How Much Do Roman Blinds Cost in NZ? (2026 Guide)

Indicative prices

Roman blinds are priced per square metre, supplied and installed. Multiply the rate by the window area in m² (width in cm × height in cm, divided by 10,000):

Small window, 1.2 × 1.0 m (1.2 m²): from about $192
Standard window, 1.8 × 1.5 m (2.7 m²): from about $432
Large window, 2.4 × 2.1 m (5.0 m²): from about $800

Those figures are for our standard fabrics, which for Roman blinds are blackout. It is worth saying plainly, because it is where most quotes grow: when you see the fabric books at the measure, designer textures and patterns cost more, and so do extras like motorisation. We price the standard fabric alongside anything you fall for, so you can see the difference before you decide rather than after.

For context against the rest of the range: roller blinds start from $55/m² in standard fabrics, Venetian blinds from $119/m² in aluminium, honeycomb blinds from $159/m² and made-to-measure curtains from $129/m². Romans sit alongside honeycomb near the top of the fabric blinds, well under plantation shutters at $450/m².

What the NZ market charges

Very few NZ suppliers publish Roman blind prices. When we checked in September 2026, the ones that did ran roughly $190–$270/m² supply-only for lined Romans you fit yourself, and around $245–$310/m² installed, with small windows at the top of those bands. Most of those are lined builds, so compare like for like: fabric, lining, control and installation all need to match before two numbers mean the same thing.

What moves the price

Fabric. The biggest lever by far. Standard blackout fabrics are the from-price; textured, patterned and designer ranges step up from there.
Window size. Romans use more fabric per square metre than a roller, so size moves the price faster. Very wide windows can need two blinds side by side.
Controls. Standard operation is included; motorised Romans cost more and suit high or hard-to-reach windows.
Mount. Inside the recess or face-fitted over the frame changes the measurements, and sometimes the build.

Why choose a Roman at all?

The look. Soft horizontal folds read like a curtain but sit tidily at the window, so they suit bedrooms, living rooms and studies where a roller can feel too plain.
Warmth. In Consumer NZ’s heat-loss testing, Roman blinds came second only to honeycomb blinds and ahead of roller blinds — the extra fabric in the folds traps air against the glass. If warmth is the main job, honeycomb still wins.
Darkness. Our standard Roman fabric is blackout, which makes them a natural bedroom blind.
Space. Where curtains will not fit — beside a wardrobe, above a desk or window seat — a Roman gives you the fabric look without the wall and floor space.

The drawbacks, honestly

The stack. When a Roman is fully raised, its folds gather at the top of the window and still cover part of the glass. On a window where every centimetre of view matters, a roller that disappears into its headrail does better.
They are fabric. You cannot wipe a Roman down. Dust settles in the folds and needs a soft brush or vacuum attachment, and wet areas — bathrooms, the window above the kitchen sink — are the wrong place for one.
Price. Roughly three times an entry roller on the same window. If budget is the binding constraint, a roller in a good fabric does most of the practical job for far less — see what blinds cost in NZ.

Where Romans are the right call — and where they are not

Bedrooms — blackout fabric, soft look, extra warmth. The strongest case.
Living rooms and studies where you want fabric softness on a standard-sized window.
Character homes and villas, where the tailored folds suit the joinery.
Not bathrooms, laundries or the kitchen sink window — choose aluminium Venetians or a moisture-resistant roller.
Not very wide windows or sliding doors — curtains, or vertical blinds on a slider, handle the width better.

How to compare quotes

Is the price per m² or per blind — and does it include installation and GST?
Which fabric is quoted, by name? A from-price in a standard fabric and a quote in a designer one are different products.
Is the blind lined, and is the fabric blackout, light-filtering or sheer?
What are the controls, and is the child-safe option included?
Inside the recess or face-fitted?
What is the warranty on the blind and the installation — and has anyone actually measured your windows?

Get an exact price

A per-m² rate only takes you so far — fabric is the biggest variable, and you need to see it in your own light. Our in-home measure and quote is free and no-obligation across Auckland. We bring the fabric books, price the standard fabric alongside anything you like, and tell you plainly when a roller, honeycomb blind or curtain would do the job better — we fit all of them. See the blinds range, or book a free measure.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Roman blinds cost in NZ?

At Kauri, made-to-measure Roman blinds start from $160/m² supplied and installed, in our standard fabrics. On a standard 1.8 × 1.5 m window (2.7 m²) that is about $432; a small 1.2 × 1.0 m window is around $192 and a large 2.4 × 2.1 m window about $800. Designer fabrics and extras such as motorisation cost more, and prices stay indicative until we have measured your windows.

Why do Roman blinds cost more than roller blinds?

Because there is more in them. A roller blind is one flat piece of fabric on a tube. A Roman blind is sewn into horizontal folds held by rods or battens, so it uses more fabric per window and takes more making. That is why a Roman on a standard window is roughly three times the price of an entry roller in standard fabric — you are paying for the soft, tailored folds.

Are Roman blinds blackout?

Our standard Roman blinds are made in blackout fabric, so very little light comes through the blind itself. Some light still finds its way around the edges, as with any fabric blind without side channels. For a room that needs true darkness — a nursery or a shift worker's bedroom — a blockout roller blind in side channels, or a Roman paired with lined curtains, gets closer.

Are Roman blinds good for bathrooms and kitchens?

Generally not. They are fabric, so they cannot be wiped down, and steam and splashes can mark or stain them over time. For wet areas an aluminium Venetian or a moisture-resistant roller blind is the more practical choice; Roman blinds are at their best in bedrooms, living rooms and studies.

Should I choose Roman blinds or curtains?

Choose a Roman when you want the softness of fabric without curtains taking up wall and floor space — a window beside a wardrobe, over a desk or a window seat, or set neatly inside a recess. Choose curtains for wide windows and sliding doors, where a single Roman gets heavy and unwieldy, and when you want the extra warmth of a full-length, heavily lined curtain. Many bedrooms end up with both.

Are Roman blinds child-safe, and what is the warranty?

Older corded Roman blinds are exactly the kind of product New Zealand child-safety guidance was written about, so we default to the safest control for any room a child uses and will talk you through the options at the measure. Every blind is custom-made, professionally fitted across Auckland and carries a 3-year warranty from installation against manufacturing or material defects.