How to Measure for Blinds

Posted on - 23rd November 2020

Blinds can provide the perfect finishing touch to a room, they’re adjustable and versatile, and can act as a beautiful decorative addition, or a practical aid to reduce glare in living spaces and aid sleep in bedrooms.

This guide will help you measure your windows to ensure a perfect fit for your new blinds!
You will need:

A tape measure (a metal tape is more accurate)

A pen and paper

A ladder

Identify the window style

You will need to identify the style of the window where your new blind will hang, this depends on whether the window has a recess or not. If your window features a deep recess, it’s possible that the blind can fit inside the recess, if the window does not have a recess, or has an extremely shallow recess, the blind will instead have to be fitted outside of the recess.

Measuring windows with a recess

Ensure that there is nothing within the recess that could get in the way of your blind being extended, like handles or fixtures.
Measure the inside of the window recess, take three measurements across the width of the window noting the narrowest point, use the same method to measure the length of the window.
If you have chosen roman, venetian or roller blinds it’s important to reduce the width measurements by 1cm, to ensure your blinds will extend smoothly.
In the case of vertical blinds, you should instead reduce your measurements of the window length by 1cm, to ensure the blinds do not drag on the windowsill.

Measuring windows without a recess

Measure the window width from outside of the recess, add a total of 10cm to the width of the window, this allows for a 5cm overlap on either side of the window to ensure that light is blocked out effectively.
In the case of roller blinds, add an extra 5cm on top to ensure the width measurements are wide enough to allow for the operating mechanism.
Decide where you would like the length of your blinds to end, and measure from this point to the top of the window.
Check your measurements a couple of times, to ensure their accuracy and avoid any issues with the fit of your blinds!

At Toons we offer a wide selection of blinds, explore our collection.

If you’re still feeling nervous about measuring your windows yourself, we also offer a free measuring and planning service on our curtains and blinds, contact us for more information.