What is a zip blind? How it differs from a normal roller blind, and where it's used

If you've seen a large roller blind fitted outside a glass door or closing off the side of a balcony, and noticed its edges don't hang loose but run in a channel all the way down, that's a zip blind. The short answer: it's a type of roller blind, and the difference is that the side edges sit inside channels instead of hanging free like an indoor roller. This guide covers how it works, where it's used, how it differs from a normal roller blind and from an awning, and what to check before asking for a price.

What a zip blind is, and how it works

• A headrail or cassette at the top — where the fabric rolls up, and where the motor sits on a motorized unit.
• Two side channels — fixed from the top all the way down the opening.
• A strip along the fabric edges — stitched down both sides and shaped a bit like a zip, which is where the name comes from. The strip slides inside the channels, so the fabric travels within them the whole way.
• A bottom bar — along the hem, keeping the bottom edge straight.

The result is fabric that's held at the top and along both sides. The left and right edges aren't left open the way an ordinary roller blind's are, where a gap has to be kept so the fabric can roll. That's why zip blinds tend to be chosen for the outside of glass and for open areas, where a blind with free-hanging edges isn't a good fit.

How it differs from a normal roller blind and from an awning

A common mix-up is thinking a zip blind can stand in for an awning. They work in different directions: an awning projects out to cover from above, while a zip blind drops straight down as a fabric screen across the front or side. Zip blinds usually go on spaces that already have a roof or eaves — a balcony or a patio — to close off the side that's still open.

Where people use them

• Outside glass doors or windows — with the blind on the outside, there's no headrail or fabric crowding the glass from inside the room.
• Along a balcony or patio — closes off the open side of a semi-outdoor sitting area, and once it's rolled up the space is open again.
• Anywhere you want to screen off the street or the neighbours without building a wall — how much it hides depends on the fabric. Sheer and opaque fabrics behave very differently, especially at night. More in blackout vs sunscreen fabric.
• Condo balconies — whether it's allowed depends on the building's rules, since balconies are usually visible from outside. Ask building management first.

What to check before ordering

1. The fixing surface — a zip blind is fixed at the top and along both side channels. Check whether that's masonry, a column, a steel frame or timber. If it's a lightweight wall or thin cladding, it needs to be looked at on site to confirm it can actually take the fixings.
2. Room for the side channels — the line each channel runs down has to be clear for the full height. Look for door handles, railings, outward-opening windows, pipes or cables in that line.
3. Room at the top — there has to be space for the headrail or cassette. If it will sit tight under eaves or a beam, measure the gap roughly and photograph the top corner.
4. The floor — many balcony floors are sloped to drain, so a straight bottom bar leaves an uneven gap. Mention a sloped floor or an upstand at the measure.
5. Power for the motor — the outside of a building rarely has a socket near the headrail. For a plug-in motor, an electrician needs to add one before the fitting day — we don't do electrical wiring. If you're interested in a rechargeable battery motor, ask first whether there's a model that suits a zip blind on your site.
6. Fabric — decide first whether you want to see through it or want it opaque, then ask which fabrics work on a zip blind and suit outdoor fitting. A fabric that works indoors isn't automatically right for outside.
7. The space has to be finished — flooring, tiles and soffits need to be done before the measure, because the measurements have to be the final ones.

See a zip blind job we fitted

On our real installations page there are two clips from a zip blind job. In the first, the blind is outside a set of glass doors and rolls up on the remote to uncover them. In the second, it closes off the side of a patio, and you can see the fabric edges running in the side channels as it comes down. Both were filmed on site — not brand promo footage.

How much does a zip blind cost?

We haven't published a zip blind price on this site yet, and we won't guess one, because it depends on the size of the opening and the site. The starting figures on the motorized roller blind page are for standard motorized roller blinds, so don't use them as a reference for a zip blind. The way to a real number is to send us the details and ask for a quote — the more complete they are, the quicker it goes.

• Rough width × height of each opening.
• A photo of the whole opening, plus the top corner and the sides.
• Whether there's a power socket nearby.
• Whether you want see-through or opaque fabric.
• For a condo: whether building management has approved fitting it on the balcony.

The real price is confirmed after the on-site measure. The measure costs 500-1,000 THB in Bangkok and the metro area and is credited back in full when you order. Outside that it starts at 3,500 THB and is not credited back. Every price on this site is before VAT.