the exact materials and functionality, with automatic and smart shutters priced at the higher end.

Let’s now take a look at some specific shutter styles and their associated supply costs:

Full-height, tier-on-tier, and café-style shutters all have the same starting supply only cost of £210 per m², while solid shutters are slightly more expensive at £224 per m² due to the increase in materials used.

Additional Window Shutter Installation Costs

There are a range of additional costs that might crop up while you’re arranging for your window shutter project. Let’s take a look at a few of them so you’re clued up when the time comes:

Window Repair

If your windows are letting in moisture or have a constant build-up of condensation, it could be down to wear and tear on the frames or damage to the glass. Common issues, such as a replacing a blown window can cost anywhere between £100 and £850.

If this is the case, it's a worthwhile investment or your newly installed window shutters could soon be affected by damp and become covered in mould.

Window Glazing

Again, sticking with the windows themselves, it could be a time to upgrade your glazing. Adding secondary glazing to existing windows will cost, on average, £345 per window.

In contrast, you can also double-glaze a whole house for around £4,000 to £5,000 depending on the materials used for the frames, along with the size and location of the property (and of course how many windows).

Replacement Windows

You might want to consider the state of your actual windows in general before having window shutters installed. If they’ve seen better days or you simply wish to upgrade, then installing replacement windows before continuing with new shutters is a logical step.

Depending on the size of your windows and the volume you need to change in your home, costs can range from £4,000 to £5,000 for an average semi-detached house (based on eight windows, two doors), or around £200 to £400 per UPVC casement window.

Labour Cost of Window Shutters

If you buy your window shutters from a company that offers both the manufacture and installation of shutters, your labour costs are likely to be rolled into your total estimated cost. However, if you are unsure about this, make sure you check in with your chosen company to ensure this is the case, as unexpected costs when it comes to settling up are never wanted.

Timeframes vary depending on the size of your property, the number of windows and shutters, and the size of the window recesses. Also, the type of shutter you choose will affect how long the installation takes, as some may come ready-made (such as solid window shutters), whereas others might need individual installation.

The accessibility of your windows is also something to consider when determining labour timeframes. If your windows are particularly high, vast, or at hard-to-reach locations (such as over large staircases, for example), the labour charges are likely to be higher than those for easy-to-reach windows with standard sizes.

You can expect to pay between £150 and £300 for window shutter installation, which can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day or more for more complex installations.

Type of Window Shutters

There are many types of window shutters to choose from!

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key advantages and disadvantages associated with the different styles of window shutters:

Full-Height Shutter

Pros

• ✔ One single unit from top to bottom
• ✔ Covers the entire window
• ✔ Offers great privacy

Cons

• ✖ Only operates as one solid unit
• ✖ Less flexibility than other shutter designs

Tier-on-Tier Shutter

Pros

• ✔ Upper and lower sections can be opened independently
• ✔ Great flexibility
• ✔ Can let light in while maintaining privacy

Cons

• ✖ More expensive than full-height shutters
• ✖ Extra mechanisms involved

Café-Style Shutter

Pros

• ✔ Installed on the lower half of the window
• ✔ Provides privacy while letting in upper light

Cons

• ✖ Only offers privacy to the bottom half
• ✖ Top of window is left exposed

Solid Shutter

Pros

• ✔ Solid sections from top to bottom
• ✔ Acts much like solid curtains

Cons

• ✖ Limited light control
• ✖ Operates as an all-or-nothing panel

As we’ve found by now, there’s literally no one-size-fits-all when it comes to window shutters. Let’s consider the advantages and disadvantages of the different material types, too:

UPVC

Pros

• ✔ Cheap to install and manufacture
• ✔ Weather-resistant
• ✔ Lightweight
• ✔ Easy to maintain

Cons

• ✖ Can look cheaper than natural wood or metal
• ✖ Doesn’t have the same timeless look as natural materials

Natural Wood

Pros

• ✔ Natural and characterful with timeless appeal
• ✔ Strong and easy to clean
• ✔ Can be customised with stains or paints

Cons

• ✖ More expensive than UPVC
• ✖ Requires regular maintenance
• ✖ Prone to warping if exposed to moisture
• ✖ Can become weathered or sun-bleached over time

Composite Wood

Pros

• ✔ Looks similar to natural wood
• ✔ More durable and water-resistant
• ✔ Won’t warp or change colour in sunlight
• ✔ Lightweight and easy to clean

Cons

• ✖ Cheaper options may chip over time
• ✖ Damage can compromise the faux-wood effect

