Standard measuring procedures apply to shades that fit rectangular windows such as roller shades and horizontal shadings unless otherwise specified.

Measuring an Inside Mount (IB)

Measure the width inside the window opening at the top and write it down. The top measurement is a critical measurement on a roller shade and should always be the ordered with. If the window narrows significantly measure the middle and bottom of the window. If the middle or bottom measurement is more than 1" narrower than the top measurement an outside mount is recommended.

Measure the height inside the window opening at left, right and center. Take the longest of the three and write it down. Measure window on the diagonal. If the two diagonal dimensions differ significantly, it may be necessary to specify an outside mount for optimal light control and privacy.

Be sure the window opening is deep enough to install the mounting bracket. You can find specific mounting requirements for roller shades on specific product pages under the specifications section or by contacting our customer service team.

PLEASE NOTE: Inside mount roller shades will have a significant deduct on the fabric width. Light gaps on the left and right of the shade are normal for inside mount roller shades. To eliminate all light gaps an outside mount may be necessary. You may check the deducts for roller shades on specific product pages under the specifications section or by contacting our customer service team.

Measuring an Outside Mount (OB)

Roller shades are ordered from tip to tip (bracket to bracket) and therefore the fabric will be narrower then ordered width. For this reason a greater amount of overlap is necessary to allow the fabric to fully cover the window opening and reduce light leakage. To determine the exact fabric deduct on an outside mount for roller shades please check specific product pages under the specifications section or by contacting our customer service team.

Once the outside fabric deduct is determined the following formula can be used to measure your window. First measure the desired covered width. To minimize light leakage, the covered width should overlap the window opening at least 1 1/2" on each side but you may vary the overlap based on desired look. Second add the fabric deduct amount to this width.

When measuring the height, take into account the requirements for mounting the bracket attachment. Typically you will require at least 1-1/2" above the window to securely mount the bracket. You can find the specific mounting requirements for horizontal blinds on the product pages under the specifications section for each product.

For windows with wood molding / trim work at least 1-1/2" in width you may simply measure from outside edge to outside edge of the trim. You will still need to add the outside mount fabric deduct to the width measurement to allow the fabric to line up properly with the outside of your trim. We do not recommend mounting your window coverings onto the molding itself and instead would suggest mounting the brackets directly above the trim.

For windows with a sill that protrudes from the window, it is typically sufficient to measure the length down to the sill. No additional overlap will be necessary on the bottom of the window in this case.

* BlindSaver.com will not be held accountable for incorrect measurements.