WIDTH: Measure from left to right in 3 positions (top, middle, bottom). Take the smallest measurement.
Primary Measurement Advice
• Take all your measurements to the nearest 1/8 of an inch, rounding down.
• Clearly indicate the Width and the Height to avoid reversing measurements.
• Use a metal measuring tape to take all measurements.
• Measure twice to avoid errors.
How to Measure by Window Type
Select Window Type
Standard
Patio Doors
French Doors
Bay Windows
Corner Windows
Arched Windows
Skylight Windows
Standard Windows
INSIDE MOUNT
HEIGHT: Measure from top to bottom in 3 positions (left, center, right). Take the largest measurement.
Do not make any deductions when you are measuring. The manufacturer will remove 1/8” off the headrail to ensure the blinds are a perfect fit without being too tight within the frame.
Important notes
- The headrail (or valence) will be the width you provide minus 1/8" removed to ensure a perfect fit. For roller shades, sheer shades and zebra blinds the width of the fabric will be 1" less than the ordered width to account for the control mechanism within the roller.
- Ensure you have enough depth to install your chosen product. Consult the product specifications for your chosen window treatment to view the minimum requirement for inside mounted blinds.
- For roller shades, we add 8-10" to the ordered height of the blind to ensure the aluminum roller tube fully covered with fabric when the blinds are fully lowered.
- Take note of any door knobs, locks, handle or cranks that might be in the way of your blind.
OUTSIDE MOUNT
WIDTH: Give the measurements of the space you want to cover from left to right.
HEIGHT: Give the measurements of the space you want to cover from top to bottom.
The width and height measurement should always include the cassette, valence, or headrail. Refer to characteristic specification within the selected product to determine the height of your selected valence.
Important notes
- The cassette, valence, headrail or roller will be the same width as the measurement given and the fabric will be shortened about 1 1/8" to account for the control mechanism within the roller.
- For blinds installed on the moulding or surrounding wall, we recommend adding 2-4" to the width and height of the exterior moulding.
- If no exterior moulding is present, take the width and height of the window opening and add 4" total to both the width and the height.
- For patio doors or blinds going to the floor, provide the total height you want to cover including the headrail/valence.
- For ceiling mounted blinds you need a minimum of 1 3/4" clearance to install the brackets.
Patio Doors & 2 or 3 Blinds with 1 Headrail
Patio Doors
The multi blind is a popular option for dressing patio doors. When measuring for an inside-mount patio door, measure the total width and height of the patio door opening. When you select the multi-blind option on our website, the system will divide the total width as evenly as possible. If the desired panels are not equal in size, you can customize the individual width when you select the multi-blind option, which must equal the total width provided initially.
Important note
- If your patio door has 3 panels of glass you can select the 3 blinds on 1 headrail option. In this case it is recommended to put the control options all on the same side (e.g; all 3 controls on the left) to ensure the gap between the panels of fabric is equal.
2 or 3 Blinds on 1 Headrail
When measuring for 2 or 3 blinds on 1 headrail, you will take two sets of measurements. Refer to the standard windows measurement guide above by taking the overall window measurements of the inside or outside of the window frame. Then take the measurement of each section of the window where a panel of fabric will hang. The measurements of the separate panels should equal the total width of the window frame. The blind will come with one continuous headrail to cover the total width provided and the panels of fabric will be the dimensions selected when customizing the multi blind option.
Important notes
- For the multi blind option, there will be a 1" gap between the panels of fabric. The gap may be wider if you have selected a control option that will be positioned between the two panels of fabric such as a motor or chain control.
- For roller shades ordered without a valence, you will receive the two panels of fabric which will be installed side by side to make up the total width provided.
French Doors
When measuring for French Doors there are several possible applications.
1) You can install one panel of fabric covering the entire opening of the doorway which will cover both doors, mounting the brackets to the top of the frame. If using this application, refer to our Standard Windows measurement guide.
2) You may choose to split the overall width into 2 blinds on 1 headrail. For this application measure the overall width of the window frame and then each section of the window to be covered by the left and right panels. For inside or outside mount measurement instructions refer to our above guide for Standard Windows.
3) You may also install two separate blinds covering each of the glass sections of the French doors.
Important note
- If you choose to mount two separate blinds on each section of the doors, take the measurements of the width and height of the glass and add 1" to both measurements. The blinds will mount directly to the door. For this application, it is recommended to order Roller or cellular blinds which come with bottom hold down brackets to keep the blinds from swinging when the doors are opened.
