How To Measure: Sheer Shades

Items Required:

• Writing tool and paper.
• A measuring tape in inches with a minimum 1/8” increment. (metal measuring tape is the best for accuracy)

First you will need to decide if you want the shades to be inside or outside mount.  An inside mount will go within a recess or framework and will highlight an attractive molding or window.  Outside mounts will hang outside the opening of a recess, either on the frame or above and beyond the frame.  If you outside mount, you can make a window appear larger or hide an unattractive window.

Outside Mount

If you are mounting your blinds directly to the frame of the window measure the exact width and height of the wood frame itself, from outer edge to outer edge.  Or, for maximum privacy and light control, go above and beyond the window frame.  We recommend adding between 3” to 6” to your width measurement.  Also add 2” to your height measurement to allow enough room for the mounting brackets above the opening.

Unlike most outside mount window treatments, sheer shades will have a deduction made off of the width of the fabric.  The fabric will be about ¾” less than the ordered width.  For example, if you ordered a sheer shade at 35” wide, the width of the material on the finished shade would be 34 ¼”.  Please take this into account if you are trying to control the light. In additiion the headrail will be about 3/16" larger than ordered.  The minimum flat space required for an outside mount sheer shade is ¾”.  If you want to know the exact deduction that will be made on your shade, give one of our Customer Support Specialists a call Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm EST.  Or, you can send us an email via our site: contact us form

Inside Mount

When mounting inside of a window, there must be enough depth to accommodate the mounting brackets.  Here are the minimum depth requirements and flush mount requirements for our sheer shades:

- Minimum depth for an inside mount: ¾”

- Minimum depth for a flush fit: 3 ¼”

A flush mount means that the blind will be fully recessed within your window if you have the amount required by the specific product you are selecting.  If you have less than the flush mount requirements or the minimum depth requirements, then your blind will protrude a bit beyond the frame of the window.  If you have less than the minimum depth requirement, you will not be able to mount inside of the window.  You will want to consider an outside mount.

Measure the width in several places, as windows are often not even from side to side.  We recommend taking at least three measurements for the width-top, middle, and bottom.  Write down those three measurements and circle the smallest one.  That will become the width measurement that you provide.

Measure the height in several places as windows are often not even from top to bottom.  We recommend taking at least three measurements for the height- left, middle, and right.  Write down those three measurements and circle the largest one.  That will become the height measurement that you provide.

Do not make any deductions or additions to those measurements as our factory will do this for you.  Sheer shades have very specific deductions made.  Please see the following example:

For example an inside mount sheer shade that is ordered at 35" wide will have the following deductions:

-headrail is -3/16” (34.8125”)
-fabric deduction is -1 1/8" (33.875”)

If you want to know the exact deduction that will be made on your shade, give one of our Customer Support Specialists a call Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm EST.  Or, you can send us an email via our site: contact us form

Additional Specifications and Considerations

• A +/- 1/8” tolerance is considered normal.
• The headrail will always be larger than the material width for inside or outside mount sheer shades.  If light control is a concern, please factor this into your measuring and mount type.