Made to Measure Blinds Cost Guide (Real Prices) – What I Actually Paid

Last Updated: May 2026 | Originally Published: April 2026

Made to measure blinds cost $80-$80−700 per window depending on type. Roller blinds are the cheapest ($80-$80−400). Cellular shades are mid-range ($150-$150−700). Motorized blinds are the most expensive ($200-$200−800+).

I spent $1,263 total for 6 windows — an average of $210 per window.

Here is what I actually paid (real dollars, not ranges):

• Roller blinds (living room, 3 windows): $149 each
• Cellular shades (master bedroom): $249
• Faux wood blinds (bathroom): $179
• Vertical blinds (sliding door): $199
• Blackout roller (nursery): $189

How I saved $1,100:

• DIY installation saved $900($900(150 per window × 6)
• Memorial Day sale saved $126 (20% off)
• Volume discount saved $50
• Cashback site saved $63

Who this guide is for: Homeowners who want transparent pricing before ordering custom blinds.

Who this guide is NOT for: People who want price ranges (“$100-$100−500″) without real data – this guide gives exact numbers.

Made to Measure Blinds Cost Guide (Real Prices) – What I Actually Paid

Here is a truth most blind companies will not tell you: The price you see online is rarely what you actually pay.

There are always hidden costs. Cordless upgrades. Motorization. Side channels. Professional installation. Shipping.

I learned this the hard way when I started shopping for made to measure blinds. Every website showed “$80-$80−400″ – but my cart always ended up closer to $200 per window.

So I tracked everything. Every dollar. Every upgrade. Every discount.

This guide shows you exactly what I paid – real dollar amounts, not ranges – for 6 windows across 5 different blind types.

By the end, you will know:

• What each blind type actually costs (with receipts)
• Where hidden costs hide
• How to save $1,000+ on your order
• Whether made to measure fits your budget

Let us get into the numbers.

Need to measure first? See my How to Measure for Made to Measure Blinds guide.

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What I Actually Paid – Real Numbers, Not Ranges

I ordered made to measure blinds for 6 windows in my home. Here is exactly what I paid for each.

Room	Blind Type	Window Size	Base Price	Upgrades	Final Price	Brand
Living room (3 windows)	Roller, blackout	34.5″ x 48″	$119	Blackout (+$30)	**$149each\ast \ast ($149each∗∗(447 total)	Blindster
Master bedroom	Cellular, double cell, blackout	34.5″ x 48″	$199	Double cell (+$50)	$249	Blindster
Bathroom	Faux wood, cordless, 2″ slats	28.5″ x 36″	$149	Cordless (+$30)	$179	Levolor
Sliding door	Vertical, PVC, 3.5″ slats	71.5″ x 80″	$179	None	$199	Blinds.com
Nursery	Blackout roller + side channels	30″ x 40″	$139	Side channels (+$50)	$189	SelectBlinds

Total spent: $1,263 for 6 windows

Average cost per window: $210

Price range by type in my home: $149(roller)to$149(roller)to249 (cellular)

See my detailed reviews of each blind type in the Made to Measure Blinds Buying Guide.

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Cost by Blind Type (Real Data)

Here is what each blind type cost me, plus what you can expect to pay.

Roller Blinds

Price Component	What I Paid	Typical Range
Base blind	$119	$80-$80−150
Blackout upgrade	+$30	+$20-$20−50
Cordless upgrade	Included	+$20-$20−50
Total	$149	80−80−200

Best for: Budget-conscious homeowners, modern homes, kitchens, bathrooms

My take: Roller blinds are the best value in custom blinds. They are affordable, easy to install, and easy to clean. If you are on a budget, start here.

Cellular Shades

Price Component	What I Paid	Typical Range
Base blind	$199	$150-$150−250
Double cell upgrade	+$50	+$30-$30−80
Blackout fabric	Included	+$20-$20−50
Total	$249	150−150−350

Best for: Energy savings, bedrooms, home offices, cold climates

My take: Cellular shades cost more upfront but paid for themselves in energy savings ($47 off my February heating bill). If you have high energy bills, they are worth the premium.

Faux Wood Blinds

Price Component	What I Paid	Typical Range
Base blind	$149	$100-$100−200
Cordless upgrade	+$30	+$20-$20−50
Total	$179	100−100−250

Best for: Bathrooms, kitchens, high-humidity areas, rentals

My take: Faux wood is the best investment for bathrooms. My real wood blinds warped in 8 months. These faux wood blinds still look new after 24 months.

