Safe window coverings for homes with children are cordless or have inaccessible cords, per U.S. safety standards which took full effect in 2018.
Picking window coverings comes down to a short list of decisions: how much light each room needs, how much privacy matters, and whether kids live in or visit the home. The last one drives the most important rule. The U.S. CPSC says stock window coverings sold in stores or online should be cordless or have inaccessible cords, and safety experts urge cordless products in homes where children live or visit.
This guide walks through the safety basics, how to match a covering to each room, and how to measure so what you buy actually fits.
The Safety Rule That Decides Everything
If children live in or visit your home, choose cordless window coverings. The CPSC’s updated voluntary standard, ANSI/WCMA A100-2018, took effect December 15, 2018, and requires stock or substantially fabricated window coverings to be cordless or have inaccessible cords.
Former Consumer Product Safety Commission acting chairman Robert Adler once put it plainly: go cordless. When shopping online, the CPSC advises looking for products explicitly described as cordless, and the Window Covering Safety Council notes consumers can look for the Best for Kids certification label, a program created in 2015, to identify cordless options.
The cord-safety issue is serious enough that the CPSC later approved a federal safety standard for custom window coverings, deeming window covering cords a substantial product hazard. For a home with kids, cordless isn’t a preference — it’s the only sensible pick.
Match the Covering to the Room
Every room has different needs for daylight, privacy, and glare control. A bedroom needs blackout or room-darkening shades for sleep; a kitchen might want light-filtering cellular shades that let morning sun in while blocking the street view; a home office benefits from glare control on screens during working hours. Consider sunlight at different times of day, wall colors, and how the product looks from outside.
Think about privacy room by room. Bathrooms and street-facing living rooms need more coverage; an upstairs bedroom facing a backyard can get away with lighter options. The covering should suit how you actually live in each space, not just the size of the window.
Measuring: Inside Mounts and Outside Mounts
Measure twice with a steel tape measure, not a cloth one, and round to the nearest 1/8 inch. Approximate measurements cause returns.
Inside mounts fit within the window frame. Measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom, and record the narrowest width. Measure the height in several places too, and follow the product’s instructions for which height to record.
Outside mounts cover the area beyond the window molding and block more light while offering more privacy. Measure the full area to be covered beyond the window opening, and add extra overlap on the sides for light control. For roller or solar shades, measure the opening at the left, right, and center, record the shortest height, and check mounting depth before committing to an inside mount.
Mounting depth trips up many buyers. Some products require a minimum depth inside the frame; if yours is too shallow, choose an outside mount. If a blind or shade extends to the floor, deduct about 1/2 inch so it clears the floor.
| Decision | What To Do | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | Choose cordless with Best for Kids label in child-accessible rooms | Buying corded products despite current safety guidance |
| Measurement tool | Steel tape, rounded to nearest 1/8 inch | Cloth tape or eyeballing rough numbers |
| Inside mount width | Measure top, middle, bottom; record narrowest | Measuring once and missing a crooked frame |
| Outside mount | Add overlap beyond the window opening | Skipping overlap, leaving light gaps |
| Mounting depth | Verify minimum depth before buying inside mount | Ignoring depth, then finding the fit fails |
One more consideration: for automatic window coverings worth the upgrade, motors add bulk to the head rail, so mounting depth matters even more. Cordless motorized shades also solve the safety issue completely since there are no cords at all.
Fit Checks Before You Order
Once your measurements are recorded, verify three things. First, confirm the mounting surface is level and sturdy enough for the product’s weight. Second, check that any hardware clears the window crank or handle when the covering is installed. Third, for inside mounts, confirm you have the minimum depth listed in the product specs, not just the width and height.
The most common fitting failures come from skipped checks: a frame that looks square but isn’t, a shallow frame that rejects a standard mount, or an outside mount measured flush with the window instead of with overlap. Taking five extra minutes with a steel tape prevents a return shipping fee and a bare window for another week.
When in doubt between two sizes, follow the product’s specific measurement guide. Outside mounts tolerate slightly generous measurements; inside mounts do not, since too-wide a shade won’t fit the frame at all.
References & Sources
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “Updated Voluntary Window Covering Safety Standard Takes Effect; Go Cordless.” Covers the ANSI/WCMA A100-2018 standard effective December 15, 2018.
