Window coverings are one of the few purchases in a renovation where the same job can be quoted at $900 and $4,000 without either quote being dishonest. The difference is almost never the size of the window. It is fabric, mount, hardware and what got left out of the cheaper quote.
This is the price guide we wish more Sydney homeowners had before they started getting quotes. It covers every product we install, what each one actually costs in 2026, the add-ons that quietly double a quote, and how to compare two prices that look nothing alike.
Quick answer — 2026 Sydney prices, supplied and installed: blockout roller blinds $150–$500 per window · custom curtains $400–$1,000+ per window · plantation shutters $500–$1,500 per window · folding arm awnings $1,500–$4,000 · Zipscreen $800–$2,500 per opening · retractable flyscreens $450–$1,600 per opening · louvre roof pergola $1,200–$2,500 per m².
What's in this guide
Every product, one price table
All figures are supplied and installed, for a standard single window or opening, Sydney metro, 2026. They are the ranges we quote — your number is confirmed in writing after a free measure.
| Product | Typical cost | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Blockout roller blind (inside reveal) | $150–$500 | per window |
| Blockout roller blind (outside reveal) | $200–$600 | per window |
| Blockout blind with side tracks | $450–$1,200 | per window |
| Fully sealed blockout system | $600–$1,600 | per window |
| Custom curtains (single layer) | $400–$1,000+ | per window |
| Custom curtains (double track, sheer + blockout) | $2,000+ | per wall |
| Plantation shutters | $500–$1,500 | per window |
| Retractable flyscreen (window or single door) | $200–$500 | per opening |
| Retractable flyscreen (bifold / French doors) | $450–$1,600 | per opening |
| Zipscreen outdoor blind | $800–$2,500 | per opening |
| Folding arm awning (manual) | $1,500–$4,000 | per unit |
| Folding arm awning (motorised + wind sensor) | $3,000–$7,000+ | per unit |
| Louvre roof pergola | $1,200–$2,500 | per m² |
Each of these has a dedicated guide if you want the detail: blockout blinds with side tracks, custom curtain costs, PVC vs timber shutters, Zipscreen ratings and cost, folding arm awnings, louvre roof pergolas and flyscreens for bifold and French doors.
What actually drives the price
Five things, in order of how much they move the number:
- Hardware, not fabric. On blinds it is the tube, brackets and mechanism. On Zipscreen it is the track and motor. On pergolas it is the blade span and extrusion thickness. Two quotes that differ by $1,000 usually differ in hardware, and the cheaper one is where the failures come from.
- Mounting method. An inside-reveal blind and an outside-reveal blind with a pelmet and side tracks are the same fabric and roughly double the price. The extra money buys darkness, not material.
- Fabric grade and fullness. On curtains, fullness is the big one — 1.5× the window width versus 2.5× is nearly 70% more fabric for the same window.
- Motorisation. Adds $400–$900 on a blind, and can double an awning. Worth it for wide, high or hard-to-reach openings; rarely worth it for a standard bedroom window.
- Access and fixing. A second-storey window, a rendered wall that needs anchors, or a job that needs two people and a scaffold all add labour that has nothing to do with the product.
The add-ons people forget
This is where a "cheap" quote becomes an expensive surprise. None of these are optional extras in the sense of nice-to-have — they are the parts that make the product work:
| Add-on | Typical cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Side tracks / channels on a blockout blind | +$250–$600 per window | Without them the room is dim, not dark |
| Pelmet or headrail box | +$150–$400 | Closes the gap that throws light across the ceiling |
| Bottom guide on a wide flyscreen | +$80–$220 | Stops the mesh bowing and the screen gapping |
| Motor + wind sensor on an awning or Zipscreen | +$400–$2,500 | Retracts itself in wind — protects the product and the warranty |
| Old product removal and disposal | $50–$200 | Frequently left out, then added on the day |
| Strata approval documentation | Varies | Required before installation on most apartment balconies |
Cheap vs expensive: what you actually get
We are not going to pretend the cheapest option is always bad. Sometimes it is exactly right. But it helps to know what changes as the price goes up:
- Under $200 per window (blinds). Standard imported tube and brackets, basic fabric, inside-reveal only. Fine for a spare room. Will not hold tension on a wide window, and the fabric will fade on a west face within a few years.
- $200–$600. Proper made-to-measure fabric, better tube, outside-reveal option. This is the sensible band for most bedrooms and living areas.
- $600–$1,600. Sealed systems, tracks, pelmets, motorisation. You are buying darkness, convenience and longevity, not a nicer colour.
