The Best Cellular Shades for Looks and Energy Efficiency

The Best Cellular Shades Options — Photo: amazon.com Photo: amazon.com

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When you’re looking for an attractive window covering that is also energy efficient, cellular shades are an excellent option to consider. These window shades create small cells between two layers of fabric. These cells, which resemble honeycombs, trap air to provide an additional layer of insulation at a window.

Cellular window shades are available in a variety of colors and styles. Ahead, we’ll highlight several important features to consider before making a purchase, and we’ll name our top favorites among the best cellular shades today.

BEST OVERALL: Windowsandgarden Cordless Cellular Honeycomb Shades
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Bali Blinds 044294 214064 Cordless Cellular Shades
BEST BLACKOUT: Sbartar Cellular Shades Cordless Blackout Blinds
BEST CORDLESS: Chicology Cordless Cellular Shades
BEST TOP-DOWN: Achim Home Furnishings Top-Down Cordless Shades
BEST LIGHT-FILTERING: Levolor Light Filtering Cellular Shades
BEST MOTORIZED: Serena by Lutron Motorized Cellular Shades
BEST INSULATED: Bali Blackout Cellular Shades

How We Chose the Best Cellular Shades

The best cellular shades should be easy to install, simple to use, and customizable enough to fit any size of window. They should also be available in a variety of colors to suit different tastes in decor.

This list of recommendations is based on extensive research into, among other things, the materials used in construction. Many options provide energy-saving technology, varying light-filtering qualities including blackout shades, and sound reduction, and our top picks all provide an impressive mix of these attributes.

In terms of cordless versus corded options, our preference leans toward the more family-friendly side of cordless cellular window blinds. These not only provide a safer environment for children (no cord to get tangled in), they also bring a more seamless and clutter-free look to windows.

Our Top Picks

Discover some of the best cellular shades for windows in nearly any room.

Best Overall

Windowsandgarden Cordless Cellular Honeycomb Shades

These cordless, top-down cellular shades from Windowsandgarden can be mounted inside or outside a window frame. With traditional window shades, people can see into the home if the shades are open. These shades, however, allow users to pull the top of the shade down to let light in while keeping the bottom shade lowered to maintain privacy. Users can also raise the bottom rail of the shades to look outside.

These cellular shades have no exterior cords or cables, so they don’t pose a strangulation risk for young children and pets. The cord system is hidden between the layers of 100 percent polyester fabric and moves easily when users push or pull on the top or bottom rail.

The light-filtering shades are available in numerous sizes to fit nearly any window in a home. Choose from nine color options, including cool silver, antique linen, espresso, and white, to align these cellular shades with the existing room decor. Their broad size range also makes them nearly as good as custom shades for a space.

Product Specs

Type: Cordless
Dimensions: 19 inches high by 36 inches wide to 38 inches high by 84 inches wide
Corded vs. cordless: Cordless
Ease of installation: Easy

Pros

Large variety of size options to fit most standard window sizes
Both neutral and colorful options available to suit a variety of decor schemes
No cords or cable hazards; suitable for homes with children and pets

Cons

Color can fade over time; may not be ideal for some buyers

Get the Windowsandgarden cellular shades at Amazon.

Best Bang for the Buck

Bali Blinds 044294 214064 Cordless Cellular Shades

Simply lift or pull on the rail to raise or lower these affordable cordless light-filtering shades from Bali Blinds. When lowered, they allow a little light into a space while still ensuring privacy. Due to the cord-free operation (which does not pose a risk of strangulation), these shades are safest for kids. As these are honeycomb shades, they help insulate the home, making it more energy efficient.

These cordless light-filtering shades are made from polyester and are available in seven sizes to accommodate windows ranging from 23 to 36 inches wide and 64 inches tall. The manufacturer deducts ½ inch from the listed width to allow the shades to be mounted inside a window, though users can also choose a wider size for outside mounting. These shades are a neutral white color to suit different decors and are priced to match a variety of budgets as well.

Product Specs

Type: Cordless
Dimensions: 23 inches wide by 64 inches high to 36 inches wide by 64 inches high
Corded vs. cordless: Cordless
Ease of installation: Moderate

Pros

Kid-friendly design; cordless operation means no snagging or catching on pets or children
Light-filtering, energy-efficient design helps keep desired room temperature
All mounting hardware included for installation; convenient for DIYers or first- time installers

Cons

Installation can be tricky; may require more than 1 set of hands to install

Get the Bali Blinds cellular shades at Amazon.

Best Blackout

Sbartar Cellular Shades Cordless Blackout Blinds

Designed with a special liner between the 100 percent polyester fabric layers, these cordless cellular shades from Sbartar block up to 100 percent of sunlight and UV rays from entering the room. These honeycomb shades also provide additional insulation and privacy and absorb noises to keep a home quieter. Users can choose from either an inside or outside frame mount.

