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Hurricane protection · openingsImpact window cost calculator
In a hurricane, a broken window lets wind pressure into the house, and that pressure can lift the roof from inside. Protecting every opening, windows and doors, is the single most important storm upgrade after the roof itself, and in coastal Florida and other high-wind areas it is required for new work.
Pricing shutters only? The hurricane shutter calculator goes deeper on accordion, storm panel, colonial, Bahama and roll-down shutters, deployment time and motorization. This page is for replacing the glass itself, with shutters kept as a side-by-side check.
There are two ways to do it. Impact windows have laminated glass that cracks but stays in the frame when hit, so they protect all the time with nothing to put up. Shutters cover ordinary windows when a storm is coming: accordion and roll-down shutters stay mounted, while panels are stored and installed before each storm.
This calculator prices any of those per opening, with size and second-story adjustments, and adds haul-away, rotten-frame repair and the permit and product-approval paperwork. Anchoring into the wall is part of every install price, because a product is only as strong as its anchors.
Reviewed 25 October 2026 · Written by Mantu Kumar
See the photos · See the cost diagram · Open the calculator
Key facts at a glance
- Impact window, full frame: about $800–$1,800 per typical opening; inserts about $550–$1,200.
- Shutters per opening: panel about $200–$650; accordion about $450–$1,400; roll-down about $900–$2,800.
- Size and height: large openings about 1.7×, small about 0.8×; second-story work about 12% more.
- Rotten frames: about $150–$450 per opening. Haul-away about $40–$100 per window.
- Permit and product approval: about $250–$900. Some state programs help with costs; none is applied here.
National 2026 planning ranges before your regional multiplier. Coastal Florida prices often sit at the top of these ranges.
2026 planning ranges
- 1Window or shutter, installed
- 2Shutter types
- 3Haul-away
- 4Rotten-frame repair
- 5Anchors into the structure
- 6Permit and approval
- 7Laminated glass
- 8Second-story openings
- 9Wind-mitigation credit
Price protection for your openings
No email · nothing sentDiagram, part by part
Impact window and shutter: every numbered part explained
The drawing above has 9 numbered parts, from The product, installed per opening to Wind-mitigation insurance credit. Each card zooms in on one part, says what pushes its price up or down, and tells you what to look for on a written quote. After you run the calculator, the parts in your scope show their dollar band.
1 The product, installed per opening
$200–$2,800 per opening
The main line is the product you choose, installed and anchored. Full-frame impact windows replace everything. Inserts fit into sound existing frames. Shutters are mounted over the existing windows.
What moves it: Product type, opening size, story height, brand and design pressure rating.
On the quote: Ask for the product approval number (Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA where required) and the design pressure rating for each opening.
2 Shutters: accordion, panel or roll-down
$200–$2,800 per opening
Panels are cheapest but must be stored and put up before each storm, which is hard on upper floors. Accordions fold to the sides and close by hand. Roll-downs are the easiest to use, often motorized, and cost the most.
What moves it: Who will deploy them, how many openings, and where panels would be stored.
On the quote: Make sure every opening, including doors, is covered, and that you can deploy them quickly.
3 Haul-away of old windows
$40–$100 per window
Old windows are removed and disposed of when impact windows or inserts are installed.
What moves it: Window count and disposal fees.
On the quote: Confirm it is included.
4 Rotten-frame repair
$150–$450 per opening
Water damage around old windows is common in humid climates. Rotten bucks, sills or framing must be repaired so the new anchors hold.
What moves it: How much rot is found once the old window is out.
On the quote: Ask for a unit price per opening for rot found during work.
5 Anchors into the structure
Included in each install
Impact products are tested with a specific anchor type, size and spacing. Installing with fewer or different anchors voids the rating.
What moves it: Wall type: concrete block, wood frame or poured concrete.
On the quote: The installer should follow the product approval’s anchor schedule; the inspector checks it.
6 Permit and product-approval paperwork
$250–$900
Most coastal jurisdictions require a permit with product approvals for each opening, and an inspection of anchors and installation.
What moves it: Number of openings and local fees.
On the quote: Ask for the final inspection record; insurers often ask for it for wind mitigation credits.
7 How impact glass works
Part of the window price
Two panes are bonded to a tough plastic interlayer. A flying 2×4 may crack the glass, but the interlayer holds it in the frame so wind cannot enter.
What moves it: Glass thickness, interlayer type and design pressure.
