Shutter BoysBoth names describe interior shutters with tilting louvers in a hinged frame. Which one you hear depends mostly on where you live. “Plantation shutters” is the usual term in the US. “California shutters” is common in Canada and the UK.
Is there a real difference?
Some sellers use “California” for narrower louvers, around 2.5 inches, and “plantation” for wider ones. Others treat them as the same product. There’s no standard that settles it.
That’s why the useful question isn’t which name a seller uses but which louver width they’re quoting. We put the width on every quote, in inches and millimetres.
| Louver width | Where it suits |
|---|---|
| 2.5 in (64 mm) | Small windows and a traditional look. More louvers, so less view when open. |
| 3.5 in (89 mm) | The middle ground most windows suit. |
| 4.5 in (114 mm) | Large windows and doors. Fewest louvers and the widest view when open, but the window needs more depth. |
What to compare between quotes
- Louver width
- Material: which wood, or what’s inside anything sold as “composite” or “poly”
- Tilt: a rod in front of or behind the louvers (middle or to one side), or hidden tilt with no rod
- Moulding: flat or routed stiles and rails, and the paint finish
- Frame type and whether it’s inside or outside mount
- Number of panels per window