What is the cheapest hurricane shutter option in Orlando?

Storm panels are the cheapest option — ballpark $8 to $15 per square foot installed. They meet the same Florida Building Code standards as permanent shutters when they carry proper product approval. The trade-off is effort: you store them and put them up by hand before each storm.

How much does it cost to put hurricane shutters on a whole house?

Ballpark: $4,000 to $15,000 installed for most Orlando homes, depending on the number and size of openings and the style you choose. A small home with panels can land near the low end; a large home with motorized roll-downs can pass the high end. Every home differs — the written quote is the real number.

Do motorized shutters cost a lot more?

Yes, motors add cost per opening, but they turn a long chore into a few minutes with a remote. Many homeowners add motors only on hard-to-reach second-story windows and keep manual shutters downstairs to control the total.

Are permits included in shutter quotes?

They should be — or at least listed as a separate line item. Orange County and the City of Orlando generally require permits for shutter installation. A good quote tells you the fee and confirms the installer pulls the permit for you.

Will hurricane shutters raise my home value?

They can help. Buyers in Florida value real storm protection, and shutters are a visible upgrade appraisers and buyers notice. The bigger financial win is usually the wind mitigation insurance discount — see our insurance guide for details.

How Much Do Hurricane Shutters Cost in Orlando?

The short answer

For most Orlando homes, a full set of hurricane shutters runs somewhere between $4,000 and $15,000 installed. A small condo might land near the low end. A big two-story home with lots of glass and motorized shutters can pass the high end. The price depends on the style you pick, how many windows and doors you have, and how big each opening is.

Important: every number below is a ballpark starting point, not a promise. Two homes on the same street can price very differently. The only real number for your home is the one on a written quote after someone measures your openings. Material costs move too, so treat these ranges as a starting point for your budget — not a price list.

Ballpark cost by shutter type

Prices below are rough per-square-foot installed ranges in Central Florida. They include the product and the install labor, but not extras like permits or motor upgrades.

Storm panels: about $8–$15 per square foot installed. The cheapest way to protect your home. You put them up by hand before each storm. See our storm panels page.
Accordion shutters: about $20–$30 per square foot installed. They fold out from the sides of the window and stay on the house year-round. See accordion shutters.
Roll-down shutters: about $25–$40 per square foot installed for manual models. A motor adds more. They roll down from a box above the window — the easiest to close. See roll-down shutters and motorized shutter systems.
Bahama shutters: about $30–$45 per square foot installed. They look like shade awnings and drop down fast. See Bahama shutters.
Colonial shutters: about $30–$45 per square foot installed. They look like classic decorative shutters but close over the window for storms. See colonial shutters.
Fabric hurricane screens: about $10–$20 per square foot installed. Light and fast to put up, easy to store. See fabric hurricane screens.

Again — these are starting points. Your written quote is the real number.

What makes your total go up or down

Number of openings. More windows and doors means more shutters and more labor. A home with 10 openings costs much less than one with 25.

Size of each opening. Big sliding glass doors and picture windows need bigger shutters and stronger tracks. Small bathroom windows cost far less.

Shutter style. Removable panels are the cheapest. Decorative styles like Bahama and colonial cost more because they double as curb appeal.

Manual or motorized. A motor on a roll-down shutter adds cost per opening, but it makes closing your whole house take minutes instead of an hour. For tall second-story windows, many homeowners say the motor is worth every penny.

Install complexity. Hard-to-reach windows, stucco or block walls that need special anchors, and custom shapes can add labor time.

Permit fees. Orange County and the City of Orlando generally require a permit for shutter installation. The fee is small compared to the project, but it is part of the total. Our permits guide explains how it works.

What a good quote should include

When you get quotes, make sure each one lists the same things so you can compare them fairly:

The shutter brand and model, with its Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA number
The price per opening or a clear total for the whole home
Whether motors, remote controls, and battery backups are included
Permit fees and who handles the permit
The install timeline and how long the quote stays valid

A quote that just says "shutters: $8,000" with no detail is not a quote you can trust. Our guide to choosing an installer shows what to look for.

Ways to manage the cost

Protect in phases. If the full-house number is too big right now, cover the most at-risk openings first — big windows and sliding doors facing open areas — and add the rest later.

Pick the right style for your budget. Storm panels protect just as well as fancy shutters in a storm. If looks matter year-round, Bahama or colonial styles earn their price. Our types compared guide lays out every option.

Shop in the off-season. Installers are busiest (and prices are firmest) from spring into hurricane season. Getting quotes in fall or winter can mean faster scheduling. See our best time to install guide.

Ask about insurance. Shutters can earn you a wind mitigation discount on your homeowners insurance, which lowers your real cost over time. Our insurance guide explains it.

Get your real number

Ballparks help you plan. A written quote tells you the truth. Send the free quote form below — tell us how many windows and doors you have and which style you like, and we will get you a clear written quote with everything spelled out.