How much do shutters cost in South Africa?

Plantation shutters usually cost between R2,000 and R7,500 per square metre installed, depending on the material. Lockable aluminium security shutters cost more, at roughly R5,500 to R8,800 per m².

Last updated 28 October 2026

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Shutters prices at a glance

PVC and composite plantation shutters are the cheapest at about R2,000 to R4,000 per m², with timber at roughly R3,500 to R7,500. Aluminium security shutters typically cost R5,500 to R8,800 per m² installed, so a standard 1.44 m² window comes to about R7,900 to R12,700 and a sliding patio door can pass R40,000. These figures are a guide from limited published data.

What	Typical price	Notes
Aluminium security shutters, installed	R5,500–R8,800/m²	Lockable, reinforced shutters that replace burglar bars. 2025 guides say R5,500 to R8,000; a 2026 guide says R6,050 to R8,800.
Timber (basswood or other wood) plantation shutters, installed	R3,500–R7,500/m²	Decorative interior shutters. Price depends on the timber grade and finish.
PVC, polysatin or composite plantation shutters, installed	R2,000–R4,000/m²	The budget option, and suited to bathrooms and kitchens.
Aluminium plantation or louvre shutters (non-security), installed	R2,800–R6,000/m²
Security shutter for a standard window (1.2 × 1.2 m)	R7,900–R12,700 per window
Security shutters for a sliding patio door (2.5 × 2.1 m)	R28,900–R46,200 per door
Roller shutters, installed	R3,800–R6,500/m²	From a single Gauteng price guide.
Motorising a shutter	R1,500–R3,000 per shutter	From a single Gauteng price guide.

Estimates only. These ranges come from published South African prices, listed under sources below, and were last checked on 28 October 2026. Your price depends on your site and the specification. Get quotes for an accurate price for your job.

Shutters cost a lot more than blinds or curtains, and the two main kinds are priced very differently. Security shutters are made from reinforced aluminium with locks and are built to keep intruders out. Plantation shutters are decorative louvred panels made from timber, PVC or aluminium, and they control light and privacy. Make sure you know which kind each quote is for.

South African installers mostly price per square metre of opening. Several Gauteng and national price guides from 2025 and 2026 put aluminium security shutters at about R5,500 to R8,800 per m² installed. One national manufacturer lists a 600 × 1200 mm security shutter at R3,795 and a lockable aluminium shutter for a sliding door at R26,159, which fits those ranges.

Plantation shutter prices are harder to pin down. The ranges here come from two Gauteng price guides rather than manufacturer price lists, and none of the sources say whether VAT is included. Use them for budgeting and get measured quotes before you decide. If shutters are over budget, our blinds cost guide and curtain cost guide cover cheaper ways to dress a window.

What moves the price

Pushes the price up

Security rating. Thicker profiles, internal reinforcing and multi-point locks are what make security shutters cost more than decorative ones.
Real timber. Wooden plantation shutters cost roughly double PVC, and premium timber grades sit at the top of the range.
Large doors and patio openings. Sliding, folding and stacking panels on a 5 m² opening run to tens of thousands of rand.
Coastal homes. Price guides list coastal corrosion protection as an extra cost factor.
Custom colours and shapes. Non-standard powder-coat colours, arched windows and bay windows add cost.
Motorisation. Each motor adds about R1,500 to R3,000.

Brings the price down

PVC or polysatin instead of timber. It costs less and copes better with steam and humidity.
Doing several openings at once. Price guides list bulk orders as a way to bring down the rate.
Standard white or neutral finishes. Stock colours avoid custom powder-coating or paint runs.
Prioritising openings. Put security shutters on the vulnerable ground-floor windows and doors and use cheaper coverings elsewhere.
Plantation shutters where security isn't needed. Upstairs and interior windows rarely need a lockable security shutter at R5,500 or more per m².

