Published on 30th June 2022
Top Tips
Measuring your new Smart Blind is easier than you might think, here is our guide on achieving that perfect fit blind.
- Always use a metal tape measure for accurate measurements.
- Check measurements a few times and make a note of them as soon as you’ve measured each dimension.
- Look around the window for any obstructions such as window handles, window frames, window sills, tiles, picture rails etc.
- The Blind Width includes the brackets, motor head and pin end. The fabric width will be approximately 35mm narrower than the width of the blinds.
- The Blind Width with a cassette is the same. The overall width from the right edge to the left is the Blind Width, the fabric will be approximately 35-40mm narrower than this.
How To Measure For Blinds Inside Recess
- When measuring a Roller Blind, we only need the tightest width at the top of the window reveal.
- Check that your recess is deep enough to fit the blind, you will need at least 50mm if top fixing or 70mm face fixing.
- Using your metal tape measure, position the end of the tape in the top corner of the recess.
- Run the tape across the top of the recess to the opposite corner. Make a note of this as your Recess Width. Do not make any deductions. Provide the measurement to the closest millimetre.
- Then measure from the top of the recess down to the sill. Check this measurement in 3 places and provide the smallest dimension as your Recess Drop.
- If your window has tiles halfway up the sides, measure the top of the recess as above, then measure between the tiles. If the difference between these measurements is less than 25mm, simply enter the measurement from the top as the Recess Width as the fabric will fit between the tiles.
- If the difference is more than 25mm. Take the tight tile measurement and add 25mm, then provide this as your Recess Width.
- This is the same if you have a picture rail or skirting board or similar on the inside of the recess.
Measuring a Window Blind Outside a Recess
- If you’d prefer the blind on the outside of the recess or there is not enough room within the recess to install the blind, you can install on the outside of the recess.
- Check around the window for any obstructions, this could be a cabinet, shelf or wardrobe. Ensure that there is enough room for the blind.
- Bear in mind that the Blind Width is from Bracket to Bracket and the fabric is around 35-40mm narrower than this measurement.
- There is no rule as to how much wider than the recess you need to go, so just measure the width and drop of the area that you’d like to cover, then provide these as your Blind Size Width and Drop.
- As a guide, we’d recommend the width measurement is at least 70mm higher than the height of the window, with the bottom overlap being your personal preference, please look out for obstructions such as radiators. For the width, at least 50mm each side past the recess edge (providing there is room for this).
Measuring Door Blinds
- Your door area is likely made up of multiple panels. This area can be covered by 1 single blind if the width of your door area is less than 2000mm (2m) wide. If your door width is less than 2m wide, simply follow the Measuring Window Blinds guide, please keep an eye out for skirting at the bottom.
- If your Door width is wider than 2m, follow the guide below to measure for multiple blinds within the recess.
2 Door Panels
Width:
- Blind 1 – Starting from the Left, measure from the inside of the reveal to the centre of the centre of where the doors meet (Tip: Lightly mark this point with a pencil). This measurement is your Recess Width.
- Blind 2 – Measure from this centre point to the right side of the reveal to gather the Recess Width of your second blind.
Drop – For both blinds, measure from the top of the recess down to the floor. Check this measurement in 3 places and provide the smallest dimension as your Recess Drop.
3 Door Panels
Width:
- Blind 1 – Starting from the Left, measure from the inside of the reveal to the centre of the centre of where the doors meet (Tip: Lightly mark this point with a pencil). This measurement is your Recess Width.
- Blind 2 – Measure from this centre point to the next centre point swhere the doors meet, this is the Recess Width of your second blind.
- Blind 3 – Measure from this second centre point to the right side of the reveal to gather the Recess Width of your third blind.
Drop – For all blinds, measure from the top of the recess down to the floor. Check this measurement in 3 places and provide the smallest dimension as your Recess Drop.
4 Door Panels
There are 2 options for this area, either 2 or 4 blinds to cover the width. We generally recommend having less blinds to reduce the number of motors required and also reduce the number of gaps when the blinds are down.
2 Blinds Option Width:
- Blind 1 – Starting from the Left, measure from the inside of the reveal to the centre of the centre of where the doors meet (Tip: Lightly mark this point with a pencil). This measurement is your Recess Width.
- Blind 2 – Measure from this centre point to the right side of the reveal to gather the Recess Width of your second blind.
- Please note: The maximum width for 1 single blind is 2000mm (2m) if either of these measurements exceeds the maximum width, please refer to the 4 Blind Option.
Drop – For all blinds, measure from the top of the recess down to the floor. Check this measurement in 3 places and provide the smallest dimension as your Recess Drop.
4 Blinds Option Width
- Blind 1 – Starting from the Left, measure from the inside of the reveal to the centre of the centre of where the doors meet (Tip: Lightly mark this point with a pencil). This measurement is your Recess Width.
- Blind 2 – Measure from this centre point to the next centre point where the doors meet, this is the Recess Width of your second blind.
- Blind 3 – Measure from this centre point to the next centre point where the doors meet, this is the Recess Width of your third blind.
- Blind 4 – Measure from this second centre point to the right side of the reveal to gather the Recess Width of your fourth blind.
Drop – For all blinds, measure from the top of the recess down to the floor. Check this measurement in 3 places and provide the smallest dimension as your Recess Drop.
More than 4 panels
- If your door area has more than 4 panels, the measuring technique is similar to above, just repeated across the width.
- When there is an ODD number of door panels, we recommend measuring a single blind to cover the predominant opening door and then treat the remaining doors as an even set of doors. Or have a blind per panel.
- If you have an EVEN number of doors, we recommend covering 2 panels with 1 blind (presuming the blind width is no wider than 2000mm). Or have a blind per panel.
Drop – For all blinds, measure from the top of the recess down to the floor. Check this measurement in 3 places and provide the smallest dimension as your Recess Drop.
Now It’s Time To Pick Your Motorised Blinds
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