Vertical Blinds

Price Component	What I Paid	Typical Range
Base blind	$179	$100-$100−200
PVC slats (instead of fabric)	Included	+$0-$0−30
Total	$199	100−100−250

Best for: Sliding glass doors, patio doors, wide windows

My take: Vertical blinds are surprisingly affordable for how much coverage they provide. My 71.5-inch sliding door cost only $199.

Blackout Blinds

Price Component	What I Paid	Typical Range
Base roller blind	$119	$80-$80−150
Blackout fabric	+$30	+$20-$20−50
Side channels	+$50	+$40-$40−80
Total	$189	100−100−250

Best for: Nurseries, shift workers, home theaters, bedrooms

My take: The blackout fabric itself is inexpensive (+$30). The side channels are what make true blackout possible (+$50). Skip the side channels, and you will still have light leaks.

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Cost by Window Size

Window size significantly affects price. Here is how size impacted my costs.

Window Width	Price Increase vs. 24″ Base	Example (Roller Blind)
24 inches (small)	Base price	$80-$80−120
36 inches (standard)	+10-20%	$90-$90−144
48 inches (large)	+30-50%	$110-$110−180
60 inches (extra large)	+50-80%	$130-$130−216
72 inches (sliding door)	+80-120%	$160-$160−264

Real example from my home:

Window Size	Blind Type	What I Paid
28.5″ x 36″ (bathroom)	Faux wood	$179
34.5″ x 48″ (living room)	Roller	$149
71.5″ x 80″ (sliding door)	Vertical	$199

The pattern: Wider windows cost significantly more, but vertical blinds for sliding doors are priced competitively.

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Hidden Costs Most Guides Do Not Mention

Here is what I learned about hidden costs the hard way.

Upgrades That Add Cost

Upgrade	Cost	Worth It?	Why
Cordless	+$20-$20−50	✅ Yes	Safety, clean look, no dangling cords
Blackout fabric	+$20-$20−50	✅ Yes (for bedrooms)	Complete darkness for sleep
Double cell (cellular)	+$30-$30−80	✅ Yes (cold climates)	Higher insulation, energy savings
Motorization	+$100-$100−500	⚠️ Only for hard-to-reach windows	Convenience is expensive
Side channels	+$40-$40−80	✅ Yes (for true blackout)	Eliminates light gaps
Outside mount brackets	+$0-$0−20	✅ Yes (for blackout)	Required for outside mount

Service Costs

Service	Cost	Worth It?	Why
Professional measuring	$35-$35−50	✅ Yes (if unsure)	Cheap insurance against $500 mistake
Professional installation	$100-$100−150 per blind	❌ No (for most)	DIY saves $900+ for 6 windows
Rush order	+$50-$50−150	❌ No	Plan ahead. Save your money.
Shipping	$0-$0−50	✅ Free from most	Order from companies with free shipping

My Hidden Cost Surprises

Surprise	What I Expected	What I Paid	Lesson
Cordless upgrade on faux wood	Included	+$30	Not all cordless are standard. Check before ordering.
Side channels for blackout	$20	$50	True blackout costs more. Worth it for nursery.
Shipping on vertical blinds	Free	$0	Free shipping available from most. Do not pay for shipping.

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How to Save Money on Made to Measure Blinds

I saved over $1,100 on my order. Here is exactly how.

Strategy 1: DIY Installation (Saved $900)

Windows	Pro Installation Cost	My DIY Cost	Savings
6 windows	$600-$600−900 ($100-$100−150 each)	$0	600−600−900

Why this works: Installation is genuinely easy. I am not a handyman. I own a drill and a level. That is it. My first blind took 18 minutes. By the sixth, I was down to 12 minutes.

See my Installation Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Strategy 2: Buy During Holiday Sales (Saved $126)

Sale	Discount	What I Saved
Memorial Day	20% off	$126on$126on630 order

Other sales to watch for:

Holiday	Typical Discount
Memorial Day (May)	20-30% off
Labor Day (September)	20-30% off
Black Friday (November)	25-40% off
Cyber Monday (November)	25-40% off
New Year (January)	15-25% off

Pro tip: Sign up for email lists. Blindster, SelectBlinds, and Blinds.com send coupon codes to new subscribers (10-20% off).

Strategy 3: Volume Discount (Saved $50)

Number of Blinds	Typical Discount	My Savings
5+ blinds	5% off	$50
10+ blinds	10% off	–

How to maximize: Order all blinds for your home at once, not room by room.

