
We aim to make it as easy as possible, instil confidence in your DIY skills and ensure you get it right. View our “How To Measure” videos and utilise our resources, joining the thousands of happy customers who have mastered the simple and easy DIY steps, achieved a great result and saved money in the process.
Sizes – Minimums & Maximums
Individual Panel Width (mm) | Overall Shutter Width (mm) | Drop (mm) |
---|---|---|
Minimum width: 180 mm |
Minimum width: 180 mm |
Minimum drop: 300 mm |
Maximum width: 950 mm |
Maximum width: 5700 mm |
Maximum drop: 2420 mm |
Mid Rail Requirements (mm) | Number of Mid Rails | T-Posts |
Drops greater than 1600 mm |
1 x Mid Rail is required |
Required for widths > 1,900mm where layouts exceed 2 panels |
How to Measure

Measure the width and drop of your window recess
When measuring for self-assembly plantation shutters, make sure that you have at least 65 mm clearance inside your window recess. These shutters can only be mounted inside your window reveal.
Width
- Measure the hard width across the top, middle and bottom of the window recess.
Drop
- Measure the hard drop from the left, centre, and right of the window recess.
- Write down the smallest width and drop measurement.
Note: Special attention should be given to window openings that have window winders, latches, security devices, removable screens etc, because they may obstruct the shutter.
*Do not take any deductions (iseekblinds will do this for you)

Select your layout
- Using the Plantation Shutter Layout Chart, select your layout option - Layout A - Layout L.
- Under each layout option is a diagram demonstrating how to measure for your individual panel widths and T-Posts.
Example: Layout 'D' selected
Measuring your panel widths
- When placing your order, you will be asked if all your panels are equal in size. If they are, click ‘yes’ and proceed to the options.
- If your panel sizes vary, click ‘other’ - measure from the inside edge of the window frame to the centre of where Panels 1 & 2 will meet.
Measuring T-Post location
- Measure from the inside edge of the window frame to the centre of where the T-Post will sit.
Always take your measurements from left to right.
- For larger windows, T-posts are required when the overall width of the window requires a layout featuring more than 2 panels.
- T-posts can be used with any frame type and divide windows vertically to match the flow of the window design and cover large spaces.
- The additional panels are hinged to the T-Posts.


Select your installation method
Hang Strip
- An easy way to mount your self-assembly plantation shutters, a Hang Strip is a vertical moulding that is attached to the reveal of your window. The shutter panels are then attached to this Hang Strip via hinges. The Hang Strip also acts as a light block, preventing light from coming through the vertical edges of the panels.
If light block on the sides is important to you and if your window reveals are slightly out of square.
Direct Mount
- A Direct Mount is where the plantation shutter panel is mounted straight onto the window reveal using the hinges provided. Just like how a door hangs
- This is commonly used for side lights (the small windows beside your front door) or any other narrow openings where the width of the frame would reduce the width of the blades, thus blocking too much light and crowding your window.
Why choose a Direct Mount?
If your window reveals are square and you' only need one or two panels*.
*Please note - A Direct Mount is only available for Plantation Shutter Layouts A, B or C.
U Channel
- Used for internal wall cavities, a U Channel can create a stylish room divider.
- The panel simply slots into top and bottom U channels that are attached to the reveal of your window. These panels are not hinged so they will not open.
You want to use a shutter as a room divider or you want a fixed shutter where opening the panel is not necessary.

Measure for your mid rail position
Mid Rails provide stability and strength to the plantation shutters.- The most common position for a mid rail is in the exact centre of the panel.
- It is also common to place the mid rail at a natural break, eg. as there is on a double hung window; where winders are situated or a horizontal mullion (refer to rule #2 - You must follow the window).
- If you would like your mid rail to sit at a specific position (ie. not centred), simply measure from the bottom of the inside of your window frame to the centre point of the desired location of the mid rail. When placing your order online, select “Other” and enter your measurements here.

Mid rail requirements
If your overall drop is less than 1600mm, a mid rail is not required. You may want to consider a split tilt option (see below) to control your light & privacy if no mid rail is required.
Mid rail dimensions
- 20mm thick
- 76mm high
Critical mid rail
A critical mid rail needs to be positioned in that exact location.
Please note, as a result, the top and bottom rails will not be the same size as they will need to cater for the blades to fit in above and below the mid rail.
*Important
If your mid rail position is critical - please make sure you write “critical midrail” in the notes section at the end of your order before adding this item to the cart.

Top and bottom rail dimensions
Top & bottom rails provide strength and stability to the shutter. They are positioned at the top and at the bottom of your shutter panels.
Generally made to the same size, adjustments to the final dimensions will be made by the factory to ensure the top and bottom rails are in proportion with the overall height (drop) and width of the panels.
Please refer to the table below
*IMPORTANT
- If shutters are going to be placed in the same room, but vary in size, then your top and bottom rails may be made to different sizes to suit each shutter.
- Therefore it is important to name these shutters correctly when placing your order (Room Name) so that the factory understands they will be positioned next to each other.
- Example - Lounge LHS has a width x drop of 1800 x 1800 and Lounge RHS has a width x drop of 600 x 1802. Please refer to the table above.
- This will ensure that the top and bottom rails will be made to the same specification - vital for a uniform look from both inside and outside the house.
Stile dimensions
Stiles are the vertical sides of the plantation shutter panels.
- 50mm wide

Split tilt
- The split tilt rod allows you to open or close sections of your shutter blades separately, giving you greater light control and privacy.
- Allowing flexibility, you can close the lower portion of your blades for privacy, whilst leaving the top section open to still let in light or an open view.
- Split tilt options are available for plantation shutters with or without a mid rail.
Split tilt positions
- If you don’t have a mid rail, you can opt to have the split tilt centred “Split half”
- If you have a midr ail, you can opt for a “Split half above mid rail”.
*Please note that a split half will come standard for all panels without a mid rail greater than 1200mm in drop. This equates to approximately 12 blades.
Have questions?
Want to know more about our Plantation Shutter Kits? Discover more by exploring our video gallery and FAQs, find out about our quick manufacturing and delivery timeframes, or contact us for more information- we’re here to help you every step of the way!