Bahama shutters on real homes. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Custom wood shutters · Handcrafted in the USA
Classic Bahama Shutters
Shade That Still Lets You See Out
From $152per shutter, custom sized to the 1/8"
- Classic open louvers for shade with a view, or closed louvers for full privacy
- Four woods: Southern Yellow Pine, Incense Cedar, Red Grandis, or African Mahogany
- Built to the 1/8", up to 120" wide and 108" long
- Free shipping on shutters less than 76"; larger sizes ship for an oversize fee
- Ships in approximately 6–8 weeks, backed by our 5-year material and workmanship warranty
The Shutter That Works for a Living
A Bahama shutter earns its keep every afternoon. It hinges at the top of the window and props open from the bottom on adjustable arms, so it hangs over the glass like a louvered awning. The angled blades turn away direct sun and driving rain, air keeps moving through, and you keep your view. On a hot west-facing room the difference is something you feel, not just something you see.
The look comes straight from the islands and the Gulf Coast, which is why you will also hear these called Bermuda shutters — and, in storm country, hurricane shutters. Put a pair on a cottage and it reads as a beach house. Put a row of them across a lake home and the whole elevation relaxes. There is no other shutter style that changes the character of a house this much.
Ours are built the way outdoor woodwork should be: hand-assembled joints, screw-type construction rather than staples, and corrosion-resistant fasteners throughout. The wood is furniture-grade Select Grade from managed forests. Because we build them in our own shop and never out-source construction, we control the quality at every step and pass the savings on to you.
Two Louver Styles
Both styles are built identically and priced the same. The only question is how much you want to see through.
Classic
Open louvers shade the window while leaving a clear view out through the blades. Our standard style.
Closed Louver
Blades seated tight against one another for full privacy and deeper shade. Request it on your order.
Choose Your Wood
All four are furniture-grade Select Grade, harvested from managed forests. If you plan to paint, pine is the value choice; if you want grain under a stain, look at Red Grandis or mahogany.
- Southern Yellow PineDense, strong, and the best value in the line. Takes primer and paint beautifully.
- Incense CedarNaturally resistant to rot and insects, light in weight, and stable in humid coastal air.
- Red GrandisA clear, close-grained eucalyptus hardwood from managed plantations. Excellent for stain.
- African MahoganyThe premium choice. Rich color, exceptional stability, and a grain worth showing off.
Finishes
- UnfinishedReady for you to prime and paint yourself.
- PrimedGeneral Finishes Enduro White Undercoat, an exterior water-based primer tinted medium grey. Recommended if you plan to paint.
- PaintedFinished in your choice of in-stock color or a custom color match, using General Finishes coatings.
- Stain-GradeHand-selected best pieces of wood in the lot. Staining services are not offered.
Built-to-Order Options
- Louver SizeEither louver profile, or a size of your own.
- Louver AngleSet for more shade or more view than our standard.
- Horizontal Rail AdditionAn extra rail across the louver field.
- Stile & Rail SizesWider or narrower than standard.
- Shutter ThicknessHeavier stock for large openings or a more substantial look.
Email your special requirements to sales@sunbeltshutters.com and we will quote them.
Support Arms and Mounting
Adjustable arms set the angle and hold the shutter open.
A Bahama hangs from a hinge across the top of the window and rests on a pair of adjustable support arms. Slide the arms out and the shutter drops toward the wall for more shade and more privacy; pull them in and it lifts for more light and more view. It takes a few seconds and no tools.
Because the hinge runs along the head of the window, mounting is the one place worth slowing down — it decides your width:
- Mounted inside a recessed opening — the shutter must be no wider than what will fit within the opening.
- Mounted outside the opening — make it the width of your window plus an allowance for the arms to prop it open.
Pair your shutters with hinges and arms from our full line of hard-to-find shutter hardware.
Mullion Placement and Measuring
The width of your shutter determines how many mullions divide the louver field. Wider shutters get more, which keeps the blades straight and the frame rigid over time.
| 8" – 23" | No mullion |
|---|---|
| 23-1/4" – 44-3/8" | One mullion |
| 44-1/2" – 65-1/2" | Two mullions |
| 65-5/8" – 86-5/8" | Three mullions |
| Over 86-3/4" | A mullion every 21" |
Standard sizes run up to 76" wide; anything larger ships with an Oversize Shipping Fee. Need a different mullion arrangement? Contact us — we can usually work something out.
On Real Homes
Every shutter below came out of our shop and went up on a customer's house.
Our Classic Bahama Shutter Features
- Custom made to your exact specifications, to the 1/8"
- Free shipping on shutters less than 76"
- Ships in approximately 6–8 weeks from our shop
- Crafted in the USA from furniture-grade Select Grade wood
- Hand-assembled joints, screw-type construction, corrosion-resistant fasteners
- Wood harvested from managed forests
- Perfect for functional use or decorative installation
- Special sizes and applications quoted on request: sales@sunbeltshutters.com
Specifications
| Select Grade Lumber | 1-3/4" x 1/4" Louver | 1-3/4" x 3/8" Louver |
|---|---|---|
| Louver Angle | 40° open style 17° closed style | 30° open style 22° closed style |
| Shutter Thickness | 1-1/2" thick | 1-1/2" thick |
| Stiles and Mullions | 2-1/8" wide | 2-1/8" wide |
| Top Rail | 3" wide | 3" wide |
| Bottom Rail | 3"+ wide | 3"+ wide |
| Maximum Width | 120" | 120" |
| Maximum Length | 108" | 108" |
Please note: our Bahama shutters are decorative and functional shade shutters. They are not certified to Florida hurricane building codes. If your project requires code-rated storm protection, you will need a certified impact product.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Bahama shutter?
A Bahama shutter hinges at the top of the window and props open from the bottom on adjustable support arms, so it sits over the glass like a louvered awning. The angled louvers block direct sun and driving rain while still letting air move and letting you see out. The style is also called a Bermuda shutter, and in coastal towns you will hear it called a hurricane shutter.
What is the difference between the classic and closed-louver styles?
The classic style has open louvers that shade the window while leaving a clear view out through the blades. The closed-louver style seats the blades tight against one another for full privacy and deeper shade. Both are built the same way and cost the same — the choice is about how much you want to see out.
How long does it take to build my Bahama shutters?
Your custom Bahama shutters ship in approximately 6–8 weeks from our shop. Since every shutter is built to order, we recommend ordering early for construction and remodeling deadlines.
Do Bahama shutters qualify for free shipping?
Yes. We offer free shipping on Bahama shutters less than 76". Larger sizes are available with an Oversize Shipping Fee. See our Shipping Information page for full details.
How large can a Bahama shutter be built?
We build Bahama shutters to the 1/8 inch, up to 120" wide and 108" long. Standard sizes run to 76" wide; anything larger ships with an Oversize Shipping Fee. For unique sizes or special design requirements, email sales@sunbeltshutters.com for a quote.
Are Bahama shutters certified to hurricane codes?
No. Our Bahama shutters are decorative and functional shade shutters, and they are not certified to Florida hurricane building codes. If your project requires code-rated storm protection, you will need a certified impact product.
Ready When You Are
Enter your measurements, pick your wood and finish, and our ordering system prices your shutters as you go. No waiting on a quote.