If you are comparing quotes for real wood shutters across Essex, Suffolk and Kent, you are in the right place. This guide explains exactly how bespoke wooden shutters are priced, the variables that move a quote up or down, and what you should budget for common window types. You will also see transparent example ballparks based on the same approach used in our instant Price Calculator, along with an illustrative £ per m² figure so you can sanity check numbers before booking a free home visit.
The Hythe, Maldon by Derek Voller, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The short answer: how much should you expect to pay?
For premium hardwood shutters supplied, surveyed and installed by a trained team, many Essex homes land in the range of £330 to £450 per m² including VAT, installation and a long warranty. Our public example lists £330 per m² as a helpful benchmark; your exact price depends on design choices, window sizes and any specialist requirements.
- A typical full-height living room window might come in from £395 to £695.
- A three section bay often sits from £950 to £1,650 depending on size, louvre and finish.
- Tier-on-tier and shaped windows cost more than simple full-height panels.
Every home is different, so treat these as guided ballparks. Final quotes follow a free home visit with measuring and CAD visualisation.
How bespoke shutters are priced
Bespoke shutters are made to measure, so pricing is primarily driven by area and specification. Here is what affects your total:
- Window size by m²: Larger windows cost more because they use more timber and hardware. Area is the starting point for any estimate.
- Configuration: Full-height is usually most cost-effective. Tier-on-tier, café style, tracked room dividers and bi-fold door shutters introduce extra frames and hinges, which increase price.
- Louvre size: Common choices are 63 mm, 76 mm and 89 mm. Larger louvres can carry a slight premium and change the panel count, which may affect cost.
- Finish: Painted whites and neutrals are popular and efficient to produce. Stains that highlight grain, custom colours and special finish systems may add to the price.
- Blackout add-ons: Standard wooden shutters are superb for dimming and privacy but not pure blackout. If you need total darkness for bedrooms or nurseries, integrated blackout systems such as Shutter Shades add to the total.
- Special shapes: Arches, triangles, angled gables and oversized panels require more survey time and custom manufacture, so they sit higher than standard rectangles.
- Bay windows: Bays are a signature look in Essex, Suffolk and Kent. They require precise templating and frame builds, which increases cost over a similar flat window.
- Hardware and extras: Hidden tilt, colour-matched hinges, custom mid-rails and magnetic catches are part of the discussion during survey and can influence price slightly.
Using the £ per m² benchmark
A fast way to set expectations is to multiply your window area by a guide rate. Using £330 per m² as an illustrative example:
- Small cloakroom window, approx. 0.7 m²: from about £230
- Standard bedroom window, approx. 1.8 m²: from about £595
- Large lounge window, approx. 2.2 m²: from about £725
- Three-section bay, combined approx. 3.0 to 4.5 m²: from about £990 to £1,485 using the baseline, with configuration and trim taking many bays higher
These examples include VAT, typical installation and a long warranty for premium hardwood. Choose them as a baseline only; your final quote will reflect your exact specification after a free survey.
What is the average cost to install shutters?
With a supply and fit specialist, professional installation is included in the quoted price rather than listed as a separate fee. In our quotes, installation is part of the package, carried out by in-house fitters who know the product and the survey plan. That matters for tight bays, plaster reveals and older frames found across Colchester, Chelmsford, Bury St Edmunds and the wider South-East.
Typical costs by style and room
- Full-height, single window: from £395 to £850 for most standard sizes in painted hardwood, depending on area and louvre choice.
- Tier-on-tier for bedrooms and living rooms: from £650 to £1,100 for common sizes, reflecting the extra panel work and framing.
- Café style for front rooms: from £350 to £700, size dependent, popular for privacy while keeping top light.
- Bays: from £950 to £2,200 for most three and five-section Victorian or 1930s bays. Deep bays or unusual angles can exceed this range.
- Shaped gables and arches: usually quoted after survey; many sit from £800 upwards due to the shaping and templating.
