How Much Do Hurricane Shutters Cost?

One of the most common questions we hear from customers is “How much do hurricane shutters cost?”

Most simple answer is, a hurricane shutters cost depends on a lot of factors, such as your preferences on style, type, convenience, and the amount and size of the windows on your home.

Depending on where you live, hurricane shutters are often necessary, but they can get expensive. Between the type of hurricane impact windows you select and the square footage you need to cover, understanding the financial components of this investment can get overwhelming. In this blog, we’ll lay out everything you need to know about hurricane shutter pricing based on type. Let’s get started.

Hurricane Shutter Pricing

1. Hurricane Accordion Shutter

Accordion Shutters are one of the most popular options available because they’re convenient, easy to open and close, and permanently attached to your home. On top of that, they’re also cost-effective at $13 to $15 per square foot. The cost ultimately depends on the size of the completed shutter.

2. Hurricane Panels

Hurricane Panels are one of the most affordable options at $9 to $11 per square foot, but they are less commonly purchased because they are much less convenient. When they’re not in use, they must be stored in your garage. When there is an incoming storm, the installation can take more than 8 hours for an average-sized home, and it can be dangerous due to sharp edges, rusting, and heights if you have a second floor. Additionally, if you don’t store your panels properly, they can be prone to oxidation and rusting, which isn’t good for their longevity.

3. Hurricane Rolldown Shutters

Hurricane roll down shutters are a less common option. They are closer in price to hurricane impact windows at $40 to $50 per square foot; however, the impact windows are often more aesthetically appealing, which is why they are the more popular choice.

Hurricane Rolldown shutters are most often selected in areas where hurricane windows can’t be installed or if a customer has a beautiful non-hurricane door that they don’t want to change. Rolldown shutters help to avoid construction and mess inside the home.

4. Hurricane Colonial Shutters

While not a popular choice, this is another option to give you the full picture. Hurricane colonial shutters are usually done for decorative purposes, especially if you have a colonial-style home. The difference with these shutters is that they’re hinged against the edge of your window. However, because the hurricane shutter pricing is like that of impact windows, the latter is typically chosen. The price ranges between $40 to $50.

5. Hurricane Bahama Shutters

If you’re looking for a touch of island flair in your protection, you might consider hurricane Bahama shutters. These shutters are top-hinged and mounted at a 45-degree angle on the exterior of a window. The installation of these shutters is easy, and they’re also easy to close when a storm approaches. Because they are secured to the wall, Bahama shutters are sturdy even when strong winds threaten to whip other types of shutters off. They’re also great to block light or just to correspond with the 50s/60s style of your home.

Bahama shutters fall on the more expensive side of hurricane shutter costs. They tend to be $35 to $50 per square foot depending on sizing and installation.

6. Hurricane Fabric

Hurricane fabric is a material that is typically used to enclose patios and front walkways when there’s no concrete flooring to attach a shutter to. It must be installed before a storm and stored in the garage when a storm is not incoming. Fortunately, it’s easier to store than hurricane shutters. This is a great option if you don’t have concrete flooring on your patio and you don’t want a mess.

The material is $12 to $14 per square foot depending on size and attachments needed. If you wanted to purchase hurricane shutters, then you’d need to install concrete flooring, which can cost around $100 per foot. This price jump is typically why people opt for hurricane fabric instead.

7. Plywood

Plywood is not as inexpensive as it used to be due to the COVID-19 supply chain crisis. It can now cost up to $7 per square foot for plywood for a single-use option that offers the least amount of protection. This isn’t a cost-effective use of your financial resources, and it can also be dangerous to install.

Note that if you go this route, your insurance company will not recognize it as hurricane protection. As a result, if damages occur, you’re likely to be responsible for damages. We recommend checking your policy for additional information.

Final Thoughts

Understanding hurricane shutter cost can feel overwhelming when you’re first beginning, but we hope that this guide has helped you understand your different options and their price points.