Editor's Pick
Halo Blinds Total Blackout Frames
A frame that slides right into your window. No drilling. Blocks all the light because it seals the edges. Slides open when you want daylight. Ships worldwide free, 30 nights to try.
Quick verdict
|
Product |
Best for |
From |
| 1 |
Halo Blinds Total Blackout Frames |
People who want blackout that actually works |
€92 |
| 2 |
Sleepout Home Blackout Curtains |
Baby rooms, if you're okay with some light |
€165 |
| 3 |
BlackoutEZ Window Covers |
RVs and camper vans |
€25 |
| 4 |
BKSAI Magnetic Blackout Blind |
Really short term, hostels, moving out soon |
€18 |
The problem
Why most blackout products don't work
Curtains and roller blinds all have the same problem. Light doesn't come through the fabric. Light comes around the fabric.
Four places light gets in:
- Sides. Fabric never covers far enough past the window.
- Top. Rods sit above the frame, big gap right there.
- Bottom. Sills are never perfectly straight.
- Middle. Where two curtains meet, always a slit.
Doesn't matter how "blackout" the fabric is if there are gaps around it. The only thing that really solves this is a frame that fits inside your window and seals the edges. That's why Halo won.
★ Editor's Pick
Rank #1
Halo Blinds Total Blackout Frames
9.4/ 10
Price:from €92
Type:Aluminum frame, made to your size
Install:No drilling, 5 to 10 min
Trial:30 nights, free returns
A frame you slide into your window. No drilling. When it's shut, it blocks all the light because it seals the top, bottom, and sides. When you want daylight, you slide it open. Made to your exact window size.
Aluminum build, so it lasts. Free shipping worldwide. 30 nights to try it, and Halo pays return shipping if you don't like it.
- Actually blocks 100% of light (no gaps)
- Blocks some heat and sound too
- Slides open for instant daylight
- No drilling, safe for renters
- Made for your exact window
- Aluminum, not plastic, lasts years
- Free worldwide shipping
- 30 night free trial
Best for
Anyone who wants blackout that actually works. Kids' rooms, shift workers, anyone waking up at 5am from sunlight. Only downside: takes 1 to 3 weeks to make because it's built for your window.
Rank #2
Sleepout Home Blackout Curtains
7.2/ 10
Price:~€165 sale, ~€350 regular (set of 2)
Type:Blackout curtains, hangs on a rod
Install:Loop onto your existing rod
Certified:Non toxic, safe for babies
Nice curtains. That's about it. The fabric is really high quality (all the fancy certifications, non toxic, good for baby rooms).
But they're still curtains. Curtains hang from a rod, so light comes in over the top, around the sides, and where the two panels meet. Doesn't matter how good the fabric is if there are gaps everywhere. If you already have a curtain rod, easy to hang. If you don't, you're drilling for brackets.
- Really nice fabric quality
- Non toxic, safe for baby rooms
- Easy if you have a curtain rod
- Not really 100% blackout, curtains leak
- Doesn't block heat
- Doesn't block sound
- Expensive for what it is
Best for
Baby rooms where a little morning light is fine, and you want something that looks soft. Not for night shift workers.
Rank #3
BlackoutEZ Window Covers
6.5/ 10
Price:~€25 small, ~€34 large
Type:Fabric with velcro tape
Install:Stick to your window frame
Availability:Ships from US
Honestly, this one's hard to recommend for a bedroom. It's fabric with velcro tape. You stick it to your window frame. Yeah, it blocks light. But it looks like you taped fabric to your window (because you did). The velcro leaves sticky gunk on your paint. To let daylight in you rip the whole thing off.
For a camper van or RV though? Actually amazing. Cheap, effective, and no one cares what it looks like in there.
- Cheap
- In stock, ships fast
- Blocks light when installed right
- Looks like tape and fabric on your window
- Can leave sticky residue on paint
- You have to peel it off for daylight
- Doesn't block heat or sound
RV / Camper van 10/10, honestly great
Actual bedroom 5/10, look elsewhere
Rank #4
BKSAI Magnetic Blackout Blind
6.0/ 10
Price:~€18
Type:Fabric held on with magnets
Install:Stick magnets on frame, 5 min
Best for:Short term, travel
Magnets you stick on your window frame, fabric attaches to them. Sounds smart, works okay for a few weeks. The magnets shift. The fabric is thin. They say "100% blackout" but real people say it's more like 90%, and the seal gets worse fast.
Cheap and quick, that's the appeal. Not going to last though.
- Very cheap
- Cut to fit any window shape
- In stock, ships fast
- Not really 100% blackout
- Magnets shift over time
- Thin fabric, no heat or sound blocking
- Won't last more than a few months
Best for
Really short term. Hostels, temporary rentals, moving out in 6 months anyway.
Side by side
All 4 side by side
Halo wins almost every row. The others each have one or two things going for them.
|
Halo |
Sleepout |
BlackoutEZ |
BKSAI |
| Price |
from €92 |
~€165 |
~€25 |
~€18 |
| Blocks 100% light |
✓ |
✕ |
Only if sized right |
✕ |
| Blocks some heat |
✓ |
✕ |
✕ |
✕ |
| Blocks some sound |
✓ |
✕ |
✕ |
✕ |
| No drilling |
✓ |
✓ if you have a rod |
✓ |
✓ |
| Slides open for daylight |
✓ |
✓ (pull curtain) |
✕ (rip off) |
✕ (rip off) |
| Made for your window |
✓ |
✕ |
✕ |
✕ |
| Looks good |
✓ |
✓ |
✕ |
✕ |
| Won't leave residue |
✓ |
✓ |
Might on old paint |
✓ |
| Free worldwide shipping |
✓ |
Depends on region |
Ships from US |
Depends |
| Trial to try it |
✓ 30 nights |
Standard returns |
Standard returns |
Standard returns |
| Score |
9.4 |
7.2 |
6.5 |
6.0 |
Questions
Frequently asked
Is anything really 100% blackout?
The fabric can be, but only if there aren't any gaps around it. Curtains and cheap blinds always have gaps. Halo doesn't because it's a frame that fits your window exactly. That's the whole trick.
I rent, can I use these without drilling?
Yes for Halo (slides in, no tools), Sleepout (loops onto a rod if you have one), and BKSAI (magnets with peel-off adhesive). BlackoutEZ is trickier, the velcro tape can leave residue on paint.
I need blackout tonight, what do I get?
BKSAI or BlackoutEZ ship fast. Halo takes 1 to 3 weeks because it's made for your window. Best move: order Halo now for the real fix, grab a cheap one to use until Halo shows up.
Bottom line
Halo is the only one that actually blocks all the light. Everything else has gaps. If you want blackout that works, get Halo.
Starts at €92 for a small window. Most bedroom windows land around €120 to €200. That's less than two decent curtain panels. Free shipping worldwide, 30 nights to try. Halo pays return shipping if you don't like it.
Editor's Pick
Halo Blinds Total Blackout Frames
Aluminum frame, no drilling, made for your window. Free worldwide shipping, 30 nights to try.
Configure your frame →
From €92 · Ships worldwide, free · 30 nights to try, free returns