Aluminium

Pros

• ✔ Weather-resistant
• ✔ Easy to maintain
• ✔ Strong yet lightweight

Cons

• ✖ Lacks traditional appeal of wood
• ✖ Better suited to offices or corporate environments

Vinyl

Pros

• ✔ Moisture-resistant
• ✔ Minimal maintenance required
• ✔ Won’t warp or fade
• ✔ More affordable than natural wood

Cons

• ✖ Not as strong as other materials
• ✖ Can’t be painted or stained like wood

How to Install Window Shutters

Now, let’s take a look at the steps your window fitter will take when installing your window shutters:

1. Measurements
   
   The first step will be for you or your window shutter installer to take measurements of your chosen windows. These measurements will differ depending on the style of shutter you’ve opted for and will be checked a few times to ensure they’re correct before moving ahead to order the bespoke size.
   
   
2. Assembling the Shutter Frame
   
   The shutter frame will be assembled first, ready for fixing into the window recess. This will be done before the frame is installed into the window.
   
   
3. Raising Shutter Frame into Position
   
   The installer will then raise the shutter frame into the window’s recess. Depending on where the frame holes are, the installer will make marks on the recess to line them up before starting to drill the screws into the wall to hold the frame in place.
   
   
4. Hanging the Panels
   
   Once the frame is securely in position, the fitter will move on to hanging the panels. This stage will look different depending on the type of window shutter you’ve chosen, but the installer will follow a set of instructions tailored to the exact type to make sure they’re fitted correctly–to do this, the panels will be adjusted to ensure a correct, flush finish.
   
   
5. Finishing Off and Making Good
   
   When the panels are secured, the installer will move on to some final making good steps. Mastic will be used to smooth over edges where necessary (and requested), while any slats will be adjusted to ensure a good level of tension. The shutters will be tested to ensure they work, and any adjustments will be made at this stage before the installer finishes their work.

DIY Window Shutter Installation

It is possible to DIY install some types of window shutters if you feel capable of doing so and have the necessary tools–but for larger installations, it is best to get the help of a professional window shutter fitter to ensure the job is done correctly.

In most cases, you’ll be able to order the shutters yourself by supplying your own measurements. Shutter companies do offer at-home measurement services if you are not comfortable with this, but they do usually come at an extra cost, so if you’re happy to do this yourself it’s a good way of trimming some costs off your project.

As the window shutters will have been manufactured to your bespoke window size, they may be damaged if installed incorrectly. This isn’t a cheap issue to fix, and for this reason, it’s usually recommended that you opt for a professional fitting to mitigate this potential issue.

For peace of mind, it’s recommended that you hire a professional window shutter fitter to do the job quickly and easily and ensure the window fixtures are installed safely and properly.

Compliance and Regulations

Internal window shutters are unlikely to carry too many rules and regulations on their fitting if you live in a modern house. However, for listed buildings or those in restrictive covenants, the rules may differ, and you might not be permitted to install shutters.

In these instances, it’s best to check on an individual basis to find out what’s permitted in your area. Similarly, if you are considering external shutters, you may not be permitted if you’re in a listed building as you are unlikely to be able to change the outer facade of the building without permission.

The rules may be different if you are replacing like-for-like shutters, but you will still need to check this with your local council to ensure you’re abiding by the rules and won’t be subject to any fines if you carry out the work without prior permission.

Finding and Hiring a Window Shutter Installer

While some window shutters are DIY-friendly, others are not–such as large installations in bay windows, for example. In these instances, it’s best to hire professional window shutter fitters to ensure a thorough, accurate job.

Most window shutter manufacturers will offer an installation service as part of their sales pitch, but they are typically quite marked-up so you may end up paying more than you would with an independent fitter, for example.

It’s prudent to gather at least three quotes from different contractors to get an idea of the range of prices and the market average for your job. Be especially wary of any prices that come in drastically lower than the others, or have an incredibly quick timeframe attached to them, as the trader might not be as trustworthy as others.

Make sure you take a look at the trader’s portfolio of past work, paying close attention to any photos or videos of their past installations to get a feel for their standard of work. If you have a particularly tricky installation, it’s best to find a fitter who demonstrates experience in this type of window–someone who is great at standard window fittings may not be as good at intricate bay window installations.

Lastly, be sure to enquire about any warranties or guarantees the fitter has for their work. If something fails soon after being installed, it’s good to know if the trader will cover it or if you’ll have to pay for it as a separate service.

FAQs