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1/2" Budget Single Cell Blackout Cordless Shades
Create total privacy and dependable darkness with blackout cellular shades designed for everyday comfort. A streamlined cordless design and tailored cell structure deliver insulation, control, and a clean, finished look.
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Professional Installation Available
Installing it yourself is straightforward, but if you'd prefer a vetted pro to do it for you, check who covers your area.
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How installation works
Three easy steps to having your purchase professional installed.
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Step 1: Order your blinds
Choose your color and sizes and complete your order
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Step 2: Choose an installer
After you order, you'll receive an email from us with a link to find vetted pro installers to request quotes.
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Step 3: Schedule your installation
After delivery, work directly with your chosen vetted pro to schedule and install your blinds.
Product Information
Our 1/2" Budget Single Cell Blackout Cordless Shades are one of our best-selling window treatments, and the reason is simple: they deliver true blackout, real insulation, and a clean cordless look at a price that works for the whole house.
The honeycomb construction is what sets cellular shades apart. Each 1/2" cell traps a pocket of air against the glass, creating an insulating barrier that keeps heat out in summer and warmth in during winter, while the opaque blackout fabric stops light cold. Custom-made to your window and finished with a color-coordinated semi-gloss headrail and bottom rail.
Why These Are a Customer Favorite
- True Blackout Fabric: Opaque honeycomb fabric blocks incoming light for genuine darkness, day or night. Built for sleep.
- Insulating Honeycomb Cells: The 1/2" cell traps air at the window, reducing heat transfer through the glass and helping lower heating and cooling costs year round.
- Cordless Operation, Always Free: Cordless lift is included at no extra charge on every shade. No cords means a cleaner look and a safer window for children and pets.
- Noise Dampening: Those same air pockets absorb sound, taking the edge off traffic and street noise.
- Neutral White Exterior: Every color has a white backing, so your home presents a uniform look from the street regardless of the interior shade you choose. Useful in HOA neighborhoods.
- Nine Coordinated Colors: From crisp White and Daylight through warm Vanilla, Ivory, Tussah and Amber, to cool Dove and Storm greys and deep Espresso.
- Slim, Tailored Profile: A compact 1 7/8" headrail with hidden brackets keeps the installation clean and unobtrusive.
Built for the Rooms Where Darkness Matters
Blackout cellular shades are the go-to solution anywhere light control is not negotiable:
- Nurseries and kids' rooms: Protect naptime and early bedtimes through long summer evenings.
- Primary bedrooms: Block streetlights, headlights, and sunrise so you sleep through the night.
- Shift workers' bedrooms: Create a genuinely dark room at any hour of the day.
- Media rooms and home theaters: Kill screen glare and washed-out picture quality.
- West-facing rooms: Stop the brutal afternoon heat and glare before it enters the room.
Covering an Extra-Wide Window? We Have You Covered
A single shade is made up to 72" wide. For picture windows, sliding glass doors, and wide openings beyond that, we offer connector hardware that spans up to 144 1/4" of total width, joining shades under a continuous headrail so a very wide window reads as one clean treatment instead of a row of mismatched blinds. Heights run up to 84", covering tall windows and most patio door applications.
A Realistic Word About Light Gaps
Blackout fabric blocks light, but any shade mounted inside the window frame will have a small gap at the edges where light can slip through. This is true of every inside-mount shade regardless of brand or price.
If you want the darkest possible room, choose an outside mount and add a few inches of overlap on each side and at the top. It costs nothing extra and makes a dramatic difference in a nursery or a media room. If an inside mount is the look you want, expect a soft halo of light around the perimeter and consider pairing with drapery for total darkness.
How This Compares to Our Other Cellular Shades
| Shade | Light Control | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2" Single Cell Blackout (this shade) | Full blackout | Bedrooms, nurseries, media rooms |
| 3/8" Single Cell Light Filtering | Soft filtered glow | Living rooms and everyday spaces on a budget |
| 3/8" Double Cell Light Filtering | Soft filtered glow | Maximum insulation and noise reduction |
| 5/8" Day/Night | Both, in one shade | Rooms that need filtered light by day and blackout by night |
Want to lower this shade from the top for daylight while the bottom stays covered? The same blackout fabric is available in our 1/2" Blackout Cordless Top-Down/Bottom-Up Shades. For one shade that switches between filtered light and full blackout, see our 5/8" Day/Night Cellular Shades.
