Perfect fit blinds clip into the window itself, sit flush with the glass and need no drilling at all, which is why they top so many shortlists for uPVC windows and doors. The catch is that they only suit certain windows. The good news is that finding out whether yours qualify takes a few seconds and a bank card.
How they attach
The system relies on the way modern uPVC windows are glazed. On an internally beaded uPVC window there is a slim gap between the rubber gasket and the glass, and perfect fit brackets slide into that gap and grip. A neat frame then clips over the brackets, holding the blind flush against the pane. Because the blind is attached to the window rather than the wall, it travels with the pane whenever a window or door is opened.
The credit card test
Take a bank card and slide its edge into the gap between the rubber seal and the glass, anywhere around the pane. If the card slips in a centimetre or two and sits held, the brackets will seat and your window is eligible. If the seal feels impenetrable and the card will not go in at all, that window is not suitable, whatever it is made of. Test every window you want to cover, because different windows in the same house can behave differently.
Where perfect fit does not work
Timber and aluminium windows usually fail the test, because most lack the gasket gap the brackets need: timber beading tends to be pinned or glued tight to the glass, and aluminium glazing is often held in a different way altogether. A small number of aluminium systems do have a suitable gap, so the card test is the decider rather than the frame material. Older externally beaded uPVC, secondary glazing panels and traditional puttied single glazing are also out. If the card will not go in, choose a different blind type rather than forcing the issue.
The snags real buyers hit
Four things catch people out even when the gasket test passes.
- Protruding handles. A handle that sits proud of the frame can stop the blind frame lying flat. Spacer kits raise the blind clear of the handle, so ask whether the range offers them and how much extra depth they add.
- Trickle vents. A ventilation strip above the glass can sit exactly where the top brackets want to go. Brackets can often be repositioned along the frame to avoid a vent, but check the fitting guide before ordering rather than after.
- Inward-opening doors and tilt-and-turn windows. The blind travels with the pane, so the cassette and frame depth need clearance from adjacent walls and reveals when the door or window swings open. Measure that clearance first, and see the tilt-and-turn guide for the details.
- Tiled reveals. These are irrelevant, and worrying about them is common but needless. Nothing is drilled, so tiles around kitchen and bathroom windows make no difference whatsoever.
Measuring is different, and easier
Forget recess measurements. Perfect fit blinds are ordered from the visible glass size plus a small measurement of the beading or gasket depth, because the frame clips to the window itself. Every retailer publishes a measuring guide for its own bracket system, and window frames differ, so follow the guide for the exact blind you are buying rather than a generic one. Measure every pane separately, even when they look identical; they rarely are.
Removal without tools
The whole frame unclips by hand, which makes perfect fit one of the best choices for rented homes: no drilling on the way in, no holes to make good on the way out, and the blinds can move house with you. It also makes cleaning the glass behind the blind painless. When you are ready to compare styles and fabrics, the perfect fit guide covers the options window by window.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if perfect fit blinds will fit my windows?
Try the credit card test. Slide the edge of a bank card into the gap between the rubber gasket and the glass; if it slips in and holds, the brackets will seat and your window qualifies.
Do perfect fit blinds work on wooden or aluminium windows?
Usually not, because most timber and aluminium frames lack the gasket gap the brackets need. A small number of aluminium systems do have a suitable gap, so let the card test decide rather than the frame material.
Will my window handles get in the way?
Handles that stick out can stop the blind frame sitting flat against the window. Spacer kits lift the blind clear of the handle, so ask whether the range you want offers them.
Can I fit perfect fit blinds if I have trickle vents?
Often yes. Vents can clash with the top brackets, but brackets can usually be repositioned along the frame to avoid them, so check the fitting guide before you order.
Do I need to drill into tiles?
No. Perfect fit blinds clip into the window itself, so tiled reveals in kitchens and bathrooms are irrelevant and nothing about your walls needs to change.
Are perfect fit blinds suitable for renters?
Yes, they are one of the best options for rented homes. Nothing is drilled and the whole frame unclips without tools, so you can take the blinds with you and leave no trace.