On the quote: Look for large-missile ratings for ground floors in high-wind zones.
8 Second-story openings
About 15% more per opening
Upper-floor openings need ladders, scaffolding or a lift, and heavy impact units take more people to set safely. Shutters on upper floors should be operable from inside or reachable without a tall ladder before a storm.
What moves it: How many openings are on the second floor and the site access.
On the quote: Ask how second-story units will be installed and how upper shutters are closed before a storm.
9 Wind-mitigation insurance credit
Can lower your premium
In hurricane states, protecting every opening can earn a wind-mitigation discount on the wind portion of your premium. An inspector records the product approvals on a wind-mitigation form that you send to your insurer.
What moves it: Your state, insurer and whether all openings are protected.
On the quote: Keep the product approval numbers and permit final for the wind-mitigation inspection.
Project photo guide
Impact window installation in photos: laminated glass, structural anchoring and interior finish
Hurricane impact windows protect the building envelope from windborne debris and cyclic pressure swings: even if flying debris cracks the outer pane, the heavy PVB or SGP interlayer holds the glass in its reinforced frame while masonry or structural frame anchors resist high design wind pressures.
How the job works in 3 key stages
All three step images are AI-generated illustrations for explanation. Not a site inspection, bid, or coverage decision.
Step 01Laminated glass
Impact glazing bonds two panes of heat-strengthened or tempered glass to a tough, clear structural interlayer—often paired with an insulated Low-E air gap to cut coastal solar heat gain and street noise.
On the quote: Verify the quote lists the Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA number and the required Design Pressure (DP) rating for your wind zone.
Step 02Anchoring
Unlike ordinary replacement windows held by a few trim screws, impact frames are shimmed at strict engineering intervals and fastened into concrete block, bucking, or wood framing using heavy corrosion-resistant masonry or structural anchors.
On the quote: Confirm that wood buck replacement (if rotted), engineering anchor schedules, perimeter backer rod, and elastomeric stucco sealant are included.
Step 03Finished interior
Once the municipal inspector verifies anchor spacing and product approval labels, screw covers snap into place and interior trim, sills, and exterior stucco patches are finished cleanly.
On the quote: Make sure the permit fee, municipal inspection attendance, and post-install wind-mitigation inspection form (for insurance discounts) are addressed.
What this photo guide helps you verify on a written quote
- NOA / Product Approval & DP rating: Every opening must meet or exceed the Design Pressure required for your wind zone and exposure category.
- All-openings insurance rule: Most insurers grant the full hurricane wind-mitigation discount only when every glazed opening (including doors and skylights) is protected.
- Stucco & buck repair: Removing old aluminum frames in CBS stucco homes frequently chips stucco edges or exposes rotted wood bucks.
- Laminated vs. insulated laminated: Ask whether the quote uses single laminated glass or insulated laminated Low-E glass for better summer cooling.
On this page
- The diagram, part by part
- Photo guide: hero and 3 project steps
- Impact window and shutter cost per opening
- What common hurricane protection jobs cost
- Impact windows or shutters
- When to protect your openings
- Impact window and shutter cost by region
- What “Product” does to the price
- What “Typical opening” does to the price
- How age changes the impact window and shutter claim payout
- How to read the quote, line by line
- How long the job takes
- Worked example
- Insurance discounts for impact protection
- Common mistakes that raise the cost
- Ways to keep the cost down
- Sources and further reading
- Frequently asked questions
Impact window and shutter cost per opening
Per-opening ranges for a typical window, ground floor.
| Scope | 2026 planning range | Why it is its own line |
|---|---|---|
| Impact window, full frame | $800 – $1,800 | All-time protection, new frame. |
| Impact window insert | $550 – $1,200 | Sound existing frame. |
| Roll-down shutter | $900 – $2,800 | Easiest to deploy. |
| Accordion shutter | $450 – $1,400 | Mounted, closes by hand. |
| Panel shutter | $200 – $650 | Stored, installed before storms. |
| Large opening or slider | × 1.7 | Bigger glass. |
| Second story | +12% | Ladders and lifts. |
| Rotten-frame repair | $150 – $450 per opening | If found. |
Impact-rated sliding doors are usually the most expensive opening in the house. Price them separately with your installer.
