Inside mount · new construction

Builder blind size chart for new construction

35" opening → 34.5" blind (inside mount) — the pairing behind most “what size blinds for a 34.5" window?” searches.

Opening-to-width chart below is for production homes and new builds — not pre-war apartments, dingbats, or rehab stock with odd widths. Older rental stock → field guides.

National production builders reuse the same window modules, so most closings map to a small set of stocked widths and standard drops (60", 72", 84", 96").

Quick answer

Inside mount on a new build: order about ½" narrower than your measured opening — 35" → 34.5". Opening measures 34.5"? Order a 34" blind. Ready to buy? Shop 34.5" faux wood or see the full opening chart.

2 inch cordless faux wood blind — #1 builder width for 35 inch openings

2" faux wood — most common whole-home spec on new construction closes

1 inch vinyl mini blinds — budget builder and rental bedrooms
Vertical blinds on a patio slider — builder and multifamily spec

Vinyl mini for budget bedrooms · verticals for patio sliders

What Size Blinds for a 34.5" Window (Inside Mount)?

Searchers often mean one of two things — here is how to tell which applies to you:

  • You measured the opening at 34.5" (inside the frame, inside mount): order about a 34" blind. Finished inside-mount blinds are roughly ½" narrower than the opening so the headrail clears the frame. On our configurator, choose Window Measurement and we apply the deduction automatically.
  • You need 34.5" blinds (you already know the blind width): your opening was probably 35" — the standard builder single-hung pairing. Shop 34.5" faux wood blinds (our #1 seller) or compare all product lines at 34.5" width.

Why a 35" Window Often Uses a 34.5" Blind

When a blind is mounted inside the window frame (an “inside mount”), the finished blind is made about ½ inch narrower than the opening. That small deduction gives the headrail and slats room to tilt, raise, and lower without scraping the frame. So a 35-inch opening is paired with a 34.5-inch blind, a 58-inch opening with a 57.5-inch blind, and so on.

This is why builder blind widths so often end in “.5” — they are the standard openings minus the inside-mount clearance. If you mount outside the frame instead, the rule flips: you order the blind wider than the opening so it overlaps and blocks light. One exception: roller shades are ordered at the exact window-opening size with no deduction.

Production home window openings

This chart is for new construction and production-home modules — not pre-war apartments or rehab stock with odd widths. Use it to convert a measured inside-mount opening to the blind width we stock. Each blind width links to every standard length available at that size.

Window opening (inside mount)Typical blind widthCommonly used for
24"23.5"Door glass, sidelights, and narrow utility windows (see door blinds below)
32"31.5"Standard bedroom and living-room windows
34"33.5"Common builder-spec single-hung
34.5"34"Between standard 34" and 35" openings — order 34" blind or round to nearest stocked width
35"34.5"Top-selling single-hung width
39"38.5"Larger bedroom and living-room windows
43"42.5"Wide bedroom and great-room windows
47"46.5"Double-hung and small picture windows
58"57.5"Wide casement and picture windows
59"58.5"Wide-format picture windows
71"70.5"Large picture and sliding windows
72"71.5"Outside-mount door and patio coverage

Measurements are typical inside-mount pairings. Always confirm your exact opening and mount type before ordering.

Narrow blinds for doors (22.5"–25" wide)

Blinds in the 22.5"–25" width range are most often used on doors — back doors, French doors, and half- or full-glass entry doors — rather than standard windows. Because the blind mounts on the door surface over the glass, these are ordered as an outside mount in 2" faux wood, with standard drops of 64", 72", and 84" to cover the full door-glass panel. Browse 23.5" door blinds or 25 inch blinds (25×64 and 25×72 faux wood ship outside mount for door glass).

The narrow glass panels on either side of a front door are called sidelights, and they use even narrower blinds — typically 8"-wide 2" faux wood with standard drops of 64", 72", and 84". They can be ordered inside or outside mount depending on how the sidelight frame is configured. See our sidelight blinds guide for sizes, mounting, and product picks — or browse 8" sidelight blinds.

Triple-pane living room windows (~106" wide)

Many production builders spec a three-panel window bank in the living room or great room — three single-hung openings at about 35" each, totaling roughly 105"–106" of glass under one header.

