In this guide

Paint Exterior vs Interior Shutters

Whether you have shutters inside or outside your home, you can easily enhance their appearance with a custom paint job. Depending on where your shutters are located, you’ll have to decide what color looks best given the surrounding area. Plus, you will also have to consider what your shutters will come into contact with daily.

Your exterior shutters will have to deal with the diverse conditions of every season, whereas your interior shutters will be impacted by dust, dirt, moisture, grease, and more. Generally, cleaning your exterior shutters will be a bit more difficult since they will generally sustain more stubborn stains from dirt, dead bugs, and more. This can increase the overall cost of painting them compared to interior shutters, which will most likely need a light dusting.

Cost to Paint Exterior Shutters by Type

Countless shutter styles can add personality to any home. The type you have can have a big impact on your paint job. Knowing the type of shutters, you have will help you determine the overall cost and what color you would like to choose for your new paint. Here are a handful of the most popular options.

Bermuda or Bahama Shutters

If you’re thinking about painting your Bermuda shutters, you can expect to pay between $45 and $70 per shutter. Bermuda shutters offer superior protection during hurricanes and other rough storms, but they also provide a unique look to any home. These shutters are hinged ¹ at the top and swing up to open. Painting them is a fairly simple job for any painting professional, which means you can expect the project to be much quicker and inexpensive.

Flat Panel Shutters

Flat-panel shutters feature clean lines and a traditional aesthetic that is great for Craftsman homes. They cost between $55 and $75 per shutter to paint. Whether you’re using traditional wood or a synthetic alternative, you can expect a fairly easy paint job. These shutters come in many different designs. As the name suggests, they lie flat against the wall on either side of your windows and feature a center shutter that is recessed from the stiles. You can choose from several colors to make your home stand out or blend in with these classic shutters.

Louvered Shutters

Louvered shutters are among the most popular options due to their classic look. They feature horizontal slats that can let in light and fresh air while blocking rain and direct sunlight. On average, they cost between $60 and $80 per shutter to paint. This style was originally used with wood, though it has been replicated using synthetic materials. To evenly cover the entire surface, your painter will have to pay close attention to the individual slats, the edges, and the face, painting each as if they were completely different projects.

Raised Panel Shutters

Raised panel shutters cost between $65 and $90 per shutter to paint. These features are popular because they blend style and function into one. They feature a solid shutter and a center portion of the shutter panel that protrudes outward from the bevel. Moreover, they can improve security and insulation against unruly weather. Since raised panel shutters already stand out on their own, many people choose to use bright, vibrant colors to showcase them.

Board and Batten Shutters

Board and batten shutters feature alternating wide boards and narrow battens that make a unique pattern when paired together. They can be a bit more complicated to paint and cost between $75 and $95 per shutter on average. This shutter style was another that was originally created by overlapping pieces of wood. Today, plenty of vinyl ² options are on the market.

Cost to Paint Interior Shutters by Type

Much like the outside of your home, the style of shutters you choose impacts the inside. You can choose from plenty of options to bring your home’s aesthetic to life. Your choice affects how you move forward with the paint job. We’re going to dive a bit deeper into the most popular styles.

Shaker Shutters

Shaker shutters feature a wide, raised border surrounding a solid base. They are much easier to paint since they don’t have any slats, making them more affordable, too. On average, it costs between $35 and $60 per shutter to paint shaker-style shutters. Depending on the rest of your room, these shutters can be an eye-catching centerpiece or a subtle background piece that makes the rest of your aesthetic flow.

Cost to Paint Plantation Shutters

Painting plantation or café style shutters costs between $45 and $70 per shutter on average and can be done with either a brush or a sprayer. When it comes to painting plantation shutters, you should first remove any hardware from them. Since the slats on café style shutters are easily moveable, it is easy to access every part of the shutter to paint. However, this means they will move more freely, so your painter will have to paint carefully. Plantation shutters feature tilted louvers fitted to the window frame allowing you to open them like a door rather than with a pull string.

