Blackout Blinds Buying Guide: Best Places to Buy in the UK
Struggling with early morning light or noisy streets? This expert guide to blackout blinds explains how to choose the best type for your home, with advice on measuring, installation, and where to buy from trusted UK retailers like Blinds-2Go, Dunelm, and Make My Blinds.
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Blackout Blinds Buying Guide: Best Places to Buy in the UK
The best blackout blinds can be transformative. No more dawn wake ups. No more toddlers thinking 4:30am is an appropriate time for play. Whether you’re a shift worker, a parent desperately trying to keep a baby asleep or just someone who craves total darkness, blackout blinds can improve your sleep quality and comfort.
In this guide, we’ll explain what blackout blinds are, how to choose the right type for your space, and where to buy them online in the UK from trusted retailers offering everything from affordable ready-made blinds to made-to-measure blackout blinds.
In a rush? Here are our top three recommended places to buy blackout blinds from in the UK right now:
Blinds-2Go Blackout Blinds
There a huge range of every type of blackout blind you might need at very competitive prices. Our users also love Blinds-2Go giving it a huge 4.74/5 rating praising everything from cost to delivery speed and most of all the quality of the blinds.Dunelm Blackout Blinds
A well known brand in the home interiors space Dunelm also sells a great selection of blinds for a variety of budgets. It also has its own range of recycled blackout blinds and some great designs for kitchens and bathrooms as well as bedrooms.Blinds Direct Blackout Blinds
Blinds Direct offers an extensive collection of made-to-measure blackout blinds, combining functionality with a variety of design options. Their range includes roller, Roman, and vertical blinds, available in numerous colours and patterns, from classic neutrals to bold prints. It also provides a free blackout lining upgrade on all Roman blinds. If you need extra-wide coverage, its blinds are available in widths up to 400cm, catering to larger windows.Who Are Blackout Blinds Best For?
Before diving into specific retailers and blinds we recommend are best at shutting out the sun, it helps to know whether blackout blinds are the right fit for your space. Here’s who will get the most out of them and what types to consider:
- Light-sensitive sleepers – Anyone who wakes easily due to outdoor lighting or early sunrises.
- Shift workers – Essential for people sleeping during daylight hours who need to simulate night-time darkness.
- Parents of young children – Helps babies and toddlers nap during the day, especially in summer.
- Home cinema enthusiasts – Perfect for blocking glare and creating a cinema-like space.
- City dwellers – Ideal for blocking out streetlamps, headlights, and bright city lighting.
- Tenants or students – Temporary blackout options are ideal when permanent installations aren't allowed.
- Energy-conscious households – Thermal-lined blackout blinds improve insulation and help with heating bills.
I fall into several of these categories and started my blackout blind journey nine years ago several months after my first child was born. I’m a light-sensitive sleeper, I have a glaring London street light shining right into the main bedroom and enjoy using a projector which needs low light.
Best Places to Buy Blackout Blinds in the UK
Blinds-2Go has one of the most complete made-to-measure blackout blind ranges around, with styles including roller, Roman, and pleated options in a huge variety of colours and finishes. Their TotalShade pleated blinds with side tracks are great for insulation and maximum light control, while the no-drill Twist2Go range is ideal for renters or those after a quick fit. They’ve also earned an impressive 4.74/5 from over 7,000 users on Review Centre.
Blinds Direct offers a wide selection of blackout blinds, all made to measure and available in everything from subtle neutrals to bold prints. Their Roman blinds and curtains come with a free blackout lining upgrade, and their extra-wide roller blinds (up to 400cm) are ideal for larger windows and patio doors.
Dunelm is a solid choice for both ready-made and made-to-measure blackout blinds, especially if you're working to a budget. The Luna collection is popular for its balance of simplicity and performance, while moisture-resistant options are useful in kitchens and bathrooms. They also offer a Solar range made from recycled polyester, which ticks the eco box.
Blinds by Post is a UK-based brand offering good value on made-to-measure blackout blinds, with roller, vertical, and Roman styles available. Like Blinds Direct, they offer a blackout lining upgrade for Roman blinds and extra-wide roller options up to 400cm. It’s a smaller outfit, but they focus on quality and personal service.
The Range focuses on budget-friendly blackout blinds that are easy to fit and available in-store. Most of the collection consists of ready-made roller blinds in a mix of finishes, including thermal-lined options for extra insulation. They also offer no-drill blinds that are ideal for renters, and even portable blackout curtains for holidays or temporary setups.
Make My Blinds sells direct online, offering stylish, made-to-measure blackout blinds in roller, Roman, Perfect Fit and motorised/electric styles. Their website makes it easy to customise the look and size of your blind, and their no-drill Perfect Fit designs are a favourite for uPVC doors and windows.
