How Much Do Blinds Cost To Install? (Cost Estimate)

Whether you want to add blinds to your home for function or form, you must be prepared to cover the associated costs.

This varies depending on whether you do it on your own and the types of blinds you have installed. The cost ranges from $210 to $1,300 for a full home installation, but the average homeowner pays $700 for professional installation.

Keep reading to learn what factors into this cost.

Influences on the Cost of Blinds

The cost to install blinds in your home depends on a few things. While you may still need to tweak your budget based on any custom needs or issues you run into, you can get a good idea of what it will cost you to have blinds installed.

Some details, like labor, are more standard and easier to get an idea of before you even call someone into your home. Other aspects, like the materials of the blinds and the style that you choose, are in your control.

Labor (Removal and Installation)

Average Cost: $35 to $100 per hour; $100 to $100 for removal and disposal

Most professionals will come in and do an estimate for free. This estimate includes their hourly fee (although some may quote you for the job itself).

Most homes have about 8 windows and take about 4 hours to run through, but a house with more windows or custom windows may take longer and lead to higher installation costs.

A window or blind installer may also quote you for the removal and disposal of your old blinds. You can bring this down to about $25 if you dispose of them on your own, or you can remove the blinds before they get there to save on labor costs.

Window Size and Requirements

Average Cost: Varies

Blinds for larger windows usually cost more. For example, blinds for a sliding glass door can cost as much as $200 on their own, while most standard window blinds cost $50.

Your price ranges vary depending on what special treatment you need for your window. You may add blinds or shades to further insulate a single pane window and spend more on higher quality materials to get the job done.

Your price also increases with any customization you need depending on window size and shape.

Materials

Average Cost: $11 (low end) to $215 per window

Aside from any customization or motorization, the materials you use for your windows play the biggest role in your average cost of blinds.

Vinyl and aluminum blinds are a popular option because they’re cheap and easy to install, but they’re fairly easy to damage. Many choose vinyl vertical blinds for sliding glass doors to keep costs low.

Fabric blinds and shades are the best for aesthetic appeal, but you pay about $50 to $100 per blind depending on the style. Bamboo and faux wood blinds are also great stylish options, and they run an average of $30 to $95 per blind.

Real wood blinds are the most expensive option. They’re great for insulating a home, but add $30 to $215 to your blind installation cost per blind.

Home Location

As with any project, your labor and material costs are influenced by your location. Professionals tend to stick in the same range as others in the same area. You should get several quotes before starting on the project, but expect them to be in a similar range.

Your location also affects your ability to get certain materials to your home. You may need to pay extra for shipping and handling, especially if you live in a secluded area.

Brand and Style

You will pay more for luxury brands and most on-trend blinds than you would for standard, mass-produced window coverings. These costs reflect the higher quality and demand for these items, but they may also cover details like special hardware or framing considerations.

If you’re trying to keep costs low, it’s best to go for generic brands and styles. Plain white vinyl blinds may not express your inner artist, but they still cover the convenience of privacy and shade in your home.

Specialty Blinds and Associated Costs

Your cost estimate increases the more you opt for or need specialty blind options, such as:

• Automated (motorized/electric) blinds
• Outdoor blinds
• Waterproof blinds
• Custom blinds (sizes and shapes)

You may get special discounts with a professional installation, but DIY installers will need to spend more time researching costs at home improvement stores like Home Depot.

Automated Blinds

Average Cost: $400 to $500

Automation is a high-end luxury, but most purchases believe the feature pays for itself. Automated blinds have a motor that opens and closes blinds without manual assistance, meaning you can adjust them as needed without needing to be there.

Most use remote controls, but more expensive brands can be programmed to respond to sunlight and temperature. Some allow you to make changes using an app on your phone, allowing a further range of control.

These blinds are great for homes with small children, animals, and they make a home more accessible for certain individuals.

Outdoor and Waterproof Blinds

Average Cost: $125 to $250

Any blinds that sit outside your home should be properly constructed and treated to withstand weather and sunlight. These are often used to provide better privacy to patios, decks, or porches, and they can protect you from nosy neighbors.

