Blockout vs light-filtering blinds: what's the difference?
Updated 1 min read
Blockout blinds use an opaque fabric that stops light passing through, so they darken a room and give full privacy day and night. Light-filtering blinds let soft daylight through and give privacy, but they don't darken the room. Even blockout blinds leak some light around their edges unless they're fitted to overlap the window.
| Fabric | Light | Privacy by day | Privacy at night (lights on) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blockout | Stops light through the fabric | Full | Full | Bedrooms, nurseries, TV rooms |
| Light-filtering | Soft, diffused daylight | Good | Silhouettes may show | Living areas, kitchens |
| Sunscreen | Cuts glare; you can see out | Good | Low: people can see in | Offices, living rooms with a view |
Why does a blockout blind still let light in?
The fabric blocks light, but light still finds its way around the edges: through the gap at each side, over the top roll and under the bottom bar. A blind fitted inside the window recess always has small side gaps so it can move freely.
- Fit the blind outside the recess, overlapping the frame on each side.
- Mount it higher than the top of the window so the roll covers the top gap.
- Consider side channels, which close the edges almost completely.
Do light-filtering blinds give privacy at night?
Partly. With the lights on inside, light-filtering fabric can show shapes and movement, and sunscreen fabric becomes see-through from outside. For full night-time privacy in bedrooms and bathrooms, choose blockout, or pair a sunscreen blind with a second blockout layer.
Questions people also ask
Is blackout the same as blockout?
Yes. Blockout is the usual term in South Africa and Australia; blackout is more common in the UK and US.
Can I get one blind for day and night?
Day and night blinds, double roller systems with a sunscreen and a blockout layer, or top-down honeycomb blinds all cover both needs.