What common hurricane protection jobs cost
Four typical projects at the national average.
| Job | Planning range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| 10 openings, full-frame impact windows One story. | $8,650 – $19,900 | $14,275 |
| 10 openings, accordion shutters Mounted shutters. | $4,750 – $14,900 | $9,825 |
| 14 openings, panels, two stories Budget option. | $3,386 – $11,092 | $7,239 |
| 8 large openings, roll-downs Easiest to use. | $12,490 – $38,980 | $25,735 |
Each row is this page’s calculator run with the inputs described, at the national average. Change the region and the inputs above to see your own numbers.
Impact windows or shutters
Both can meet code and earn insurance discounts. The difference is daily life: impact windows protect without anyone home; shutters need someone to close them.
| Option | Best when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Impact windows | Second homes, older owners, frequent storms. | Highest cost; replaces all windows. |
| Roll-down shutters | Large openings, upper floors, easy deployment. | Visible boxes; motors need power or manual crank. |
| Accordion shutters | Moderate budget, permanent mount. | Visible tracks; must be closed by hand. |
| Panel shutters | Lowest cost. | Storage and putting them up before every storm. |
When to protect your openings
- You live in a high-wind zone along the Gulf or Atlantic coast.
- Old single-pane windows with no protection.
- An insurer asking for a wind mitigation inspection.
- Rot around windows that needs work anyway.
- A second home empty during storm season.
- Replacing windows anyway the upgrade cost is smaller.
Impact window and shutter cost by region
The calculator's default impact window and shutter job, repriced for each of its six regions. At the national average it runs $8,650 – $19,900; South / Lower Midwest is the lowest at $7,526 – $17,313, and West Coast metro is the highest at $11,245 – $25,870, a gap of about $6,138 at the midpoint.
| Region | Planning range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| National average | $8,650 – $19,900 | $14,275 |
| South / Lower Midwest | $7,526 – $17,313 | $12,420 |
| Mountain / Plains | $8,218 – $18,905 | $13,562 |
| Mid-Atlantic / Upper Midwest | $9,688 – $22,288 | $15,988 |
| Northeast metro | $10,899 – $25,074 | $17,986 |
| West Coast metro | $11,245 – $25,870 | $18,558 |
What “Product” does to the price
Every other input stays at its default and only “Product” changes. The cheapest choice, Panel shutter, comes to $2,250 – $7,400; the most expensive, Roll-down shutter, comes to $9,250 – $28,900.
| Choice | Planning range | Midpoint vs default |
|---|---|---|
| Impact window, full frame (default) | $8,650 – $19,900 | — |
| Impact window insert | $6,150 – $13,900 | −$4,250 |
| Accordion shutter | $4,750 – $14,900 | −$4,450 |
| Panel shutter | $2,250 – $7,400 | −$9,450 |
| Roll-down shutter | $9,250 – $28,900 | +$4,800 |
What “Typical opening” does to the price
Every other input stays at its default and only “Typical opening” changes. The cheapest choice, Small, comes to $7,050 – $16,300; the most expensive, Large window or slider, comes to $14,250 – $32,500.
| Choice | Planning range | Midpoint vs default |
|---|---|---|
| Small | $7,050 – $16,300 | −$2,600 |
| Typical window (default) | $8,650 – $19,900 | — |
| Large window or slider | $14,250 – $32,500 | +$9,100 |
How age changes the impact window and shutter claim payout
Using the default job, a $2,500 deductible and a 30-year expected life. At 10 years old, about $4,758 is held back as depreciation; a replacement cost policy releases it after the work is finished, while an actual cash value policy keeps it.
| Age | Wear | First check | Held back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years | 7% | $10,823 | $952 |
| 5 years | 17% | $9,396 | $2,379 |
| 10 years | 33% | $7,017 | $4,758 |
| 15 years | 50% | $4,638 | $7,138 |
| 20 years | 67% | $2,258 | $9,517 |
| 30 years | 80% | $355 | $11,420 |
How to read the quote, line by line
Hurricane protection quotes should list each opening.
- Opening schedule. Size and product per opening.
- Product approvals. NOA or FL numbers.
- Design pressure. Per opening.
- Anchors. Type and spacing from the approval.
- Doors and sliders. Covered or excluded.
- Permit and final inspection. Included.
- Warranty. Product and labor.
How long the job takes
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Measure and permit | 2 – 6 weeks | Product approvals filed. |
| Manufacture | 4 – 16 weeks | Longer before storm season. |
| Install | 1 – 4 days | By opening count. |
| Final inspection | 1 – 14 days | Anchors checked. |
| Wind mitigation report | After final | For insurance credits. |
Order early. Lead times stretch in spring and early summer as storm season approaches.
