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Impact windows and hurricane shutters both protect your home but in different ways.
Some people install impact windows and then wonder if they should keep their old shutters. Others ask if shutters alone are enough.
On cost, expect roughly $500 to $1,500 per window installed in South Florida. A home with 15 to 20 windows often lands between $12,000 and $30,000. If the upfront cost is the hurdle, see our financing options for impact windows and doors.
Here, we compare both options on cost, effort, protection and daily use. We also look at what each hurricane category means for your windows, and what Florida homeowners say after living through real storms.
The Best Option is Hurricane Windows
Impact windows, or hurricane windows, are made to take a hit from flying debris. Here’s how to tell if your windows and doors are hurricane rated.
Each window has two layers of glass with a tough, clear plastic layer pressed between them. These windows are tested before they reach your home. In the Miami-Dade test, a 9 pound piece of lumber is fired at the glass at 50 feet per second. It hits twice.
The window then goes through 9,000 pressure swings that copy the push and pull of hurricane winds.
Here is what homeowners like about impact windows:
- They protect your home all the time, even when you are away
- There is nothing to put up before a storm
- Rooms get quieter
- They help block UV rays that fade floors and furniture
- Glass that is harder to break also slows down break-ins
And the downsides:
- The upfront cost is higher than shutters
- A hard hit can still crack the glass, and cracked glass has to be replaced
- Impact resistant does not mean unbreakable
Another Option is Hurricane Shutters
Hurricane shutters are covers that go over your windows and doors before a storm. They block flying debris so it never reaches the glass.
They come in a few styles. Some stay on the house all year. Others are stored and bolted on when a storm is coming.
| Shutter type | How it works | Cost, small window | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accordion | Folds out along a track | $100 to $200 | One person can unfold it |
| Roll-down | Rolls down from a box above the window | $175 to $420 | Manual takes hours. Electric is ready at the touch of a button |
| Storm panels | Metal sheets bolted over the window | $70 to $140 | Hardest to put up, and they need storage |
| Bahama | Hinged at the top and propped open like an awning | $150 to $250 | May need a ladder |
| Colonial | Hinged on the sides and closed over the window | $175 to $250 | Quick, but the locking bar must fit well |
Costs are installed prices for a small window, about 24 by 42 inches. Larger openings and sliding doors cost more.
What shutters do well:
- Lower upfront cost
- An extra layer over the glass
- They can be fitted to windows you already have
Where they fall short:
- Someone has to put them up before every storm
- Panels need storage space
- Rooms go dark when they are closed
- They give no benefit on normal days, such as less noise
- Wheels, tracks and motors wear out over time
How long does it take to put them up? It depends on the home.
One family with nine windows and a glass slider says two people can put up their panels in about 30 minutes. Another homeowner calls it hours of hard work. Taking them down, cleaning them and drying them before storage adds more time. For hurricane fabric, plywood and what never to do, see how to protect your windows during a hurricane.
Impact Windows & Hurricane Shutters Comparison
| Impact windows | Hurricane shutters | |
|---|---|---|
| Protection when no one is home | Always on | Only if they were put up |
| Prep before a storm | None | Takes time and effort, unless motorized |
| Upfront cost | Higher | Lower |
| Everyday benefits | Less noise, less UV, extra security | None outside storms |
| Upkeep | Seal and hardware checks | Tracks, wheels, motors, rust |
| Storage | None | Panels need space |
| Light and view | Clear all year | Dark rooms while closed |
What about insurance?
Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for homes that add wind protection. Impact windows and code approved shutters can both earn credit.
The size of the discount depends on your insurer and your home. Insurers also tend to look at every opening.
See which home upgrades can lower your homeowners insurance rates and what the wind mitigation inspection checks.
Hurricane Categories and What They Mean for Your Windows
Hurricane categories come from the Saffir-Simpson scale. It rates a storm from 1 to 5 based on its sustained wind speed.
The scale estimates damage to property. Category 3 and higher are called major hurricanes. Category 1 and 2 storms can still cause damage and need preparation.
You may also see the word typhoon. The difference between a hurricane and typhoon is only the place. In the Atlantic and the northeastern Pacific, these storms are called hurricanes. In the northwestern Pacific, they are called typhoons.
Here are the hurricane wind speeds for each category, and the damage to expect:
| Category | Wind speed | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 74 to 95 mph | Damage to roof, shingles, siding and gutters. Power out for a few days. |
| 2 | 96 to 110 mph | Major roof and siding damage. Trees block roads. Power out for days to weeks. |
| 3 | 111 to 129 mph | Roof decking and gable ends can be torn off. Power and water out for days to weeks. |
| 4 | 130 to 156 mph | Loss of the roof structure and some exterior walls. Power out for weeks to months. |
| 5 | 157 mph or higher | Homes destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Power out for weeks to months. |
Wind speeds and damage descriptions follow the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
What Florida Homeowners Say
People who have lived through storms have clear opinions on this. A few of them are:
Keep the shutters for bigger storms
Many homeowners with impact windows still keep shutters for the biggest storms. One compared it to wearing a second vest over the first one.
During Hurricane Milton, a Sarasota homeowner who had impact windows put the shutters up anyway, just in case.
A rule of thumb some homeowners share online (not a code or manufacturer rule):
- Category 1 and 2: windows only
- Category 3 and 4: add shutters
- Category 5: use both, and leave
Why some people skip the shutters
Others say shutters are not worth the work after paying for impact windows. One owner who spent $60,000 on windows asked why they would cover them up. Another says to trust the rating and save the effort.
And one homeowner puts shutters on the patio doors only, since those cost more to replace.
Conclusion: Which One Is Right for You?
It depends on your budget, your home and how you feel about putting up shutters.
Impact windows may suit you if:
- You want protection that is always on, even when you travel
- You do not want to put up and store shutters
- You want less noise and UV in your home
- You are replacing old windows anyway
Shutters may suit you if:
- Your budget is tight and your current windows are in good shape
- You are able and willing to put them up before each storm
- You want a lower cost layer over the glass you have
Using both can make sense if:
- You want a second layer for Category 4 and Category 5 storms
At USA Home Improvement, we install impact windows for every opening, impact entry, French and sliding doors and impact garage doors across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Southwest Florida.