On pergolas the same logic is more brutal: a cheap imported louvre kit has thinner extrusions and shorter maximum blade spans, which is why it is not suitable for an exposed Sydney site. The frame is the part you cannot upgrade later.
How to compare two quotes
Two quotes for "blinds in the living room" can differ by 200% and both be fair. Compare them on these six lines, not on the total:
- Is it made to measure, or cut down from a standard size?
- Inside reveal or outside reveal? They are different products.
- What is the fabric and the tube? Ask for the brand and the grade, not "premium".
- What is included in "installed"? Removal, disposal, making good, and any track or pelmet.
- What is the warranty, and who honours it? Installer or manufacturer, and for how long on each component.
- Is the price fixed or "from"? A per-metre or "from" price is not a quote.
Budget builds by room
If you are working to a number rather than a wish list, these are the allocations that get the most comfort per dollar:
- Master bedroom, $600–$1,200. Spend it all on one thing: a sealed blockout setup with outside-reveal mount, side tracks and a pelmet. Do not split it across curtains and a blind — neither will be dark enough.
- Living area, $1,200–$2,500. Sheer plus blockout on a double track, or a good outside-reveal blind. Prioritise width coverage over fabric luxury.
- West-facing room, $1,500–$4,000. The money goes outside the glass, not inside. An external awning or Zipscreen does more for heat than any internal product at the same price.
- Alfresco or balcony, $800–$2,500 per opening. One good Zipscreen on the prevailing-weather side beats three cheap outdoor blinds.
Where we install
We are based in Auburn and measure, make and install across Greater Sydney — the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, Sutherland Shire, Hills District, Parramatta and the south-west corridor. See our service areas for the suburbs we cover most, or browse the full product range.
Our verdict
Price window coverings by the problem you are solving, not by the product name. If the problem is light, the money goes on mount and tracks. If it is heat, it goes outside the glass. If it is insects on a wide opening, it goes on the cassette and the bottom guide. Spend there and a mid-range product will outperform a premium one specified badly — every time.
Frequently asked questions
How much do window coverings cost in Sydney in 2026?
Supplied and installed: blockout roller blinds AU$150 to $500 per window, custom curtains AU$400 to $1,000+ per window, plantation shutters AU$500 to $1,500 per window, folding arm awnings AU$1,500 to $4,000, Zipscreen AU$800 to $2,500 per opening, retractable flyscreens AU$450 to $1,600 per opening, and louvre roof pergolas AU$1,200 to $2,500 per square metre.
How much do outdoor blinds cost?
Basic outdoor and cafe blinds start around AU$300 to AU$800 per opening. Track-guided Zipscreen systems, which hold the fabric taut in wind, run roughly AU$800 to AU$2,500 per opening supplied and installed. The track and motor, not the fabric, are what separate the two price bands.
How much do plantation shutters cost?
Roughly AU$500 to AU$1,500 per window supplied and installed in 2026, depending on material, panel configuration and window size. Full-height shutters and larger openings cost more. Be cautious of permanent half-price sales — compare the specification, not the discount.
Why is one quote double another for the same window?
Almost always hardware and mounting, not fabric. An inside-reveal blind and an outside-reveal blind with a pelmet and side tracks are the same fabric at roughly double the price. Other common gaps are made-to-measure versus cut-down sizing, removal and disposal, and whether the price is fixed or a 'from' figure.
What is the cheapest way to make a bedroom dark?
In order of cost-effectiveness: mount the blockout blind outside the reveal so it overlaps the frame, add a pelmet across the top to close the ceiling gap, then add side tracks to close the vertical edges. Doing those three in that order gets most of the result for the least money. Curtains and shutters cost more and are less effective on their own.
Are motorised blinds worth the extra cost?
For wide windows, high or hard-to-reach windows, and linked blinds that need to move together, yes — motorisation adds roughly AU$400 to $900 per blind and removes the main reason people stop using them. For a standard bedroom window, a quality manual chain-operated blind is perfectly adequate.
Want a real number, not a range?
Book a free in-home measure. We will price the whole house or the one problem window, itemised line by line, so you can see exactly what the hardware, the mount and the fabric are costing you.
Book a free measure & quoteOr call us at 0423 353 538
Sync Blinds Sydney is a family-owned window covering and outdoor living specialist based in Auburn, NSW. We measure, make, and install retractable flyscreens, blockout blinds, roller blinds, curtains, Zipscreen, awnings, pergolas and plantation shutters across Greater Sydney. Call 0423 353 538.