How to Measure for Roller Blinds

Last updated on August 13, 2023

Considering getting roller blinds for your windows? Here’s what you need to know to correctly measure for them. Read on!

Roller blinds are one of the most popular types of blinds available on the market, they’re simple to install and incredibly easy to operate, but there is some confusion amongst some people as to how you should measure for made to measure roller blinds.

Measuring for roller blinds is actually really simple and can be done quickly and easily by most people, so it’s time for you to learn how to measure up. For the purpose of this article, we used Dotcom Blinds’ comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about made to measure blinds, so if any of the blinds jargon confuses you, or you just want to know more about blinds, we recommend that you check that out. 

Before you get to measuring, you’ll have to decide whether you want your blinds to be installed within the windows recess or outside the windows recess, this changes how you’ll need to measure. Having your blinds within the recess have the blinds set within the indent in the wall for the blinds, being installed at the top and going down to the windowsill, whereas an outside the recess blind will be on the wall outside the indent and cover the entirety of the recess.

What's Inside

Measuring for Roller Blinds Inside the Recess

measure window height

This is probably one of the easiest DIY tasks to exist, all you need for this task is a measuring tape.

To measure for your roller blind, you’ll just want to measure the length of the recess from the window sill to the top of the recess, then measure the width from both sides of the recess near the top (make sure you measure at the top end of the window as your brackets for the blind will need to firmly fit) and note down your measurements.

When it comes to ordering your inside the recess blinds, just provide your measurements to the retailer and be sure to let them know that the blind will be fitted within the recess and they will make any necessary deductions.  

Measuring for Roller Blinds Outside the Recess

measure window frame

When measuring for an outside the recess roller blind, blinds retailers will use the exact measurements you provide them with rather than making deductions like on the inside the recess blinds.

Again for this task, all you will need is a tape measure.

To measure for your blind you’ll want to measure the hight of the recess along your wall and then measure the width of the recess, making sure for both measurements you measure from outside the recess.

Once you have your measurements, you will want to add an extra 70mm on the top and bottom of your height measurement to ensure there is sufficient room for the brackets and mechanism for your blinds and add an extra 50mm to each side of your width measurement to stop light leaking through the sides of the blinds.

When it comes to ordering your outside recess blinds, just provide your measurements to the retailer and inform them that the blind will be fitted outside the recess (some retailers will call this ‘exact fit’), as no deductions are made you’ll want to make sure that your measurements were correct.

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