Manual roller shutters
Push-up and hand-crank shutters with no wiring, for smaller openings and simple sites.
A manual roller shutter is raised and lowered by hand, either pushed up with a spring-balanced barrel or wound with a crank handle. It needs no power supply, which keeps the cost down and suits small shops, kiosks, hatches and outbuildings.
- Shop & commercial shutters
- From £445 + VAT
- UK-wide
Get a free quote
Send the postcode and rough size. We reply with a guide price and book a free survey.
How manual roller shutters work
Push-up shutters use a tensioned spring in the barrel to balance the curtain, so a person can lift it with a pole or by hand. Hand-crank shutters use a gearbox and handle, which makes heavier or wider curtains manageable without a motor. Because there is no wiring, a manual shutter avoids the cost of a power supply and electrical connection. Springs lose tension over time, so a manual shutter that has become heavy to lift usually needs adjustment rather than replacement.
Manual shutters can be converted to electric later if the curtain and box are in good condition. Padlock or bottom-rail locks secure a manual shutter to the ground or guides once it is closed. Push-up operation is best kept to smaller openings; above about 3m wide a crank or motor is normally more practical.
Aluminium curtains are often chosen for push-up shutters because they are lighter to lift every day. Manual shutters are common on kiosks, serving hatches, garages and outbuildings where daily use is light. Regular cleaning of the guide rails keeps a manual curtain running smoothly and reduces the effort needed.
Options we can specify
- Spring-balanced push-up operation
- Hand-crank gearbox for wider or heavier curtains
- No power supply or electrician needed
- Bottom-rail and padlock locking options
- Aluminium or galvanised steel laths
- Can be converted to electric later
- Solid or perforated curtains
- Powder coating to a RAL colour
Typical specification
| Operation | Spring-balanced push-up or geared hand crank |
|---|---|
| Curtain | Aluminium or galvanised steel laths |
| Locking | Bottom-rail locks or padlock to ground |
| Best for | Openings up to about 3m wide with light daily use |
| Upgrade | Can be motorised later if the curtain and box are sound |
How much do manual roller shutters cost?
Manual roller shutters typically cost £445 to £2,595 ex VAT (£534 to £3,114 inc VAT) for the common sizes we fit, depending on width, operation, lath type and finish. Larger or specialist jobs are priced after survey.
| Option | Ex VAT | Inc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-crank shutter for wider or heavier openings | £1,395 to £2,595 | £1,674 to £3,114 |
| Push-up shopfront shutter, up to 3m wide | £1,195 to £1,995 | £1,434 to £2,394 |
| Small window or hatch, up to 1.5m wide | £445 to £895 | £534 to £1,074 |
Guide prices assume a straightforward opening. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the survey, before anything is ordered.
Work out your own guide price
Enter the width and height, choose the operation and lath type, and the quote tool draws your shutter to scale with a price range.
Rules that apply
What the law and planning system expect, by nation. We check these at survey.
Planning permission for shopfront shutters
England
In England an external shutter on a shopfront is usually treated as development that needs planning permission from the local planning authority, and a listed building also needs listed building consent. Many councils' shopfront design guides favour internal shutters, perforated or open-grille designs and boxes hidden behind the fascia, and some refuse solid external shutters in conservation areas and on main shopping streets.
Wales
In Wales an external shopfront shutter normally needs planning permission from your county or county borough council, or the national park authority, and a listed building also needs listed building consent. Welsh councils' design guidance often prefers internal or open-pattern grilles to solid shutters, particularly in conservation areas.
Scotland
In Scotland fitting an external security shutter to a shopfront normally needs planning permission from the council, and listed building consent if the building is listed. Councils often ask for the box to be concealed and for open or perforated designs rather than solid shutters in conservation areas.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland planning permission for an external shopfront shutter is decided by your local council, which took over most planning decisions in 2015, and a listed building also needs listed building consent. Design guidance generally favours shutters that keep the frontage visible.
What happens next
Send the details
Give us the postcode, approximate width and height, and what the shutter is protecting.
We survey the opening
An engineer measures and checks the fixings, power and any planning constraints.
You approve a fixed price
The quote lists the specification and price in writing, so there are no surprises.
We fit and commission
Your shutter is installed, tested and handed over with instructions and paperwork.
Manual roller shutters: common questions
Why is my manual shutter so heavy to lift?
Usually the spring in the barrel has lost tension or the guides need cleaning. A shutter engineer can re-tension the spring, which is far cheaper than replacing the shutter.
What is the widest manual shutter?
Push-up shutters work best up to about 3m wide. Wider or heavier curtains are normally fitted with a hand crank or a motor so they can be operated safely.
Can I add a motor later?
Yes, in many cases. If the curtain, barrel and box are in good order, a tube motor and key switch can be fitted. See our manual-to-electric conversion service.
Are manual shutters less secure than electric ones?
Not inherently. Security comes from the curtain, guides and locks. Manual shutters are secured with bottom-rail locks or padlocks, while electric shutters are held down by the motor and locks.
Is the survey free?
Yes, for new shutters, grilles and doors: the survey and written quote are free and there is no obligation to go ahead. Repair and servicing visits are charged, and we tell you the price before we visit.
Are your prices fixed?
Yes. After the survey you get a written price for the agreed specification, confirmed before anything is ordered or any work starts. If you change the specification, or a hidden problem such as a weak lintel is found during fitting, we price it and agree it with you before carrying on.
Related services
Manual to electric conversion
Add a motor and controls to an existing manual shutter that is still in good condition.
Security roller shutters
Made-to-measure roller shutters for shops, offices and commercial units.
Counter & hatch shutters
Compact shutters for serving hatches, bars, kiosks, receptions and canteens.
Roller shutter repairs
Repairs to stuck, noisy, damaged and broken shutters of any make.
Manual roller shutters near you
Choose your county or area for local details and towns we cover.
England
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- County Durham
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
Scotland
Ready for a fixed price?
Free survey, made-to-measure shutters and a written quote before any work starts.