Walk into any quote conversation about roller shutters and you'll get the same three numbers. "from \$299", "around \$1,500 each", and "we can do a whole house for \$6,000". They're all simultaneously true and meaningless, because the spec underneath them is wildly different. So here's the unfiltered version: what roller shutters actually cost in Australia in 2026, what you should be paying for, and the bits some sales reps would rather you didn't know.
The honest 2026 price range
For supplied and installed shutters on a standard 1500 × 1500 mm residential window:
- Small manual (e.g. a 900 × 1200 bedroom window): \$400-\$650
- Standard manual: \$600-\$1,000
- Standard hard-wired electric: \$1,000-\$1,550
- Battery or solar electric: add \$180-\$350 over hard-wired
- Whole-of-house pack (8-12 windows): 15-25% cheaper per window
Anything significantly below those numbers is either thin single-skin slats, a no-name motor, or an installer who'll vanish when warranty time rolls around. Anything significantly above without a clear premium reason is just expensive.
Where the price actually comes from
If you're staring at three wildly different quotes and trying to work out why, this is where they diverge. Strip these out of every quote and you'll have a fair fight.
1. Slat profile and fill
Single-skin aluminium is the cheap end. Fine for security and noise but only modestly insulating. Foam-filled double-skin slats are heavier, block more heat, dampen more noise, and cost about \$80-\$180 more per window. If you're chasing heat reduction in WA, SA, QLD or northern Victoria, get the foam.
2. Motor brand and warranty
A Somfy or Becker motor with a 10-year warranty costs an installer \$100-\$200 more than a generic motor with a 2-3 year warranty. Some installers happily pass that on. Others quote the generic motor and call it "premium German engineering" because the bloke who built the website said so. Ask for motor brand and model in writing.
3. Electrical work
Hard-wired motors need power. If your cavity doesn't already have a 240V supply, you're up for an electrician, usually \$80-\$200 per shutter depending on cable run and switch placement. Battery / solar shutters avoid this entirely.
4. Box and guide colour
"Painted to match your fascia" should be in writing. Otherwise you'll get standard cream against your charcoal trim and pay another \$220 per box to fix it.
5. Install volume
A 10-shutter package is materially cheaper per window than two shutters because the installer is on site once, the lift truck is booked once, and the manufacturing run is batched. Quote the whole house even if you can only afford it in stages. Most installers will honour the unit price for staged installs over 12 months.
What a fair quote actually includes
If your quote is a single number on the back of a business card, it's not a quote. A real quote in 2026 lists, at minimum:
- Measure and quote (free or rebated against the install)
- Custom manufacture from a named supplier
- Slat profile, thickness, colour and fill
- Motor brand, model, and warranty
- Switch, remote, or smart-home receiver (and brand)
- Install labour, scaffolding, and rubbish removal
- Touch-up painting and finishing
- Workmanship warranty (5+ years), product warranty (10+ years), motor warranty (5-10 years)
- Total price including GST
If anything on that list is missing or vague, it'll be a hidden cost later. Get it added before you sign.
Red flags that should kill a quote on the spot
- "Today-only" pricing. Reputable installers don't expire quotes overnight. This is a classic high-pressure tactic.
- Cash-only or 10% cash discount. Suggests the business isn't fully on-the-books, which means no warranty backstop.
- No ABN, no fixed address, no website. One-man bands have their place, but anonymous quoters can disappear overnight.
- "Lifetime warranty" with no underwriter. Lifetime = lifetime of the company, which is often shorter than your kid's primary school.
- 40%+ cheaper than the next quote. Always ask what's different. Always.
How to actually save money without compromising
If budget is tight:
- Quote the whole house even if you'll do it in stages. For the per-unit discount.
- Manual on small bathroom/laundry/study windows, electric only on the windows you'll actually use daily.
- Go single-skin slats on shaded south-facing windows where heat isn't the concern.
- Skip the smart-home receiver if you have a Somfy motor. They're upgradeable later.
- Ask about ex-display stock. Showroom shutters in standard sizes sometimes get sold off at 20-30% off when display models change.
What's not worth saving on: the install workmanship, the motor warranty, or the slat profile if heat is your primary reason. Cheap installs fail within five years and you pay twice.
Get three quotes for the same spec
The two-minute rule that saves people thousands: write your spec down. Slat type, motor, colour, anti-lift, warranty. Email it to three installers and ask them to quote against it. The quotes will be within 15% of each other if the spec is locked. The one in the middle is almost always the right call, unless the cheaper one is from the installer your neighbour can't stop raving about.
If you would like to compare offers, request a quote here. We may invite up to three approved local suppliers to bid without receiving your direct contact details. The service is free for customers and there is no obligation to choose an offer.