One roller shade: order a 106" roller shade to cover the full opening for a clean, modern line. Use continuous cord loop control (widths over 80" include $500 freight in the online price).

Three blinds (one per pane): order three 34.5" faux wood blinds or 34.5" wood blinds — the same width used on standard 35" bedroom windows.

Inside Mount vs. Outside Mount

Inside mount

The blind sits inside the window frame for a clean, built-in look. Report the exact opening width and the factory deducts about ½" for clearance. Requires enough frame depth for the headrail. Best for new-build vinyl or wood frames with adequate returns.

Outside mount

The blind mounts on the wall or trim above the window and overlaps the opening, usually by 1.5–2" per side. Order the blind wider and taller than the opening. Best for shallow frames, out-of-square openings, or when you want maximum light blockage and privacy.

Jamb depth: will a 2" faux wood fit?

New-build windows usually have enough depth for 2" faux wood inside mount (roughly 1½"–2½" clear in the frame). Shallow trim, storm windows in place, or decorative casings may need outside mount or a slimmer 1" vinyl mini line instead. Older apartments and craftsman conversions often need mount-first specs — see our window field guides for archetype-by-archetype depth notes.

How Builders Measure Windows

  1. Measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom of the opening.
  2. Measure the height at the left, center, and right of the opening.
  3. For an inside mount, use the narrowest width and the longest height, then let the factory apply the standard deduction.
  4. For an outside mount, add your desired overlap (typically 1.5–2" per side) to the opening size.
  5. Round to the nearest 1/8" and record measurements to the exact fraction.

Want the step-by-step with photos? See our full measuring & installation guide.

Most Common Blind Sizes by Room

RoomTypical widthTypical lengthRecommended product
Bedroom31.5" – 35"60" – 72"2" faux wood or vinyl mini
Living room34.5" – 58"60" – 72"2" faux wood or wood
Dining room34.5" – 46.5"60"2" faux wood
Tall / two-story window34.5" – 58"84" – 96"2" faux wood (96" length stocked)
Patio / sliding glass door70.5" – 100"+84"3.5" PVC vertical blinds

Want product picks by room? See our blinds by room guides for bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, and more.

Not a new build?

This chart targets production-home and new-construction window modules. Pre-war apartments, Chicago flats, LA dingbats, craftsman fourplexes, and other rental stock often have non-standard openings, shallow jambs, or casement groups — measure every window and check mount depth before assuming a builder width fits.

Our window field guides cover mounting and product specs by housing archetype (ship nationwide; install in DFW only):

Property managers & apartment stock

Multifamily turnovers and rehabs use different reorder patterns than a single new-build close — stocked verticals on sliders, faux wood bedroom lines, and vinyl mini on budget turns.

Production Home Window Size Ranges

While exact window dimensions vary by floorplan, large production builders tend to cluster window openings into a small set of standardized width ranges that correspond to common blind sizes. They reuse the same window modules across floorplans and subdivisions because it lowers cost, speeds up framing and installation, and keeps them tied to standard supplier sizes. That is why the same handful of blind widths show up again and again in new-construction homes.

Window typeTypical opening widthTypical blind widthWhere you'll see it
Small24" – 36"23.5" – 35"Bathrooms, secondary bedrooms, utility windows
Standard36" – 60"35" – 58"Bedrooms, kitchens, single- and double-hung windows
Wide60" – 72"+58" – 71.5"Living rooms, great rooms, picture windows
Patio / sliding door72" – 100"+3.5" vertical blindsOpen-concept living areas, patios

These are industry-standard production-home ranges, not the proprietary specification of any one builder. Always confirm your own openings before ordering.

Standard Lengths (Drops)

Builder blinds are stocked in a handful of standard drops to keep turnarounds fast: 60" for most standard windows, 72" for taller windows, and 84" and 96" for two-story and patio-height openings. The 96" length is a common builder drop that many online retailers do not carry — we stock it on faux wood and across the builder catalog.

Blinds by builder & home type

Just closed on a new build? Lennar, D.R. Horton, Pulte, Meritage, and other production builders reuse the same window modules — these guides map typical openings to stocked blind widths and link to product hubs. Free measure in DFW; ship nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size blinds for a 34.5 inch window inside mount?

