Measuring · Roller and Zebra Shades
How to measure for roller and zebra shades
Roller and zebra shades are the easiest coverings to measure yourself, because they mount simply and give you a clear, flat surface to work against. Ten minutes with a steel tape is all it takes.
Step by step
- 1
Decide inside mount or outside mount before you measure anything. Inside mount sits in the window reveal. Outside mount sits on the frame or wall and covers more of the window.
- 2
For inside mount, measure the width of the opening in three places: top, middle, and bottom. Write down the narrowest number. We take the factory deduction from there.
- 3
Measure the height in three places: left, centre, and right. Use the longest number.
- 4
For outside mount, decide how much overlap you want on each side, usually 2 inches or more for good light control, and measure that full width.
- 5
Measure the drop from the top of where the headrail will sit to where you want the bottom of the shade to finish.
- 6
Round to the nearest eighth of an inch and enter it exactly, including the eighths.
Common mistakes
- Use a steel tape, not a fabric one. Fabric tapes stretch and quietly ruin orders.
- Measure the window opening, not the old blind.
- If the opening is out of square by more than a quarter inch, choose outside mount.
- Write measurements down in inches and eighths, for example 34 and 3/8, in that order.