B&Q is a good all-rounder, with a wide selection of blackout blinds available both in-store and online. You’ll find affordable, ready-to-hang options as well as thermal and moisture-resistant designs. For a more tailored finish, B&Q also partners with Make My Blinds to offer made-to-measure blackout blinds through its website.
What to Consider When Buying Blackout Blinds
The purpose of the room will help determine the best blackout blind. Bedrooms, home cinemas and nurseries need total darkness, while living or office spaces might benefit from light control with a bit more flexibility.
You then need to consider the mounting style you want for your space:
- Inside recess: Sleek and minimal but requires accurate measuring.
- Outside mount: Better light-blocking but more visually prominent.
- Perfect Fit: Great for uPVC windows and doors, no drilling required.
What Type of Blackout Blind are there?
With a wide variety of blinds out there you’ve got some choices to make. We’ve put together a handy table to give you some guidance and help you focus on the key areas you care about. You will also have a choice of materials to choose from across a range of blackout blind types. These include thermal lining, useful to keep heat in or out of the home, moisture resistance which is a must in bathrooms or kitchens and cordless or motorised mechanisms.
Blind Type | Blackout Effectiveness | Insulation (Thermal & Noise) | Installation Ease | Suitable Windows | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Very Easy | Most standard windows | Budget–Mid (£10–£80) | |
★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Moderate | Bedrooms, living areas | Mid–Premium (£40–£150) | |
★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | Easy | Large windows, patio doors | Budget–Mid (£30–£100) | |
★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Very Easy (no drill) | uPVC windows, bi-fold doors | Mid–Premium (£40–£120) | |
★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Moderate | Bedrooms, living spaces | Mid–Premium (£60–£200) | |
★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Complex | High windows, smart homes | Premium (£100–£400) | |
★★★☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | Very Easy (temporary) | Rented properties, travel | Budget (£10–£40) |
Measuring and Installing Blackout Blinds
Getting the right measurements is key to ensuring your blackout blinds block as much light as possible. In my experience, installing blinds outside the recess makes a huge difference in achieving total darkness ands avoiding any light bleeding in from the sides—especially in bedrooms. Here’s how to get it right:
How to Measure
For inside the window recess (recess fit):
- Measure the width in three places: top, middle, and bottom. Use the smallest measurement.
- Measure the drop in three places: left, middle, and right. Again, take the smallest measurement.
- Deduct nothing from your measurements—most retailers will make the necessary adjustments.
For outside the window recess (exact fit):
- Measure the width of your window and add 10–15cm to each side to block light effectively.
- Add 10cm or more above and below the window for full coverage.
For Perfect Fit blinds:
- Measure the visible glass area only (excluding the rubber beading or window frame).
Visual learners can benefit from installation guides provided by retailers like Blinds-2Go. These often include step-by-step videos like these ones here.
Installation Advice
DIY Fitting:
- Most blinds come with brackets, screws, and instructions.
- Use a spirit level to ensure a straight, clean fit.
- For plaster walls, drill pilot holes and use the correct wall plugs.
- Double-check whether your brackets are designed for top-fixing (into the lintel) or face-fixing (onto the window frame or wall).
No-Drill Options:
- Some blinds attach using tension rods, suction cups, or adhesive fixings.
- These are ideal for rentals, but may not offer as snug a fit as permanent installations.
Tools you might need:
- Tape measure
- Drill and drill bits
- Screwdriver
- Pencil
- Spirit level
Take your time, follow the instructions closely, and don’t hesitate to ask for a sample or measuring guide from the retailer you’re buying from.
Child Safety
If you're installing blackout blinds in a child’s bedroom or nursery or anywhere a little one spends time in, look for cordless or tensioned models to eliminate strangulation risks. Unfortunately accidents do happen but modern blinds often cater for homes with children, just make sure you install the safety features correctly.
Blinds to Avoid for Blackout Use
While many blind types look great and offer general light filtering or privacy, not all are suitable for achieving a true blackout effect. If complete darkness is your goal, then you need to steer clear of certain types of blind.
Venetian blinds, with their horizontal slats, inevitably let light seep through—even when fully closed. The same goes for wooden blinds, which are stylish but don’t form a complete seal against the window frame. While you can get vertical blackout blinds, these do also tend to not block out light quite as effectively as other types.
Sheer or voile blinds are designed to soften and diffuse natural light, not block it out. They offer privacy during the day but will do little to darken a room.
Day and night blinds (also called zebra blinds) may look modern and offer adjustable light control, but they’re not designed for blackout purposes. Their dual-layer structure always leaves some degree of light exposure. Similarly, bamboo and woven wood blinds are beautiful and natural-looking, but they’re far too porous to block light effectively.
If you love the look of these more decorative or light-filtering blinds, you can always layer them with a blackout roller blind or a thermal curtain to get the best of both worlds—style and performance.