Tracked Shutters

Tracked shutters are a great option for larger windows or openings. If you’re considering painting yours, you can expect to pay between $50 and $80 per shutter. These shutters can either block windows or even act as partitions between rooms in your home. They feature similar openings to café style shutters, but they are generally larger, which is why they are a bit more expensive to paint. They are hung from the top and have a bottom track, which facilitates opening and closing.

Tier-On-Tier Shutters

Tier-on-tier shutters, also known as double-hung shutters, provide a completely custom look in any home. On average, it costs between $65 and $90 per shutter to paint them. These shutters cover the entire height of the window and have independent panels on the top and bottom of the window. This allows you to open the top half of the shutter panels while leaving the bottom half closed and vice versa. When it comes to painting, be sure to explore all your color options to decide if you want everything the same color or if you want to go with a two-toned approach.

Price to Paint Exterior Shutters by Material

Painting your exterior shutters is a great way to protect your home and enhance your curb appeal, too. There are plenty of factors to consider before starting your paint job, but one of the first things you should think about is the material of your shutters. Different types of shutters will call for different types of paints, which can impact the overall cost of your project. Let’s take a closer look at the average cost to paint per shutter.

Composite Exterior Shutters

Composite MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard) is another popular option for homeowners looking for a budget-friendly option. For that reason, they are cheaper to paint, too, ranging from $30 to $60 per shutter. When it comes to painting these shutters, look for an oil- or water-based paint, as it adheres better to the surface. With that being said, latex paints work just fine, too. MDF exterior shutters are made of compressed hardwood, sawdust, and chemicals. They are a bit heavier than wood, which means they tend to sag more, especially if they get wet.

Paint for Exterior Vinyl Shutters

If you are painting vinyl shutters, you can expect to pay between $40 and $70 per shutter. You should always lean toward a latex paint as oil-based ones won’t bond well to the shutter. Not all colors are viable for plastic shutters. Some colors absorb too much heat and cause the shutters themselves to warp. Be sure to stick with lighter colors.

Synthetic Foam Exterior Shutters

When it comes to painting synthetic shutters, you can expect to pay between $50 and $80 per shutter. You should look for an oil-based paint for these types of shutters. Synthetic foam shutters are durable, functional, and attractive. They are resistant to pests, temperature fluctuations, and harmful UV rays. They are also known for being moisture-resistant and energy-efficient due to their superior insulation.

Aluminum Exterior Shutters

Aluminum shutters are attractive, durable, lightweight, and weather-resistant, making them a great choice for any home exterior. They cost between $60 and $90 per shutter to paint. When it comes to painting, it’s important to choose the right one. You should choose either an acrylic or a latex paint rated for exterior applications. That way, you can be sure they can stand strong against the changing climate, harmful UV rays, moisture, and more.

Wood Exterior Shutters

Painting wood shutters costs between $70 and $100 per shutter. These shutters offer a unique look to any home because they can be made from many types of wood. Many manufacturers offer wood shutters made out of cedar, alder ³, basswood, and more. While wood shutters are durable, they are not recommended for areas that are often exposed to moisture. You can protect them with special primers and paints, but overall, consistent exposure to water decreases the lifespan of your wood shutters. Be sure to use oil-based paints on wood shutters.

Cost to Paint Interior Shutters by Material

When it comes to painting your interior shutters, the process doesn’t differ much. However, you have to consider different expectations for your paint. Rather than protecting your shutters from the elements, you’ll mostly have to deal with other factors, such as moisture in your bathroom or grease in your kitchen. The type of material impacts the overall cost of the paint job, which is why we’re going to look at some popular choices below.

Composite Interior Shutters

The cost to paint composite shutters for your home’s interior is between $30 and $60 per shutter. Both oil-based and water-based paints are preferred for composite shutters, but latex paints will work in a pinch, too. Composite shutters will begin to sag if consistently exposed to moisture, so it’s a good idea to use paint that protects from that. This increases the lifespan of your shutters and ensures they look great, too.

Vinyl Interior Shutters

If you’re thinking about painting your vinyl shutters, you can expect to pay between $40 and $70 per shutter. Vinyl is one of the most popular choices for shutters due to its flexibility, durability, and affordability. These shutters mimic the appearance of wood while providing the performance benefits of a stronger material. When painting vinyl, it is best to use acrylic latex paints.

