Buying guide
Skylight Blinds Buying Guide
Skylight blinds are simple to buy once you know the three decisions that matter: the size code, the fabric and how you will operate a window you cannot reach. This guide walks through all three.
6 min read · Published 12 July 2026
Measuring: find your window code first
Roof windows are made to standard sizes, which makes ordering easy. VELUX, Fakro, RoofLite and the rest print a size code on a label — usually on the top bar of the window, visible when you open it.
For a VELUX, that code is a letter-and-number combination such as MK04 or CK02. Give us the code and we can make a blind to fit exactly. If you cannot find the label, measure the width and height of the glass pane itself and we will work from that.
Blackout, light-filtering or solar-reflective?
- 1 Blackout fabric is the popular choice for bedrooms, nurseries and bathrooms — with side channels, it genuinely darkens a room even though the glass is overhead.
- 2 Light-filtering (or 'pleated') fabric softens the light and adds privacy while keeping the room bright — good for kitchens, landings and living spaces.
- 3 Solar-reflective fabric prioritises cutting heat and glare, ideal for a roof window that turns a room into a greenhouse on a sunny afternoon.
Manual, electric or solar-powered?
A manual blind is operated with a pole or a control bar. It is the cheapest option and fine for a window you can reach, but a pole quickly becomes a chore on a high skylight.
An electric blind is wired to the mains and controlled by remote. It is reliable, but retrofitting the cable to an existing roof window is disruptive — you are opening up the reveal or the ceiling.
A solar-powered blind gives you the same remote control with none of the wiring. The panel charges from the daylight the skylight already receives in abundance, which is why solar is the go-to for retrofitting shade to a roof window you cannot easily cable.
Fitting and what to expect
Most roof-window blinds clip into the frame with brackets and run in slim side channels that guide the fabric and block edge light. It is a tidy job that rarely needs more than a screwdriver.
If you would rather not work at height, our fitting service can measure and install for you. Either way, the result is a skylight you can shade from the floor in seconds.
Nail the size code, pick the fabric for the room, and choose solar operation for anything out of reach — and a skylight blind is one of the easiest upgrades you can make.