Measuring for Blinds & Shades: Inside vs. Outside Mount in Plain English

Blinds are cut to the size on the box — there's no trimming a zebra shade at home. Five minutes with a steel tape saves a return.

Inside mount (the clean look)

Measure the window opening's width at top, middle, and bottom — use the narrowest. Measure height left, center, right — use the longest. You need about 2" of flat depth for most cordless blinds to recess. Order the exact opening size; manufacturers take their own deduction.

Outside mount (covers everything)

Mounting on the wall above the frame hides an ugly window and blocks more light. Add 3–4" to the width and height so light doesn't leak around the edges.

Zebra & cordless shades

Zebra (dual-layer) shades alternate sheer and solid bands — roll to align for privacy or light. Cordless is now the standard for homes with kids; the lift quality on the name brands is what you're paying for, and it's what we check before an open-box unit gets listed.