How to Measure for Zebra Blinds (And How to Check Before You Order)
A few years ago a customer named Mark left us a five-star review that included a request:
"One improvement is for them to provide guidelines on measuring, especially if it's inside mount. I have to install the blinds as an outside mount because none of them would fit inside. I have done DIYs previously and never had an issue until now."
— Mark V., verified buyer
He was right, and this page is the answer. It took us longer than it should have.
Mark's blinds worked out fine, because our metal bracket mounts either inside or outside the window frame. But he shouldn't have had to discover that on installation day.
He also wasn't the only one:
"The instructions were a little vague but once I worked it out they were so easy and quick to install."
— Kathleen C., Google review
Two customers, two different documents, same problem. The blinds were never the issue. Our explaining was. So this is us fixing it.
First, make sure you know what you're ordering
Worth thirty seconds, because one customer told us she was surprised on delivery:
"The blind arrived, was reasonably quick, but it was different to what I thought I had ordered. (Has strips instead of two full sized lengths.) However it still did the job and I do like it."
— Colleen M., Google review
A zebra blind is one blind made of two layers of fabric, each printed with alternating sheer and solid horizontal stripes. Pull the chain and the layers slide against each other.
- Stripes aligned solid-on-sheer — light and view come through.
- Stripes aligned solid-on-solid — privacy or blockout.
That's the whole trick, and it's why people call them day-night blinds. It is not two separate full-length panels. The striped look is the mechanism, not a pattern choice.
"They're like having two in one."
— Vicki H., Google review
If the striped appearance isn't the look you want, a standard roller blind is the better product, and we'd rather tell you now than on delivery day.
Why measuring falls to you (and why that's not a bad deal)
Most blind companies in New Zealand and Australia won't quote you until a consultant has been to your house. That consultant measures, and the cost of them driving out sits inside your price.
We do it the other way. Prices are published, you measure, and the blind is made to your numbers.
"I compared three different suppliers and found Zebrablinds to be 1/4 of the price for a similar blind elsewhere."
— Wendy J., verified buyer
The trade-off is that the tape measure is in your hands. So here's everything we know.
Inside mount or outside mount? Decide this first
Inside mount (recess fit) — the blind sits inside the window opening. Cleanest look.
Outside mount (face fit) — the blind mounts on the wall or frame above the window and hangs over it. Better for shallow reveals, out-of-square openings, and blocking side light.
Our bracket does both. The same metal bracket that ships with your blind can be fitted inside or outside the frame. If you get to installation day and inside mount isn't going to work, you are not stuck.
How deep does the reveal need to be? At least 50mm to take the metal bracket. At that depth the casing sits in the frame but may protrude slightly at the front. If you want the casing sitting flush inside the reveal, you need 80mm or more.
Measure your reveal depth before anything else. If it's under 50mm, stop here and go to outside mount.
The measuring rules
Width comes first. Always.
Blinds are ordered width × height, in that order, in millimetres. Not height first, the way we read TV and picture-frame sizes.
Write W and H beside every number on your list. If you're doing a whole house, this one habit prevents the most expensive mistake there is — a blind made perfectly to numbers that were entered the wrong way round.
For an inside mount
- Measure the width at the top, middle and bottom of the opening.
- Use the smallest of the three, or the blind will catch on the way down.
- Measure the drop at the left, centre and right.
- Use the largest of the three.
- Do not deduct anything yourself. Give us the actual window opening. We take 5mm off the width at manufacture so the blind clears the frame.
This is the single most important line on this page, so we'll say it twice: send us the real window measurement, not an adjusted one. If you deduct 5mm and we deduct 5mm as well, your blind ends up 10mm narrow and the light gap will annoy you every day. If you have already adjusted your numbers for any reason, tell us in the order notes and we will make it exactly as written.
For an outside mount
- Decide your overlap each side.
- Width = window opening + overlap on both sides.
- Height = from bracket position down to where you want the blind to finish.
- Check what's above the window — curtain track, pelmet, light fitting, ceiling clearance.
How to pick your overlap. Ideally 50mm each side. That covers the frame properly and stops light creeping down the edges.
But an outside mount isn't constrained by the window opening, so you have real freedom here, and it changes how the window looks as much as how it performs:
- Go wider and the window appears bigger. This works well on a small window, or a room you want to feel more generous. Some people run the blind well past the frame for exactly this reason.
- Keep it minimal, just enough to cover the frame, for a tidy, contained look.
Think about what the window is for. A bedroom you sleep in wants generous coverage. A lounge window you mostly look out of doesn't. Hold a tape measure up on the wall and see where the edges would land before you commit.
Also check what's beside the window. Light switches, door architraves and adjacent windows all limit how far you can go.
Use a metal tape measure, not a fabric one. Fabric tapes stretch, and a few millimetres matters here.
A note on units. We work in millimetres, standard across New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Europe. If you're used to inches, multiply by 25.4. A 72 inch window is 1829mm. Send us millimetres and nothing gets lost in translation.
Things people forget until the blind is made
Chain side. Stand in the room and think about where you'll actually reach. In a kitchen, keep the chain off the bench side.
Window handles. An inside-mount blind sits in front of the handle. Check it won't foul the fabric.
Wide windows. Our maximum width for a single blind is 2400mm. Anything wider splits into two or more blinds. They don't need to be equal halves, so split them to match your window panels or door frames.
Splitting costs you nothing extra. We price by total square metre, so a 5.3m run split into four blinds costs the same as it would if we could make it in one.
