How to Measure for Window Blinds and Shades

Measuring your windows for blinds and shades is easy; you just need to know the basics. Then you are armed with most of the information you need to order blinds. Why do this? Because, you can save considerable money by not hiring someone to come out and perform this very basic task. And, because ordering blinds from the various discount window treatments retailers requires that you have your own measurements. In return you can save money and usually have access to a much greater selection, especially if you shop online.

First you will need a steel measuring tape, for accuracy, a piece of paper and a pen to write down the measurements. Next you will need to decide whether you want your blinds or shades to be inside mounted or outside mounted. Inside mounted means that the blind or shades will fit within the window casing and outside mount means that the blind or shades will be mounted outside the window casing.

If you are going to choose the inside mounted choice, make sure your window casing has sufficient depth to fit the hardware, especially if you want the blind or shade to be flush- mounted, meaning that the hardware and blind won’t stick out from the window casing, or at least, will be minimal.

Outside mounted blinds and shades are fine if your windows don’t have attractive moldings. You need to consider how large an area you wish to cover around the window. You also need to be mindful of any obstructions. Typically, the required space on the tops and sides is two inches or less. You need to also consider the amount of overlap (the area around the window) to meet your needs for privacy, light control and any obstructions.

To measure for outside mounted blinds and shades, measure the width and height in 3 places each. For the width measure the top, middle and bottom. For the height measure the left (from top to bottom of the window casing), middle and right. Write down all three measurements from the width and height, rounding to the nearest 1/8 inch. Use the longest width and height measurements then add the desired overlap, again usually up to about 2 inches. If you want your blinds and or shades to reach the floor, make sure to deduct at least ½ inch from the length so your blinds and shades don’t lay on the ground.

Inside mounted blinds and shades provide a more finished looked and is a better choice, especially if you have decorative moldings and trim. To measure for inside mounted roller shades and solar shades, first make sure that there are no obstructions within the window casing such as alarms or window cranks that would keep your blinds and shades from operating properly. And, make sure the window casing has sufficient depth to accommodate the mounting hardware. The depth of the mounting hardware varies between products and manufacturers so keep this in mind before ordering. You will need to measure the width and height in three places as before. For the width, measure the top, middle and bottom. For the height measure the left, middle and right. Write down all three measurements for the width and height. For roller shades and solar screens use the top width and the longest height. Don’t take any deductions as the manufacturer will do this for you so that your blinds and shades operate properly. Please note that the finished product will be at ½ inch, or less, narrower (width) then your measurements. Also, and this is very important, if you are ordering for multiple windows, make sure and measure them all, even if they look the same. For horizontal blinds and shades, the only difference from measuring from roller and solar shades is that when measuring the height, you will use the shortest length. All other directions apply.