These honeycomb blinds are very easy to operate: Simply pull up or down on the rail at the base to set it at the ideal position for how much light users want to permit to flood their space. Since the blinds are cordless, they won’t present a strangulation risk for children and pets.

Choose from over 20 size options for windows, from 22 to 58 inches wide and 36 to 64 inches tall, in addition to six color options: cool silver, white, ivory beige, ocean blue, coffee, and wine red. If satisfied with the performance of these blackout cellular shades, they are also available in a light-filtering model for rooms in which users would like to let in a bit more light.

Product Specs

Type: Cordless
Dimensions: 22 inches wide by 48 inches high to 58 inches wide by 64 inches high
Corded vs. cordless: Cordless
Ease of installation: Easy

Pros

Blocks both sunlight and UV rays while providing insulation; energy-efficient construction keeps heat in or out, as desired
Noise-reducing technology integrated; blocks ambient noise from the street
Easy to use—simply pull down or lift upward to operate

Cons

May be difficult to lift up once down; may take a couple of tries the first time
Some users report poor construction; may break down with wear and tear

Get the Sbartar cellular shades at Amazon.

Best Cordless

Chicology Cordless Cellular Shades

These cellular shades from Chicology are free of any dangerous, unsightly, or frustrating cords. Rather, they are designed with a cordless lift system that makes raising or lowering them as simple as pushing or pulling on the handle. The shades are available in a wide range of sizes to fit windows from 18 to 72 inches wide and 48 to 84 inches high and allow for both inside and outside mounts. Both the light-filtering and blackout shades feature honeycomb cells that trap air and provide additional energy-saving insulation.

The shades are made from 100 percent polyester. Shoppers can choose from several different color options for either cordless light-filtering or blackout models, depending on both the privacy required and the amount of light users want to let into the room. Light-filtering shades offer more available options in muted shades: morning mist, morning croissant, morning fog, morning pebble, and morning ocean. Blackout shades are available only in the evening mist.

Product Specs

Type: Cordless
Dimensions: 18 inches wide by 72 inches high to 48 inches wide by 84 inches high
Corded vs. cordless: Cordless
Ease of installation: Moderate

Pros

Simple push-and-pull design is easy to use and shades stay in place
Several filtering options available: light filtering or blackout colorways provided
Energy-saving honeycomb blinds keep heat in or out per user preference

Cons

Filtering quality varies with color; lighter colorways do not provide total blackout

Get the Chicology cellular shades at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Overstock.

Best Top-Down

Achim Home Furnishings Top-Down Cordless Shades

These top-down cordless cellular shades from Achim Home Furnishings allow users to customize which parts of their windows are covered, with the option to either lower the shades from the top or raise them from the bottom. If users want to let light into their room while preventing anyone from peering in from outside, they can simply leave the bottom of the shades all the way down while lowering the top.

Made from a nonwoven polyester fabric, these cordless light-filtering shades effectively resist fading and sagging, and they are mountable either inside or outside a window frame. Available in 11 size options and five colors, they’ll fit windows from 23 inches wide and 64 inches tall to windows 45 inches wide and 64 inches tall. The shades come in white, alabaster, mocha, dove gray, and wheat.

Product Specs

Type: Top-down
Dimensions: 23 inches wide by 64 inches high to 45 inches wide by 64 inches high
Corded vs. cordless: Cordless
Ease of installation: Moderate

Pros

Great for large windows; available in a variety of large size options
Versatile for privacy and light; comes in room-darkening shades and colors to keep light out
Fade-resistant construction; can provide years of use

Cons

Can be difficult to install; may take more than 1 pair of hands to install

Get the Achim Home Furnishings cellular shades at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Lowe’s.

Best Light-Filtering

Levolor Light Filtering Cellular Shades

Anyone who might prefer a pull-down blind may give Levolor’s light-filtering cellular shades some thought. These shades allow sunlight in to heat the room while keeping cold air outside, offering warmth and light during the winter months. And with a top-down, bottom-up design, users can lower the top of the shade or raise the bottom of shade to allow light in. However, this design does often result in a small gap at the top of the shade, for which Levolor suggests additional pleats.

These shades are available in more than 350 colors and cell sizes as well as overall sizes ranging from 6 to 144 inches wide and long, which should allow most users to find the right size, color, and amount of filtering for their needs. They’re also available in both cordless and cord-loop designs, depending on the size and weight of the fabric chosen.

