How to Measure

YOUR MOST CRITICAL Inside MEASURE is TOP of the window:
Even if you need a step-stool, make sure you comfortably reach and
measure the top, middle & bottom of each window

• Use a metal tape measure and measure to the nearest 1/8 of an inch.
• Print out the Easy Measuring Guide form to write down your measurements. (Alternately use Skylight Measuring Guide  or Energy Side Track Measuring Guide)
• Width: Measure the exact inside measurement of the window at three different places.  Write the measurements down on the Easy Measuring Guide. Circle and use the narrowest measurement.
• Length: Measure the exact inside distance from top of window to the sill at three different places. (See diagram below.) Write the measurement down on the Easy Measuring Guide.  Circle the longest measurement. (Except for Skylight shades – which require the shortest.)
• Always double check your measurements!
• Window shades come with universal brackets which can be used for either inside or outside mounts.

Inside Mount Window Shades:

Whenever possible, we recommend an inside (recessed) mount for a more finished appearance. An inside mount requires at least 1/2″ of flat surface depth to screw the bracket onto for Standard or Duofold Hardware. Continuous Cord or Cordless hardware requires 3/4″.

To allow for clearance, we make inside mount shades approximately 3/8″ narrower than the width you specify. The length is as you specify.

• Width: Measure the exact inside measurement of the window at the Top, Middle and Bottom. (See diagram below.) Write the measurements down on the Easy Measuring Guide. Circle the narrowest measurement.
• Length: Measure the exact inside distance from top of window to the sill at the Left, Middle and Right. Write the measurement down on the Easy Measuring Guide. Circle the longest measurement.

For Inside Mounts:
use the “inside” lines to measure.
For Outside Mounts:
use the “outside” lines to measure.

On Outside Mounts:

* If there is no sill, measure at least 1 1/2″ longer than the bottom of the window (from point A to point B).

Inside Mount Window Shades with Energy Saving Sidetracks & Skylight Shades:

If you plan to have Energy Saving Sidetracks make sure you measure the diagonal measurements (top right corner to bottom left corner and top left corner to bottom right corner). If those measurements differ by more than ¼” you will need to shim your window to accommodate the Sidetrack System. Be sure to use the Sidetrack or Skylight Measuring Guides!

• Width: Measure the exact inside measurement of the window at the Top, Middle and Bottom. (See diagram above.) Write the measurements down on the Easy Measuring Guide. Circle the narrowest width measurement.
• Length: Measure the exact inside distance from top of window to the sill at the Left, Middle and Right. Write the measurement down on the Easy Measuring Guide. Circle the shortest length measurement.

Outside Mount Window Shades:

With outside mounts, the shade will hang outside the actual window frame; over lapping the window frame enough to cover for maximum privacy and light blockage. We make Outside Mount shades exactly the length and width you specify.

• Width: Measure the exact outside measurement of the window at three different places. Write the measurements down on the Easy Measuring Guide. Plan on overlapping the window. We recommend about 1 1/2″ on each side.
• Length: Measure the exact outside distance from top to sill at three different places. Write the measurement down on the Easy Measuring Guide. Circle the longest measurement. If there is no sill, allow the shade to overlap the bottom of the window casing by at least 1 1/2″.(from A to B in the diagram above)

cwsmeasuringguide.pdf <– print out a PDF copy

* * *

Double Cell Mounting:	Standard	Top Down/ Bottom Up	Smoothy	Chordless
Minimum Shallow Mounting Surface:	1/2″	1/2″	3/4″	3/4″
Minimum Flush Inside Mounting Surface:	2″	2″	2″	2″
Minimum Flush Outside Mounting Surface:	3/4″	3/4″	3/4″	3/4″
Minimum Shallow Inside Mounting surface for Energy Saving Sidetracks:	1 1/2″	1 1/2″	1 1/2″	1 1/2″
Minimum Flush Inside Mounting surface for Energy Saving Sidetracks:	2″	2″	2″	2″

* * *

A Brief Word on  ”EXACT MEASURE”:

Sometimes people are looking for their shade to measure a particular width at the headrail, exactly. There’s no need to do complex “deductions” yourself, just tell us, at the time of ordering, that you are looking for an “Exact Measure”. You would order the shade as an ”outside mount” (which, usually takes NO deduction), and include the comments: Exact Measure. This tells our Production Team to take a slight deduction — 3/16 of an inch.
[Normal inside mount deduction is 3/8-inch.]

* * *

Finished Dimensions, all shades:

Inside Mount:
Fabric will measure ordered width less: 3/8 inch
Head Rail* will measure ordered width less: 3/16 inch

Outside Mount:
Fabric will measure ordered width.
Head Rail* will measure ordered width plus: 3/16 inch

Exact Measure:
Fabric will measure ordered width less: 3/16 inch
Head Rail* will measure ordered width.

Inside Mount with Side Tracks:
Fabric will measure ordered with less: 1 inch
Head rail and Bottom rail will measure ordered width less: 13/16 inch

*note: head rail measurements include end caps.

* * *

What IS a “Hold Down”?

Here in picture and illustration is a Hold Down — a small plastic piece whose function is to “hold down” the bottom of a shade. Used, as you can see from the photo, in outside mount applications:

Screw in the piece from behind, fit it into the “hole” in the bottom end cap. Hold Downs come as a pair, one for each side of the shade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 Do you have CASEMENT Windows?

Read this blog post on Cranks, Depth, and Side Tracks
for more on measuring how much depth is available

For the shade to pass beyond the cranks, locks, etc., you need to measure window depth, taking these items into consideration.