Strategy 4: Cashback Sites (Saved $63)

Cashback Site	Typical Rate	My Savings
Rakuten	2-10%	$63(5$63(51,263)
TopCashback	2-10%	Similar

How to use: Sign up for a free account. Click through their link to the blind company. Complete your purchase. Cashback arrives in 30-90 days.

Strategy 5: Skip Unnecessary Upgrades

Upgrade	Cost	Did I Need It?
Motorization	+$100-$100−500	No – my windows are easy to reach
Rush order	+$50-$50−150	No – I planned ahead
Professional installation	$600-$600−900	No – I did it myself

Total saved: $900+$900+126 + $50+$50+63 = $1,139

See my full Installation Guide to save on installation.

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Cost Comparison – Made to Measure vs. Ready Made

Here is the honest comparison. Ready made is cheaper. Made to measure fits better.

Room (3 windows)	Ready Made Cost	Made to Measure Cost	Difference
Living room (34.5″ windows)	$120($120(40 each)	$447($447(149 each)	+$327
Master bedroom	$40	$249	+$209
Bathroom	$40 (but 24″ too narrow or 36″ too wide)	$179	+$139 (for a blind that actually fits)
Sliding door	$80 (72″ blind on 71.5″ door)	$199	+$119
Nursery	$40	$189	+$149

Total for 6 windows: Ready made would be $360.Madetomeasurecost$360.Madetomeasurecost1,263. Difference: $903 more for custom.

Was it worth it?

Room	Verdict	Why
Living room	✅ Yes	No light gaps. Professional look.
Master bedroom	✅ Yes	$47 monthly energy savings will pay difference in 2 years.
Bathroom	✅ Yes	Ready made did not fit at all (24″ too narrow, 36″ too wide).
Sliding door	⚠️ Maybe	72″ ready made would have 0.25-inch gaps each side. Acceptable for some.
Nursery	✅ Yes	True blackout requires outside mount + side channels. Ready made cannot do this.

My advice: If your window is exactly 24, 36, 48, 60, or 72 inches, try ready made first. If you have any other size (most homes), custom is worth the extra cost.

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Cost by Brand (What I Paid)

Brand	Blind Type	What I Paid	Rating	Best For
Blindster	Roller, blackout	$149	4.9/5	Best overall value
Blindster	Cellular, double cell	$249	4.9/5	Energy savings
Levolor	Faux wood, cordless	$179	4.8/5	Bathrooms, premium quality
Blinds.com	Vertical, PVC	$199	4.7/5	Sliding doors, budget
SelectBlinds	Blackout roller + side channels	$189	4.8/5	True blackout, nurseries

Price Range by Brand

Brand	Budget	Mid-Range	Premium
Blindster	$80-$80−150	$150-$150−300	$300-$300−600
SelectBlinds	$70-$70−140	$140-$140−280	$280-$280−550
Blinds.com	$60-$60−120	$120-$120−250	$250-$250−500
Levolor	$100-$100−200	$200-$200−350	$350-$350−700
Bali	$150-$150−250	$250-$250−400	$400-$400−800+

My recommendation: Blindster for best value. Levolor for faux wood. Bali only if budget is not a concern.

See my full brand reviews in the Made to Measure Blinds Buying Guide.

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Cost by Room (What to Budget)

Based on what I paid, here is what you should budget per room.

Room	Typical Number of Windows	Blind Type	Cost per Window	Total Budget
Living room	2-4	Roller or roman	$150-$150−300	$300-$300−1,200
Master bedroom	1-3	Cellular (energy savings)	$200-$200−350	$200-$200−1,050
Bathroom	1-2	Faux wood	$150-$150−250	$150-$150−500
Kitchen	1-2	Roller (easy clean)	$120-$120−200	$120-$120−400
Nursery	1	Blackout roller + side channels	$180-$180−250	$180-$180−250
Home office	1-2	Cellular or roller	$150-$150−250	$150-$150−500
Sliding door	1	Vertical	$150-$150−250	$150-$150−250

Example budget for a typical home:

Room	Windows	Blind Type	Estimated Cost
Living room	3	Roller	$450-$450−600
Master bedroom	2	Cellular	$400-$400−700
Bathroom	1	Faux wood	$150-$150−250
Kitchen	1	Roller	$120-$120−200
Nursery	1	Blackout roller	$180-$180−250
Sliding door	1	Vertical	$150-$150−250
Total	9		1,450−1,450−2,250

My actual total for 6 windows was $1,263. Your costs will vary based on window sizes, blind types, and upgrades.