Product Specs

Type: Top-down
Dimensions: Lengths and widths between 6 to 144 inches wide, ⅛-inch increments
Corded vs. cordless: Both options provided
Ease of installation: Moderate

Pros

More than 350 color and cell-size options offered for ample customization
Top-down design allows light to enter from below or above
Available in both cordless and cord-loop designs depending on the options chosen

Cons

Design often results in a small gap at the top of the blind; may not keep all sunlight out
May be tricky to install; manual may be difficult to follow for first-time installers

Get the Levolor light-filtering cellular shades at The Home Depot or Wayfair.

Best Motorized

Serena by Lutron Motorized Cellular Shades

In addition to keeping harmful UV light out and helping maintain a desired interior temperature, Serena by Lutron motorized cellular shades are hands-free for the ultimate in convenience and luxury. With three control options, these shades are very easy to use—choose the smartphone app, remote control, or voice via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and/or Siri.

The cordless, wire-free honeycomb cellular shades have a unique headrail design and integrated top back cover. These design features help to hide any hardware while blocking even the smallest slivers of light. They are made with a choice of blackout and light-filtering fabric collections and come in a variety of neutral and bright colorways. Plus, these shades are customizable so they can be made to fit the windows users are trying to fill.

The patented power technology integrated into these honeycomb shades helps extend battery life. When it’s time to recharge, simply pull the battery’s wire out of the headrail and plug into a standard wall outlet. One of the downsides to these shades is that they require a separate hub or Serena smart bridge to operate properly.

Product Specs

Type: Motorized
Dimensions: Lengths of 12 to 96 inches and widths of 15 to 96 inches
Corded vs. cordless: Cordless
Ease of installation: Difficult

Pros

3 control options: remote, smartphone app, or smart-home assistant
Completely customizable sizes and more than 18 colorways to suit a variety of rooms
Energy efficient; blackout and light-filtering textures keep heat in or out
Integrated patented power technology helps maintain long battery life

Cons

Professional installation advised; may be very difficult for first-time users to install

Get the Serena by Lutron cellular blinds at The Home Depot.

Best Insulated

Bali Blackout Cellular Shades

To maintain room temperature and block out light, these Bali blackout cellular shades are a solid choice thanks to their excellent insulation and ample UV protection. The cordless, spun-lace blinds also boast aluminum head and bottom rails for durability and longevity. Plus, for homes with children and pets, the cord lock and stop tassel prevent tangling or breakage.

These custom blinds are made with double- or single-cell fabrics to provide full blackout capabilities for maximum privacy and darkness while sleeping. These custom shades come in numerous sizes to suit many different windows.

Hold-down hardware is included to keep these blackout shades in place as well as a continuous cord loop for larger shades to operate smoothly. Various colors are available to suit different bedroom decor styles and there’s even a motorized option available for hands-free operation.

Product Specs

Type: Top-down/motorized
Dimensions: Customizable sizes, with both height and width ranging between 9 and 144 inches
Corded vs. cordless: Cordless
Ease of installation: Moderate

Pros

Provides UV protection and insulation to keep out damaging sunrays and help maintain desired room temperature
Available in double- or single-cell fabrics to suit user preference
Hold-down hardware and continuous-cord loop allow for user-friendliness
Comes in many colors and sizes to suit virtually any space

Cons

Trickier to install than comparable cellular shades on the market

Get the Bali blackout blinds at The Home Depot, Lowe’s, JCPenney, or Blinds.com.

Jump to Our Top Picks

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Cellular Shades

As shoppers begin their search for the best cellular shades, they will find a multitude of features to consider. Take a few moments to read through our list of key considerations to keep in mind before making a purchase.

Types of Cellular Shades

The most common types of cellular window shades are corded, cordless, motorized, and top-down. Understanding the differences between them will help consumers decide which one is ideal for a given space.

Cordless

Cordless cellular shades are preferable for homes with small children or pets. Traditional window shades and blinds have long, dangling cords that are a potential strangulation risk for children and animals. Cordless cellular shades do not have any visible cord and, therefore, don’t pose that safety risk.

Cellular shades instead feature an internal cord. When pushing up or pulling down on the rail at the base of cellular shades, they automatically raise and lower. They also include a locking system that keeps the shades in the position users place them in until they lower or raise them again.

Corded

Corded cellular shades are easy to operate compared with some of the other models on the market. With the built-in cord, the user can adjust the shades to their exact preferred position, which makes them versatile and reliable.

One of the things to keep in mind with corded models is that they come in two types: standard and continuous. Standard models have a hanging cord and are best suited for small or medium-size shades and homes without children or pets. Alternatively, continuous-loop models have an endless cord that doesn’t dangle, making them a safer option for homes with pets or children.

Motorized

As the term suggests, motorized cellular window shades are equipped with a motor that users can operate via remote control. This feature makes them easy and convenient since users can raise or lower the shades without getting up from the couch, pulling a cord, or pushing and pulling on the base.

