Table of Contents
- Hilarys vs Blinds Direct: Price Comparison at a Glance
- Made to Measure Blinds Cost Comparison: What You Actually Pay
- DIY vs Professional Blind Installation: Costs and Trade-Offs
- How to Measure Windows for Blinds: Avoiding Costly Mistakes
- Quality, Warranty, and Aftercare: What Your Money Buys
- Energy Efficiency and Long-Term Maintenance Costs
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: September 10, 2026
Hilarys vs Blinds Direct: Price Comparison at a Glance
The hilarys vs blinds direct price comparison comes down to one uncomfortable truth: headline prices tell you almost nothing until you factor in measuring, fitting, and delivery. Both occupy the mid-market for made-to-measure blinds, but get there differently. Here is what you actually pay at each stage.
What Each Retailer Offers
Hilarys built its reputation on a national store network with in-home consultations and fitting, so you pay for convenience. Blinds Direct operates primarily online, keeping overheads low and passing some of that saving into keen base prices on roller, roman, and venetian blinds.
The trade-off: Hilarys charges more for the same window but measures and fits it for you. Blinds Direct charges less, but the tape measure is your problem.
The Verdict on Overall Value
Blinds Direct wins on sticker price for a single blind. Hilarys wins on total cost of ownership if you would otherwise pay a separate fitter, since consultation and fitting are bundled in.
For a whole house, the gap narrows considerably once you add professional fitting to an online order.
Made to Measure Blinds Cost Comparison: What You Actually Pay
The made to measure blinds cost comparison hinges on three variables: fabric quality, window dimensions, and who fits them. A basic roller blind in standard fabric sits at the budget end at both retailers; blackout, thermal, or a wider bay window pushes prices up quickly.
Just Blinds manufactures made-to-measure vertical blinds from £19.68. A quote far above that for comparable fabric and size means you are paying for brand and service, not materials.
Understanding Hidden Costs
The price on the product page is rarely the price you pay. Watch for:
- Measuring visits: free at some retailers, chargeable at others if you cancel
- Fitting fees: often quoted per blind, so a bay window with three sections triples the cost
- Delivery: free over a threshold at some retailers, flat-rate at others
- Returns on mis-measured blinds: made-to-measure goods are usually non-returnable, so an error is expensive
How to Get the Best Price on Made-to-Measure Blinds
Order multiple blinds at once. Most retailers, including Just Blinds, run multi-blind deals that bring the per-blind price down sharply. Just Blinds' multiple vertical blind deal starts at £19.68 and scales from two blinds up to twelve.
Compare on like-for-like fabric and size, not the cheapest advert. A cheap blind in thin fabric that fades within a year is not a saving.
DIY vs Professional Blind Installation: Costs and Trade-Offs
DIY versus professional blind installation is the biggest swing in your total spend. Fitting a standard roller or vertical blind onto a flat, sound wall is a genuine DIY job with a drill, spirit level, and an hour to spare. Bay windows, recessed reveals, and listed properties are not, and mistakes on made-to-measure goods cost the full replacement price.
How Fitting Charges Are Structured
Professional fitting is rarely a flat fee. Four pricing models dominate:
- Per-blind charge: the most common structure. A three-section bay window is billed as three blinds, not one job, so the cost multiplies with window complexity rather than room count.
- Half-day or full-day rate: suits larger orders. A fitter quoting a day rate for eight to twelve blinds usually beats a per-blind charge once you pass six or seven windows.
- Survey-plus-fit bundle: measuring visit and installation rolled into one price. This is where in-home retailers like Hilarys build their value proposition, because the measuring risk sits with them, not you.
- Free fitting promotions: often built into a higher product price. Compare the total, not the headline.
As a rule of thumb, fitting adds a meaningful percentage on top of the product price for a single blind, and that percentage falls as the order grows. The per-blind model punishes small orders; the day-rate model rewards them.
The Real Cost of a DIY Mistake
DIY only saves money if the blind fits first time. Costs that erode the saving:
- Mis-drilled headrail fixings: a roller or vertical blind headrail with brackets drilled in the wrong position often cannot be re-hung without new holes, and the old holes remain visible above the reveal.
- Non-returnable made-to-measure goods: if you measured wrong, the blind is yours. There is no restocking route.
- Replacement louvres or fabric: on vertical blinds, damaged louvres can sometimes be replaced individually, but on roller and roman blinds the whole unit is usually replaced.
