Best Insulating Blinds: 2022 Guide

| Last Updated: May 11, 2022

Does the sunlight stream into your house, making it warmer than you’d like? If you don’t have the proper window coverings, you may be fighting a losing battle. Or perhaps you are someone who needs to be able to sleep during the day without sunlight interrupting your rest? An easy, inexpensive solution to these issues is to use insulating blinds or curtains to reduce the amount of heat and light that stream into your home.

With the proper insulating blinds you can feel a marked difference in temperature and a huge reduction of the amount of light. Insulating blinds can also be beneficial in the winter, as they allow less cold air from entering your home. By finding the right blinds for your home, you will save energy and money, and likely get better daytime sleep, as well.

Here, we discuss some of the common terms used when buying blinds and then provide you with a list of some of the best, most affordable options for insulating blinds and curtains.

Best Insulating Blinds Comparison Chart

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Soft fabric and classy drape
  • Material: Polyester
  • Comes in a variety of solid colors
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  • Delicately stitched hems
  • Material: Polyester, Polyester Blend
  • % of Light Blockage: 99%
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  • Best for the Money
  • Material: Innovative triple-weave construction
  • % of Light Blockage: 98% - 100%
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  • Wrinkle-free and fade-resistant
  • Material: Polyester
  • % of Light Blockage: 85%-99%
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  • Good thermal insulation
  • Material: Polyester
  • Heavy but soft triple weave polyester fabric
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What is R-Value and Shading Coefficient?

Two numbers are often mentioned when discussing blinds and their impact on your home’s heating or cooling load. One number is the R-Value and the other is the shading coefficient.

The R-Value is an indicator of a given material’s resistance to heat flow and how well it resists heat gain or loss. So the higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

R-Value Chart for reference (Photo credit: amarr.com)

On the other hand, the shading coefficient is a measure of a fabric’s ability to reduce heat transfer from outside the window to the inside. For example, a shading coefficient of 0.35 means 65% of the heat stays outside. A lower shading coefficient translates into less heat gain, more reflected heat, and lower cooling costs for you.

Factors that affect your home’s heating load include the size and positioning of the windows, the types blinds or curtains you use, and properly designed shades.

Review of the Best Insulating Blinds

We think buying blinds for your home should be a rewarding, enjoyable experience, so rather than letting you waste time looking for the right blinds, we’ve scoured the market for the best ones. Here are some of our top picks:

Best Overall

Deconovo Grommet Blackout Curtains

Deconovo Grommet Blackout Curtains for Living Room, Room Darkening Thermal Insulated Window Curtain, Light Beige, 42x63 Inch, 1 Panel

Specifications

Material: 8 x 11 x 11″

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Review

These thermal insulated blackout curtains from Deconovo are silky, soft, and feel very nice. They are available in three different size options (42×63 inch, 42×84 inch, 42×95 inch) and are sold in one panel per package. They come in a variety of colors and can reduce light effectively, with darker colors reducing the light better.

Each curtain panel has six silver color grommets that slide smoothly across the rails. These curtains help ensure your privacy and add an elegant look to any room. They are machine washable.

Bottom Line

A great choice of curtains for their good looks, easy care, and blackout properties. You can ‘blindly’ choose these curtains and be sure of a great experience.

Pros

Don’t gather dust

Machine washable

Darken the room effectively

High-quality, expensive look

Cons

Sizes don’t fit some windows

Runner-up

Utopia Thermal Insulating Window Curtains

Utopia Bedding Curtain for Bedroom - Rod Pocket Blackout Curtains 63 Inch Length 2 Panels Set - Thermal Curtains & Drapes for Living Room, Bedroom, 52W x 63L Inches, Navy

Specifications

Material: Polyester, Polyester Blend

% of Light Blockage: 99%

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Review

Utopia’s thermal insulating curtains are made of 250 GSM, (Grams per Square Meter), of polyester fabric and come in a set of two panels that effectively block out unwanted light and insulate well. A panel will easily fit on standard curtain rods and also slides onto hooks.

Each panel comes with seven hooks and measures 52 inches wide by 63 inches long, covering a total area of 104 inches by 63 inches. There are seven back loops per panel and two matching tiebacks are included. The curtains can block up to 99 percent of light and UV rays, as well as filter approximately 60 percent of the outside noise from entering the room.

