Stock vs Custom Blinds: How Cord Safety Rules Compare

One Rulebook, Two Very Different Installs

Window coverings sold in Canada — stock or custom — are expected to meet the same cord-safety requirements: continuous-loop cords need a functioning tension device or cord cleat, and many current product lines are designed cordless from the start to remove the hazard entirely. So the rule itself doesn't bend for custom-made products. What changes is who's responsible for making sure the safety hardware actually ends up mounted on the wall, at the right height, before the blind is ever used. A factory can build a compliant product; it can't force a buyer to install the cleat that came in the bag.

Where Stock Blinds Fall Short in Practice

Stock blinds are built to standard widths and drops, then usually shortened at home to fit the actual window. That trimming step is exactly where things go wrong most often.

• Cutting a stock blind down to fit a smaller window often leaves the cord or chain longer than the tension device was designed for, so the device can't do its job properly
• Cord cleats and tensioners ship loose in the box — mounting them to the wall or frame is a DIY step that's frequently skipped or done at the wrong height
• There's no one on site to flag a hazard-specific placement, like a blind hanging near a crib, toddler bed, or play area
• Exchanges and returns rarely prompt a second look at whether the safety hardware was ever installed

How a Made-to-Measure Order Reduces Risk by Design

Custom blinds start from an exact in-home measurement, which changes the cord-safety picture before the product is even built.

• The lift system is sized to the exact drop measured in the home, so there's no leftover cord length to trim or manage after the fact
• Cordless lift systems — spring-loaded, wand-operated, or motorized — can be specified at order time for any room, not just found by chance on a store shelf
• A professional installer mounts and positions tension devices or cleats as part of the job, rather than leaving it to the homeowner
• The consultant doing the in-home visit can recommend cordless-only designs for bedrooms, nurseries, and playrooms based on what they see in the room

Questions Worth Asking Before You Buy Either Type

Whether you're comparing a stock blind at a store or getting a custom quote, the same short list of questions cuts through the marketing.

• Does this product meet current cord-safety regulations for window coverings sold in Canada?
• Is a tension device or cord cleat included, and is it clear where and how it needs to be mounted?
• Is professional installation part of the price, or is hardware mounting left to me?
• Is a cordless or motorized version available for rooms with young kids, older adults, or pets?

A Safety Check Comes Standard With a Free Measure

This isn't a sales pitch dressed up as safety advice — it's just what an in-home measurement naturally includes. When a Sunleo consultant visits to measure a window, they're already looking at the room, the furniture layout, and where a crib or bed sits relative to the window. That's the moment to flag whether a room should go cordless or motorized, and it's built into installation rather than added on as an afterthought. If you're comparing a stock option against a custom one, book a free in-home measurement and we'll walk through the cord-safety side of it along with the fit and fabric.