How to Measure for your Hurricane Shutters


Materials Needed:


How to Measure Windows

  1. Choose what you want to protect. Look at the entire area around your window. You may want to cover only the window, or you may also want to protect surrounding trim, molding, woodwork, or decorations. Your measurements should describe the full area you want covered, not just the glass or the window opening.
  2. Measure the width of that area. Start at the left edge of the window opening and measure across to its right edge. If you want decorative woodwork on both sides covered, measure from the outside edge of the woodwork on the left to the outside edge on the right.
  3. Measure the height of that area. Start at the top edge of the window opening and measure down to its bottom edge. If you have any trim or other features above or below the window that you want covered, make sure to include them in your measurements.
  4. Give us the width and height you measured. We add 3 inches beyond your measured area for panel overlap and mounting hardware. You do not need to add those extra inches yourself. If something projects outward, such as a window sill, let us know so we can help determine the appropriate build-out.
Window panel coverage with 3 inches added on all four sides

How to Measure Doors

  1. Choose what you want to protect. Look at the door and the area around it. Decide whether the panel should also cover the frame, trim, or nearby decorations. Measure the full area you want covered, not just the door itself.
  2. Measure the width of that area. Start at the left edge of the door opening and measure across to the right edge. Include surrounding features in this measurement if you want them covered.
  3. Measure the height of that area. Start at the top edge of the door opening and measure down to the bottom edge where you want the panel to end. Be especially careful with the bottom edge: we do not add extra coverage below your measurement.
  4. Give us the width and height you measured. We add 3 inches on the left, top, and right for overlap and mounting hardware. We do not add 3 inches at the bottom, so measure down to the exact bottom edge you want covered.
Door panel coverage with 3 inches added on the left, top, and right
Window width, height, and build-out measurement example Measuring the outside edges of a window frame and its build-out

This window extends out from the wall. Measure the width and height from the outer edges of the frame, rather than the glass, to protect the entire window. Then measure how far it extends from the wall and select the build-out option when purchasing your hurricane panels.

If your window has trim, molding, decorative frames, or other surrounding features, include any area you want the hurricane panel to cover in your measurements.

Measuring the width and height of a recessed door opening Measuring the outside edges of a door frame

These doors sit slightly back from the wall. Measure the width and height of the door opening, rather than the door itself, to allow room for mounting hardware and position the hurricane panel flush with the house wall. If you want to protect the door frame like shown in the second image, measure from the outer edges of the frame so both the door and frame are protected.