- Tool and fixings spend: a masonry bit, wall plugs suited to your wall type, and a decent spirit level are a one-off cost, but they matter if you own none of them.
Often the first DIY blind goes smoothly and the second, into a trickier reveal, does not. If you are fitting more than two or three blinds, price the professional option first.
When DIY Makes Sense
DIY suits standard rectangular windows with solid masonry or timber above the reveal, where brackets fix into a flat surface. Vertical and roller blinds are easiest because the headrail is light and fixing points are forgiving. If you can drill your wall type and measure accurately, the saving is real.
When to Pay for Professional Fitting
Pay a fitter for bay windows, angled reveals, or awkward sashes. Sash windows in older properties are the classic trap: the frame is often out of square, and a blind measured to the visible opening will not sit flush. A fitter measures to the true fixing plane and adjusts on site.
Listed properties add a further layer: fixings into historic fabric and any alteration to the window surround may need to respect listed status. A fitter who works on period properties knows which fixing methods are acceptable, a detail a general handyperson may miss.
The Break-Even Point
The break-even between DIY and professional fitting usually sits between three and six blinds, depending on wall type and window complexity. Below that, DIY is often the better financial call; above it, the per-blind fitting charge looks like insurance against an expensive mistake.
If you want measuring and fitting handled for you, ask the retailer what fitting support they offer before ordering, and get the cost quoted per blind, not as a vague "from" figure.
How to Measure Windows for Blinds: Avoiding Costly Mistakes
Measure the recess width in three places (top, middle, bottom) and use the narrowest figure. Measure the drop in three places (left, centre, right) and use the longest. State width first, then drop, and specify inches or centimetres.
The mistakes that cost money:
- Measuring the frame rather than the recess, so the blind is too wide to fit inside
- Forgetting to allow for the control chain or wand on the side you want it
- Assuming a bay window is square when it is not
- Giving drop first instead of width, which reverses the whole order
Quality, Warranty, and Aftercare: What Your Money Buys
Fabric quality and fitment decide how long a blind lasts, and warranty terms show how much confidence the retailer has. Cheaper fabrics crease, fade, and fray at the louvre edges; sewn louvres hold up far better than glued ones, particularly on vertical blinds where the weight pulls on the seam every time you open them.
Just Blinds sews every louvre rather than gluing it. Check the warranty period on the headrail separately from the fabric, because they often differ.
Chartered Trading Standards Institute guidance on consumer rights confirms that made-to-measure goods are treated differently from off-the-shelf items, so read the returns policy before ordering.
Energy Efficiency and Long-Term Maintenance Costs
Two factors competitors rarely discuss: what a blind does to your heating bill, and what it costs to keep clean and repair. Real cost of ownership runs a decade or more, and it is where the two retailers' products diverge in ways the sticker price does not show.
How Blinds Affect Heat Loss
A well-fitted blind creates an insulating air gap at the window, reducing heat loss in winter and keeping rooms cooler in summer. Still air is a poor conductor of heat, so a blind hung close to the glass traps a layer between fabric and pane. Blackout and thermal fabrics do this far better than thin decorative ones, and a honeycomb or cellular blind performs better again, at a higher purchase price. For most homes, the practical gains come from three things:
- Fitting accuracy: a blind with gaps at the edges leaks heat around the sides. A recess-fitted blind with a snug reveal outperforms a face-fitted one with visible gaps.
- Fabric density: thermal and blackout coatings reduce radiant heat loss. Thin voiles and light cottons do very little.
- Correct drop: a blind that stops short of the sill leaves an uninsulated strip of glass exposed.
Energy Saving Trust guidance on window coverings and heat loss notes that correct fitting matters as much as the fabric itself. The takeaway is that a cheap thermal blind fitted badly will underperform an expensive one fitted well, which is another argument for getting the measuring right the first time.
The Long-Term Maintenance Cost Nobody Quotes
Maintenance is the quieter cost, and it varies enormously by material. Over ten years, the difference between a wipe-clean blind and a fabric one is not just cleaning products, it is the risk of premature replacement.
Fabric vertical blinds need dusting every few weeks and occasional spot cleaning. In a kitchen, bathroom, or any damp room, fabric absorbs grease, steam, and moisture: it stains, grows musty, and the louvre edges fray against the rail. A fabric blind in a bathroom is usually a replacement waiting to happen.
