Custom plantation shutters in Melbourne typically cost $500 to $1,500 per window. That’s a big range, and there’s a reason for it. Material, size, mount type, custom shapes, and finish all move the number.
Here’s the honest breakdown of what drives the cost of plantation shutters in a Melbourne home, so you can walk into a quote knowing what to expect.
What actually drives shutter cost
Every shutter cost breaks down into four inputs: material (PVC, timber, aluminium), panel size and window shape, mount type (hinged, sliding, bi-fold, custom), and installation.
Everything else – colour, finish, hardware, warranty – layers on top of these four.
Cost by material
Material is the biggest lever. Cheapest to most expensive:
PVC plantation shutters range $500 to $900 per window. Aluminium-reinforced PVC is the entry-level premium material. Waterproof, moisture-resistant, suits bathrooms, laundries, kitchens, and any room that gets humid. A 10-year manufacturer warranty is standard. PVC is what you install when you want quality without the timber premium.
Basswood timber plantation shutters range $800 to $1,300 per window. Basswood is the industry standard for premium timber shutters. Fine grain, even stain acceptance, 10+ colour options, and the natural timber look that most Melbourne buyers want. Not suitable for wet areas. Best for bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms and studies.
Aluminium plantation shutters range $900 to $1,500 per window. Powder-coated aluminium is built for the outdoors. Handles direct sun, rain, wind and UV without fading, chipping or corroding. 20-year warranty against fading, chipping and wearing. Used for patios, pergolas, verandahs, balconies. Also the strongest security option for indoor use.
Cost by size and window shape
Bigger shutters cost more because they use more material and take more manufacturing time. A single-panel shutter on a 600mm window costs less than a four-panel shutter on a 3-metre window opening.
Custom-shape shutters add another cost layer: arched windows add 20 to 40% over a rectangular equivalent; triangular windows add 30 to 50%; angled windows (bay, corner, 135-degree) add 25 to 40%.
The extra cost covers the custom fabrication – cutting timber or PVC to non-standard angles takes more time and more waste.
Cost by mount type
The mount type affects both the shutter hardware and the installation labour.
Hinged shutters are the baseline cost. The simplest and most common. Panels swing open on hinges. The default mount for most windows.
Sliding shutters add 10 to 25%. Track systems add cost. Top and bottom tracks, glides, and the harder-to-install rail add to both material and labour.
Bi-fold shutters add 15 to 30%. Bi-fold mechanisms are more complex than hinged. Multiple hinge joints, folding hardware, and more careful installation.
Custom mounts (corner mounts, ceiling-mounted panels, specialty configurations) all add labour depending on complexity.
Installation costs and what’s included
A full-service Melbourne install usually includes a free in-home measure and quote, custom manufacturing to your exact window dimensions, professional installation by a qualified installer, manufacturer warranty on the shutter, and installation warranty (typically 12 months on workmanship).
Installation labour is baked into the per-window quote. Cheap online kits sometimes advertise low prices but exclude installation, freight, and any protection if the measurement is wrong. See our separate guide on the DIY vs full-service trade-off if that’s relevant to you.
Cheap online kits vs full-service quotes
You’ll see plantation shutter kits online for $200 to $400 per window. The difference between those and a $700 per window custom quote isn’t marketing.
Cheap kits are off-the-shelf sizes (may not fit your window exactly), customer-measured (mistakes are your cost), customer-installed (mistakes are your cost), have delivery freight on top, no installation warranty, and use standard material grades (thinner PVC, softer timbers).
For a full-service quote, all of that is handled. The measurement is our risk. The installation is our warranty. The shutter fits or we redo it.
If budget is genuinely tight, DIY kits are functional. But for most homeowners, the total cost of ownership is similar to full-service once you factor in freight, potential rework, and the shorter lifespan of lower-grade materials.
What a real Melbourne quote looks like
A typical Melbourne home with 8 to 12 windows gets quoted somewhere between $6,000 and $15,000 for a full custom plantation shutter fit-out.
A quote for a smaller home (4 to 6 windows, all one material) sits closer to $3,000 to $6,000.
A quote for a larger home with mixed materials (PVC in bathrooms, timber in living areas, aluminium in outdoor spaces) can run $12,000 to $25,000.
Every quote we produce is line-by-line. You see the cost of each window individually, the material and mount for each, and the total. No surprises, no hidden line items.
Getting an accurate cost for your home
The only way to get a real number for your home is a free in-home measure. We come to you, measure every window, discuss material choices room by room, and produce a detailed quote before any work starts. Book a free measure and we’ll give you a full costed breakdown within 2 to 3 business days