Securing a ground floor: a worked example

Say you want aluminium security shutters on four ground-floor windows of 1.2 × 1.2 m (1.44 m² each) and one sliding patio door of 2.5 × 2.1 m (5.25 m²). Using the R5,500 to R8,800 per m² range:

Four windows: 5.76 m² × R5,500 to R8,800 = R31,700 to R50,700
Sliding door: 5.25 m² × R5,500 to R8,800 = R28,900 to R46,200
Estimated total: roughly R60,600 to R96,900

The same openings in plantation shutters

Decorative PVC plantation shutters on the same 11 m² would come to about R22,000 to R44,000, and timber to about R38,500 to R82,500. They'd improve privacy and light control but wouldn't secure the openings. For a whole house of 8 to 12 windows, one Johannesburg guide gives a range of R35,000 to over R120,000.

What a shutter quote should cover

Shutter quotes can bundle a lot into one number. Ask for each opening to be listed with:

The opening size and the area being charged
Shutter type and material: security aluminium, timber, PVC or composite
For security shutters, the profile, reinforcing, lock type and how the frame is fixed to the wall
Panel configuration: hinged, bi-fold, sliding or fixed
Colour and finish, and any coastal coating
Installation, removal of burglar bars or old blinds, and making good
Warranty, lead time and whether VAT is included

Why security shutters cost more than plantation shutters

A plantation shutter only needs to look good and move smoothly. A security shutter has to resist someone trying to force it, so it uses heavier aluminium sections, reinforcing inside the frames and louvres, and proper locks. That's why a security shutter costs roughly R5,500 to R8,800 per m² and a PVC plantation shutter about R2,000 to R4,000, even though they can look alike.

Compare security shutter quotes on the profile, the reinforcing and the fixings, not just the price per m².

Do prices differ by region?

A Pretoria price guide says shutter prices vary by 10 to 25% across Gauteng depending on how easy the site is to reach. A Johannesburg guide notes that Sandton tends to be pricier and the East Rand more competitive.

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Shutters cost questions

How much does a security shutter for one window cost?

Price guides from 2025 and 2026 put a 1.2 × 1.2 m window at about R7,900 to R12,700 installed, and a larger 1.5 × 1.8 m window at about R14,850 to R23,800. One national manufacturer lists a small 600 × 1200 mm security shutter from R3,795. Size, locks, colour and fixing method decide where your price lands.

Are plantation shutters cheaper than security shutters?

Yes. PVC plantation shutters run at about R2,000 to R4,000 per m² and timber at R3,500 to R7,500, compared with roughly R5,500 to R8,800 for aluminium security shutters. Plantation shutters aren't designed to stop intruders, though, so they don't replace burglar bars.

Are shutters worth it compared with blinds?

Shutters cost several times more than blinds, which mostly run at R400 to R1,800 per m². In return they're fixed, durable and easy to clean, and security shutters double as burglar protection. If you only need light control, blinds are far cheaper. Compare the figures in our [blinds cost guide](/cost-guides/blinds).

How much does it cost to put shutters on a sliding door?

Guides put security shutters for a 2.5 × 2.1 m patio door at about R28,900 to R46,200 installed. A national manufacturer lists a lockable aluminium sliding-door shutter at R26,159. Larger stacking doors cost more, and plantation shutters on tracks for the same door would cost less.

Do shutter prices include VAT and installation?

The per-m² ranges in the guides we used are installed prices, but none of them say clearly whether VAT is included. A VAT-registered company adds 15%, which is over R9,000 on a R60,000 job. Ask each installer to show VAT and installation on separate lines.

Sources

Cost of Aluminium Security Shutters 2026, Local Pros, 2026
Aluminium Security Shutter Pricing in South Africa, GP Security Gate, January 2025
Aluminium Security Shutters cost in 2025?, Aluminium Pros, 2025
Shutter Installation Prices in Pretoria, East, Centurion & Midrand, Handyman Pretoria, 2026
Shutter Installation Prices in Johannesburg, Sandton, Randburg, PTA, The Handyman Johannesburg, 2026
Cost of Security Shutters, American Shutters, undated

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