Impact Windows vs. Hurricane Shutters: Which is Best?

Coastal homeowners ask us this question every hurricane season. After working with thousands of homeowners up and down Florida's coast, Texas, up the East Coast and beyond, here's what we've learned: some homeowners go with impact windows, some go with storm shutters, some go with both. The right answer depends on your budget, personal preference, ability to install some systems, and maybe even HOA requirements, etc.

Of course, we’re window experts, but we’re not storm experts. Always follow local authority recommendations during severe weather events. Have an emergency plan ready for your household—and when authorities say it's time to go, go. We're in the business of helping you protect your home, but your safety always comes first.

So which makes more sense for your home: impact windows or storm shutters? And how do you know whether your area's building code actually requires one over the other?

In this article, we'll explain what an impact window is, what storm shutters are, the codes and certifications that apply in coastal areas, the pros and cons of each option, and how to decide which is the better fit for your home. By the end, you'll know whether your home needs impact windows, shutters, or a combination, and you'll know what questions to ask any contractor giving you a quote.

What Happens to Your Home When a Hurricane Hits?

When a hurricane or tropical storm hits, many homeowners are worried about water in their home if a window breaks. But the worst damage can occur when a window or door is broken, allowing wind to enter the home, causing higher internal pressure on the inside. These higher internal pressures combined with external pressures can cause severe structural damage—the roof may blow off or the walls may collapse.

Preserving your home’s “envelope” is critical during hurricanes and tropical storms. The right windows or hurricane shutters can help keep your home intact and minimize damage. But are hurricane shutters or impact windows better? And which is right for you?

What Is an Impact Window?

An impact window, sometimes called an impact-resistant window or a hurricane window, is a type of window designed specifically to withstand hurricane-force winds, torrential rains, flying debris, and other harsh weather. All windows are rated for performance grade (PG) as a measure of their air, water and structural performance combined.

Here are some of the components unique to impact windows:

• Heavy-duty frame: The window frames of impact windows are often thicker and stronger than standard windows, and are commonly made of vinyl, aluminum, clad-wood, or composite material.
• Laminated glass: Impact windows have glass that is bonded to a shatter-resistant polymer. That means even if a large object hits it, the glass may crack but it stays in the frame, helping to prevent a large hole from forming.

What are the pros of impact windows?

Impact windows can be a simple solution for some people. Here are the pros of impact windows:

• Allow you to skip the hurricane shutters: When a heavy storm comes, there’s no need to board up or put up hurricane shutters, as the impact windows provide strong and passive protection. The other upside is if you happen to be out of town when a strong storm hits, your home is ready to go, and you don’t need to quickly find a company to put hurricane shutters on for you.
• In-home aesthetic: Because you don’t need to cover your windows with hurricane shutters, you don’t get that dark, cave feeling during a storm. Jeff and Mary, homeowners in Southwest Florida, describe what it was like during Hurricane Ian in 2022 when they had metal shutters. “We lost our power right away. And that hurricane was a slow moving one. So it lasted eight hours and we just had flashlights. You didn't know what was going on. All you could do was hear the noise.”
• Lower homeowner insurance: According to U.S. News & World Report some states will offer a reduced annual premium for insurance if all windows and doors are impact-rated. (Some insurers also offer discounts on premiums for having storm shutters installed.)
• Forced entry resistance: Impact windows are strong enough to help deter break-ins^.†
• Better energy efficiency and UV protection: Some impact windows have a low-e (low emissivity) coating option that helps reduce damaging UV rays. This helps with better energy efficiency and also helps slow the fading of your furniture and wood floors from fading.
• Better noise reduction: With stronger, sometimes thicker glass and thicker frames, you’ll also enjoy a higher level of noise reduction than standard windows.
• Turtle glass: Some impact windows have turtle glass options. Turtle glass has a specialized glass coating designed to prevent artificial light from confusing sea turtles. Some jurisdictions in Florida require turtle glass in some coastal areas.

What are the cons of impact windows?

• Higher cost: U.S. News & World Report says on average, impact windows cost 20-40% more than standard windows.
• Installation: With impact windows, proper installation is more important than ever. An improper seal can be critical to avoiding major damage in the next storm. You might want to consider hiring a professional for this one, which can add to the overall cost of the project.

Are impact windows required in my area?

In many coastal areas, building codes actually require impact windows if you don’t have code-certified hurricane shutters (we’ll get to that in a bit). These regulations depend on specific wind-speed zones, and areas within one mile of the coastline typically require impact-resistant windows. Each county may have unique regulations, so check with your local municipality.

What codes and certifications do you need to look for?

If you live in Florida, you might know about Florida Building Code, which has some of the strictest requirements in the country. Some Florida counties, like Miami-Dade and Broward counties, are classified as HVHZ (High-Velocity Hurricane Zones). If you live in these areas, you’ll need windows that comply with HVHZ performance requirements. If you don’t live in this zone, products that meet HVHZ performance requirements can still give you peace of mind.

Hurricane shutters, also called storm shutters, are protective coverings that are also used to help minimize hurricane damage primarily from flying debris. In HVHZ areas and other parts of Florida, hurricane shutters can be an alternative to impact windows. Shutters are also allowed by Florida Building Code.

What kind of hurricane shutters are there?

