🪟 How to Properly Measure a Window for Shades and Blinds
- Timothy Kiernan
- Oct 6
- 3 min read
If you’re thinking about upgrading your home with new shades or blinds, getting accurate measurements is the most important first step. Whether you’re planning to have them professionally installed or just want to understand how everything fits, knowing how to measure properly helps ensure your window treatments look and function perfectly.
At Hands-On Home Services, we take the time to measure every opening precisely — accounting for mounting depth, trim, and product type — so you get a custom fit every time. But if you’re curious how we do it, here’s what you need to know.
Inside Mount vs. Outside Mount
Inside Mount: This means the shade or blind is installed within the window opening — giving a clean, built-in appearance. To mount inside, there must be enough depth in the window opening to hold the brackets or cassette securely and allow the shade to operate properly.
Outside Mount: This means the shade or blind is mounted outside the window frame — on the wall or directly on top of any molding. Outside mounts are ideal when there isn’t enough depth inside the opening, or when you want to make a window appear larger or achieve full light blockage.
Inside Mount Depth Requirements
When mounting inside the window frame, each product type has a minimum depth required for installation. Here are the general guidelines:
✅ Pro Tip: “Flush mount” means the shade or cassette is fully recessed inside the window frame, with the front edge even with the wall surface — giving that seamless designer look.
When measuring for inside mount window treatments, make sure you do the following:
Measure the top, middle and bottom of the opening. Your measurement is to the 1/8" and if your measurement is 32 5/16", ROUND DOWN to 32 1/4"
measure the diagonals to see if the window opening is square. sometimes window openings shift with settling, and some treatments won't function or fit properly in a skewed window opening.
When measuring an opening depth, that is the length of the
Outside Mount Measurements
When mounting outside the window opening, measurements change slightly based on whether or not the window has trim or molding.
If There Is Trim or Molding:
Measure the width of the molding, then add the difference between the fabric width and the cassette or frame width.This ensures that the fabric rolls down even with the outer edge of the molding — not falling short or overlapping awkwardly.
If There Is No Trim or Molding:
Width: Add 2 inches on each side of the window opening. (This gives full light coverage and a balanced appearance.)
Height: Add the depth of the cassette or bracket to the top measurement, and add 2 inches to the bottom.
✅ Pro Tip: Adding those extra inches ensures light gaps are minimized and your window treatment looks proportionally correct to the space.
Getting It Right
Every window is a little different — older homes in Bergen or Morris County may have uneven frames, deeper sills, or decorative molding that changes the required depth.At Hands-On Home Services, we measure all of this during our in-home consultation to make sure your shades or blinds fit perfectly and perform flawlessly.
Whether you’re choosing roller shades, honeycomb shades, or custom shutters, we’ll handle the details — so you can simply enjoy the finished look.
📅 Ready to schedule a professional measurement or design consultation? Book your appointment online, email hohsllcnj@gmail.com, or call 973-652-6177. We proudly serve Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, Union, and Somerset Counties.
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