Custom vs ready-made blinds
Ready-made blinds are quick and simple. Custom blinds fit to the ⅛ inch. Here's how to choose.
Short answer: custom blinds are made to the exact width and height you order, to ⅛ in.[1 · Oct 29, 2026][2 · Oct 29, 2026] Ready-made (stock) blinds come in set sizes; for an inside mount you'll usually need one cut to your width, which some stores do for free.[3 · Oct 29, 2026] Choose custom for odd sizes, inside mounts that must fit snugly, or specific colors and controls.
What "stock" and "custom" mean
US safety regulators define stock window coverings as ones made before the customer asks for them, even if a store cuts them to size later. Custom covers everything else.[4 · Oct 29, 2026]
| Ready-made (stock) | Custom (made to order) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing | Set widths, grouped from under 20 in to over 60 in at one big store[3 · Oct 29, 2026] | Your exact width and height, to ⅛ in[1 · Oct 29, 2026] |
| Inside mount fit | Usually needs cutting to width; some stores cut in-store purchases free[3 · Oct 29, 2026] | Factory takes the right deduction for you[1 · Oct 29, 2026][5 · Oct 29, 2026] |
| Getting it wrong | Easy to swap for another size | Some retailers offer professional measuring and install with a fit guarantee[3 · Oct 29, 2026] |
| Cords (US) | Must be cordless, have only short cords (8 in or less), or have cords you can't reach[4 · Oct 29, 2026] | Industry standard since June 2024 bans continuous loops on custom horizontal blinds; tighter federal rules are proposed[6 · Oct 29, 2026] |
The "easy to swap" row is our general observation; check each store's return policy.
When ready-made works well
- Outside mounts, where the blind only needs to be bigger than the opening.
- Rentals, garages and quick fixes. Vinyl mini blinds hold up to heat and moisture, so they suit kitchens, bathrooms and garages.[3 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Faux wood blinds sold as cut-to-width.[3 · Oct 29, 2026]
When custom is worth it
- Inside mounts in frames that aren't a common width.
- Bay windows, where each blind's size depends on the depth and angle of its neighbors.[7 · Oct 29, 2026][8 · Oct 29, 2026]
- Arches, angle-tops and other shapes.[2 · Oct 29, 2026] See small and odd-shaped windows.
- Specific controls, such as cordless or motorized lifts on larger blinds. Our cordless safety guide explains why that matters.
Measuring for each
Measure the same way either way: three widths, three heights and the depth.[1 · Oct 29, 2026][5 · Oct 29, 2026] For stock, compare your narrowest width with the listed width; for custom, order exactly what you measured. The calculator gives you both inside and outside sizes.
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Sources: 1. Levolor, How to measure windows for blinds and shades. 2. Blinds.com, How to measure. 3. The Home Depot, Blinds category and buying notes. 4. US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Window coverings 15(j) rule FAQs. 5. The Home Depot, Measuring the right way for window treatments (PDF). 6. Federal Register, 91 FR 60546, Substantial product hazard list: amendments to requirements for window covering cords (proposed rule, Sept 24, 2026). 7. Blinds.com, How to measure for a bay window. 8. Bali, Wood, composite and faux wood blinds measuring guide (PDF, hosted by a retailer). Checked Oct 29, 2026. Trademarks belong to their owners; figures are restated in our own words and tables, not reproduced.