What Affects the Cost of Blinds, Shades and Shutters?

The 8 things that drive the price

• 1. Type of product. Shutters are generally the biggest investment, then wood blinds and cellular shades, with roller and faux wood options often lower. Within each type there are good, better and best product lines.
• 2. Material. Real wood versus faux wood or composite. Premium fabrics versus basic ones. Blackout versus light-filtering. Better materials cost more but usually last longer and look better.
• 3. Window size. Bigger windows need more material and sometimes stronger hardware. Very wide windows may need to be split into more than one blind or shade.
• 4. Number of windows. Doing a whole room or whole house at once usually gives you a better overall price than doing windows one at a time, and everything matches.
• 5. Specialty shapes. Arches, angles, circles and sliding doors take custom work and specialty hardware.
• 6. Lift system. Standard cordless lift, top-down/bottom-up, or motorized. Motorization adds cost, but it’s often worth it for tall or hard-to-reach windows.
• 7. Measuring and installation. Professional measuring prevents expensive mistakes, like shades that are too narrow or shutters that don’t close flush. Some quotes include it and some don’t.
• 8. Warranty and brand. Established manufacturers stand behind their products with factory warranties. Cheaper imports may not, which matters when a cord or motor fails in year three.

How to compare quotes fairly

Before you decide one quote is “cheaper,” check that they include the same things:

• Same windows? Every window, including sliders and specialty shapes.
• Same product? Real wood versus faux wood, the same fabric opacity, the same lift system.
• Measured in person? Or are you on the hook if the measurements are off?
• Installation included? And is the old hardware removed?
• Warranty? Who stands behind it, and for how long?
• Brand and product line? Ask for it in writing.

A low quote that leaves out measuring or installation, or quietly swaps in a lower product line, often isn’t cheaper by the time the job is done.

Ways to get more for your budget

• Mix products by room. Put shutters where they make the biggest impression and cellular or roller shades in back rooms.
• Use faux wood in wet rooms. It costs less than real wood and holds up better in bathrooms and kitchens.
• Motorize only where it counts. Tall windows, hard-to-reach spots and rooms where you’ll really use a schedule.
• Do it all at once. One project for the whole house usually costs less than several small ones, and everything matches.

Already have a quote?

Send it to us before you sign. With our Price Beat Guarantee, we’ll beat a comparable written quote by 10%, up to $500 off on 5+ windows or up to $1,000 off on 10+ windows. We’ll measure for free, confirm the product match, and give you our price in writing.

Common questions