Southpaw Blinds

Measuring Guide

How to measure for blinds

Accurate measurements are the difference between a blind that looks custom-built and one that fights the window forever. Take five extra minutes here and everything downstream — pricing, fabrication, and install — just works.

Steel tape measurePencilPaper or notes app

Section 1

Inside Mount

The blind sits recessed inside the window frame for a clean, built-in look. Requires enough frame depth to fit the headrail.

  1. 1

    Measure the width in three places

    Measure the width of the window opening at the top, the middle, and the bottom. Windows aren't perfectly square — use the narrowest of the three measurements so the blind will fit everywhere.

  2. 2

    Measure the height in three places

    Measure the height at the left side, the middle, and the right side. Use the longest of the three so the blind fully covers the opening.

  3. 3

    Check the frame depth

    Measure how deep the window frame is from the front edge to the glass. Every product needs a minimum depth to fit an inside-mount headrail — the required depth is listed on each product page, so double-check before ordering.

  4. 4

    Don't deduct anything yourself

    Give us the exact opening size. Our system automatically deducts the right amount of clearance for the product you pick, so a deduction on your end will make the blind too small.

  5. 5

    Round down to the nearest 1/32 inch

    If a measurement lands between marks, round DOWN to the next 1/32" — never up. Better a hair small than a hair too big.

Section 2

Outside Mount

The blind mounts on the wall or trim above the window, covering the opening. Great when the frame is too shallow for an inside mount, or when you want to make a window look larger.

  1. 1

    Add width for overlap

    Measure the width you want covered, then add roughly 3–4 inches total (about 1.5–2 inches per side). This overlap covers the frame and blocks light gaps around the edges.

  2. 2

    Add height above and below

    Measure the height you want covered, then add 3–4 inches above the opening so the mounting bracket has room. Add a few extra inches below if you want the blind to extend past the sill.

  3. 3

    Round to the nearest 1/32 inch

    Outside-mount sizes are exactly what you order — no automatic deductions. Round to the nearest 1/32".

Still not sure?

Request an in-home consultation. Travel is free within 25 miles of Spokane Valley. Beyond that, travel is $0.50 per mile, one way. We'll measure every window, recommend the right products, and give you a firm quote — no guesswork, no obligation.

Request a consultation