If you’re in the market for new blinds, a popular brand you might want to consider is Hunter Douglas. When it comes to any window covering needs, they have a wide array of colors and materials available for you to choose from.
Hunter Douglas blinds cost anywhere from $20-$36 per square foot. The variance in the price of their shades will come from the size of the window and the material of the blinds that you choose.
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Pros and Cons of Hunter Douglas Blinds
As with almost all consumer products, you should weigh the pros and cons before you opt to buy them to ensure that Hunter Douglas blinds are worth it for your design needs.
Pros
Almost all Hunter Douglas products have a lifetime warranty on them. That means if any component on the blind fails to function, even years after installation, they will repair or replace them for free.
The only exception to the warranty is normal wear and tear, such as fading due to sun damage.
There are seemingly endless fabric and functionality options, like UV protection and varying degrees of insulation.
Tech lovers will be happy to know that some Hunter Douglas products can be fitted with a motorized operating system. That means you can control your blinds or shades remotely, either with a smartwatch, phone, or remote control.
Another important feature to note is that Hunter Douglas has a 4.3 out of 5-star rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), so the company has a high customer satisfaction rating.
Cons
The largest drawback for any Hunter Douglas product is that consumers cannot buy and install the blinds themselves straight from the store. All products have to be purchased through a licensed local specialist and have them installed by that company’s team.
This is supposed to ensure that the customer gets exactly what they want and no damage is done when installing them. Still, this adds an extra step for customers because it can draw out the process.
Though Hunter Douglas products are certainly not the most expensive option on the market, they do have a higher price point than other companies and brands. The average varies, but expect to pay a median of $26 per square foot, give or take.
How Much Are Hunter Douglas Blinds?
This is a difficult question to answer, but I can provide you with a little insight into the average cost & the factors which may affect it.
The standard window size is 3ft by 2ft or 36 inches by 24 inches. At a minimum, you can expect to pay $80-$120 per standard window if you go with the lowest-priced products and no additional customizations.
Now let’s take a look at the factors that may affect your final price.
The Type of Blinds or Shades
The price for installation is going to vary with each different product. Since they offer shades, drapes, blinds, and shutters, it’s difficult to determine the exact price without getting a quote from a professional.
Do you want horizontal or vertical blinds? Do you want metal or wood? Shutters and certain kinds of blinds (wood or aluminum) are going to cost you more than standard drapes or shades.
The Size of the Window
This one is a given. A larger window will up the cost because the square footage increases. Also, if you choose drapes then you need to decide whether you want the drapes to reach the floor or just the bottom of the window.
How Many Windows You Treat
Even though the standard price per window above seems a little steep, you may have the ability to receive a discount if you do several windows or your entire house.
Think of it as an incentive to redo your entire house. Some companies may phrase it as “Buy 3 windows, get a 4th window free!”. So, be sure to ask your salesperson if there are any discounts for getting more windows done.
This will effectively help your price-per-window go down.
Mechanisms
One of the reasons Hunter Douglas products are at the higher end of the price spectrum is because they have so many options to customize your blinds, including remote operating mechanisms.
If you want certain blinds or drapes to open/close with a motorized unit, you are going to pay more. But you can opt out of this feature to keep the costs lower if you wish.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes it can be frustrating to not know how much something will cost unless you speak with a salesperson. Although this may seem like a deterrent to consumers, it actually is in their best interest to have a professional help them customize their blind selection. Plus it gets you that lifetime warranty!
You can find a retailer in your area by visiting their website or calling your local home improvement store and asking them if they have a window treatment specialist. They will be able to show you samples and give you an accurate quote for your project.
My elderly neighbor had a sales rep from a third party blind company. She wanted two motorized blinds for her two skylights. The skylights are too high for mechanical operations, especially considering her physical limitations. She insisted on a paper quote as she does not have a computer and the internet to receive an email with the quote. The size of her windows are 28 7/8th inches width, and 45 7/8 length (measured by me, as the Company would not provide the measurements), or approx 9.25 sq-ft per window. You suggests approx. $26/sq-ft which would suggest the cost of the blinds would be ~$240. The costs on the quote were:
1. Blinds: $934 per blind (Includes Install): Total Cost (Less Tax): $1868.00
2. Motors: Two Motors Installed $960.00
3. RI Sales Tax at 7%: $197.96
4. Total cost to install two motorized skylight blinds would be: $3025.96.
This cost seems very excessive. Motorized blinds of other brands are significantly less and DIY (friendly neighbor install) would suggest a total cost of ~$500.00. I am not sure if these costs are typical of third party companies, but 84 year old women on fixed incomes would be had pressed to afford these apparent, overly inflated prices.
It would be great to know where Hunter Douglas makes its products – I really prefer to buy things made in America.