• Hurricane panels: Slabs of steel, aluminum, fiberglass, engineered fabric, vinyl, or wood secured over windows in preparation for a storm but stored elsewhere when not in use.
• Colonial hurricane shutters: Side-hinged exterior shutters that are attached to your window frames year round. They open and close over your windows like doors and can be made of wood, aluminum, PVC, or fiberglass. This is more commonly seen on historic homes.
• Accordion shutters: Mount to the side of the window and unfold across the window when needed.
• Roll-down shutters: Stay in a box that mounts above each window and unroll over your windows with a push of a button.
• Bahama shutters: Like colonial shutters, these attach to your window frames year-round and close only when needed. But they can also act as an awning when a storm isn’t brewing.
• Hurricane screens are made with high-strength mesh and are flexible but still provide some protection from torrential rains.

^{Pictured: Bahama-style shutters}

Pros of hurricane shutters

• Cost: According to Houzz, installing hurricane shutters costs homeowners anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000 for a whole home, with an average of $5,000 per project. The cost varies widely for the type of shutters (automatic or mechanical shutters are on the higher end, and plywood or metal shutter panels are on the lower end). That said, non-mechanical shutters typically cost less than it costs to have impact windows installed.
• DIY-able: Depending on the type of shutter and the type of installation, you may be able to install your shutters yourself, which cuts down on overall cost due to lack of paid labor.

Cons of hurricane shutters

• May not protect against air and water infiltration: The Home Depot says the best option for coastal homes is impact windows, and the second-best option is hurricane shutters. Shutters will definitely do the job, but they may not be the best option available. Unlike impact windows, hurricane shutters are neither designed nor certified to resist air and water infiltration.
• May require manual prep: Along with making sure you have enough bottled water, toilet paper, and solar chargers, your storm prep may include manually deploying your shutters (unless you have mechanical shutters that can be deployed via an app remotely). Depending on the type you have, it can require more than one person to engage them, and that gets trickier if you have second-floor windows and doors. If you happen to be out of town when a hurricane hits, your home is left vulnerable to the storm unless you have a company that quickly puts them on while handling other homeowners’ requests.
• Aesthetics: When you’re inside your home with the hurricane shutters closed, it can feel dark and cave-like — darker if you lose power.

What’s Best for You?

Only you can decide whether impact windows or hurricane shutters are best for your home. If you value ease, aesthetics, and added energy efficiency and UV protection, impact windows with Low-E glass will be best for you.

If you want an option that is less expensive and you’re willing to do the manual prep required before each storm hits, hurricane shutters are an option.

Remember, not everyone needs impact windows. Your decision ultimately depends on where you live and what your priorities are. If you live far inland, temporary shutters might be just fine. Contact your code official for code requirements in your area.

Check out the comparison chart below for a snapshot of each option.

As a part of the Andersen family specializing in replacement windows and doors, we have over a century of product development at our fingertips. Our Acclaim® Impact windows are the culmination of hard work, exhaustive testing, and continuous improvements. We’re proud to offer homeowners in coastal regions the results of our innovation.

Here are some of the best things about our Acclaim® Impact windows:

• Approved through the Florida Product Approval program for use in the High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ) and broader coastal areas
• Built to withstand hurricane-force winds, heavy rains and flying debris*
• Help safeguard your home from everyday threats like heat, humidity, salt water, damaging UV rays and termites**
• Meets the highest grade of forced-entry resistance and can help deter break-in attempts at your home†
• Made with Fibrex® material, which offers the strength and insulating value of wood with the low maintenance features of vinyl
• Fibrex material never requires painting and will not crack, pit, corrode, or rot**
• Enhanced triple-pane, Low-E, and turtle glass options available

If you’ve decided to go with impact windows, consider Renewal by Andersen. With high-quality and durable impact windows and a one-company accountability with signature service, you’ll be in good hands. Schedule your free in-home consultation today.

Questions Homeowners Also Ask

Do impact windows fail in strong hurricanes?

Yes, different impact windows meet different standards. HVHZ-approved impact windows meet higher standards for impact and wind pressure resistance. Impact windows that are rated PG 50 or higher generally indicates the ability to withstand stronger winds. Storms can have different intensities as they pass, impacting overall performance.

Can I install impact windows myself?

You absolutely can, but that doesn’t mean you should. With impact windows, proper installation is more important than ever. An improper seal could mean major damage to your home in the next storm. You might want to consider hiring a professional for this one.

Do impact windows pay for themselves through insurance discounts?

They can. According to U.S. News & World Report, some states will offer a reduced annual premium for insurance if all windows and doors are impact rated. Depending on your insurance premium amount and the amount you paid for your impact windows, the windows can help “pay for themselves” over time.

What kind of windows are required in HVHZ areas?

HVHZ areas require either impact windows that comply with regulations or shutters that comply with regulations. It is possible to have HVHZ-approved impact windows, HVHZ-approved shutters, or both. As always, check with your local code official for requirements in your area.

Do I need hurricane shutters if I have impact windows?

If you have impact windows, you may not necessarily need hurricane shutters. That said, some homeowners have and use both impact windows and hurricane shutters for extra peace of mind, especially in preparation for a stronger storm. Check your local code official for requirements in your area.

Citations

^{* Tested to NAFS and TAS 201, 202, and 203. Performance values vary by product. See your local code official for building code requirements. Visit renewalbyandersen.com/coastal for performance information.
** See Renewal by Andersen Products and Installation Transferable Limited Warranty for details.
† Most Renewal by Andersen Acclaim Impact windows are tested in accordance with test standard ASTM F588 at a Grade 40.}