Outdoor blinds are better at closing off an area than awnings or other overhead shades, but they come at a price.

Waterproof blinds are not optimized for outdoor conditions, but they child up against mold and bacterial growth from moisture. These are often used in bathrooms or near hot tubs.

Many waterproof blinds must fit a custom size or shape unique to their location, increasing the cost.

Custom Blinds

Average Cost: $150 to $200+

Custom blinds are any that you have manufactured specifically to fit your wants or needs. They lack the price cuts that come with mass-production, so you will almost always pay more.

Custom blinds may also include micro or mini blinds commonly used in bathrooms or other small windows. These require smaller slats, sometimes as small as ½ inch, to allow for optimal light filtration in these spaces.

While it’s well worth it to customize blinds if you have a specific vision or need for your home, this is not a budget-friendly route.

Common Types of Blinds and Costs

The type of blinds you install affects how they perform, the cost of your window blinds installation, and the style of your home. There are plenty of types to consider, the most common including:

• Cellular shades
• Cordless blinds
• Horizontal blinds
• Panel blinds
• Pleated blinds
• Roller blinds
• Roman blinds
• Shoji blinds
• Solar blinds
• Venetian blinds

The type of blinds you choose depends on what you expect from them, and it influences the materials you can work with.

Cellular Shades

Average Cost: $50 to $110

Cellular shades have multiple layers of material that connect at certain points so they can create cells of air when let down. These shades are great for adding an extra layer of insulation against external heat or cold.

Cordless Blinds

Average Cost: $12 to $125

Non-motorized cordless blinds are a cheaper option for households with small children or animals. These can be lifted and lowered by moving the bottom of the blind, and they include a wand you can use to tilt the slats.

Horizontal Blinds

Average Cost: $11 to $125

Horizontal blinds are the most common style, and price varies depending on material and treatment. These blinds stack on top of each other when you have them open, and you use a chord to release the stack.

Panel/Vertical Blinds

Average Cost: $120 to $300

These blinds are most often used for wider spaces, such as sliding glass doors. The vertical panels slide along a horizontal bar, and their angle may be adjusted for privacy or lighting reasons.

Pleated Blinds/Roman Blinds

Average Cost: $40 to $125

Pleated blinds are usually a solid fabric that is pleated on both sides. These blinds and shades fold when you raise them. They’re better at creating a pocket of air for insulation, but you cannot see out of them when you let them down.

Roman blinds are similar in that they use fabric and fold when pulled up, but they lack the pleated appearance. They’re usually slightly cheaper than pleated blinds.

Roller Blinds

Average Cost: $8 to $190

Roller blinds involve a flexible material, usually vinyl or fabric, wrapped around a long metal tube for window covering. You pull on a circular chain to raise or lower a weight (a stick or rod) at the bottom of the blinds.

These are another great option for child or pet proofing a home because the chain is not as long as cords on other blinds.

Venetian Blinds

Average Cost: $25 to $140

Venetian blinds are the traditional 2-inch slat style that has survived the constant ebb and flow of trends. These use a small cord or chain to pull them up or down, and they often use higher-quality material better for insulation and blocking light.

Shoji Blinds

Average Cost: $35 to $60

Modern shoji blinds usually refer to translucent window coverings made of paper. These blinds originate in Japan, and they work well for light management and artistic expression. They’re a great option for anyone who wants to dull the glare of the sun without impeding natural light.

Solar Blinds

Average Cost: $30 to $120+

Solar blinds are a newer technology that pull double duty. While blocking the sun from your home, they generate electricity that you can collect and use to power certain parts of your home.

They’re a great option for anyone who wants to implement solar panels but cannot accommodate them on their roof.

Conclusion

Unless you get blinds for free and do the installation on your own, there are many costs to consider. Remember to get estimates from multiple companies before settling down, and find a solution that works with your budget and your vision.

You can save costs by removing and disposing of your previous blinds. You can also DIY the project to cut costs, but you must budget your time and effort appropriately.

Are you considering new blinds for your home? Let us know what you’re looking for and what matters most to you!