Interior shutters hold a classic and timeless appeal for many homeowners and are a repeatedly featured interior design element. When considering your options for shutters, pricing can be a significant factor. In this article, we hope to help simplify your research process by providing basic price ranges from several trusted brands, and then discussing some of the customization options with their corresponding surcharges.
What are interior/plantation shutters?
Interior shutters, sometimes referred to as plantation shutters, are the classic American window covering. They last generations and contribute to diverse styles and homes. These window shutters can be made from pure wood, durable composite, or waterproof polyresin material. Tilting the louvers just slightly allows indirect light to warm your space, while opening the louvers completely gives you a clear view.
How much will I spend?
The three manufacturers below have provided the Upstate of South Carolina with beautiful shutters for years. We recommend these brands because of the premium quality of their products.
Norman: Standard tilt rod
- Single Window (36x60) price range: $450 - $600
- Double Window (72x60) price range: $900 - $1,150
Hunter Douglas: Standard tilt rod
- Single Window (36x60) price range: $750 - $950
- Double Window (72x60) price range: $1500 - $1850
Alta: Standard tilt rod
- Single Window (36x60) approximate price: $400
- Double Window (72x60) approximate price: $800
How can I customize my shutters?
Color: Both Norman and Hunter Douglas offer rich stains and unlimited paint colors for their wood window shutters. For custom color matching, Hunter Douglas charges $250 for the initial match and then a 5% surcharge every time that color is used. Norman also offers custom colors, but charges $400 extra per color, per order. For Norman’s OSMO (premium stained) finishes you’ll be looking at a 10% surcharge. Vinyl shutters or shutters coated with a polymer resin typically only come in shades of white or off-white.
Louver Size: Hunter Douglas, Alta, and Norman each offer the standard 2 ½”, 3 ½”, and 4 ½” louver options. However, Norman also offers 3” louvers as a standard option and includes a special 1 7/8” louver size for a 10% surcharge.
French Doors: French Door cut-outs are a favorite with many homeowners. The surcharge for this customization can range from $150 - $775, depending on the manufacturer.
Operation: A front tilt rod is standard for interior shutters, but you can opt for a more streamlined appearance. All three of the manufacturers above offer a gear system that removes the tilt rod and provides smooth operation by simply tilting the louvers by hand. Hunter Douglas and Alta both add 15% to the base price of the shutter for this system, while Norman simply charges $40 extra per panel. These three brands also offer split-tilt, which allows you to adjust the upper and lower halves of your shutters independently.
Decorative Sill: For Norman and Alta, the price range for this finishing touch can be $25 - $50 for a 36” wide window and $50 - $100 for a 72” wide window. Hunter Douglas only offers decorative sills for their Palm BeachTM PolySatinTM Shutters, with prices around $150 for a 36” wide window, and $275 for a 72” wide window.
Motorization: For convenience, the louvers’ tilt function can be motorized for automation or remote operation. Norman charges $450 per panel, while Alta does not offer any sort of motorization. Most Hunter Douglas shutters are not available with motorization, but their Palm BeachTM PolySatinTM Shutters do offer tilt automation costing about $350 per panel.
A sophisticated and classic statement, interior shutters never go out of style. Whether you’re looking for the warmth and grain of real wood shutters, the durable, warp-resistant qualities of composite shutters, or the water resistance of pvc shutters there are options for you. We hope that this article has given you a firm grasp of the main cost factors associated with shutters. If you have any further questions regarding price points, please reach out and we’d be happy to help.