Short answer: Most custom blinds and shades in Atlantic Canada cost between about $250 and $700 per window, professionally measured and installed. Motorization adds roughly $200 to $500 per window. A typical three-bedroom home with 12 to 15 windows usually spends between $3,500 and $8,000, depending on the products chosen for each room.
Key takeaways
- Size, fabric and how the blind opens drive most of the price.
- Cellular shades have the widest price range, from about $200 to over $1,200 per window.
- Motorizing only the hard-to-reach windows is the best-value way to go smart.
- Whole-house orders usually lower the price per window.
- A free in-home measure is the only way to get an exact number.
Why custom blind prices are so hard to find
Ask three blind companies what a blind costs and you will get three versions of "it depends." That is frustrating, but it is also true. A custom blind is built to one window. A 60 cm bathroom window in a basic roller fabric and a 3 m living room window in motorized blackout cellular are both "a custom blind," and the second can cost ten times the first.
So instead of one number, here are the real ranges, what moves them, and how to make your budget go further. We make and install blinds across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador, so these numbers reflect what homeowners here actually spend.
Typical cost per window, by type
These ranges are for custom, professionally installed products on an average-sized window, roughly 90 to 120 cm wide, based on published Canadian price guides and typical Canadian custom pricing.
| Product | Typical range per window, installed | What you are paying for |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum venetian blinds | $150 to $400 | Durable, simple, precise light control |
| Faux wood blinds | $200 to $500 | Moisture resistance, painted-wood look |
| Zebra blinds | $250 to $520 | Adjustable privacy without raising the shade |
| Vertical blinds | $250 to $615 | Practical patio door coverage |
| Roller shades | $260 to $665 | Clean look, huge fabric range, sheer to blackout |
| Solar shades | $280 to $700 | Glare control with a view |
| Wood blinds | $300 to $750 | Real hardwood |
| Sheer shades | $350 to $900 | Soft, filtered light, premium fabric |
| Roman shades | $400 to $1,100 | Sewn by hand, lined, tailored |
| Cellular shades | $200 to $1,200+ | Insulation; price depends heavily on cells, opacity and lift |
| Add motorization | $200 to $500 per window | Motor, controls, programming |
Source for roller, zebra, cellular, vertical and motorization ranges: Ecoline Windows' Canadian custom blinds price guide. Other ranges reflect typical Canadian custom pricing.
What actually drives the price
1. Size
Price climbs with area. Width matters more than height for most products, because fabric comes on rolls and wide windows need wider, more expensive rolls or a seam.
2. Fabric or material
Within one product, fabric choice can swing the price by 30% or more. Light-filtering is usually the least expensive. Blackout adds a liner or a denser weave. Textured linens, wood-look weaves and premium solar screens cost more.
3. How it opens and closes
- Cordless and continuous loop lifts are the base price.
- Top-down bottom-up adds a second rail and more hardware.
- Motorization adds the most, but also the most convenience.
4. Specialty hardware
Side channels for blackout, cassettes that hide the roll, decorative valances and hold-down brackets for doors all add to the line.
5. Shapes and hard windows
Arched, angled and very tall windows and skylights need specialty products and more labour.
6. Number of windows
The visit, the travel and the set-up cost the same whether you order three blinds or thirty. Spread over more windows, the per-window price drops.
What a whole house really costs
Here are three realistic examples, each for a home with about 14 windows and a patio door.
Budget-focused (about $3,500 to $4,500). Single-cell light-filtering cellular in the living areas, blackout roller in bedrooms, faux wood in the kitchen and bathrooms, vertical blinds on the patio door. All manual and cordless.
Middle of the road (about $5,000 to $6,500). Double-cell cellular in bedrooms and the coldest rooms, zebra blinds in the living room, faux wood in wet rooms, vertical cellular on the patio door, one motorized shade on a tall stairwell window.
Premium (about $8,000 and up). Motorized solar and blackout dual rollers in the main living areas, sewn Roman shades in the dining room and primary bedroom, blackout cellular with side channels in the other bedrooms, and smart-home integration.
These are illustrations. Your measure gives you real numbers.
Where the money is worth spending
Bedrooms. Blackout with sealed edges. Across most of Atlantic Canada the sun rises before 5:30 a.m. in June, so this is the upgrade people thank us for most.
The coldest rooms. Double-cell cellular with side channels. The US Department of Energy found cellular shades can cut heating energy use by up to 20% compared with uncovered windows. In older homes, you feel it the first night.
Windows you cannot reach. Motorization. It is the difference between a shade you use and a shade that stays in one position for years.
Where you can save
Spare rooms, laundry rooms and basements. A good roller or faux wood blind is plenty.
Easy-to-reach windows. Cordless manual shades work beautifully. You do not need to motorize everything.
Very wide windows. Two shades split at the window frame can cost less than one extra-wide shade and are easier to use.
Timing. Doing the whole house at once almost always costs less per window than doing it room by room over several years.
Custom vs store-bought: is custom worth the price?
Ready-made blinds from a big-box store typically cost $35 to $230 per window. They are fine for a rental or a quick fix. But they come in stock sizes, so they rarely fit properly: gaps at the sides let in light and cold, and an inside mount often leaves visible space. They are measured and installed by you, so if they do not fit, that is your problem.
Custom blinds cost more because they are made for your exact window, measured by a professional, installed and guaranteed. Over a 10-year life, the difference per year is usually smaller than it first looks. Read our full comparison: custom vs ready-made blinds.
How we price at Atlantic Shades
We make every blind in our Halifax workshop, so there are no franchise fees or overseas shipping in the price. Your quote is itemized by window, shows HST separately, and includes the measure, installation, removal of old blinds on request, our fit guarantee and our 5-year warranty. There is no "today only" pricing. Take the quote, think about it, and call us when you are ready.
See our full price guide · Book a free measure for an exact quote
Frequently asked questions
How much do custom blinds cost per window?
Most custom blinds cost between about $250 and $700 per window installed in Atlantic Canada, for an average-sized window. Simple aluminum and faux wood blinds sit at the lower end; Roman shades, blackout cellular and large windows sit at the upper end.
How much do motorized blinds cost?
Motorized blinds typically cost about $450 to $1,200 per window installed in Canada, which is roughly $200 to $500 more than the same blind with a manual lift. A hub for app and voice control is a one-time cost of about $100 to $300.
Is installation included in custom blind prices?
With most local custom blind companies, including Atlantic Shades, professional installation is included. Big-box custom blinds often charge installation separately. Always check.
Why are cellular shades priced so widely?
Because there are so many versions. A single-cell, light-filtering cordless shade might cost $200; a double-cell, blackout, top-down bottom-up, motorized shade on a large window can cost over $1,200.
Do custom blinds add value to a home?
Good window coverings make a home show better and are often included in a sale. They are rarely a big line in an appraisal, but they help a home feel finished, and energy-efficient shades lower running costs while you live there.
How can I get an exact price?
Book a free in-home measure. We measure every window, show you fabrics in your light, and give you a written, itemized quote, usually the same day.
Free. No obligation. Most quotes the same day.
Related: Custom vs ready-made blinds · Are motorized blinds worth it? · Are cellular shades worth it?