In South Florida, accordion hurricane shutters cost $26 to $33 per square foot installed, roll-down hurricane shutters cost $33 to $65 per square foot installed and impact windows cost $52 to $91 per square foot installed. For a standard 24 by 42 inch window, that works out to about $182 to $228 for accordion shutters, about $228 to $455 for roll-downs and about $364 to $637 for impact glass.
Those are the installed ranges DreamGuard quotes across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties in 2026. This guide breaks down what each system costs, what moves a quote up or down, what repair and maintenance visits run and why two companies can hand you very different numbers for the same house. DreamGuard, formerly Pacific Hurricane Shutters, has handled hurricane shutter installation across South Florida for over 20 years as a Florida licensed contractor, license CGC1536894, and holds a 4.9-star Google rating across 270 reviews. The installation ranges on this page are the ones we actually quote in the field, not numbers pulled from a national cost calculator.
What Each System Costs Installed in South Florida
Every price here is an installed price. It covers the product, the measuring, the labor and the code-compliant anchoring the Florida Building Code requires in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Use the ranges to plan. Use a written quote to decide.
Accordion Shutters
Accordion shutters are permanently mounted hurricane shutters that fold flat beside the opening and pull across a track when a storm approaches. They cost $26 to $33 per square foot installed, which comes to about $182 to $228 for a standard 24 by 42 inch window. There are no panels to carry, no ladders and nothing to store. Because they protect the most openings per dollar, accordion shutters are the natural choice for whole-home protection, for larger houses with many openings and for owners who want to secure the property themselves in minutes.
Roll-Down Shutters
Roll-down shutters are hurricane shutters that sit in a slim housing above the opening and lower along guide rails, either by hand crank or by motor. They cost $33 to $65 per square foot installed, about $228 to $455 for a standard window. Where you land in that range depends mostly on operation. Manual crank systems price near the bottom. Motorized systems sit near the top because the motor, the wiring and the controls add real hardware and real labor. Roll-downs earn their place on covered terraces, wide sliders and floor-to-ceiling glass, and they double as security and shade for the rest of the year.
Impact Windows
Impact windows are laminated glass window systems that resist windborne debris around the clock with nothing to deploy and nothing to store. They cost $52 to $91 per square foot installed, about $364 to $637 for that same standard window. The higher price buys more than storm protection. Rooms get quieter, furnishings fade less and the house keeps its clean architecture with no exterior hardware at all. DreamGuard installs impact windows and doors across all three counties. If you are weighing glass against shutters, our hurricane shutters vs impact windows comparison walks through that decision opening by opening.
What Moves the Price Up or Down
Two homes with identical square footage can land at opposite ends of these ranges. Five factors do most of the moving.
- Opening size and count. Oversized sliders and picture windows need heavier profiles and more material, so they cost more per opening. A project with many openings works the other way, spreading fixed costs across the whole job, which is why whole-home projects often price better per square foot than a single window.
- Shape and access. Arched openings, angled bays and upper-floor work all add labor. Condo and high-rise installations bring their own logistics, including lifts, elevator scheduling and association requirements that a ground-floor home never sees.
- Motorization. Motors, wiring, wall switches and remotes move roll-down systems toward the top of their range. They also remove every excuse not to deploy, which is exactly what many owners are paying for.
- Permit and engineering scope. Miami-Dade and Broward counties form the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone under the Florida Building Code, and hurricane protection installations require permits. Permit costs vary by municipality and are included in your written quote. Every product DreamGuard installs carries a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or Florida Product Approval, and we handle the permitting as the licensed contractor.
- Material grade and finish. Heavier extrusions, stainless hardware for oceanfront exposure and custom color finishes cost more than standard white. Close to salt air, that upgrade usually earns its keep in lifespan.
Permitting deserves one more sentence. It is not an optional add-on. It is what makes the installation legal, inspected and documented. Our guide to hurricane shutter permits and HVHZ code in South Florida explains exactly how the process works.
Repair and Maintenance Costs
If your shutters already exist and simply need attention, the numbers are far smaller. Most hurricane shutter repairs run $195 to $455. Florida homeowners average about $537 on shutter repair, with typical costs ranging $265 to $793 when a job involves several openings, replacement slats or a failed motor. DreamGuard repairs and restores hurricane shutters of every major type, including systems we did not install.
Maintenance is the smaller number that keeps the repair numbers rare. Our shutter maintenance service, a full lubrication of all moving parts plus a 10-point inspection, runs $297 to $797 per service depending on the size of the home and the number of shutters. Serviced shutters glide, lock and hold. Neglected shutters seize. If your accordions take two hands and a shoulder to close, that is the moment to book a service visit rather than wait for a repair.
Why Quotes Vary Between Companies
Collect three quotes for the same South Florida house and you may see numbers that appear to describe three different projects. Usually they do. The honest explanation is scope, not markup.
A complete quote from a licensed contractor covers products with a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or Florida Product Approval, anchoring engineered for the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, the permit, the final inspection and workmanship the license holder answers for. An unpermitted handyman installation can quote less because it leaves most of that out. The shutters may look similar on day one. The difference lives in what they are anchored to and what stands behind them.
That difference buys four things. Code compliance under some of the most demanding wind standards in the country. An inspection record that stays with the home when you sell it. Protection your insurer can recognize, because Florida law requires insurers to offer premium credits for qualifying opening protection once a licensed wind mitigation inspector documents it. And a system installed to operate for decades rather than survive a single season. Our guide to hurricane shutter insurance discounts in Florida covers how that documentation works.
None of this requires talking anyone out of a lower bid. Read every quote line by line. Confirm the product approval numbers, the anchoring detail and whether the permit is included. When the scopes truly match, the totals move much closer together.
How to Get an Exact Number
A range plans a budget. A measured quote sets one. DreamGuard’s whole-home assessment is free, and it is how the figures on this page become your figures.
Here is what happens during the visit. A specialist measures every opening in the home, not a sample of them. You walk through the options together, accordion, roll-down or impact glass, with the honest tradeoffs of each for your specific openings. Anything that affects engineering, access or association approval gets flagged on the spot. You then receive a written quote with exact pricing per opening and permit costs included, so you see the complete number before any work begins.
Have questions first? Our hurricane shutter FAQs and pricing page answers the ones we hear most. When you are ready for your number, schedule your free assessment or call (786) 320-6405. Your Serenity in Any Storm starts with knowing exactly what it costs.
You may want to view these pages:
Hurricane Shutters vs Impact Windows: Which Is Right for Your Home?
Hurricane Shutter Insurance Discounts in Florida
Hurricane Shutter Permits and HVHZ Code in South Florida
