How to Measure a Window for Blinds With a Laser Distance Meter

To measure a window for blinds with a laser distance meter, start by choosing inside or outside mount and pulling up the measuring instructions for the exact blind you plan to order. Then use one reference point on the meter for every shot, and take separate width and height readings at the positions those instructions name. Window openings are not always square, so a single shot across the middle can miss a narrower or taller spot.

Write each reading down raw, with its position and unit. Only after that should you turn those numbers into order dimensions, using the blind maker's own rules for rounding, deductions, and which reading to submit.

Set the Mount Boundaries and Laser Reference Before Measuring

A laser reading only helps if it starts and stops at the right edges. Settle the mount type, the boundary points, and the meter's reference point before you press the button.

1. Pick the mount and find its boundaries. An inside mount sits within the window opening. An outside mount covers the opening from the wall or trim. In LEVOLOR's inside- and outside-mount measuring guide, inside mounts are measured within the window frame. Outside mounts are measured between the outermost points where you want the window treatment placed. LEVOLOR recommends at least 3/4 inch of overlap on each side for optimal light control. For a LEVOLOR outside mount, the vertical span runs from where you plan to put the headrail down to the sill or your desired length. If you're ordering another brand, use that brand's boundaries instead.
2. Find your meter's reference point. Most laser distance meters can measure from more than one edge of the housing, and the manual tells you which edge the reading starts from on your model. Note that setting, then keep it the same for every shot on the window. Switching it partway through quietly adds or subtracts the length of the meter.
3. Use the same starting plane each time. Press the reference edge flat against one boundary, such as the left side of the frame, and aim straight across to the opposite boundary. For an outside mount, there may be no wall surface at your outer mark. Mark the points in pencil and hold a flat object flush at the far mark so the beam has a clear target.
4. Label before you measure. At the top of your notes, write the window name (for example, "Kitchen, left"), the mount type, the reference setting, and the display unit. This keeps readings from several windows from getting mixed up.

A laser distance meter measures point-to-point distance. It is not a laser level, so it won't tell you whether the frame is level or plumb. Also keep range separate from accuracy. A long maximum range says nothing about how precise the meter is across a 30-inch window, so check the accuracy spec in your meter's manual.

Measure Width and Height as Separate Sets

Take width readings as one set and height readings as another. Record each one on its own line, even when two readings look the same.

For a LEVOLOR inside mount, LEVOLOR's width and height positions are specific:

1. Width: measure horizontally inside the frame at the top, middle, and bottom. LEVOLOR uses the shortest of the three as your width.
2. Height: measure vertically inside the frame at the left, middle, and right. LEVOLOR uses the longest of the three as your height. The exception is LEVOLOR Banded and Sheer Shades: the guide gives a different height rule for those, so read that section if you're ordering one.
3. Log every raw value next to its position before you apply any of these selection rules.

Other sellers may ask for a different number of readings or give no positions at all. Blindsgalore's three-place tip says to measure width, height, and depth in three places on every window, but it doesn't say where those places are. If your blind's instructions name positions, use them. If they don't, ask the seller where to measure rather than guessing.

A simple log keeps the two sets apart:

Fill in the positions from your own product's instructions if they differ from LEVOLOR's. Keep the same unit for every entry. If your meter can display inches, use that setting, since blind orders are typically entered in inches. If your meter only shows decimal feet, convert each value with inches = feet × 12 and write both numbers. As an illustrative example, a display of 2.95 ft becomes 2.95 × 12 = 35.4 in. Keeping the original display value lets you catch a conversion slip later.

For an outside mount, measure the horizontal span and the vertical span separately between your marked placement points. When the readings differ and your product's instructions don't say which one to submit, don't average them or pick one by assumption. Confirm the rule with the seller first.

Record Depth and Apply the Selected Product's Order Rules

Measure depth only when your mount type and blind require it, which usually means an inside mount that has to fit in the window recess. LEVOLOR's inside-mount depth measurement is taken at the top of the window frame, and the guide uses the shortest depth reading. Add depth to your log as its own line.

Next, turn raw readings into order numbers. Keep this as a separate step so your log stays intact:

• Raw readings: every width, height, and depth value exactly as measured, with position and unit.
• Selected values: the one width, height, and depth you picked using your product's selection rule.
• Submitted values: the selected values after the product's rounding and deduction rules.

Rounding and deduction rules come from the blind maker, not from the meter. LEVOLOR's nearest-1/8-inch and no-deduction instructions tell customers to measure to the nearest 1/8 inch and not to take deductions. Blindsgalore gives similar advice for its own orders: Blindsgalore's nearest-1/8-inch tip says to measure to the nearest eighth of an inch, and Blindsgalore's no-deduction tip says not to take deductions. These are each seller's instructions. Another brand may handle rounding or deductions differently, so don't carry one seller's rules over to a different blind.

Before you submit, compare each ordered dimension with the product's measuring page. If that page doesn't explain how to handle readings that differ, ask the seller instead of making up a rule. Then enter your submitted values, and keep the raw log in case you need to reorder or check a fit problem.

FAQs

Can a laser distance meter replace a tape measure for blinds?

It can for width and height spans when you keep the reference point consistent and the meter's accuracy spec fits the job. Some sellers name a tool, though. Blindsgalore's measuring tips call for a steel measuring tape. If your seller specifies a tape, follow that, or check your laser readings against a tape before ordering.

Do I need to measure every window, even if they look the same size?

Yes, treat each window as its own job. Blindsgalore's tip asks for readings on every window, and openings that look identical can measure differently. Give each window its own labeled log so the readings never get swapped.

Is a laser distance meter practical for measuring recess depth?

Depth is often only a few inches, which is a very short shot for a laser. Your meter's manual lists its accuracy and any minimum measuring distance. If the depth is close to or below what the manual supports, use a tape or ruler for that one reading and note which tool you used.

Do I subtract anything from inside-mount measurements?

Not for LEVOLOR or Blindsgalore. Both say not to take deductions. For other brands, follow that product's measuring page, since the deduction rule changes the numbers you enter on the order.