DIY measuring guide
How to Measure Roller Blinds
Measuring a roller blind takes about two minutes per window with a metal tape measure. There are only two decisions to make: whether the blind sits inside the window opening (recess fit) or on the wall in front of it (face fit), and then which numbers to write down. This guide covers both, the tools you need, and the mistakes that catch people out.
Every blind we make is cut to the exact width and drop you enter, so the measuring is the part to take slowly. Measure twice, in millimetres, and you are done.
Recess fit or face fit?
Look at your window and pick one before you measure. It changes what the numbers mean.
Recess fit: inside the opening
The blind sits inside the window reveal, flush and tidy, and the sill stays usable. It needs a recess deep enough for the bracket and the rolled fabric to clear handles, winders and flyscreen clips.
Face fit: on the wall or architrave
The blind mounts in front of the window and overlaps the opening on every side, which blocks more light around the edges. It is the pick for shallow recesses, cranked windows and doors.
Measuring a recess fit
Measure the width of the opening in three places: near the top, at the middle and near the bottom. Openings are rarely perfectly square, so the three numbers will often differ by a few millimetres. Write down the smallest. That way the blind fits the tightest point of the recess instead of jamming against it.
Measure the drop the same way: left side, centre and right side, from the top of the recess to the sill. Use the longest of the three so the blind reaches the sill along its whole width.
Before you order, check the recess depth too. The bracket needs to sit fully inside the recess, and the rolled-up fabric needs to clear anything that sticks out: window handles, winders, and flyscreen clips are the usual offenders. If the depth is not there, switch to a face fit rather than forcing it.
Measuring a face fit
For a face fit you are not measuring the window; you are deciding how much wall to cover. Measure the full width you want the blind to span, overlapping the opening on both sides so light does not leak around the fabric. A generous overlap each side, and more above the opening, always looks better and blocks more light than a blind cut tight to the glass.
For the drop, measure from where the top of the blind will sit down to where you want it to finish: the sill, below the sill, or the floor for a door. If there is an architrave, decide whether the blind sits on it or clears past it, and measure to match.
Check what the blind will fix to. Plaster, brick and timber are all fine with the right fixings, but make sure there is flat, solid material where the brackets will go, clear of power points and pipes.
Tools you need
Nothing exotic. Five minutes of setup saves a remake.
- A metal tape measure. Fabric tapes stretch and cost you millimetres.
- A pencil and paper, or your phone. Write every number down as you take it.
- A step ladder for high windows, so the tape sits square, not on an angle.
- A second pair of hands for wide windows. Sagging tape reads long.
The classic mistakes are all avoidable: measuring in centimetres and losing precision, assuming every window in the room is the same size (measure each one, they rarely are), mixing up width and drop when typing them in, and measuring the old blind instead of the opening. The old blind was deducted for its own fit; measure the window itself.
Measured like this? Price it online.
Enter your width and drop, pick a fabric, and see your blind priced instantly. Made to your exact sizes and shipped Australia-wide.
Measuring questions
Should I measure in centimetres or millimetres?
Millimetres. Every blind is made to the exact sizes you enter, and millimetres remove the rounding that causes problems. Write them down as you go.
What if my three width measurements are different?
That is normal; very few openings are perfectly square. For a recess fit, use the smallest width and the longest drop so the blind fits the whole opening.
Recess or face fit: which is better?
Recess looks neater and keeps the sill usable. Face fit covers more of the frame, cuts more light around the edges, and is the answer when the recess is too shallow for the bracket.
How deep does my recess need to be?
Deep enough for the bracket to sit fully inside, with room for the rolled fabric to clear handles and winders. If the recess is shallow or has obstructions, go face fit.
What if I measure wrong?
Call us or send your measurements through before you order and we will check them. If you would rather not measure at all, book a free measure and quote and we do it for you in Melbourne.
Do you double-check sizes before making?
We make to the sizes you enter, so check each one twice. Anything that looks unusual on an order, we query before it goes to production.
More guides: How to measure curtains and how to install roller blinds.
Free, in your home, Melbourne
Rather not measure at all?
In Melbourne, we do it for you. Free measure and quote, samples brought to your home, and the sizes become our responsibility.