How to Measure for Faux Wood Blinds

Some of our favorite affordable shades, faux wood blinds combine the look of genuine wood with the durability of PVC, all at an inexpensive price. Faux wood blinds look great whether they are inside mounted or outside mounted. In this handy guide, we’ll explain how to measure for faux wood blinds for both types of mounts.

Key Takeaways

• Faux wood blinds mimic real wood while using PVC for durability and lower cost.
• For inside mount, take three width and height measurements; report narrowest width, tallest height.
• For inside mounts, deductions are handled by the factory rather than by customers before ordering.
• Outside mount measurements take the largest width plus overlap, measure height from marked top to chosen bottom.
• Outside mount orders are made to exact supplied dimensions, with no factory deductions applied.

How to Measure for Inside Mount Faux Wood Blinds

Inside mount blinds are installed inside the window frame or casing. This is an ideal mount for deeper windows and provides a sleek, streamlined look. Before deciding to inside mount your faux wood blinds, be sure to double check the mounting requirements and confirm your window is deep enough to support an inside mount. This is especially important for faux wood blinds because you need enough horizontal clearance to be able to tilt the slats open without them hitting the glass. 

You also need to make sure the top of the casing or window frame is structurally sound enough to support the mounting hardware since you’ll be screwing it directly into the top.

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After confirming your window meets the requirements to inside mount your blinds of choice, it’s time to determine the dimensions for your blinds. Grab your tape measure and begin by measuring the width at three different places: the top, middle and bottom of the window inside the frame. Make a note of the narrowest measurement and use this as the figure for your blind’s width. Next, measure the height of the window at three different places: the right, middle and left of the window. Make a note of the tallest measurement and use this as the figure for your blind’s height.

When reporting the dimensions, always list them as Width x Height, in that order. Report the nearest measurements to ⅛ of an inch unless the manufacturer says otherwise. When inside mounting blinds, do NOT take deductions from the measurements yourself — the factory will take care of it for you. If you preemptively take deductions, you might end up with blinds too narrow or too short, which kind of defeats the purpose of ordering custom blinds. Follow the instructions, and you’ll end up with faux wood blinds the perfect size for your window.

How to Measure for Outside Mount Faux Wood Blinds

Outside mounting blinds offers several advantages: It can make windows look larger than they actually are and provide extra light control and privacy through completely covering the window. This is especially attractive with faux wood blinds, which let extra light through due to the slat design. Outside mounting window treatments also offers an alternative when the window casing is either too shallow or too fragile to support an inside mount.

To measure for outside mount faux wood blinds, grab your tape measure and begin by measuring the width at three different places: the top, middle and bottom of the window inside the frame. Take the largest width and add the desired amount to it; if your window does not have trim, we recommend adding two inches on each side (for a total of four inches) to get enough overlap. If your window does have trim, you will likely want to add enough so the width of the blinds will completely cover the trim.

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Next, decide how far above the window you want the hardware to go — we recommend at least three inches, but you may choose to go even higher in order to make the windows appear larger. Use a pencil to lightly mark this location. Then decide how far below the window you want the blinds to go — we recommend at least two inches — and lightly mark this with a pencil as well. 

If your window has a sill that juts out from the wall, use that as your endpoint instead. Now grab your tape measure and measure the height of the window at three different places — the right, middle and left of the window — using your pencil marks as a guide. Make a note of the tallest measurement and use this as the figure for your blind’s height.

When reporting the dimensions, always list them as Width x Height, in that order. Report the nearest measurements to ⅛ of an inch unless the manufacturer says otherwise. When ordering outside mount blinds, you will get the exact dimensions you order, and no deductions will be taken, so confirm the numbers are all correct before completing your order.

Be sure to check out the rest of our guides, which explain everything from how to measure for different types of blinds to how to clean your blinds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I measure the width and height for inside mount faux wood blinds?

Measure the window width at the top, middle and bottom and use the narrowest measurement; measure height at the right, middle and left and use the tallest measurement. Report as Width x Height to the nearest 1/8 inch and do not take deductions for inside mounts — the factory will make necessary adjustments. For full measuring steps, see our How to Measure Blinds and Shades guide.

How should I measure for outside mount faux wood blinds and how much overlap is recommended?

Measure the window width at top, middle and bottom, use the largest measurement and add your desired overlap; if the window has no trim, add about 2 inches on each side (4 inches total). Mark at least 3 inches above the window for the hardware and at least 2 inches below (or to the sill if it projects), then measure height at right, middle and left and use the tallest measurement; report as Width x Height to the nearest 1/8 inch.

Do I need to check window depth or framing before choosing an inside mount?

Yes. Confirm the window is deep enough so the faux wood slats can tilt open without hitting the glass, and make sure the top of the casing or frame is structurally sound enough to support screws and hardware. If the casing is too shallow or fragile, consider an outside mount instead.

Will the factory adjust my measurements for inside and outside mounts?

For inside mounts, do not take deductions — the factory will make the necessary deductions when they build the blind. For outside mounts, the blinds will be made to the exact dimensions you order, so confirm those numbers carefully before completing your order.