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The average cost of painting shutters is $60 - $80 per shutter.
How much does it cost to paint shutters?
Painting exterior shutters can liven up your home with a dash of color. Exterior shutters are relatively easy to paint yourself, but hiring a professional painter is always recommended. Prices can vary based on the material of the shutters, paint, and number of shutters, but the average 15 inch wide exterior shutter costs $60-$80 to paint.
Cost breakdown
- Materials: Most professional painters recommend using a primer 1 and two coats of paint on exterior shutters. The paint typically costs $40-$70 per gallon depending on brand, quality, and amount needed, but multiple shutters can be painted from the same gallon. Other materials include brushes and tape, as well as any caulking 2 or supplies to repair the shutters.
- Labor: The majority of your painting budget will go to labor costs. Most professional painters earn an average of $20-$35 per hour and may take around one hour to paint a shutter, depending on the skill required.
Enhancement and improvement costs
- Adding a fancy paint, such as high-gloss or weather resistant, can increase the cost by as much as double, but it make the shutters more durable in the elements.
- Replacing shutters will obviously increase the cost. If you purchase shutters on your own, many painters will paint them before installing them, but they will charge you extra for the additional installation time, around $50-$100 per set of shutters.
- Shutters with lots of texture and detail tend to require more skill and time, thus increasing your labor costs. Similarly, older shutters or those original to the house can also require greater care and costs.
Additional considerations and costs
- Wood shutters are fairly standard and are the easiest to paint, but shutters made out of metal or plastic require special types of paint that can be more expensive, typically around $60-$90 per gallon.
- Houses that have shutters on multiple stories take longer to paint because they require painters to climb to a second or third story. Expect to add a half day’s labor costs to your total.
- Damaged shutters that need to be repaired or patched, can greatly increase the cost, often doubling the standard price.
- Using multiple colors, even for small accent colors, can add up to an extra $15-$30 per shutter, depending on the number of colors and the area they cover.
- Even if it is in good condition, shutters that are dirty or covered in mildew will typically require an additional hour or two to clean and prep, which will increase your labor costs.
- Homes built before 1978 may still have lead 3 paint on the shutters. If this is the case, the painter will need to scrape and remove the paint. This job can be toxic, so it should only be done by a professional. Once the lead 3 paint has been removed, the shutters are safe to use with a fresh coat of paint.
- Many professional painters will discount their services if you have your siding or trim painted at the same time as your shutters. Prices depend on the painter, but some offer discounts up to 40% off.
Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet
Definitions in laymen's terms, cost considerations, pictures and things you need to know.See full cheat sheet.
1 Primer: 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
2 Caulking: A chemical sealant used to fill in and seal gaps where two materials join, for example, the tub and tile, to create a watertight and airtight seal. The term "caulking" is also used to refer to the process of applying this type of sealant
3 Lead: A naturally occurring heavy metal that is highly toxic to humans, and has been used in paint, gasoline, piping, and other applications
How much does it cost to paint shutters in my city?
Cost to paint shutters varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.
Labor cost by city and zip code
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Labor cost in your zip code
Last modified: See change history
Methodology and sources
