You’re cleaning your floors, running the vacuum over the floor alongside your windows. All of a sudden, you hear that awful sound and you know: you’ve vacuumed up the cord for your shades. We’ve all done it, and it’s the worst.
As you spend the next fifteen minutes de-tangling the cord from the vacuum inch by inch, you finally make a resolution to toss the cord and get motorized shades once and for all.
Then comes the next question: how much should you budget? Here’s the breakdown you need about the cost of motorized shades.
The Average Cost of Motorized Shades
Everyone wants to know how much their home improvement project will cost, and there’s almost never a cut and dried answer. As with most projects, there’s a huge range of prices you might see.
If you need a general range, you can expect to pay around $320-$650 per average window with the installation. You have to take that with a massive grain of salt, though. That’s a significant range already, and it doesn’t come close to accounting for all factors.
In reality, your costs will vary based on a wide number of options and circumstances like the ones below.
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Factors That Affect the Cost of Your Motorized Shades
How can you narrow down the estimated costs for your motorized shades? The only way to know for sure is to get an estimate from a company that provides motorized shades. To get a bit more educated before you do, though, here are the key factors that impact the cost of your motorized shades.
The Motor
There’s a reason motorized couches and chairs cost so much more than standard ones. Motors are expensive, and they come in a wide range of prices as well.
In some cases, you may be able to choose from a few motors. In other cases, the company will only use a set of motors that they feel confident will offer you a high quality.
Motors vary in price based on their quality and the amount of power they provide. Motorized shades don’t need much power, but quality can make a significant difference. Cheaping out on your motor can cost you more in the long run with repairs and replacements.
A motor’s price can account for other features as well. Some are more energy-efficient than others. They also have more noise level variation than you might expect.
Materials and Type of Shades
As with traditional shades, the price of your motorized shades will depend on the type of shades you choose. Because motorized shades are luxury products, most of the materials are on the higher end of quality as well.
One factor to consider is how much light you want the shades to block. Some materials have a specialized coating to block far more light.
In any case, make sure you can see a sample in person before you buy. You want to inspect the texture of the material as well as the way it looks with your decor.
Automation Levels
Some motorized shades have a basic remote control so you manually control them when you want. Others, though, have automation and smart home options.
With high-end motorized shades, you may be able to program them to open at a certain time each morning so you can awake with the sun. You can also program them to stay closed at the sunniest points of the day to lower your energy bills.
There’s no denying that automated shades have some added convenience, not to mention a bit of a James Bond factor. As you would expect, though, this will boost your price.
Window Sizing
It seems obvious that the more space you want to cover, the more your shades will cost. With motorized shades, though, it has a bit more significance.
If you have windows that are an unconventional size, you may need to pay extra for custom sizing. To cover large spaces, you might also have to step up to a more powerful motor due to the added weight. That will affect your total cost in a big way.
To get an accurate quote, don’t try to measure for window treatments yourself. Make sure you have the shade distributor or manufacturer come out and measure for themselves. They know what measurements to take and what to look for.
Powering Mechanism
There are plenty of ways to power a motorized shade, and this will affect their prices too.
The most common options include batteries, wall plugs, and hard-wiring into your electrical system. Each one has their pros and cons. For instance, you’ll need to replace a battery from time to time, but a plug-in motor will leave you with a wire. Hard-wiring will mean a longer and more expensive installation.
Installation Costs
Along with the price of the shades themselves, you need to factor in the installation costs for your motorized shades.
Of course, some motorized shades will cost more to install than others. The biggest factor in your installation costs, though, is who you hire. Most companies who provide motorized shades will offer installation at a price.
A word to the wise: don’t cheap out on this. Some homeowners try to save money by hiring a handyman or even installing the shades by themselves. These choices can cost you far more in the long run. You can damage the shades or even damage your electrical system if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Budgeting for Motorized Shades
It’s clear that there’s no solitary answer to the question of how much your motorized shades will cost. The list above is just a starting point, and there may be even more factors that impact your cost.
The only way to be confident in your budget is to get a detailed estimate from a company that provides motorized shades. They’ll help you go over all your options and set a more specific price so you can budget accordingly.
If you’re ready to take that step, contact us for your quote on motorized shades.
