Shop shutters vs security grilles
A shutter closes the opening, and a grille guards it with an open mesh so the display stays visible. A roller grille has a guide price of £1,595 to £2,195 plus VAT up to 3 m, and planners often prefer one, especially inside the glass.
5 minute read. Last updated November 2026.
What is the difference between a shutter and a security grille?
A shutter closes the opening with a curtain of laths, and a grille guards it with an open mesh of links or bars. A grille stops people getting in. A solid shutter also stops most of what might be thrown or swung at the glass.
| Solid shutter | Roller grille | |
|---|---|---|
| View of the display | None | Clear, through the mesh |
| Light and air | None | Good |
| Hides stock | Yes | No |
| Stops objects hitting the glass | Yes | Partly, gaps remain |
| Rain and litter | Kept out | Come through to the recess and door |
| Guide price up to 3 m (plus VAT) | £1,450 to £1,995 | £1,595 to £2,195 |
| Guide price 5 to 6 m (plus VAT) | £2,895 to £3,995 | £3,095 to £4,295 |
Which types of security grille can a shop use?
Shops mostly use three types: roller grilles, side-folding scissor grilles and removable grilles. Roller grilles work like a shutter, rising into a box at the head.
- Brick-bond roller grille. Links set in a staggered pattern. This is the usual choice for a retail frontage.
- Scissor grille. Folds to one side. Richmond upon Thames says it may be considered where a brick-bond housing is not practical.
- Removable grille. Taken down each morning. It can suit a historic shopfront, but it needs storage and staff time every day.
We fit roller grilles. Contact us if your frontage needs something else.
Do security grilles need planning permission?
An external grille normally needs planning permission in the same way as an external shutter, but an internal grille usually does not in an unlisted building. Councils often prefer grilles to shutters, with the internal grille first:
- Leeds says all external grilles require planning permission, and that internal open mesh grilles do not in unlisted buildings.
- Conwy says external lattice, brick-bond and chain-link grilles need permission but are likely to comply with its policy in principle.
- Richmond upon Thames normally refuses external brick-bond grilles, and calls the internal grille the only acceptable form of security in conservation areas, unless an exception applies.
- Aberdeen says an internal grille, demountable or retractable, should remove the need for external shutters.
- Dumfries and Galloway calls internal open mesh shutters the most appropriate for conservation areas.
Notice the split. A grille that is welcome in Conwy can be refused in Richmond. Read our planning guide for how the law works in each nation, then ask your council.
What can a security grille not do?
A grille cannot protect the glass the way a solid shutter does, because the gaps let a pole or a thrown object through. That matters most if you are on a street with repeat vandalism.
Three other limits are easy to miss:
- Stock stays on view. Anyone can see what is worth taking, day or night.
- Dirt comes through. Leaves and litter collect in a recessed doorway behind an external grille.
- Glass stays your cost. One replacement pane has a guide price of £295 to £1,495 plus VAT.
Laminated glass pairs well with a grille, because it holds together when struck. Supplied and fitted, it has a guide price of £195 to £495 per m² plus VAT.
Is a grille or a shutter better for my shop?
A grille costs £145 to £200 plus VAT more than a solid electric shutter up to 3 m wide at guide price, so the choice rests on the street and the stock and not on budget.
| If this is true | Lean towards |
|---|---|
| The window sells to passers-by after closing | Grille |
| The council resists solid shutters | Grille, starting with an internal one |
| The shop needs air overnight | Grille |
| Stock is valuable and easy to carry | Solid or rated shutter |
| Repeat damage to the glass | Solid shutter, or laminated glass with a grille |
| Listed building | Internal grille, subject to listed building consent |
Between a grille and a perforated shutter, the question is how much view you need. See perforated vs solid vs vision for that comparison.
How do grille prices compare across widths?
A roller grille costs a little more than a solid shutter and a little less than a perforated one in most bands, so price rarely decides the choice. At 5 to 6 m the grille has a guide price of £3,095 to £4,295 plus VAT.
| Guide price (plus VAT) | Up to 3 m | 3 to 4 m | 4 to 5 m | 5 to 6 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid electric shutter | £1,450 to £1,995 | £1,895 to £2,595 | £2,395 to £3,195 | £2,895 to £3,995 |
| Roller grille | £1,595 to £2,195 | £2,095 to £2,795 | £2,595 to £3,395 | £3,095 to £4,295 |
| Perforated electric shutter | £1,750 to £2,295 | £2,195 to £2,895 | £2,695 to £3,495 | £3,195 to £4,295 |
Does a grille suit a takeaway or a late-opening shop?
A grille suits a takeaway well, because it lets air through a closed unit and keeps the menu and the lights on view from the street. Extraction, refrigeration and heat all build up in a sealed unit overnight, so an open mesh can help.
The drawbacks are food smells and litter drifting into a recess, and a clear view of the till and drinks fridges. Move anything worth taking out of sight at closing. For a late-opening shop, check that the grille can be closed quickly from one place at the end of the night.
Can a security grille be colour matched to the shopfront?
Yes, and many councils expect it, so plan for a colour from the start. Richmond upon Thames says any grille it does consider should be painted to match the shopfront, with the housing hidden completely behind the fascia. Leeds says permission for an external shutter is likely to depend on details such as a suitable colour.
A dark colour usually recedes behind the glass, while bare metal draws the eye. Allow £95 to £295 plus VAT at guide price for a special RAL colour.
How do I look after a roller grille?
A roller grille needs the same planned maintenance as a shutter, because it is a moving door with springs or a motor. Its links wear at the joints, and the open mesh collects grit in the guides, so keep the guides clean and watch for stiff or noisy running.
The service visit is the same as for a shutter, at a fixed price of £145 plus VAT per shutter. Get a guide figure for a grille from the quote tool, and we will confirm the type at a free survey for new work.
Common questions
Are grilles cheaper than shutters?
Not at guide price. A roller grille up to 3 m wide has a guide price of £1,595 to £2,195 plus VAT, against £1,450 to £1,995 plus VAT for a solid electric shutter.
Can a grille be fitted inside the glass?
Yes. An internal grille sits behind the glass, keeps the frontage unchanged and is the form many planners prefer.
Will a grille satisfy my insurer?
Ask before ordering. Some policies name a security level, and an open grille may or may not meet it.
Related services
Sources
- Leeds City Council: shop front security design aid
- Conwy County Borough Council: LDP3 shop front security
- London Borough of Richmond upon Thames: Design Guidelines Leaflet 11, shopfront security
- Aberdeen City Council: supplementary guidance, shops and signs
- Dumfries and Galloway Council: shopfronts and security planning guidance
Find out what your frontage will cost
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