PVC and faux wood options wipe clean with a damp cloth. No specialist products, no drying time, no risk of water marks. In high-moisture rooms they are the practical answer, and they hold their appearance far longer.
Aluminium venetian blinds are durable but slats can bend, and replacement slats are not always sold individually, sometimes the whole blind is the unit of replacement. Wooden venetian blinds need occasional oiling or waxing to stop them drying and cracking, particularly in centrally heated rooms.
Replacement Parts and Repair Economics
The cost of a single replacement part versus a whole new blind decides whether a repair is worth doing:
- Vertical blind louvres: usually replaceable individually. A damaged louvre in a fabric vertical blind can often be swapped without replacing the headrail, which makes vertical blinds the most repairable type.
- Roller blind fabric: if the fabric tears or fades, the whole roller is typically replaced. There is no separate fabric-only route for most made-to-measure rollers.
- Headrails and mechanisms: the cord, chain, and gearing are the parts most likely to fail first. Check the warranty period on the headrail separately from the fabric, because they often differ, and a headrail failure out of warranty can write off an otherwise sound blind.
Often the cheapest blind costs more over ten years than a mid-range one, because the cheap fabric fades or the mechanism fails at year three and the whole unit is replaced. A mid-range blind with a replaceable louvre system survives the same decade with one or two small part swaps.
Choosing for the Room, Not the Price Tag
The material that makes sense depends on where the blind is going:
- Bathrooms and kitchens: PVC or faux wood. Wipe-clean, moisture-resistant, no musty fabric risk.
- Bedrooms: blackout fabric or a thermal-lined roller. Light control and heat retention matter more than wipe-clean convenience.
- Living rooms: fabric vertical or roman blinds for appearance, accepting the higher cleaning overhead.
- Nurseries: blackout with a wipe-clean surface is the practical combination, total light control plus the ability to deal with the inevitable accidents.
Just Blinds' Unilux cream PVC blackout vertical blinds start at £20.17 and combine total light control with a wipe-clean surface, the practical answer for nurseries and bathrooms alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Hilarys blinds overpriced compared to online retailers?
Hilarys typically charges more because their price includes a home consultation, professional measuring, and fitting service. Online-only retailers cut those costs by sending blinds directly to you for self-installation. The real question is whether you value the convenience of a full-service experience or prefer to save money by measuring and fitting yourself. For a standard window, the difference can be significant, so compare like-for-like specifications before deciding.
Does Blinds Direct offer professional fitting services?
Blinds Direct operates primarily as an online retailer, meaning you measure your windows and fit the blinds yourself. They provide measuring guides and fitting instructions, but they do not send someone to your home. If you want professional installation, you will need to hire a local fitter separately, which adds to the total cost. This is a key difference from full-service providers who bundle measuring and fitting into one price.
How do I get the best price on made-to-measure blinds?
Start by measuring your windows accurately to avoid costly remakes. Compare prices on a like-for-like basis, checking fabric quality, warranty length, and whether fitting is included. Look for seasonal sale events and discount codes, but always read the small print on returns. Sometimes a lower headline price hides charges for delivery or alterations. Requesting quotes from multiple retailers and asking about price matching can also help you secure a better deal.
Is it cheaper to measure and fit blinds yourself?
Yes, DIY installation typically saves you the cost of a fitting service, which can range from £50 to £150 per window depending on the retailer and complexity. However, if you measure incorrectly, you may face return fees or need to reorder, wiping out your savings. For simple windows, DIY is straightforward with the right tools and measuring guide. For bay windows or unusual shapes, professional measuring is often worth the extra cost to ensure a precise fit.
What is the difference between a full-service blind provider and online retailers?
Full-service providers like Hilarys send a consultant to your home, measure your windows, and fit the blinds, bundling everything into one price. Online retailers like Blinds Direct sell made-to-measure blinds that you measure and install yourself, which keeps costs lower. The trade-off is convenience versus price. Full-service suits complex windows or those who prefer hands-off service, while online retailers appeal to confident DIYers watching their budget.
The real challenge with any price comparison is that the cheapest quote rarely stays the cheapest once measuring, fitting, and delivery are added. Just Blinds manufactures made-to-measure blinds from £19.68, offers free delivery on orders over £175, and supplies replacement slats compatible with most rails including Hilarys. Compare on total cost, not the headline figure. Get started with Just Blinds and fit your windows properly the first time.