Worked example
A one-story concrete block house in Florida with ten typical windows and sound frames, replacing old single-pane windows with full-frame impact windows.
Ten typical openings, full-frame impact windows
Worked example| Line item | National planning range |
|---|---|
| Impact window, full frame | $8,000 – $18,000 |
| Haul-away of old windows | $400 – $1,000 |
| Anchors into the structure | $0 |
| Permit and product-approval paperwork | $250 – $900 |
| Total before regional adjustment | $8,650 – $19,900 |
Midpoint about $14,275. Accordion shutters for the same ten openings would cost about $4,500–$14,000 plus the permit, but someone must close them before each storm.
Insurance discounts for impact protection
Opening protection is one of the features insurers look at in a wind mitigation inspection, and in Florida insurers must offer credits for qualifying features. The savings depend on the rest of the house, especially the roof.
After installation, keep the permit, product approvals and final inspection, and order a wind mitigation inspection so the discount is applied. Storm damage to windows is usually covered under the windstorm or hurricane deductible.
What this page will not claim
- Your insurance discount amount.
- Grant eligibility from any state program.
- Impact door or garage door pricing.
- Design pressure for your house.
Common mistakes that raise the cost
- Protecting only some openings. One unprotected opening can let wind pressurize the house.
- No product approval. Rated products need approval numbers for permits and insurance.
- Weak anchors. Anchors must reach the structure as tested.
- Losing paperwork. Wind-mitigation credits need documentation.
- Skipping shutter practice. Shutters must be closed quickly before a storm.
Ways to keep the cost down
Impact protection costs vary most by product type.
- Mix products by opening. Shutters on some, impact glass on others.
- Do the whole house at once. Fewer permits and trips.
- Check wind-mitigation credits. Premium savings offset cost.
- Shop before hurricane season. Lead times grow.
- Choose standard sizes. Custom sizes cost more.
- Keep approvals on file. Avoid re-inspection fees.
Sources and further reading
- Florida Building Commission — Product approval
- My Safe Florida Home program
- FEMA — Building science for hurricanes
- IBHS FORTIFIED Home
Prices on this page are planning ranges built from public 2026 US cost guides and contractor rate sheets, widened where they disagreed, and multiplied by the same regional index as every other ReplaceCost calculator. Rules and definitions come from the agencies listed. See the methodology for how ranges are set and reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
How much do impact windows cost in 2026?
About $800 to $1,800 per typical opening for full-frame impact windows, installed. Large openings and second stories cost more.
Are hurricane shutters cheaper than impact windows?
Usually. Panels are cheapest, accordions mid-range, and roll-downs approach impact window prices.
Do impact windows lower insurance?
Opening protection can earn wind mitigation credits, especially in Florida, if documented with an inspection.
Do I need a permit for impact windows?
In most coastal jurisdictions yes, with product approvals and an inspection.
Can impact glass break?
It can crack, but the interlayer holds it together and keeps the opening closed.
Do impact windows reduce noise?
Yes, laminated glass reduces outside noise noticeably.
What is an NOA?
A Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, a product approval required in the strictest high-velocity hurricane zones.
Do I need to protect every opening?
For full protection and most insurance credits, yes, including doors and garage doors.
Do impact windows need shutters too?
No. Windows tested and approved for impact protect the opening on their own, so no shutters are needed for code or insurance purposes. Some owners still keep shutters for added security.
How long do impact windows last?
Quality impact windows often last 20 years or more. Hardware, seals and weatherstripping may need attention sooner, especially near salt air.
Are impact windows energy efficient?
Many are, especially with low-E coatings and insulated frames, but impact rating and energy rating are separate. Check the energy label for U-factor and solar heat gain.
Can I install impact film instead?
Security film can hold broken glass together, but it usually does not meet the tested impact ratings that codes and wind-mitigation credits require in hurricane regions.
What is large missile impact?
A test that fires a heavy piece of lumber at the window to simulate windborne debris in a hurricane, followed by pressure cycling. Windows near the ground in high-wind areas usually need this rating.
Do impact windows need special frames?
Yes. The glass, frame and anchors are tested together as a system, so the whole unit must be installed as approved; impact glass in an ordinary frame does not count.
Can impact windows be opened?
Yes. Impact windows open and close like ordinary windows; single-hung, casement and sliding styles are all available.