What is the average cost to motorise an existing roller shutter?

Total cost depends on the protocol chosen. DIY with a Zigbee motor: £35-60 per shutter. Somfy RTS self-install: £115-160. Premium Somfy io (motor + shared TaHoma box): £160-250 per shutter. Professional installation adds £90-130 labour per shutter.

Are smart shutters compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa?

Yes, with the right hub. The Somfy TaHoma Switch box is natively compatible with Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. Zigbee WiFi modules via Home Assistant also integrate into these ecosystems. You can say "Ok Google, close all shutters" or create complex voice routines. Matter compatibility, the new universal standard, is progressively arriving at manufacturers in 2025-2026.

What energy savings can I expect with smart shutters?

Savings depend on your situation. With electric heating, nightly shutter closing can reduce the bill by 10-20%. With air conditioning, solar control reduces needs by 20-30%. In a home with electric heating and cooling in a sunny region, total savings can reach £180-350/year. For a gas-heated flat in a northern city, expect more like £70-130/year in savings.

Can you motorise old wooden or aluminium shutters?

Yes, in most cases. Motorising an existing shutter requires the winding tube to be a standard diameter (40, 50, 60 or 70mm). Aluminium shutters generally lend themselves very well to this. For old PVC or wooden shutters, check the load capacity: the motor must support the weight of the curtain (generally 5 to 20 kg). If the tube is non-standard or the shutter is very heavy (>25 kg), you may need to replace the whole system.

What is the lifespan of a connected roller shutter motor?

Quality motors like Somfy are designed for at least 20,000 cycles (open + close). At 4 cycles per day, that is 13 years of life. Somfy official warranty is 5 years on motors (25 years on premium tubular motors), which is an important reliability indicator. Electronic parts can age faster in humid environments. To extend motor life, avoid very frequent repeated cycles and ensure limit switches are properly set.

Smart Roller Shutters 2026: Complete Guide to Motorising and Automating

Why motorise your roller shutters in 2026?

Smart roller shutters are one of the most cost-effective smart home investments you can make. In countries like France and Germany, where temperatures can range from -15°C in winter to +40°C in summer, intelligent shutter management can reduce your energy bill by 25 to 30%. According to energy agencies, heat losses through windows account for 10 to 15% of total heat loss in uninsulated homes. Well-programmed shutters dramatically change this equation.

But energy savings are just the tip of the iceberg. Connected shutters also bring security, comfort and peace of mind: automatic closing in storms, presence simulation to deter burglars, and never having to get up in the morning to open shutters manually. This guide takes you from A to Z, from retrofitting an existing shutter to full smart home integration. For more context, see our smart home energy saving guide and our Matter and Thread 2026 guide.

Types of motorisation

Retrofit: the tubular motor

To motorise an existing roller shutter, the most common solution is the tubular motor. It inserts directly into the winding tube of your existing shutter, replacing the mechanical brake. Installation takes under an hour with no major building work. Leading motors on the market:

Somfy Oximo io: premium tubular motor, io-homecontrol protocol, Somfy's 25-year motor guarantee. From £160. Compatible with TaHoma Switch. See price on Amazon
Somfy Oximo RTS: radio frequency version, excellent compatibility, slightly cheaper. From £110. See on Amazon
Nice Era MQ: renowned Italian motor, BiDi protocol, slim and quiet. From £95.
CAME Stylo: robust motor, 5-year warranty, good Zigbee compatibility with additional module.

Communication protocols: which to choose?

Protocol	Range	Interoperability	Average price	Advantages
io-homecontrol	20-200m	Somfy, Velux, Bubendorff	High	Bidirectional, very reliable, state feedback
Z-Wave	30m (mesh)	Wide ecosystem	Medium	Mesh, native Home Assistant
Zigbee	10-20m (mesh)	Very wide	Low	Minimal consumption, large choice
Matter over Thread	Unlimited (IP)	Universal	High	Future standard, Apple/Google/Amazon

Solar control: the most energy-saving feature

This is the feature that alone justifies the investment in premium connected shutters. Solar tracking control automatically closes shutters when direct sunlight hits a window (measured by lux meter or connected weather station), reducing summer overheating. In winter, shutters open fully when the sun is low to capture free solar gains.

According to UK consumer body Which?, a well-configured solar control can reduce air conditioning needs by 20 to 30% in summer. With an air conditioner using 1,000 kWh/year, savings reach £45-65/year.

Security: presence simulation

Burglars primarily target homes that appear unoccupied. Shutters remaining closed for several days are an obvious warning signal. The presence simulation function in smart home hubs programs random openings and closings reproducing the habits of an occupant. This feature, combined with connected lighting simulation, is one of the most effective anti-burglary deterrents.

Smart home integration

The Somfy TaHoma Switch (£90) centralises up to 200 io-homecontrol, RTS and Z-Wave devices. It connects natively to Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. For advanced users, Home Assistant offers free complete integration of all protocols with unlimited automations and no subscription fees.

Our recommendations

For most users, we recommend the Somfy io motors + TaHoma Switch combination. For smart home enthusiasts on a budget, Zigbee Tuya motors + Home Assistant delivers the most flexible solution at the lowest cost: £30-55 per shutter for the motor versus £130-270 for Somfy io. In all cases, start with 1 or 2 shutters to test installation and usability before motorising your whole home.