How to Measure for Exterior Shutters

Measuring for exterior shutters is easier than it sounds — especially since decorative shutters (like ours) don't need to close over the window. You just need to hit the visual proportions that read as "correct."

Here's the whole process in five minutes.

The One Rule

A pair of shutters should look like they could close over the window, even if they never actually will. That means:

• Combined shutter width ≈ window width
• Individual shutter width ≈ half the window width
• Shutter height ≈ window frame height (top to bottom)

If a stranger walking by would think "those shutters could close," you've measured right.

Measure Your Window Height

Measure from the very top of the window frame (including any trim) to the very bottom. This is your shutter height.

Round to the nearest standard size we offer:

• 36″, 42″, 48″, 54″, 60″, 66″, 72″, or 84″

If your window is between two sizes, round up. A slightly taller shutter reads better than one that's too short.

Measure Your Window Width

Measure the width of the window frame at its widest point (including trim).

Our shutters are 14″ wide per panel, sold in pairs. That means each pair covers 28″ of combined width — appropriate for windows that are roughly 28″ to 40″ wide.

If your window is wider than 40″

Options:

• Accept that the shutters won't span the full window (still reads correctly if the shutters are proportional to the window height)
• Contact us about custom sizing for orders of 10+ pairs

If your window is narrower than 28″

Options:

• Order 14″ shutters and let them slightly overlap the window (looks fine on most homes)
• Skip shutters on very narrow windows if the rest of the façade will look balanced without them

Match Style Across Windows

Use the same shutter style on every window of the same façade. Mixing Board & Batten and X-Bar on the same house reads as random, not eclectic.

Use the same shutter finish throughout for consistency. If you want variation, do it with your front door color, not with shutter color.

Order All Pairs at Once

This one matters. Because our shutters are finished from natural wood, ordering separate batches can result in slight color and grain variation between them. Order all pairs for your project in a single order so they're finished from the same batch.

Common Mistakes

• Undersizing height: Shutters shorter than the window frame look like they're floating. Round up.
• Oversizing width: Shutters wider than half the window make the window look boxed in. 14″ per panel is enough for almost every standard residential window.
• Skipping second-story windows: If your first-floor windows have shutters, your second-floor windows should too. Missing shutters upstairs make a façade look incomplete.

Stuck on a specific window? Email us the measurements (or a photo with the window height called out) and we'll size the shutters for you.