Wood Interior Shutters

On average, it costs between $70 and $100 per shutter to paint wood shutters. Wood shutters are the industry standard for home interiors. They are both lightweight and durable and can be painted or stained to match your preferred aesthetic. No matter your style, you can count on wood shutters to add a classic yet timeless look to your home’s interior. Oil-based paints tend to work best for wood surfaces.

Cost to Paint Shutters by Type of Paint

When choosing exterior paints, it’s important to remember that they’ll have to withstand the elements of every season. Your hired painters will choose between oil-based and latex-based paints, depending on the type of material of your shutters themselves. For shutters made out of wood, composite, and synthetic foam, oil-based paints are the best choice as they adhere to these surfaces better. This is especially true for wood surfaces because they are less likely to be stained by the wood itself. On the other hand, latex-based paints will be better for vinyl and aluminum shutters. These paints won’t easily peel or crack as the surface expands or shrinks. This keeps your shutters in peak condition throughout the year. As a general rule of thumb, you should always pair oil-based paints and oil-based primers ⁴, and latex-based paints with latex-based primers. Depending on the type of paint you select, you can expect to pay between $16 and $150 per gallon.

Cost to Paint Shutters by Type of Primer

While it is best to use latex paints for exterior jobs, you may need different primers based on the material of your specific shutters. If yours are made out of vinyl, you’ll want to use a latex-based primer as it will better adhere to the surface and remain durable through any season. Wooden shutters, on the other hand, respond better to oil-based primers. This is because the oil seeps into the wood, allowing the primer to protect the entire surface fully. Different types of primers vary in cost, so it’s important to know which one you need before starting your exterior paint job. Between oil-based and latex-based primers, you can expect to pay between $16 and $80 per gallon.

Shutter Painting Services Cost

Most painting teams consist of two to three contractors, though you may only need one if you have a smaller house with fewer windows. On average, each painter charges between $20 and $60 per hour. The cleaning, preparing, and priming process takes anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the current state of your shutters. If you have mold or mildew growing on your shutters, that will also have to be taken care of before any painting begins.

From there, you can expect the actual paint job to last about an hour per shutter. This is because you’ll usually want to apply at least two layers of paint. The contractors have to wait for each layer to dry fully before applying the next. If you have a home with multiple stories, the overall job takes longer as the painters have to navigate on a ladder. This, in turn, increases overall labor costs.

The Best Paint Finish for Shutters

Semi-gloss paint finishes offer a visible shine, which makes them a great choice for exterior accents. On top of enhancing aesthetics, these glossier finishes are more durable and easier to clean, too. To top it off, they are extremely resistant to diverse weather phenomena, including harmful UV rays, high winds, heavy rains, and more. With all of these advantages put together, semi-gloss is the clear best paint finish for shutters.

While other paints aren’t necessarily bad, you may find they don’t hold up as long as a semi-gloss finish. As a general rule of thumb, the glossier the finish, the more durable it will be. However, higher gloss levels highlight imperfections, so make sure your shutters are in good condition before painting. High-gloss finishes are a good choice if you’re looking to make your shutters stand out.

What to Do Before Painting Shutters

Before you begin painting your shutters, you have to take care of a few things. Namely, cleaning and preparing the surface of your shutters. If the old paint on your shutters is in bad shape, you’ll first want to remove those layers with a chemical stripper or a paint scraper. While you may be tempted to do this part on your own, it’s in your best interest to hire a professional. This is especially true if you have an older home with lead paint on the shutters. Lead paint is toxic, which is why it needs to be handled with care. Professional painters will be able to remove the lead paint safely.

You should clean your shutters, take care of any mold remediation, sand ⁵ them down, and spray or brush on a primer. Paint itself cannot kill mold spores, so it’s important not to paint over any spots. Most exterior painters take care of all this for you, and charge between $20 and $60 per hour. On top of this, you’ll have to pay for materials. Typically, a gallon of primer costs between $10 and $70, though you can prime multiple shutters with a single gallon.