Chain length. One customer told us hers needed about 10cm more to sit comfortably. If your window is unusually tall, or the blind is going somewhere you'll be reaching up to, mention it in your order notes and we'll tell you what we can do.
Motorised or manual. Motorised blinds run on a battery motor, so there's no wiring and no power point needed. Remotes and the smart hub are ordered separately from the motor itself, which catches people out. Decide this before you order, because it isn't something we can retrofit later.
Not sure? Ask before you order, not after
"The owner was extremely helpful before purchase and even did a video call to explain all the details and options clearly."
— Nab Z.
"We had our doubts with the product first and weren't sure whether these types of blinds would suit our home, so we asked lots of questions and sent many emails and always received prompt replies and helpful advice."
— Julia M.
If your window is a bay, has a raked ceiling, is visibly out of square, or you just want a second opinion on your numbers, email photos to shop@zebrablinds.co.nz. We would far rather spend ten minutes on your measurements than have a blind made that doesn't fit.
Get the catalogue before you choose fabric
Screens lie about colour. Every monitor and phone renders fabric differently, and a colour that reads warm grey online can look blue in your lounge.
"I strongly recommend getting the giant catalogue shipped so you can decide on the best fabrics for you. We had one picked out, but ended up changing after we saw the catalogue."
— Zoe G., Google review
Zoe changed her mind after seeing the samples. That's the normal outcome, not the exception.
One thing worth knowing while you choose: semi-blockout and blockout are different fabric weights, not just different light levels. If you want a substantial, heavier fabric in the hand, go blockout. Semi-blockout is a lighter weave by design.
Installation is the easy part
"Installation is straightforward with clear instruction and we managed to install it within 10 mins."
— Rogie C.
"Took 5 minutes to install, very nice quality."
— Nicola R., verified buyer
If you're weighing up whether to pay someone, this is worth reading:
"What really surprised me was how easy they were to install. I initially thought we'd need to hire someone, but the process was as simple as advertised. We had them up in no time without any hassle."
— Jean H., Google review
Jean has also had hers two years, which answers the other question people don't ask out loud.
One step people skip. Your blind comes with a chain safety clip. It needs to be screwed to the wall so the chain runs through it and can't hang in a loop. It takes about a minute, and it matters most in any room a young child can reach. Fit it even if you don't have children in the house — visitors, grandchildren and future owners all count.
When something goes wrong
We'd rather tell you this than have you find out.
In 2023 a customer ordered three blinds. Two were cut perfectly. The third came through with uneven panels — a cutting fault at manufacture.
"I got 2 semi-blockout blinds that were perfectly cut, unfortunately this 3rd blockout blind was unevenly cut in multiple panels."
— Kiks K., verified buyer
Our reply, publicly, on our own review page: an apology, thanks for reporting it, send the measurements, and we replaced it free.
We've left that review up. Any supplier can claim a perfect record. What actually tells you something is what happens on the day a blind isn't right.
The same applies to delays. Our blinds are manufactured offshore, and Chinese New Year shuts factories down every year.
"Even when there was unavoidable delays due to Chinese New Year, Joseph was responsive and proactive."
— Rebecca H., verified buyer
We hit our timeframe most of the time. When we haven't, it has been customs congestion, a fabric running out, or peak season, and we've told people while it was happening rather than after.
Delivery, warranty and where we ship
New Zealand and Australia are our main markets, and most of what follows applies wherever you are.
- Lead time: 12 working days from order to your door, covering manufacture and delivery. That's the same whether you're in Christchurch, Brisbane or further afield — the international leg carries more buffer.
- Freight: blinds come in from the factory by FedEx. Within New Zealand, Mainfreight or Toll handle the final run.
- Warranty: 24 months on parts and fabric, wherever you are in the world.
- Returns: every blind is cut to your numbers, so a measuring error isn't something we can resell. Talk to us rather than assuming the worst. Full terms are in our refund policy, and your local consumer law applies on top of that — the Consumer Guarantees Act in New Zealand, Australian Consumer Law across the Tasman.
FAQ
Do I measure the window or my existing blind?
The window opening. Never an existing blind — old blinds are often already the wrong size, which is frequently why they're being replaced.
Do I deduct anything from my measurements?
No. Send the actual window opening and we take 5mm off the width for inside mounts.
How much overlap should an outside mount have?
Ideally 50mm each side, but it's your call. Wider makes the window look bigger; minimal keeps it tidy.
Can the bracket do inside and outside mount?
Yes. The same metal bracket fits either way, so you have options on installation day.
What if my window isn't square?
Very common in older homes, whether that's a New Zealand villa or bungalow or an Australian weatherboard or Queenslander. Measure in three places, take the smallest width and largest drop, and consider an outside mount, which is far more forgiving.
What is the maximum width for one blind?
2400mm. Wider windows split into two or more blinds, priced on total square metres, so splitting costs nothing extra.
How long do zebra blinds take to arrive?
Twelve working days, covering manufacture and delivery to your door, in New Zealand, Australia and worldwide.
What happens if my blind arrives faulty?
Email us with photos and the measurements. Your blind is covered by a 24 month warranty on parts and fabric. We've replaced a badly cut blind and brackets that arrived broken in transit, and we'd rather you told us than lived with it.
Ready to measure?
Metal tape measure. Decide inside or outside mount. Three measurements each way. W before H. And send us the real window size, not an adjusted one.
If anything looks unusual, send us a photo first. We've been doing this a while, and we'd rather get it right with you than have you find out on installation day.
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