Though it might appear more challenging because of the hardware on a casement window, it is actually quite simple to successfully install plantation shutters on casement windows. All styles (
café shutters,
full height shutters or
tier on tier shutters) and all materials have options that can be custom tailored to fit your casement windows.
What is a casement window?
Casement windows are usually a single pane of glass that opens out toward the exterior of the home. The handles on these windows are often cranks that protrude a few inches out from the glass itself. They also have lever-style locks that require more depth to lift the lever up and down to unlock/ lock the window.
With hardware that needs sufficient recess depth to operate properly, these windows are usually in a recess that can easily accommodate a shutter, but the shutter frame itself could pose as an interference to the locks, or the extended crank handle could prevent the shutter frame from fitting inside the recess.
While you can opt for a 3-sided frame around only the left, right and top sides of the shutter, the crank handle may still prevent the shutter panel from closing properly. And a 4-sided frame is always recommended for the easiest installation, longevity of the unit, and best panel alignment.
None of these factors prevent you from being able to install shutters, however! It just takes a bit more consideration to determine which frame mount and style will work best for you.
Measuring Casement Windows for Shutters 
For the easiest installation, and to ensure that the shutter and window hardware do not interfere with one another, we recommend an outside mount L-Frame.
In our outside mount measuring guide, you will find both step-by-step measuring instructions as well as the specs and printable templates for all of our frames.
>> Outside Mount Measuring Guide
Measuring for outside mount is as simple as measuring the window opening, then adding the width of your selected frame, so that the frame sits tight to the window opening. If you are covering an existing window trim, you can simply measure from outer edge to outer edge of the existing trim.
Essentially, just be sure to provide the outside, finished dimensions of the area you want the shutter frame to cover. You can print the frame templates from our measuring guide to visualize how the frame will fit on top of your trim and to help you take accurate measurements.
If you are considering an inside mount, the first step should be visiting our inside mount measuring guide. Our guides have templates for all available frame styles offered in each of our materials. By printing the frame templates out to scale (be sure your printer is set to 100% scale for accuracy) you can visualize how the frame will fit inside your window recess.
>> Inside Mount Measuring Guide
You can use this to check if you have space for the shutter frame to fit in front of the crank handle, if your locks are still able to operate properly without hitting the frame, and that the frame does not obstruct rotation of the crank to open the window.
Our frames come in varying widths and depths, so you are likely to find one that is a good fit for your particular window. Some customers will also replace an extended crank handle with a butterfly, or T-style, crank which has a slimmer profile and does not need as much room to rotate.
You can also pull the inside mount shutter frame out slightly past the edge of the wall or trim to create more space. You also want to reference the recess depth requirements charted in our measuring guides to ensure you will have enough clearance for the slat size you have chosen, to ensure the slats can fully rotate open and closed without hitting any obstructions.
For inside mount, you will have a choice of an L-Frame or a Z-Frame. If you need to pull the frame out away from the glass, you will need to use an L-Frame. And given that casement windows generally already have a trim surrounding the opening, you would not need the Z-Frames (which have a flange of overlapping trim).
Getting started with casement window shutters
The best place to start after reviewing our measuring guides above is our online shop, where you can choose your preferred
DIY shutters style, material, and design your custom shutter. The website will walk you through choosing your slat size, color, framing and truly customizing the shutter to fit your window practically as well as fitting in with your design aesthetic.
>> Shop All Styles
There is a free design consultation with every order. Once your order is placed, one of our shutter experts will always call to verbally review and confirm all order specs with you prior to production.
If you have a casement window, it is always a good idea to attach a photo to your order. This way our shutter expert can spot any potential obstructions and help make any adjustments necessary to your order to ensure a proper fit.
If you get stuck anywhere along the way, you can always call, email, or online chat with our shutter experts. Emailing us a picture of the window is a great place to start, as we can mark up the picture to walk you through measuring and choosing the best style to fit your window. Be sure any existing window coverings are opened when you take the picture so that we can have a clear view of the inside of the recess, any trim or casing, and the hardware or any obstructions inside the window opening.
>> Contact Us