Bottom Line

These curtains are a fantastic choice for people who need to sleep during the daylight hours and don’t want to be disturbed by noise and sunlight in their rooms.

Pros

Insulates well

Fits both rods and hooks

Blocks 99% of light and UV

Blocks around 60% of outside noise

Cons

None

Best for the Money

MIUCO Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains

MIUCO 2 Panels Room Darkening Thermal Insulated Grommet Window Blackout Curtains for Bedroom 63 Inches Long Navy Blue

Specifications

Materials: Innovative triple-weave construction

% of Light Blockage: 98% – 100%

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Review

These curtains come with two panels, each 52 inches wide by 63 inches long. Each panel has eight metal grommets with a 1.6-inch inner diameter. They give a luxury look and hang better due to their design.

Their innovative triple-weave construction helps block up to 98% sunlight and 100% of UV rays, with darker colors being more effective. These blackout curtains can filter approximately 60% of the outside noise, creating a peaceful sleep environment.

They make your house more energy efficient by helping keep the heat in the room during the winter, and vice versa during summer. This could reduce your heating bill by up to 30%.

They are easy to clean and can be machine washed.

Bottom Line

If you’re on the night shift and want to sleep during the daytime, these blackout curtains will keep you from being disturbed by both sound and light during your siesta!

Pros

Machine washable

Block around 98% of sunlight

Block up to 60% outside noise

Cons

Doesn’t work with hooks

NICETOWN Window Treatment Thermal Insulated Blackout Drapes

NICETOWN Blackout Draperies Curtains Panels - Window Treatment Thermal Insulated Solid Grommet Blackout Drapes for Bedroom (Set of 2, 52 by 45 Inch, Cappuccino)

Specifications

Materials: Polyester

% of Light Blockage: 85%-99%

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Review

These polyester curtains have two panels per package, each 52″ wide x 45″ long. The design of the silver grommet (1.6-inch inner diameter) makes the curtains easy to install and slide.

The curtains are heavy and soft, with an elegant, luxury look. They can block 85%-99% of light, as well as are thermal insulated, soundproof, fade-resistant, and energy efficient. Both sides of the curtains are the same color. They also enhance your privacy, while bringing you great comfort and helping to save on bills.

Bottom Line

If you want to sleep during the daytime, these blackout curtains will keep you from being disturbed by both sound and light. They’ll also help make your home more energy efficient!

Pros

Fits most rods

Fade-resistant

Block up to 99% of light and UV radiation

Cons

Do not provide great insulation

NICETOWN Sliding Door Insulated Blackout Curtains

NICETOWN Blackout Blinds for Patio Door - Sliding Door Insulated Blackout Curtains, Extra Wide Curtain for Villa/Hall/Parlor (100 inches W x 84 inches L, Cappuccino)

Specifications

Material: Polyester

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Review

These curtains are made of heavy but super soft triple weave polyester fabric. Both front and back are made from the same material.

They are wide enough to cover a sliding door perfectly and block out most of light and UV rays. The high-performance thermal insulation balances room temperature by insulating against summer heat and winter chill, reducing air conditioning costs, and reducing noise too.They come thread trimmed and wrinkle-free, ready for immediate set up on a sliding door, patio door, or any large window.

Bottom Line

These extra wide blackout curtains will fit sliding doors and large windows, to keep you from being disturbed by both sound and light. They’ll also help make your home more energy efficient!

Pros

Good thermal insulation

Great for sliding doors, extra wide

Heavy and super soft fabric, premium feel

Cons

Reports of not providing sufficient insulation

Conclusion

Curtains and blinds help to insulate your home against both heat in the summer and cold in the winter, as well as cutting down on noise pollution and providing shade. Being highly versatile and stylish, they are every interior designer’s dream!

Make sure you select blinds that will look good in your room, but also will have sufficient insulation and shade from the sun so that you and your family are comfortable. Check out some of our top picks for some great deals!



My name is Bob Wells and I am a retired HVAC tech from Washington state. I am currently retired and no longer do much with HVAC, however, I feel like I have a lot of knowledge in the subject and I wanted to create a website where I could talk about what I've learned and help upcoming HVAC techs. Find more info about me and HVAC Training 101.