The vast majority of professional painters tell you that the prep work is the most important part of any paint job. By properly preparing for your shutter painting job, you ensure you get the most value out of your shutters through every season.

Is it Better to Paint or Replace Shutters?

As a homeowner, you have a couple of options for improving the look of your shutters. The main question you have to ask yourself is if you should paint or replace them. To decide, you should take a hard look at your shutters to assess the level of damage. Are your shutters not functioning anymore, or is the paint simply peeling and cracking?

If the paint on your shutters is bubbling or flaking off, you can get away with sanding and repainting them, which costs between $40 and $70 per shutter. Repainting is a great option because it allows you to improve the look of your home without the hassle of a complete remodel. However, you will be more limited with color options depending on the current color of your shutters.

Conversely, if the shutters themselves have cracks, it may be time for a replacement. This can cost between $50 and $100 per set of shutters. Opting for a replacement allows you to have new and improved shutters that function at peak condition. However, it is a bit more expensive than a simple paint job.

Cost to Repaint Shutters

If you’re considering repainting your shutters, you should keep a few things in mind to get the job done right. To start, take a look at the color of your shutters. You should always avoid painting shutters a darker color because the surface absorbs more heat than it was designed for, causing them to warp.

If your shutter paint is already peeling or cracking, your painters will have to remove the old paint first, then clean and prime the surface before applying the new color. On average, it costs between $60 and $90 per shutter to remove the old paint, clean, sand, prime, and repaint.

House and Shutter Color Combinations

When it comes to painting your shutters, the color options are endless. However, there is a rule of thumb for door and exterior shutter colors that work best. It’s recommended to incorporate two or three colors into your home exterior, including a base color and an accent. We’re going to go over some popular options for some of the most common exterior house palettes, so you can pick the best front door and shutter color combinations for your house.

When it comes to choosing shutter colors for a tan house, it’s best to stick with natural tones so your siding and accents complement each other. Earthy greens and browns are a great place to start. You can always fall back on white shutters for a more simplistic look. Along a similar vein, shutter colors for a cream house range from simple light tones to dramatic dark ones.

If you have a brick house, you can choose from plenty of attractive shutter colors. However, it is a good idea to stick with dark, dramatic tones. Lighter colors look artificial against darker bricks, but they look good against a lighter brick wall.

You can go with either light or dark shutter colors for a white house, depending on your personal preference. Darker colors make your shutters stand out, creating a dramatic and attractive contrast. On the other hand, lighter shades portray a seamless, classic look for traditional homes.

Cost to Spray vs Paint Exterior Shutters

When it comes to painting your shutters, you can use a brush or a sprayer. Spray painting is the easiest way to paint shutters. They will most likely need to be removed from the side of your home to avoid getting excess paint on your siding. When applying exterior spray paint for shutters, it is best to leave the job to the professionals. It can be a messy job, and it is easy to miss spots. Plus, buying a sprayer to do it yourself is more costly, and the entire process will be more time-consuming.

Your other option is painting shutters with a brush. Brush painting can be done with the shutters still on your home. While it is still recommended to call a professional, you can brush paint your shutters by yourself. You should paint three thin layers, making sure each is fully dried before starting the next. This ensures your paint will be applied evenly and no excess paint collects and pools near the shutter frames.

Generally, if you’re dealing with wood shutters, brush painting is the best choice because wood has a more textured surface that needs extra care. For any other surface, you can use either method. Generally speaking, spray painting takes a shorter amount of time, reducing labor costs when working with a professional. This makes it the cheaper option in most cases.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

¹ Hinged: A type of joint that attaches two items together but allows one of them to swing back and forth, such as a door attached to a door frame

² Vinyl: A synthetic plastic made from ethylene and chlorine. Vinyl has many applications in the construction industry and it is widely used in sidings, window frames, roofing and gutters, among others

⁴ Primers: Preparatory coat applied to materials (drywall, wood, metal, etc.) before painting to ensure paint adhesion, extend paint durability, and help seal and protect the surface to be painted

⁵ Sand: Process of removing the top surface of a material, such as wood, using sandpaper and/or a specialized sanding machine (for large surface areas)