Made-to-measure vs off-the-shelf curtains and blinds

Made to measure vs off the shelf blinds comes down to fit, choice and speed. Made-to-measure blinds and curtains are cut to your window's measurements and built from the fabrics, controls and fittings you choose. Off-the-shelf products come in fixed sizes and a fixed range, so you fit your window to the product instead of the other way round. Off-the-shelf wins on speed and low commitment, and made-to-measure wins on fit, choice and control over light and privacy.

What made-to-measure means

Made to measure, sometimes called custom window coverings, means the product is made for one window, to the measurements you supply. At My Direct Blinds, every blind, curtain and shutter is made to your measurements. Each product has its own configurator, labelled Build & Order. In it you enter your measurements, choose fabric and controls, and see the price before you order.

That process gives you choices that a fixed size range cannot:

• Size and fit. Choose recess fit or face fit, and set the exact width and drop.
• Fabric. Blockout, light filter and SunScreen roller fabrics, or sheer and blockout curtain fabrics.
• Controls. Chain, cordless or motorised roller blinds, and manual or motorised curtain tracks.
• Headings and tracks. S Fold, Pencil Pleat, Double or Triple Pinch Pleat and Inverted Pleat curtains, with tracks that suit the room.
• Layering. Double roller blinds and double curtains for separate day and night layers.
• Fittings and finishes. Bracket colours, base rails, fascias and pelmets.

It also asks something of you. Our model is that you measure and install, and we deliver the product, practical guidance and support. That trade is worth it for most windows, but it is worth knowing before you order.

What off-the-shelf means

Off-the-shelf, or ready-made, curtains and blinds are made in advance in standard sizes and stocked for immediate sale. The ready made curtains vs custom question is really about how well a fixed size can match your window. Widths and drop lengths are fixed, and colours and fabrics are limited to what the maker chose to produce.

Their strengths are real:

• You can take them home or have them quickly.
• You do not have to measure to the millimetre.
• They suit a short-term arrangement where you do not mind compromising.

Their limits show up when your window does not match the size on the packet. Then you trim, hem, double up or accept gaps, and the product may not do what you wanted it to do. If you already own a ready-made blind that is too long, how to shorten or cut blinds to size explains the options and the limits.

Made-to-measure vs off-the-shelf blinds at a glance

Where the difference shows

Wide windows and sliding doors

A ready-made panel rarely matches a wide window or a sliding door. Made-to-measure gives you options for that: linked roller blinds for wide windows, panel glide blinds for large openings and doors, and curtains with a planned stack-back. Plantation shutters can only be made to measure.

Curtain length and width

Ready-made curtains come in fixed lengths, so you choose the closest and hope. With made-to-measure curtains you give the track width and the drop, and pick the finish: just off the floor (5 to 10 mm short), touching (skimming up to 5 mm) or puddled (20 mm), as set out in our curtain measuring guide. You also choose the heading and fullness, which changes how the curtain hangs.

Light control

Blockout (many people search "blackout", and it means the same thing) stops light passing through the cloth. A little light can still show at the edges, and with made-to-measure blinds you can reduce it by choosing face fit or a standard (under) roll, or by adding a Full Blockout Cassette with side channels.

Products you cannot buy ready made

Some of the products that solve the hardest windows only exist as made-to-measure: plantation shutters, panel glide blinds, cassette roller blinds, linked blinds and double rollers. If your problem is a very wide door or a bay, ready-made may not offer an answer at all.

When off-the-shelf makes sense

Choose off-the-shelf when:

• your window happens to match a standard size
• you are renting and expect to move soon
• you need something up this week
• the room is a spare room or a space you will redecorate soon
• light control and an exact fit are not priorities

It is a sensible choice for the right room: quick, and fine if the size is close. Some people also sew their own curtains, and DIY curtains: make your own or order made to measure compares that route with ordering.

When made-to-measure is worth it

Choose made-to-measure when:

• your windows are wide, tall, uneven or a bay
• you want real light control and privacy, for example in a bedroom
• you have a particular fabric, colour or heading in mind
• you want motorised or cordless controls
• you plan to stay, so the result will be in front of you for years
• you want a product that is not sold ready made, such as shutters

What you take on when you order made to measure

Ordering made to measure online has three risks, and each has a simple fix.

1. Colour looks different in your room. Order free samples. Compare colour and texture in your own light, in the morning and in the evening, against your walls, floor and window frames. A fabric used across several products is one sample, sent once, and for double rollers or double curtains you should order both fabrics and hold them together.
2. Measuring mistakes. Follow the guide for your product. Our measuring guides cover each one, and our article on how to measure windows for blinds lists the common errors. SureFit measurement protection applies where you follow the product guide and meet the eligibility requirements. It is separate from the product-defect warranty and has its own conditions, on the warranty and SureFit page.
3. Waiting. A made-to-measure product is made after you order, so it will not arrive the same day. Check the delivery page for current timing, and order before you need it.

A mixed approach

You do not have to choose one route for the whole house. A common approach is made-to-measure for the rooms where fit and light control matter, such as bedrooms and living areas, and a ready-made product for a spare room or a short-term space. Whatever you decide, keep the fit consistent within a room so the windows look like they belong together.

If you are still weighing blinds against curtains, our guide to blinds vs curtains covers that decision, and our guide to buying blinds online walks through the process from samples to installation. You can start any roller blind in the roller blind builder, or explore curtains and plantation shutters.

Questions

Is made-to-measure more expensive than off-the-shelf?

It depends on the product and the window size. Ready-made is often cheaper for a small standard window, but a large or unusual window can need alterations or extra panels. With our configurators you see the price for your exact size before you order.

How long does a made-to-measure order take?

It is made after you order, so it takes longer than buying something already on the shelf. Check our delivery page for current timing.

Can I install made-to-measure blinds and curtains myself?

Yes. Our model is that you measure and install, and we deliver the product with practical guidance and support. Hardwired motors need a licensed electrician, while battery motors need no mains wiring.

What happens if I measure wrong?

SureFit is a measurement protection that works through a defined remake pathway for covered measuring errors. You need to follow the product-specific measuring guide and meet its eligibility requirements, and it has its own conditions.

Can I mix made-to-measure and off-the-shelf in one home?

Yes. A common approach is made-to-measure for the rooms that need light control or an exact fit, and ready-made products in spare rooms or short-term spaces.