Quick Quote

Quick Quote & Free Sample Requests

How to Measure for a Recess Fitted Blind

Direct Fabrics · Measuring Guides

How to Measure for a Recess Fitted Blind

For blinds fitted inside the window opening itself, sitting flush with the wall rather than covering it. This is the fitting style with the least room for error, since the blind has to fit inside a fixed space.

4 minutesReading time
BeginnerSkill level
Steel tape measure, pencil, stepladder if neededWhat you'll need
Struggling to measure, or not sure what to install? We're here to help. Get in touch and we'll talk it through with you.

Recess or exact?

Which fitting are you measuring for?

Recess fitThe blind sits inside the window opening. Give us the exact recess size and we make the small deduction needed on our end, this guide covers that measurement.
Exact fitThe blind sits outside the recess, on the wall above it. Whatever you measure is exactly what we make, bracket to bracket, with no adjustment on our end.

This guide covers recess fit. If you're fitting outside the recess instead, the measuring approach is different, see our exact fit measuring guide.

Why this matters

A recess blind has to fit inside a fixed opening, there's no adjusting the fit afterwards the way you can with a curtain track. Measure a few millimetres wrong on the width and the blind either won't fit at all, or it fits so tightly it binds and won't operate smoothly. This is the fitting method where accuracy matters most, and it's worth reading through fully before you pick up the tape measure.

Before you start

Check these first

Recess shapeVery few window recesses are perfectly consistent top to bottom. Check width and drop at more than one point before assuming one measurement covers the whole opening.
Recess depthThe blind's brackets and headrail need room front to back, and so does the operating mechanism, chain, cord, or wand.
ObstaclesWindow handles, hinges, and trickle vents often project into the recess and can catch the blind if you don't check first.

The most common mistake here: taking one width measurement in the middle of the recess and assuming it's the same at the top and bottom, when older or settled buildings especially are rarely perfectly square.

Step by step

Measuring your recess blind

01

Measure the width at three points

Measure the recess width at the top, middle, and bottom of the opening. Use the narrowest of the three measurements as your width. A blind sized to the widest point may not fit into the narrower parts of the recess at all.

Common mistakeMeasuring once in the middle and assuming the recess is the same width top to bottom, when it's frequently a few millimetres narrower at one end.
RECESS OPENING top middle, narrowest bottom use the narrowest of the three for your width
Diagram: measuring width at three points. Top, middle and bottom widths are rarely identical. Use the narrowest measurement so the blind fits at every height.
02

Measure the drop at three points

Measure from the top of the recess down to the sill at the left, middle, and right. Use the smallest of the three measurements as your drop, the same rule as the width. This keeps the blind clear of the sill at every point, rather than the bottom catching where the recess is shallowest.

Why it mattersWidth and drop follow the same rule for the same reason. The smallest measurement is the tightest point in the recess, and using it keeps the blind clear of the sides and the sill everywhere, not just where you happened to measure.
RECESS OPENING left middle, smallest right
Diagram: measuring drop at three points. Left, middle and right drops can differ if the sill isn't level. Use the smallest measurement so the blind stays clear of the sill everywhere.
03

Check the recess depth

Measure how far the recess extends front to back, from the front edge of the opening to the window frame behind. Your blind's brackets, headrail, and operating mechanism all need this depth to sit inside the recess without protruding awkwardly.

Installer tipDifferent blind types need different depths, a roller blind needs less depth than a Venetian with its headrail and slats. Check the depth needed for your specific blind before ordering, not just a general figure.
04

Check for obstructions in the recess

Window handles, hinges, and trickle vents often project into the recess space. Note their position and how far they stick out, since these can catch a blind's chain, cord, or the fabric itself if you don't allow clearance.

Common mistakeOrdering a recess fit without checking the window handle position, then finding the blind can't fully lower or the chain catches every time the window is opened.
CLEAR blind headrail handle handle clears the blind and its mechanism CATCHES blind headrail handle handle sits too close to the headrail
Diagram: handle clearance in the recess. Check the handle position against the blind's fitted position before ordering, not after.
05

Understand the fitting deduction

You give us the exact recess measurement, we make the small deduction needed on our end so the blind fits without binding against the sides. You don't need to calculate or subtract anything yourself, just measure the recess as it is.

RECESS, YOUR MEASUREMENT blind, made slightly narrower by us gap gap
Diagram: the fitting deduction. Give us the exact recess size, we handle the deduction. The small gap you'll see is intentional, not a sizing error.
06

Record your final numbers

You should now have everything needed to order.

What to have ready before you order

  • Narrowest width, measured at top, middle and bottom
  • Smallest drop, measured at left, middle and right
  • Recess depth, front to back, checked against your chosen blind's bracket depth
  • Any obstructions noted, handles, hinges, trickle vents

Not sure about any of this?

Measuring a recess accurately for the first time, especially an older or slightly uneven one, isn't always straightforward. You don't have to get it right alone.

Measuring help

Let us take the measurements

If you're unsure about depth, obstructions, or which numbers matter most, our team can measure for you before you order, so nothing's left to guess.

Ask about our measuring service
Installation help

Get it installed for you

Prefer not to fit it yourself? We can arrange installation, so you don't need to worry about brackets, clearance, or getting it level.

Ask about installation

Your measurements

Fill this in as you go, or print it and take it round the room with you.

Width

Drop

Recess and fitting

Notes

This sheet is for your own reference, nothing here is saved or sent anywhere unless you send it to us yourself.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Why is my blind slightly smaller than the measurement I gave?

We apply a small deduction on our end, commonly a matter of millimetres, so the blind doesn't bind against the sides of the recess. You just need to give us the exact recess size, we handle the rest.

How much recess depth do I need?

It depends on the blind type, a roller blind needs less than a Venetian with its full headrail and slat stack. Check the specific depth for your chosen blind before ordering.

What if there's a window handle in the way?

Note its exact position and how far it projects into the recess. This affects whether the blind can fully lower and whether the chain or cord will catch on it.

Can a blind be fitted outside the recess instead?

Yes, this is called an exact fit. If the recess is too shallow, uneven, or has obstructions that can't be worked around, it's often the better option. Whatever you measure is exactly what we make, bracket to bracket, with no deduction, so it uses a different measuring approach to this guide.

Should I measure before or after removing an old blind or curtain?

Measure the recess itself with nothing in place if possible. Fixtures from a previous blind can make the opening look narrower or shallower than it actually is.

Do I measure in millimetres or centimetres?

Either works, but be precise, small errors matter more here than with wall or ceiling fixed tracks since the blind fits inside a fixed space.

What if the top of the recess isn't flat?

Note it and mention it when ordering, an uneven top can affect how flush the headrail sits and may need a packing piece at fitting.

Direct Fabrics · Measuring Guides. All measurements shown in centimetres, divide by 2.54 to convert to inches, or ask our team for imperial measurements on request.
Please, mind that only logged in users can submit questions