Sizing, Fit & Installation
- Width: 19" minimum to 72" maximum per shade, with connectors available to span up to 144 1/4".
- Height: 24" minimum to 84" maximum.
- Headrail: 1 7/8" deep by 1 7/8" high, with hidden brackets.
- Inside Mount Depth: 1 3/8" minimum (2 1/8" for a fully flush fit). Outside mount has no depth requirement.
- Factory Deduction: Inside mounts are reduced by 3/8" total (3/16" per side) for smooth operation. Outside mounts are made to your exact size.
Trusted Custom Shades, Factory-Direct Since 1993
For more than 30 years, Factory Direct Blinds has manufactured custom window treatments and shipped them straight to your door, without the showroom markup. Every order includes:
- MeasureSafe™ Guarantee: Add MeasureSafe™ at checkout and if you mismeasure, we'll remake your shades free. You only cover shipping.
- Free Shipping: Ships freight-free anywhere in the 48 contiguous United States.
- Fast Turnaround: Custom-made and shipped within approximately 7 business days.
Want to check the color against your walls? Order free samples first, then configure your custom size above and join the thousands of homes already sleeping better.
Product Specifications
Minimum & Maximum Widths & Lengths
| Dimension | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 19" W | * 72" W |
| Length | 24" L | 84" L |
Head Rail Dimensions
| Dimension | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Depth | 1 7/8" deep |
| Height | 1 7/8" high |
Minimum Depth Requirements
| Mounting Structure | Depth |
|---|---|
| Inside Mount | 1 3/8" |
| Inside Flush Mount | 2 1/8" |
Standard Factory Deductions
| Mount Type | Deduction |
|---|---|
| Inside Mount | 3/8" (3/16" per side) |
| Outside Mount | 0" |
How to Measure & Install
Taking accurate measurements is straightforward. Let us walk you through the process!
To ensure a perfect fit, keep these essential pointers in mind:
- Always use a metal measuring tape for the best accuracy; fabric tapes can stretch and lead to errors.
- If your width measurement falls on a 1/16" or 1/32" mark, round down to the nearest 1/8".
- If your height measurement lands on a 1/16" or 1/32" increment, round up to the closest 1/8".
- Always consult the Product Specifications for the product you are measuring for. If you have questions, we will be happy to help!
Instructions for Inside Mounted Cellular Shades
Depth Requirements: For an inside mount, you'll need to make sure the window frame is deep enough to accommodate the cellular shade. Refer to the Product Specifications for minimum depths depending on your chosen valance option.
Measuring the width
- The width measurement is found by measuring the inside of the window frame in three locations: the top, middle, and bottom.
- Choose the smallest of these measurements.
- If you get a 1/16" or 1/32" increment, round down to the nearest 1/8".
- That's your width for your cellular shades.
Measuring the height
- The height measurement is found by measuring the inside of the window frame in three locations: the left, center, and right.
- Choose the largest of these measurements.
- If you get a 1/16" or 1/32" increment, round up to the nearest 1/8".
- That's your height for your cellular shades.
Instructions for Outside Mounted Cellular Shades
An outside mount sits outside of the window and the window frame. Because it is meant to cover the entire space of the window, you'll need to make some additions to the measurements to make sure you order the right size. Please follow the instructions below.
Measuring the width
- Measure the width of the area you want the shade to cover across the top.
- We suggest adding at least 4 inches to the width (2 inches per side) to minimize light gaps.
- That's your width for your cellular shades.
Measuring the height
- Measure the height from where you want the headrail to sit down to the window sill or desired length.
- We suggest adding at least 4 inches to the height (2 inches top, 2 inches bottom).
- That's your height for your cellular shades.
For detailed step-by-step instructions with videos, visit our Measuring Guide Hub.