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How Long Does Shutter Installation Take? From Survey to Fitting Day
Fitting time depends on the windows more than the number of shutters. A flat window with a complete, compatible set is quick to fit, while a bay, a tracked door or an uneven opening takes longer. The full timeline also includes the survey, the quote and, for new shutters, the time it takes to make them.
Quick answer
Straightforward shutter fitting takes around 60 to 90 minutes per window or 2 to 4 hours per room, and a 6 to 10-window job is normally completed in one day. Bays, tracked systems, difficult access and adaptation take longer. New made-to-measure shutters also need making time: Express usually takes 2 to 3 weeks and Plan & Save 8 to 9 weeks after the deposit is paid and the order is placed.
Key takeaways
- Plan for a morning or an afternoon per room and a full day for six to ten windows, with bays and tracks taking longer.
- Missing or unsuitable parts cause the longest delays, so they are checked from photographs before the visit.
- For new shutters, the making time is the longest wait, not the fitting itself.
How long does fitting take per window and per room?
Straightforward fitting takes around 60 to 90 minutes per window or 2 to 4 hours per room. A 6 to 10-window job is normally completed in one day, depending on the layout and access.
That time covers assembling the frame, fixing it securely, hanging and aligning the panels, checking that the panels and louvres move properly, and the agreed finishing and cleaning. Our shutter installation cost and fitting guide explains each of those stages and the fitting prices.
We confirm the expected time for your windows with the quote, so you know whether to plan for a morning, an afternoon or a full day.
Typical timings
How long each stage usually takes
| Stage | Typical time | What can change it |
|---|---|---|
| Free home survey | Around 30 to 45 minutes | The number of windows to check |
| Itemised quote | The same day or the next day after assessment | Whether parts need identifying first |
| One straightforward window | 60 to 90 minutes | Handles, access and an uneven reveal |
| One room | 2 to 4 hours | The number and type of windows |
| 6 to 10 windows | Normally one day | Layout and access |
| Bays, tracked systems or adaptation | Longer, confirmed with the quote | Bay faces, tracks and agreed changes |
| New shutters from Shutters Design | Express 2 to 3 weeks, Plan & Save 8 to 9 weeks | Both start once the 50% deposit is paid and the order is placed |
Fitting times are for straightforward work with a complete, compatible set. We confirm the expected time for your windows with the quote.
What makes a shutter installation take longer?
Bays, tracked systems, difficult access and adaptation work take longer than a flat window. Each bay face needs its own frame position, and the corners have to meet cleanly. Tracked doors need the track set level and the panels checked along its full length.
Uneven openings add time too. The British Blind and Shutter Association notes that shutters are made square while window reveals often are not, so the fitter supports and levels the frame before fixing it rather than pulling it tight against an uneven surface.
Missing or unsuitable parts are the biggest cause of a delay on the day. We identify them from photographs and the supplier's parts list before booking, so the fitting is not stopped partway while a part is found.
How long is it from first enquiry to fitted shutters?
For shutters you already own, the steps before fitting are short: the free home survey takes around 30 to 45 minutes, and we usually provide an itemised quote the same day or the next day after assessment. The fitting date is then agreed with you.
For completely new made-to-measure shutters, the making time comes first. Shutters Design's Express range usually takes 2 to 3 weeks and Plan & Save 8 to 9 weeks, both starting once the 50% deposit is paid and the order is placed.
If shutters are coming down for replacement windows, plan the removal before the window work starts and allow for the finished opening to be checked before the set goes back. Our shutter removal and refitting guide explains what is assessed first.
What happens on fitting day?
The fitter assembles the frame, checks its position in the opening, fixes it securely and then hangs and aligns the panels while there is still room to adjust.
Final fixing can change the gaps between panels, so the fitter tests the shutters again afterwards. The final check covers the panels and louvres in use, including the clearance around window handles and the space for the panels to open.
Removing old blinds or curtains can be included in the agreed fitting work. Mention them when you book so the time and the quote include them.
How can you keep the fitting on schedule?
Keep the parts for each window together and send photographs of every opening and its shutter set before the visit, with the supplier's drawing and parts list where you have them.
On the day, clear a path to each window and move fragile objects and small furniture away from it, so the panels can be opened fully during the checks. Talk to us beforehand about fixed furniture or radiators rather than moving or altering them yourself.
Tell us about any decorating or window work planned before the fitting date. A freshly plastered or newly replaced opening can measure differently from the one the shutters were made for.
Before fitting day
What to have ready
- The parts for each window kept together.
- Photographs of every opening and its shutter set.
- The supplier's drawing and parts list, if you have them.
- A clear path to each window, with fragile objects moved.
- Any old blinds or curtains you want removed, mentioned when booking.
- Any decorating or window work planned before the fitting date.