Security · Updated August 2026
Security Shutter Cost UK 2026
A manual roller shutter over a domestic window runs £450–£900 fitted and an electric one £700–£1,400. A standard 3m shopfront shutter is £1,200–£2,500. Width drives the price far more than height does.
Security shutter cost by type — 2026
Shutters are priced by the opening. A wider curtain needs a heavier lath, a bigger barrel and often a motor, so cost climbs in steps rather than smoothly.
| Shutter | Typical fitted cost | Opening | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual window shutter | £450–£900 | Up to ~1.5m wide | Pull strap or winder |
| Electric window shutter | £700–£1,400 | Up to ~1.5m wide | Remote or switch |
| Patio door shutter | £900–£1,800 | 2–3m wide | Usually electric by this width |
| Shopfront shutter, 3m | £1,200–£2,500 | 3m wide | The common retail size |
| Shopfront shutter, 5m+ | £2,200–£4,500 | 5m+ wide | Heavier barrel and motor |
| Insulated / foam-filled lath | +£150–£500 | — | Quieter and warmer, not stronger |
| Perforated or brick-bond lath | +£100–£400 | — | Lets light and display through |
| Built-in fire escape override | +£200–£600 | — | Any shutter on an escape route |
Indicative 2026 UK installed prices, compiled from published installer pricing. BestBuilders has no quote history in this category yet, so treat these as a budgeting guide and confirm against three written quotes.
What changes the cost
| Cost factor | Typical impact | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Width of the opening | +£200–£900 | Past about 2m the lath, barrel and motor all step up a size |
| Manual or electric | +£250–£500 | Tube motor, wiring and a control - and almost unavoidable above 2.5m |
| Lath specification | +£100–£500 | Single-skin aluminium, foam-filled insulated or a solid security lath |
| Box position | +£150–£600 | A built-in or recessed box is neater and needs the reveal to take it |
| Powder-coat colour | +£60–£250 | Standard colours are stock; a specific RAL is a lead-time and a premium |
| Listed or shopfront consent | +£0–£500 | Many councils refuse solid external shutters on a high street - perforated or internal may be the only consented option |
Security shutter cost by UK region — 2026
Modelled from regional labour rates rather than measured in this category - the hardware costs the same everywhere, the fitting does not.
| Region | Electric window shutter | vs UK average |
|---|---|---|
| London | £900–£1,790 | +25–30% |
| South East | £830–£1,650 | +15–20% |
| South West & East | £750–£1,500 | +5–10% |
| Midlands | £700–£1,400 | Baseline |
| North of England | £660–£1,330 | −5% |
| Wales & Scotland | £670–£1,340 | −5% to baseline |
Getting it priced properly
1. Measure the opening, not the glass
A shutter is priced on the structural opening it covers plus the box and guides. Rough window sizes give rough quotes.
2. Check what the council allows
Solid external shutters are refused on a lot of high streets. Perforated, brick-bond or internally mounted shutters are often the only consented option, and cost differently.
3. Ask about the escape route
If the shutter covers a fire exit it needs a manual override that works from inside without a key. Confirm it is in the quote.
Shutter cost by opening
Past about two metres the lath, the barrel and the motor all step up a size.
Security shutters — frequently asked questions
£450–£900 manual and £700–£1,400 electric for a standard domestic window, fitted. Wider openings step up because the lath and barrel have to get heavier.
Not really — foam-filled laths are about noise, heat and rattle rather than strength. If security is the point, ask about the lath gauge and the guide rails, which is where a shutter is actually attacked.
Very often, yes. Many councils treat external solid shutters as harmful to the street scene and will only consent perforated, open-lath or internally mounted shutters. In a conservation area or on a listed building assume you need consent.
Manual is fine up to roughly 2m and cheaper to buy and to repair. Above that the curtain gets heavy enough that electric is the sensible answer, and on a shopfront opened daily it pays for itself in wear.
Fifteen to twenty-five years for the curtain and guides on a domestic install. Motors and springs are the wearing parts — see our shutter repair page for what those cost to put right.
Related security guides
Bells-only, monitored and smart systems priced.
When a camera or bell box needs consent.
Security shutters — guides and detail
The detail behind the number: what changes the price, the planning position, and how to check a quote before you accept it.
Reviewed by the BestBuilders editorial team on 12 August 2026 · Next scheduled review: November 2026 · See our editorial standards.