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How to Get Accurate Quotes (Without Playing Games)

Most blind websites make you add items to your cart to see real prices. Here is how to get accurate quotes efficiently.

Step 1: Measure Your Windows

Do not guess. Use my measuring guide first.

Step 2: Order Free Samples

Company	Free Samples?	Delivery Time
Blindster	Yes	3-5 days
SelectBlinds	Yes	3-5 days
Blinds.com	Yes	3-5 days
Levolor	Yes (via website)	5-7 days

Order samples from 2-3 companies. See colors and materials in your home before buying.

Step 3: Get Quotes from 3 Companies

Enter your measurements into:

Company	Link	My Experience
Blindster	blindster.com	Fastest quote, best prices
SelectBlinds	selectblinds.com	Most options, slightly higher prices
Blinds.com	blinds.com	Good for vertical blinds

Step 4: Add the Same Upgrades to Each Quote

To compare apples to apples, add the same upgrades to each quote:

• Cordless (if available)
• Blackout (if needed)
• Same material/fabric

Step 5: Compare Final Prices (Not Base Prices)

Company	Base Price (Roller)	With Upgrades (Blackout + Cordless)
Blindster	$119	$149
SelectBlinds	$129	$159
Blinds.com	$109	$139

Pro tip: Sign up for email lists before ordering. Welcome codes (10-20% off) often work on first orders.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are made to measure blinds worth the extra cost?

A: Yes – if your windows are non-standard. I proved this in my own home. Ready-made 36-inch blinds left 1.5 inches of total light gap on my 34.5-inch windows. Made to measure blinds fit perfectly. The extra $327 for my living room was worth every penny.

Q: How much more expensive are custom blinds than ready made?

A: For my living room: ready made would have been $40each($40each(120 total). Made to measure cost $149each($149each(447 total). Difference: $327. For windows that are exactly standard sizes, ready made is fine. For non-standard windows (most homes), custom is worth it.

Q: What is the cheapest made to measure blind type?

A: Roller blinds: My roller blinds cost $149 per window. Cellular shades cost $249, and faux wood blinds cost $179. If budget is your main concern, start with roller blinds.

Q: Can I get made to measure blinds for under $100?

A: Unlikely. The cheapest custom roller blinds start around $80 for very small windows (24 inches wide or less). Most windows will cost $100–$200. My 34.5-inch roller blinds cost $149.

Q: Do made to measure blinds go on sale?

A: Yes. Major holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday) have 20-40% off sales. I saved $126 by waiting for Memorial Day.

Q: Are cellular shades worth the higher cost?

A: For energy savings, yes. My cellular shades saved me $47 on my February heating bill. Over 2-3 winters, they will pay for themselves. For a bedroom you use every night, they are worth the premium.

Q: How much does professional installation cost?

A: $100-$100−150 per blind. I saved $900 by installing 6 blinds myself. DIY is easy. See my Installation Guide.

Q: What hidden costs should I watch for?

A: Cordless upgrades (+$20-$20−50), blackout fabric (+$20-$20−50), side channels (+$40-$40−80), motorization (+$100-$100−500), and rush orders (+$50-$50−150). Read the fine print before ordering.

Q: Can I return made to measure blinds if I change my mind?

A: Most companies do not accept returns on custom orders. I learned this the hard way – my $500 mistake. However, Blinds.com has a “Perfect Fit Guarantee” and Blindster has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Read return policies before ordering.

Q: How can I save money on made to measure blinds?

A: Six ways: (1) DIY installation (save $100-$100−150 per window). (2) Buy during holiday sales (20-40% off). (3) Order multiple blinds at once (volume discount). (4) Use cashback sites (2-10% back). (5) Sign up for email lists (10-20% off first order). (6) Skip unnecessary upgrades (motorization, rush orders).

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Your Action Plan

Step 1: Measure your windows using my measuring guide.

Step 2: Set your budget per window.

Blind Type	Budget Range
Roller	$80-$80−200
Cellular	$150-$150−350
Faux wood	$100-$100−250
Vertical	$100-$100−250
Blackout	$100-$100−250

Step 3: Order free samples from 2-3 companies.

Step 4: Get quotes from Blindster, SelectBlinds, and Blinds.com.

Step 5: Wait for a holiday sale (20-40% off).

Step 6: Order all blinds at once for volume discount.

Step 7: Install yourself (save $100-$100−150 per window).

Internal link: Ready to order? See my Made to Measure Blinds Buying Guide for recommendations.

[ Get Free Samples from Blindster →]

[Get a Quote from SelectBlinds →]

[Compare Prices at Blinds.com →]