It depends what you measured. If your window opening (inside the frame) is 34.5 inches wide, order about a 34-inch blind — inside-mount blinds are finished roughly ½ inch narrower than the opening. If you already know you need 34.5-inch blinds, your opening was likely 35 inches (the #1 builder pairing). Shop 34.5-inch faux wood blinds or enter your exact opening in our configurator and choose Window Measurement — we apply the standard deduction for you.

What size blind do I need for a 35 inch window?

For an inside mount inside a 35-inch-wide opening, you typically order a 34.5-inch blind. Finished inside-mount blinds run about a half inch narrower than the opening so the headrail and slats clear the window frame. For an outside mount, you would instead order a blind a few inches wider than the opening to overlap it.

Why is my blind smaller than my window?

Inside-mount blinds are intentionally cut about ½ inch narrower than the window opening. That clearance lets the slats tilt and the blind raise and lower without rubbing the frame. It is normal and expected — a 35-inch opening using a 34.5-inch blind is the standard builder pairing.

Should blinds be narrower than the window opening?

For an inside (recess) mount, yes — about ½ inch narrower so the blind fits cleanly inside the frame. For an outside (surface) mount, the opposite is true: the blind should be wider and taller than the opening, usually overlapping each side by 1.5–2 inches to block light gaps. Roller shades are the exception and are ordered at the exact opening size.

What are the standard builder blind sizes?

Production builders reuse a small set of window modules. Most new-home openings map to stocked widths with standard drops of 60", 72", 84", and 96". 34.5" is the most common single width after the usual inside-mount deduction.

What is the most common blind size in new construction?

34.5" wide is the most common single blind size in new-construction homes because it fits the standard 35" single-hung window opening after the ½" inside-mount deduction. Most homes use a mix of widths from about 34.5" to 70.5" depending on the room and window, with 60" and 72" being the most common lengths.

Do builders include blinds in new homes?

It varies by builder and price tier. Some builders include basic blinds (often faux wood or vinyl mini) as a standard or upgrade option at closing, while others leave windows uncovered so the buyer chooses their own. Because builder window sizes are standardized, it is easy to order matching blinds afterward — that is exactly what our stocked builder widths are for.

How do I measure a window for builder blinds?

Measure the exact window-opening width at the top, middle, and bottom, and the height at the left, center, and right. For an inside mount, report the smallest width and the longest height and let the factory apply the standard deduction. For an outside mount, decide how far the blind should overlap the opening on each side and add that to your measurements.

What size blinds do I need for a sliding glass door?

Standard sliding glass doors are roughly 60" to 96" wide and about 80" tall. 3.5" PVC vertical blinds are the usual builder and multifamily choice for this opening, commonly ordered around 70.5"–100"+ wide by 84" long depending on the door.

What size blinds for a triple-pane living room window (~106" wide)?

New construction great rooms often combine three ~35" single-hung openings under one header — about 105"–106" total width. You can cover the full span with one 106" roller shade (continuous cord loop recommended over 80" wide), or use three 34.5" faux wood or wood blinds — one per pane. Measure the full combined opening for a single roller; measure each pane separately for three blinds.

What size blinds do I need for a door window?

Blinds for doors are narrow — usually about 22.5 to 25 inches wide — to match the door-glass panel. Because they mount on the door surface over the glass, door blinds are ordered as an outside mount in 2" faux wood, with standard drops of 64", 72", and 84" so they cover the full glass. Browse 25×64 and 25×72 on our 25 inch blinds hub.

Do standard builder sizes work in older apartments?

Often no — or not without measuring first. Pre-war apartments, Chicago flats, LA dingbats, and craftsman fourplexes frequently have shallow jambs, casement groups, or widths that do not match production-home modules. Use this chart for new construction; for older rental stock, see our window field guides for mount-depth and archetype-specific specs.

Ready to order the right size?

Browse stocked widths and shop the most popular new-home blinds, or have us measure and install for you across Dallas–Fort Worth.

Property manager? Apartment turnovers · Multifamily renovation · Commercial accounts. Older rental stock? Window field guides.