Some motorized shades are programmable to open or close at set times during the day. This feature can also come in handy if young children are taking naps; users can program the shades to close at the beginning of nap time and open back up at the end.

Top-Down

Top-down shades, also called top-down/bottom-up shades, are designed to let in light without compromising on privacy. With this type of cellular shade, users can leave the bottom of the shade closed to cover most of the window and pull the top of the shade down to allow some natural light into their space.

If users prefer, they can also open top-down cellular shades like traditional shades. Leave the shade all the way up at the top of the window and raise the base, or let some light in from both the top and bottom of the shade at the same time. For this reason, top-down cellular shades are quite versatile.

Dimensions

As with purchasing blinds, curtains, or other types of window treatments, users will need to know the dimension of their windows prior to choosing cellular shades. However, with cellular shades, users have the option to mount them on either the inside or the outside of the window frame. Decide which mounting style is preferred before measuring the windows, as the dimensions change slightly between the two options.

For an inside mount, measure the width and length of the inside of the window frame. Manufacturers often automatically deduct between ¼ and ⅛ inch from the listed dimensions to allow for the right fit for an inside mount. Before making a purchase, confirm if this deduction has already been made from the shades purchased.

If users decide on an outside mount, it is generally recommended to have the cellular blinds extend about 3 inches past each side of the window to ensure sufficient privacy and light blocking. Use a pencil to mark 3 inches past each window edge and measure that space.

To achieve the most accurate measurement, use a steel tape measure instead of a ruler or cloth measuring tape. Measure to the nearest ⅛ inch, and always double-check the measurements before recording them. Measurements for shades should always be recorded as (width × height); recording measurements in this order helps easily identify if a certain product is a proper fit.

Corded vs. Cordless

Cordless cellular shades may be more costly to buy and install, but with an internal hidden cord, they don’t pose a potential strangulation threat for children and pets, which is a priceless feature. Some people also consider cordless cellular shades more visually appealing since there’s no cord hanging down in plain sight. Cordless blinds are also very easy to operate; users can simply push up or pull down on the rail to raise or lower them.

Corded cellular shades feature a continuous-cord loop. Instead of the long hanging cord found on traditional shades, the cords on these models are a loop that attaches to the window frame or wall. This type of shade—while not as seamless as the cordless blinds—is still a bit easier to raise and lower than traditional corded models, and they still eliminate the risk that free-hanging cords pose for children and pets.

Style

The overall look and style of cellular shades will have an impact on interior aesthetics. Cellular shades are available in a wide variety of color and fabric choices, so finding a model that coordinates with a given living space should be relatively easy.

Another style option shoppers will want to consider is whether they’d prefer blackout or light-filtering cellular shades. Blackout shades offer the freedom to completely darken a room, regardless of the time of day, and are often a popular choice for bedrooms or media rooms. Light-filtering shades are more suitable for living areas since they allow in some light even when they are closed.

Additional Features

Some manufacturers include additional features to improve the performance of the cellular shades. One such feature to consider is a double- or triple-cell shade. As opposed to a single layer of honeycomb cells, these models instead have either two or three layers of cells, which allow them to provide more insulation to the windows.

If shoppers are interested in motorized cellular shades, they will want to look for products that they can control via either a remote control or a smartphone app. Some motorized cellular shades are also compatible with smart-home devices, which provides even more flexibility for control.

FAQs

For more information about cellular shades, check out the frequently asked questions below and their corresponding answers. If you still have some unanswered questions about cellular window blinds after reading this guide, reach out to one of the above manufacturers to seek additional information.

Q. What’s the difference between honeycomb shades and cellular shades?

The big difference between honeycomb and cellular shades is the two-plus layers that help compartmentalize air within honeycomb blinds. Alternatively, a pleated cellular shade has just one layer of material and does not have any slats built in.

Q. Can I clean cellular shades?

Yes, cellular shades can be cleaned but not washed with water. To avoid damage while removing dust and other small debris, gently run a vacuum cleaner’s brush attachment across the shades. Be sure to follow the pleats on the shades to prevent crumpling the fabric. If there is dust, dirt, bugs, or other debris inside the pockets of the shades, use a can of compressed air to blow out the debris.

Q. What happens if cellular blinds get wet?

Cellular blinds should never be wet or dampened. Submerging cellular shades or using a wet cloth to clean them can cause them to lose their shape and cause the built-in metal components to rust.

Q. Can you see through cellular shades at night?

While some lighting scenarios may make it possible to see lines and shadows through cellular shades, you cannot completely see through them at night.

Q. Are cellular shades energy efficient?

Yes, cellular shades are an energy-efficient option. Honeycomb blinds have cells between two layers of fabric trapped in air, construction that adds a layer of insulation to the window to help lower energy costs.