How Much Does Shutter Art Cost in London? A 2026 Price Guide
Your shutter is down every evening, every Sunday and every bank holiday. For half the week it is your shopfront. So it's no surprise that more London shops, cafés and bars are getting their shutters hand-painted, and the first question we always get asked is: how much does it cost?
The short answer: a single hand-painted shop shutter in London costs from about £500, and up to around £1,500 for detailed photorealistic artwork. Below we break down where your shutter is likely to land, what pushes the price up or down, and how to get the most out of your budget.
We're Paintbox Graffiti, a mural studio and graffiti shop at 389 New Cross Road, and we paint shutters across London, from single shopfronts to 25 shutters on Deptford High Street.
Shutter art prices at a glance
| Type of design | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Lettering, logo or bold graphics on a single shutter | From £500 |
| Illustrated or character designs | Priced on the level of detail |
| Photorealistic portraits and highly detailed artwork | Up to around £1,500 |
| Perforated or punched shutters | Extra prep, priced on request |
| Several shutters, or a whole parade or street | Cheaper per shutter |
These are starting points, not fixed prices. Every shutter is different, so we always quote for the actual shutter in front of us.
What changes the price of a painted shutter?
1. The level of detail
This is the biggest factor. Clean lettering and a logo can be painted quickly and still look sharp from across the road. An illustrated scene takes longer, and a photorealistic face, where every highlight and shadow has to be built up in spray paint, takes far longer again. If budget matters, a bold, graphic design almost always gives you the most impact for your money.
2. The size of the shutter
A standard single shopfront shutter is the baseline. Double-width shutters, tall units and corner shops with more than one shutter take more paint and more hours. Send us the width and height when you ask for a quote and we can be accurate straight away.
3. The type and condition of the shutter
Solid roller shutters are the easiest surface to paint. Perforated or punched shutters, the ones with small holes so you can see into the shop, need extra prep to get a clean finish, so they cost a little more. Old shutters with rust, flaking paint or heavy layers of tags also need cleaning and priming before the artwork goes on.
4. When we paint
Most single shutters are finished in a day. We usually paint outside your trading hours or on a day you're closed, so you don't lose business. Larger or more detailed shutters can take two days.
5. How many shutters
Painting several shutters in one go brings the price per shutter down, because the set-up, travel and design time are shared. That's exactly how the Deptford High Street project worked: 25 traders, one project, one street transformed. If your neighbours are interested too, ask us about a group price.
What's included in the price?
- A look at your shutter. We check the size, material and condition, either in person or from photos you send us.
- A design mock-up on a photo of your actual shutter, so you can see exactly how it will look on your street before anyone picks up a can. Changes at this stage are included.
- Painting on site by working graffiti artists, timed around your opening hours.
- An anti-graffiti, weather-resistant finish, so the artwork can be cleaned without damage and holds up to daily use.
We take a deposit to book your slot and start work on your design.
Is a painted shutter worth the money?
A blank grey shutter says nothing about your business. A painted one keeps working after you've gone home:
- Less tagging. A finished piece of artwork gets tagged far less than a blank shutter, and the protective coat means anything that does land can be cleaned off.
- Free advertising when you're closed. Evenings, Sundays and bank holidays, your shutter is still telling passers-by who you are and what you sell.
- People photograph it. A great shutter ends up on Instagram, on local pages and in people's feeds, which is reach you'd otherwise have to pay for.
- It's cheaper than most signage. A hand-painted shutter usually costs less than a new illuminated sign, and it's one of a kind.
For a deeper look at the business case for wall art, read why your business needs a mural.
A real example: Brobritos, Brockley Cross
For Brobritos at Brockley Cross, we started by mocking the design up on a photo of their actual shutter, based on the owner's own reference. The finished piece is their orange Brobritos bag on a black background, with hands reaching in from both sides. It's bold, it's instantly recognisable from the road, and it does the job of a sign every time the shop is shut. See the Brobritos shutter and the reel of it being painted.
How to get an accurate quote
Send us these and we can usually come back with a design idea and a price quickly:
- The width and height of your shutter (a rough measurement is fine)
- A clear photo of the shutter in daylight, plus one of the whole shopfront
- Whether it's solid or perforated
- Your address or area
- Any logo, brand colours or ideas you have in mind
- When you'd like it done
Shutter art FAQs
How much does it cost to paint a shop shutter in London?
From around £500 for a single shutter with lettering, a logo or bold graphics, up to around £1,500 for detailed photorealistic work. Perforated shutters cost a little more because of the extra prep.
How long does a painted shutter last?
With proper prep and a protective anti-graffiti coat, a painted shutter lasts for years. Any tags that do appear can usually be cleaned off without damaging the artwork.
Do I need permission to paint my shutter?
For your own shutter on your own unit, usually not. It can be different if your building is listed, if you're in a conservation area, if the landlord owns the shopfront, or if the design is mainly an advert. Our guide to mural permission in London explains when you need to check.
Do I have to close the shop?
No. We paint outside trading hours or on a day you're already closed.
Can you paint our branding?
Yes. We work from your logo, colours and brand guidelines, and turn them into something that reads as artwork rather than a printed advert.
Do you paint shutters outside South East London?
Yes. We're based in New Cross and paint shutters across London, including Deptford, Peckham, Lewisham, Greenwich, Camberwell, Brixton, Hackney and Shoreditch, and we take on larger projects outside London too.
Get a price for your shutter
Send us the width of your shutter and a photo, and we'll come back with a design idea and a price.
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