How to Measure Inside-Mount Window Blinds

By
Coral Nafie
Coral Nafie
Coral Nafie is an interior design expert with over 25 years of home decorating experience. She has authored the book "The About.com Guide to Home Decorating." Her expertise covers every aspect of home decor projects, including budget makeovers and extensive renovations.
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Updated on 07/21/22
White inside-mount window blinds measured with yellow tape measure closeup

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 20 - 36 mins
  • Total Time: 20 - 30 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0

Because of their utilitarian function, window dressings are often overlooked for their value in accenting or creating a beautiful home aesthetic. But the fact is that even the simplest window dressings offer a variety of opportunities to play with the small details that can make a nice room into something breathtaking. Window blinds are a great example of a small detail that can have a big impact. With or without draperies, window blinds offer light control and privacy to any room, but they can also be a source of beauty—particularly the "inside mount blind" that has no external mounting and appears to emerge directly from within the window.

Modern blinds offer a variety of colors, patterns and textures can play with these same elements in the rest of your decor allowing you to create a layered and professional look in your spaces. The hardest part: hanging the blinds. And the first step to hanging anything is getting the measurements just right. You'll need the right tools and just a bit of know-how. So before you plunge into your next design masterpiece, take a second to peruse this brief step-by-step guide to measuring for inside mount blinds to make sure you get your measurements right the first time. 

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Steel measuring tape
  • A ladder or step stool (if the window is high)

Materials

  • Paper and pencil

Instructions

Materials and tools to measure inside-mount window blinds

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

  1. Determine If an Inside Mount Blind Is the Right Option

    For an "inside mount blind" you must determine if there's enough room to install a blind and its heading in the window opening. If the edge of the window is flush with the wall, you'll need to use an outside mount blind.

    Inside-mount blind fixtures installed in front of bright window

    The Spruce / Sarah Lee

  2. Measure Window Width

    Measure the width of the window opening in 3 places—at the top, in the middle and along the bottom edge or sill. Use the measurement to within 1/8 inch. You'll use the narrowest of these three measurements for your inside-mount blind width.

    Yellow tape measure pulled across window to measure wdith

    The Spruce / Sarah Lee

  3. Measure Window Height

    Measure the height of the window opening in 3 different places—along with the left side, in the middle and along the right side. Use the measurement to within 1/8 inch. You'll use the longest of these measurements for your inside-mount blind length.

    Yellow tape measure pulled from top of window for inside-mount blinds

    The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Tips for Measuring Windows for Blinds

  • Always measure to the nearest 1/8 of an inch. Do not round the measurement up or down.
  • When writing the measurement, list the width first and then the height. The proper measurement would be "width x height."
  • If you are not sure about how to make accurate measurements, you'll want to pay to have someone from the blind company come to your home to measure.
  • If you provide your own measurements, you'll be responsible if the blinds do not fit. Blinds are custom items and must be perfect to look right.