- Blackout integrated: add a specialist blackout system if total darkness is essential, typically an additional line item discussed during survey.
How much do shutters cost per m² in Essex right now?
As a live, practical guide, you can assume £330 to £450 per m² for quality real wood shutters that include survey, CAD visualisation, manufacture, VAT and professional installation. The spread accounts for finish, configuration and site complexity. High-end stains or unusual shapes may exceed this range.
What should you budget for a 3 bed house?
Budgets vary with window count, bays and whether you choose full-height or tier-on-tier throughout. As a planning figure:
- Essential rooms only, 5 to 6 windows including one bay: from about £3,200 to £5,000
- Whole house, 8 to 10 windows with one to two bays: from about £5,500 to £9,000
- Design-led scheme with tier-on-tier in principal rooms, custom colours and a shaped feature: from about £8,000 to £12,000
These planning bands assume premium hardwood with professional fitting and a long warranty. A free home visit will refine your personal scope and provide a fixed proposal.
Real value compared with mass-market DIY options
DIY shutters from big-box retailers can look tempting on unit price, yet the final fitted result often tells a different story. Here is where a specialist adds value:
- Precise surveying: Interior-design-trained surveyors measure, advise on louvre size, mid-rail placement and frame style, and spot quirks in older properties before you order.
- Design visualisation: State-of-the-art CAD tools let you preview styles and finishes in your rooms so you feel confident about every choice.
- In-house installation: Experienced fitters handle scribing frames to out-of-true plaster, aligning panels and delivering a crisp, symmetrical look.
- Premium materials: Real timber resists discolouration better than many MDF or plastic options and carries a richer finish.
- Long warranty and aftercare: A representative example is a 15-year warranty on premium hardwood shutters, with responsive support, parts and guidance.
- Price Promise: If a like-for-like competitor quote beats us on price, we offer a 10 percent reduction under our terms. You get confidence on both quality and value.
Many homeowners compare a DIY basket total to a full-service quote and discover the professionally fitted option feels better value over the life of the product. The difference shows every day in operation, alignment and finish.
Regional notes for Essex, Suffolk and Kent
We routinely handle character bays and period casements across Colchester, Chelmsford, Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Southend-on-Sea and beyond. If you are researching options locally, explore our expertise in window shutters Colchester or ask about our work across Chelmsford homes when considering shutters Chelmsford. If you are nearby in Suffolk, our team regularly surveys and installs window shutters in Ipswich for both modern builds and Victorian terraces.
What about lead times and booking?
Bespoke hardwood shutters usually take about 10 to 12 weeks to arrive with us after your order is placed, then we schedule fitting promptly after inspection. If you would like your installation lined up for a specific date, it is smart to secure a survey slot early, especially ahead of pre-Christmas and new-year timetables.
How to get your precise quote
- Start with the Price Calculator for an instant ballpark based on your sizes.
- Book a free home visit. We measure precisely, bring samples, and show you CAD visuals of your shutters in situ.
- Receive a tailored quotation within 24 to 48 hours that includes VAT, installation and warranty, with no hidden extras.
- Choose your finish and configuration, place the order with the standard deposit, and we handle the rest through to careful installation.
Summary and next steps
You can expect quality real wood shutters in Essex to start from about £330 per m², with most homes falling between £330 and £450 per m² once finishes and configurations are set. A standard single window may run from £395 to £850, a three-section bay from £950 to £1,650 or more, and an 8 to 10 window three-bed house from £5,500 to £9,000 depending on choices.
Professional surveying, CAD visualisation, in-house installation, a long warranty and our Price Promise combine to deliver lasting value that mass-market DIY options struggle to match.
Ready to see accurate numbers for your windows and lock in a convenient survey date before the busy pre-Christmas and new-year period? Book your free consultation today and we will help you visualise the perfect specification, confirm your price and schedule installation with confidence.
