Chain, cordless or motorised: choosing roller blind controls

There are three roller blind controls, and the right one depends on who uses the blind, how large it is and how you want to operate it. The SunBoss chain drive is the simplest, ZeroGravity cordless removes the chain altogether, and Silent Glide motorisation adds remote, app and voice control. Choose the control before you order, because it affects what is offered at your size and how linked blinds are laid out.

Roller blind controls compared

For fabrics, fit and hardware, see the roller blinds buyer's guide.

SunBoss chain drive

The SunBoss chain drive is Australian-designed and the most familiar way to run a roller blind. You pull one side of the chain loop to raise the blind and the other side to lower it. You choose whether the chain sits on the left or the right, and larger blinds get spring assistance to make lifting easier.

Chain safety. A child-safety device is supplied that stops the chain forming a loop over 220 mm. Please keep chains out of reach of children, and use the device as directed. Where you can, choose cordless or motorised controls for a child's room. For safety habits across every kind of blind, see blind cord safety.

Chain finish. Chain options are Metal, White, Birch, Beige, Grey, Black and Stainless Steel. Stainless is recommended for coastal homes, where salt air is harder on metal.

Large blinds. A blind over 2500 mm wide gets an upgraded gear-drive clutch at no extra charge. If a chain jams or slips, roller blind chain problems and how to fix them covers the common faults.

Choosing the chain side

Put the chain on the side where you naturally stand when you reach for it, away from furniture, curtains and wall corners. On linked blinds the chain sides are chosen as a set, which is covered below.

ZeroGravity cordless

ZeroGravity cordless is spring-balanced. You lift or lower the blind by the base rail, and it holds at any height without a chain. It works up to 3 m wide by 3 m drop.

Older spring-loaded blinds work differently. With those, you pull the fabric down and let go to make it snap back up. ZeroGravity holds where you leave it, so you set the height you want and the blind stays there. See cordless roller blinds for the full detail.

Cordless is the usual first look for nurseries and kids' rooms because there is no chain to loop. It also gives a tidier look. The main limit is reach: you need to be able to get to the base rail. For a window that sits high or behind furniture, a motorised blind is the better answer. Our nursery blinds page sets out the combinations.

Motorised roller blinds

Silent Glide is the motorisation for roller blinds. There are three ways to power it.

Remotes. Choose a 2-channel or 16-channel remote. Range is up to 80 m outdoors in line of sight and 30 m indoors. Several motors on one channel move together, so you can group all the blinds in a room and run them with a single button.

Smart hub. A compatible smart hub adds app control, scenes, timers, sunrise and sunset triggers, and Alexa and Google Home voice control. That is where motorised and manual blinds differ most in daily use: you can set blinds to open at sunrise or close at sunset without touching them.

Warranty. Hardwired motors carry a 5-year warranty and battery motors 3 years. The warranty and SureFit page explains what is covered.

Our motorised roller blinds page shows the options in the configurator, and the motorised blinds guide goes into wiring, charging and control. If you already own manual blinds, can you motorise existing blinds explains the options.

Motorised blinds vs manual blinds

A motorised blind opens and closes from a remote, an app or your voice, can be grouped with other blinds, and suits windows you cannot easily reach. A manual blind needs no power, no charger and no setup. Motorisation changes the price, and the configurator shows the price for your sizes before you order, so you can compare the options window by window.

Controls on linked and double roller blinds

Linked blinds

On linked roller blinds, two or three blinds share brackets, and each blind's control sits on its left or right end. Read the configuration left to right from inside the room. The options depend on the control:

• Chain: LL, RR, LR, LRR or LLR.
• Hardwired or C-Bus: also LLL and RRR.
• Battery: LR only.

Because a battery motor drives one blind, a battery-motorised linked pair needs a motor in each blind. For very wide windows, blinds for large windows compares linked blinds with panel glide and curtains.

Double roller blinds

On a double roller, controls are chain, cordless or motorised, depending on the dimensions. A 2-channel remote suits a double roller because each layer can sit on its own channel.

Which control suits which room

A checklist before you choose

Different windows in the same house often suit different controls, so work through these questions for each one.

1. Who operates the blind? Children, older family members and guests all change the answer. For a child's room, lean towards cordless or motorised.
2. How big is it? Larger chain blinds get spring assistance, cordless runs up to 3 m wide by 3 m drop, and blinds over 2500 mm wide get the upgraded gear-drive clutch.
3. Can you reach it? Cordless needs you to reach the base rail. A high window or one behind furniture points to motorised.
4. Where does the power come from? A battery motor needs a charger. A hardwired motor needs a licensed electrician. C-Bus is for an existing C-Bus system.
5. How do you want to control it? A 2-channel or 16-channel remote, and if you want app, scenes, timers or voice, a compatible smart hub. C-Bus does not use the RF remote or hub.
6. Which blinds should move together? Several motors on one channel move together, so plan your channels by room.
7. What finish do you want? Chain colour, or none. Base rail and bracket colours are options on the blind.

Once the control is settled, the roller blinds installation guide covers fitting, and the roller blinds page is where you build and price the blind.

Questions

How do cordless roller blinds work?

A ZeroGravity cordless blind is spring-balanced. You lift or lower it by the base rail and it holds at any height, with no chain.

Are motorised blinds better than manual blinds?

Neither is better for everyone. Motorised blinds add remote, app or voice control and suit large or hard-to-reach windows, while manual blinds need no power or charging.

Do battery motorised blinds need charging?

Yes. Battery motors are rechargeable and need a charger, and each blind needs its own motor.

Which roller blind control suits a nursery?

ZeroGravity cordless or a motorised blind are the better choices, because there is no loose chain. If you use a chain, keep it out of reach of children and use the chain safety device supplied.