Having window treatments that fit perfectly is important not just for aesthetic reasons, but also for functional ones. After all, you want your roman shades to actually do their job—whether that's blackout or light filtering—and looking good while they're at it. 

The first step to getting custom-fit Roman shades is to, well, measure them. Here's a quick guide on how to do just that.

Helpful Tips Before You Begin Measuring for Roman Shades

Before you start, take a look at the area you'll be measuring. You'll want to make sure there are no obstacles in the way—furniture, plants, etc.—that could get in the way of an accurate measurement. Once you've cleared the area, you're ready to begin.

What You’ll Need

To measure for a roman shade, you'll need a few things:

  •  A tape measure

  •  A piece of paper

  •  A pen or pencil

With these items in hand, you're ready to get started!

How to Measure Roman Shades with Inside Mount

For an inside mount, you’ll need to measure the width of the window at three different points. This means you need to get the measurements for the top, in the middle, and the bottom, respectively. Use the narrowest width measurement when ordering your shades. 

Step 1: Measure the Width of the Window Frame

Start by measuring the width of your window frame using a tape measure. Start with the top, followed by the middle, and the bottom. Record these numbers, and then take an average of them. This will give you your width measurement. 

Step 2: Measure the Window’s Height

Next, measure the height of your window frame in three places using a tape measure. This refers to the middle, left side, and right side. Record these numbers down, and then take an average of them. This will give you your height measurement. 

Step 3: Measure the Distance from the top of Window Frame

Finally, measure the distance from the top of your window frame to where you’d like your shades to hang using a tape measure. This number will be your desired hanging height measurement. 

How to Measure Roman Shades with Outside Mount

If you’re opting for an outside mount, you’ll need to decide how much overlap you want on each side of the window. We recommend at least 2 inches on each side, but 3 or 4 inches is even better. 

Once you’ve decided on your desired overlap, add twice the amount of desired overlap to each measurement. So if you want 4 inches of overlap on each side, you would add 8 inches to each width measurement. 

Here’s the detailed step-by-step guide on how to measure roman shades with outside mount:

Step 1: Measure the Window’s Width

Start by measuring the width of your window at the top, middle, and bottom. Be sure to write down all three numbers so you can determine the widest width. 

Step 2: Measure the Height

Next, measure the height of your window at the left, middle, and right side. Again, be sure to write down all three numbers to determine the tallest height. 

Step 3: Compute the Outside Mount

Once you have all your measurements written down, take a look at them and select the largest width and height measurement. This will be your outside mount width and height. 

Step 4: Decide on the Overlap on Each Side

To determine how much overlap you want on each side of your shade, measure from the top left corner of your window diagonally to where you want the bottom right corner of your shade to fall. Then do the same thing from the top right corner of your window to where you want the bottom left corner of your shade to fall. Add these two numbers together and divide by two—this will be your required overlap measurement. 

Step 5: Decide on a Clearance Measurement

Finally, select a clearance measurement. This is the distance between the top edge of your shade and the ceiling or trim above your window. A good rule of thumb is to allow for 2-4 inches of clearance on each side of your shade. 

Other Helpful Tips

  • When measuring for height, always measure from the point where you want your shade to be mounted—usually this will be 4 inches above the window opening for an inside mount or at the ceiling for an outside mount—to where you want it to end. Again, take three measurements (left side, middle, right side) and use the longest height measurement when ordering your shades. 

  • Always take multiple measurements and use the largest width and height when ordering your roman shades. And don’t forget to factor in any obstructions like crown molding or baseboards when measuring!

Final Thoughts

Measuring things are indeed challenging. But with the right precision and guide, you can do it perfectly with ease. We hope this guide was able to give you a good insight on the detailed step-by-step guide on how to measure roman shades for both inside and outside mounts, respectively.

Make sure to check our other articles in this website to help you expand more your knowledge on other window treatments for your home! There are more exciting things than measuring roman shades!

Get our complete step by step guide on installing roman shades


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