Measuring a window for vinyl
You measure a window for vinyl by the glass you can see, not the frame around it. That one distinction prevents the most common measuring mistake.
Sight size, explained.
The sight size is the visible glass, from the inside edge of the frame or beading on one side to the inside edge on the other. Glass carries on behind the frame, but vinyl cannot go there. Measure the frame and your graphic is too big; guess at the glass and it may not cover it.
How to take it
- Measure each pane on its own. Panes that look identical often differ, especially in old shopfronts.
- Take the width at the top and bottom, and the height at each side.
- Use the smaller figure of each pair for vinyl that has to fit inside the frame.
- Write the numbers in millimetres, width first, on a sketch drawn as seen from the street.
A shopfront, written up.
| Pane, left to right | Width | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1, fixed pane | 1180mm | 2140mm | Rubber seal around the edge |
| 2, door glass | 640mm | 1720mm | Pull handle 900mm from the bottom of the glass |
| 3, fixed pane | 1176mm | 2138mm | Alarm sensor in the top right corner |
A table like this, with a photo, tells us almost everything. It also shows that panes 1 and 3 are not the same, though nobody would see that by eye.
Full cover or a margin?
This decides your order size.
- Full cover to the frame. Vinyl is usually trimmed slightly short of the seal or beading, leaving a tiny gap so that water cannot lift it and the glass can be cleaned. Ask us how much to allow for your film.
- Graphic with a clear margin. A shape or lettering that floats in the glass does not need to fit exactly, so small errors are harmless. A margin is also more forgiving of frames that are out of true.
Things to note while you are there.
- Which side it goes on. Fitted inside, the graphic is protected but has to be made to read through the glass. Fitted outside, it is easy to reach, though weather and passers-by can affect it. Tell us which you want, as it changes how the artwork is prepared.
- Door hardware. Handles, letterboxes, locks and kick plates all need to be marked with their positions.
- Window stickers and alarm foil. Note what can be removed and what has to stay.
- Coatings. Some glass has a film or treatment. Tell us, and check with your glazier if you are unsure.
- Height from the pavement. Give the distance from the ground to the bottom of the glass, so that key messages sit at eye level.
If you need the same figures for a size decision, our guide to print sizes for a shop window will help. Those fitting it themselves should read installing window vinyl next. Planning frosting for privacy? Note the height you need to obscure, and see frosted film or printed vinyl.
Glass measured and finished.
Your questions.
Do I measure from inside or outside?
Either can work, but frames often look different from each side. Measure from the side the vinyl will go on.
What about curved or angled glass?
Curves, bay windows and angled shopfronts are harder to measure with a tape. Tell us and send photos, so that we can decide how best to survey it.
Can one piece cover several panes?
Not across a glazing bar or frame. Each pane needs its own piece, and the design has to allow for those breaks.