Measuring your windows, doors, or skylights for cellular shades is easy! Check out the tips below, and you’ll discover how to measure your cellular shades just like a professional!

How to measure your window for an inside mount cellular shade

Shade Is Inside the Window/Door Frame

  • The most common method of mounting.
  • The brackets that hold the shade are screwed into the inside-top of the frame.
  • A minimum of 1″ of flat surface is necessary for mounting the brackets (see Flush vs. Shallow Mount, below).
How to measure your window for an outside mount cellular shade

Shade Is Outside the Window/Door Frame

  • Typically used when there is not enough frame depth for inside mount.
  • The brackets that hold the shade are screwed into the trim above the window frame or the wall above the trim.
  • A minimum of 1″ of flat surface is necessary for mounting the brackets.

Flush vs. Shallow Mount

  • Flush Inside Mount means the entire shade fits within the window frame. In other words, if you were to run your hand along the wall or window frame, your hand would not bump into the shade. The minimum window frame depth required for a flush mount is 2 1/4″.
  • Shallow Inside Mount means there’s not enough frame depth for a flush mount, so the front of the shade will protrude into the room somewhat. This is not uncommon, and it does not affect the operation of the shade. A shallow mount can be achieved with as little as 1″ of frame depth.

Can I Add Side Tracks?

  • Side tracks are an option for all of our double-cell shades, with the exception of motorized shades.
  • Side tracks work with inside-mount shades, only.
  • Side tracks require a window frame depth of at least 1 1/4″.

How to Measure Like a Pro

  • Always provide the width measurement first, then the height. A 24″ x 36″ shade is 24″ wide and 36″ high.
  • Measurements should be rounded to the nearest 1/8″.
  • Always measure the width in 3 places – near the top of the window, near the middle of the window, and near the bottom of the window.
  • Always measure the height in 3 places – near the left side of the window, near the middle of the window, and near the right side of the window.
  • For shades that will have side tracks and for skylight shades, you’ll also need to measure the two diagonals – from the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner, and from the top-right corner to the bottom-left corner.
How to measure your window for an inside mount cellular shade

If You Are Mounting Inside the Window Frame

  • Measure the exact window opening – for example, from the inside-left of the window frame to the inside-right, and from the inside-top to the bottom/sill.
    • Do not make any adjustments or take any deductions.
    • Using your exact measurements and our expertise, we will build your shade to fit just right.
  • Measuring the width:
    • Measure the width in 3 places – near the top of the window, near the middle of the window, and near the bottom of the window.
    • For each measurement, round down to the nearest 1/8″.
    • Provide us with the smallest of the 3 measurements.
  • Measuring the height:
    • Measure the height in 3 places – near the left side of the window, near the middle of the window, and near the right side of the window.
    • If you are adding side tracks, round each measurement down to the nearest 1/8″ and provide us with the smallest of the 3 measurements.
    • If you are NOT adding side tracks, round each measurement up to the nearest 1/8″ and provide us with the largest of the 3 measurements.
  • Measuring the diagonals (only necessary if ordering side tracks):
    • Measure from the top-left corner of the window opening to the bottom-right corner. Then measure from the top-right corner to the bottom-left corner.
    • If these two measurements differ by more than 1/4″, side tracks will not work with the window unless the opening is shimmed or repaired.
How to measure for an outside mount

If You Are Mounting Outside the Window Frame

  • Measure the exact area you want to cover.
    • Do not make any adjustments or take any deductions.
    • The width you give us will be the exact width that we make your fabric.  (NOTE: Due to the end caps on the headrail, it will be just slightly wider than the fabric.)
    • The height you give us will be the exact height of the shade, from the top of the headrail to the bottom of the bottom rail.
  • Measuring the width:
    • Measure the width in 3 places – near the top of the window, near the middle of the window, and near the bottom of the window.
    • For each measurement, round up to the nearest 1/8″.
    • Provide us with the largest of the 3 measurements.
  • Measuring the height:
    • Measure the height in 3 places – near the left side of the window, near the middle of the window, and near the right side of the window.
    • For each measurement, round up to the nearest 1/8″.
    • Provide us with the largest of the 3 measurements.
How to Measure for Outside Mount

How to Measure for Skylight Shades

  • Skylight shades have a few special requirements:
    • Skylight shades require an inside flush mount, with a flat mounting surface of at least 2″.
    • Skylight shades require that you take diagonal measurements. If the two diagonals are different by more than 1/4″, the opening is not sufficiently rectangular and your shade will not fit or operate correctly.
    • If any two of your width measurements are different by more than 3/8″, then one or both sides of the opening will need to be shimmed, and you will need to take new measurements.
  • Measure the skylight opening at the depth of the opening where you intend to install your shade.
    • Do not make any adjustments or take any deductions.
    • Using your exact measurements and our expertise, we will build your shade to fit just right.
  • Measuring the width:
    • Measure the width in 3 places – near the top of the opening, near the middle of the opening, and near the bottom of the opening.
    • For each measurement, round down to the nearest 1/8″.
    • Provide us with the smallest of the 3 measurements.
  • Measuring the height:
    • Measure the height in 3 places – near the left side of the opening, near the middle of the opening, and near the right side of the opening.
    • For each measurement, round down to the nearest 1/8″.
    • Provide us with the smallest of the 3 measurements.
  • Measuring the diagonals:
    • Measure from the top-left corner of the skylight opening to the bottom-right corner. Then measure from the top-right corner to the bottom-left corner.
    • If these two measurements differ by more than 1/4″, the opening will need to be shimmed or repaired.

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