How much does Shutter repair cost?

Window shutters are one of the most common ways to add visual interest and protection to a home. Exterior shutters are a major design feature on many houses; some provide insulation and defend windows from extreme weather when closed. Interior shutters are more protective than blinds and similar window coverings, improving a home’s privacy and blocking heat gain from the sun. 

Some exterior shutters are attached to the house’s wall and are for decoration only. Others open and close, and are either mounted on hinges at each side of a window, or hinged at the top, allowing the shutter to be tilted up. 

Most shutters are frames with horizontal slats or louvers (angled slats). The louvers are either fixed in place or movable, so they can be tilted open or closed to increase or decrease light and air. The various parts—slats and tilt bars, for example—can wear over time and require repair. 

Interior shutters—including café shutters, which cover the lower half of a window—are usually made of wood. Exterior ones can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, vinyl (PVC), composites (wood fibers mixed with resin or plastic), aluminum, or steel. 

Among these different types of shutters, vinyl, composites, aluminum, and steel will stand up to harsh weather better than wood, which needs periodic sanding and painting. Metal hurricane shutters are the gold standard when it comes to securing your home’s windows during a storm.

Unless shutter damage is purely superficial, repairing them is a task best left to home-improvement experts. Local shutter repair professionals will have the knowledge and experience needed to deal with all shutter materials, and they can install exterior shutters if new ones are needed. 

This article will discuss the estimated project costs for window shutter repair. 

The national average cost of either exterior or interior shutter repair by a professional is $150–425, including parts and labor. 

Lower-cost repairs, ranging from $75–125, might include fixing a couple broken hinges on interior wooden shutters (sometimes called plantation shutters). More expensive repairs might involve replacing broken slats or rails, at a cost of $200–800, depending on the extent of damage. 

When damage is severe or repairs are difficult (as is often the case for composite or vinyl shutters), shutter replacement may be a better route. For simple exterior shutters, new-shutter installation costs an average of $90–300 per window, including materials and labor. High-end options, such as motorized or accordion shutters, can have installation costs ranging from $400–1,100+ per window. 

Shutter repair pros typically visit your home to estimate the cost of a shutter repair project, especially if the problems are complex. For simple jobs, they may quote an hourly rate in the $55–100 range instead of giving you a full-project bid.

If you just need minor repairs—for example, replacing hardware or repainting a wood shutter—you could save on the total price by hiring a handyperson with home-repair experience. They typically charge $40–80 per hour, plus the cost of materials.

These variables can impact the total cost of a shutter repair project. 

How much does it cost to repair a shutter?

The average cost of professional shutter repair ranges from $150–425. For simple fixes, such as broken hinges, you might only pay $75–125. On the highest end, replacing damaged shutters on multiple windows can cost $900–4,000. 

How much does it cost to replace exterior shutters?

Exterior shutter replacement costs an average of $150–475 per window. Higher-end options such as accordion, hurricane, or motorized shutters can cost $400–1,100 per window. Homeowners typically pay more in labor costs to install exterior shutters on second- or third-story windows.

Is it cheaper to paint or replace shutters?

If your shutters are still functional, painting them will usually cost less than replacing them. Exterior shutter painting typically costs $50–120 per window. Replacement can cost anywhere from $90–1,100 per window, depending on the type of shutters you choose and your home’s characteristics. 

Find a shutter repair professional in your area.