Bay or Bow Windows
Bay Windows
Bay windows are usually made up of 3 to 5 individual panels of glass installed side by side on an angle. How to measure blinds installed in a bay windows depends on several factors. Most bay windows have 3 panels of glass that are flush with the interior wall or frame.
When measuring, firstly you want to take note of the depth of the decorative valence you will be installed in the bay window. This information can be found in the characteristics section of each product on our website. This information is important because you will need to take into consideration the depth of the valence since the headrails will be installed side by side at an angle at therefore could overlap, causing the blinds to sit off kilter on each panel.
It is recommended to create cardboard templates of the dimensions of the valences you wish to install in the bay window that will represent the width and depth of the valence you wish to install. It is also recommended to draw a visual diagram to note your measurements.
Important note
- for Bay Windows it is customary to order Outside mount to ensure the headrails are fabricated at the exact measurements you have taken.
It is recommended to use a cardboard cutout representing the depth and width of the headrail you are ordering to ensure there is enough space between the heads in the middle, as the blinds will be installed at an angle side by side and this will provide you with the necessary clearance to avoid any overlap, and ensure the blinds are evenly installed over each angled section of the window.
Bow Windows
When measuring Bow Windows you will need to determine where the blind will be installed before taking measurements. Due to the curved nature of this type of window you will need to mount the blind to the top of the window frame, spanning the overall window frame opening. To do so, please refer to our above guide for taking standard window measurements.
Corner Windows
Corner windows are when two walls made of glass meet at a right angle. If you are installing blinds side by side in the corner of a room where two panels of glass touch, it is recommended that one blind be installed the full length of one of the window, and the other will be installed so that the side of that blind touches the front of the first blind, covering the last few inches of first blind. This will prevent any gaps in the corner of the window if the headrails are installed at right angles, letting in unnecessary light.
To measure for this application, first take the measurement of the primary blind which will installed the full length of the glass. Then make a marker of the depth of that first blind by consulting the characteristics of the product you wish to order. Then you may measure the second blind, making sure to stop the width measurement at the marker you made to show the depth of the first blind.
Important note
- Blinds installed on a corner window are almost always inside mount, as a small deduction will be made to ensure the fit of the two blinds isn't too tight.
Arched or Transom Windows
Measuring blinds for windows that an arched or transom window is similar to measuring for a standard window as typically these windows have a square or rectangular glass portion below and a square or arched window above.
For windows with a transom portion at the top, you may choose to install the blind the full width and height of the inside of the window frame, covering both the transom section and the regular window section at the bottom. If you do this, simply refer to our standard window measurement guide. However, if you decide to leave the transom section of the window free of blind, you will need to order side mount.
For arched windows, you will need to mount the blinds to the sides of the window frame as there is no top or back of the frame from which to secure the brackets.
Important note
- If you will be mounting your blind to the SIDES of the window frame, you will need to contact our customer support once you've placed the order to ensure side mount brackets are requested as an additional 1/4" deduction must be made to the headrails to account for the side anchors.
Palladian Shelf
Another solution to these types of windows is to install a Palladian Shelf to your window frame. This accessory is designed specifically for blinds with no available top or back mount options. The shelf is made of 1" of wood that is 2" deep. It is anchored to the sides of the window frame ro create a top frame on which to secure your blind. See the below illustration that demonstrates how this accessory works.
Measuring for a Palladian shelf is simple. Simply measure the width of the space between the bottom and top portions of your window. This accessory is an affordable and aesthetically pleasing solution for these types of windows, since side mount brackets are made with an additional deduction which could let more light in for room darkening shades.
Important note
- If you would like to purchase a Palladian shelf, please contact our customer service @ 1-888-800-0436 or by sending an inquiry through our online chat service.
Skylight Windows
Inside mount with 1” block: Measure the width and height of the window frame. Provide these measurements. Do not make any deductions. The manufacturer will deduct 1/8” from the width and height. Inside mount will be recessed with 1” block.
Outside mount with 1″ block: Measure the width and height of the window frame. Add at least an additional 2” to both the width and height to accommodate the 1” skylight blind frame. For the most secure installation, add an additional 4” to both the width and the height.”
Inside mount on lip (no block):Measure the width and height of the window frame. Provide these measurements. These will be the fabric measurements, and the skylight blind frame will extend 1″ beyond these measurements to hang on the sill.
