Measuring Your Windows for Shutters

Window Shutter Measuring Guidelines
Before we begin, here are a few tips to help you avoid common window shutter measuring mistakes:

• Be precise! Record all measurements within 1/8 of an inch. Do not round up or down.
• When writing down window measurements, list width first and height second.
• Do not reduce measurements for a "better fit." The shutters you buy will be sized to fit your window.
• Do not rely on one measurement. Measure height and width at three points on each window. Use the narrowest width and shortest height.

Inside Mount
An inside mount is considered a cleaner look for shutters, but it's not always possible. If your window is out of square by more than 3/16 of an inch, you may still be able to do an inside mount using rear hang strips. However, inside mounted shutters will call attention to the window's shape, whereas outside mounted shutters would hide its imperfections.

For inside mounts, measure the interior dimensions of the window frame. If hanging strips will be necessary, reduce your shutter width measurement by about 3/4 of an inch.

Outside Mount
Shutter measurements for outside mounts will require you to add inches for hanging hardware and overhang. Outside mounts can be performed with frames or hang strips, though the latter is primarily used with cafe style shutters that cover only the bottom portion of a window.

Remember to account for the frame in your shutter measurements. As for overhang, size is a matter of taste, but we recommend adding at least 2 inches to the width (one for each side). If your window has a protruding sill, you should use a three-sided frame and add at least 1 inch of overhang for the top of the window shutters.