The essentials
- The CPSC reports that about nine children under 5 die each year from strangling in corded window coverings.
- Cordless is the only option that eliminates the strangulation hazard; cord management steps only reduce it.
- Look for the Best for Kids certification label and check that products meet the ANSI/WCMA A100.1 safety standard.
- Move cribs, beds and furniture away from windows with cords, and anchor any continuous-loop cords to the wall or floor.
- The Window Covering Safety Council offers free repair kits for some corded products at 800-506-4636.
Window covering cords are one of the top hidden hazards in American homes, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Young children can become tangled in pull cords and inner cords in seconds, and strangulation is often silent, so an adult nearby may not realize anything is wrong. If young children live in or visit your home, cordless is the safest choice. Here is how to shop for cord-safe options and handle the corded coverings you already have.
Why Corded Window Coverings Are Dangerous
The numbers are stark. On average, about nine children under 5 die every year from strangling in blinds, shades and other corded window coverings. From January 2009 through December 2021, there were more than 200 incidents involving children up to 8 years old, and a child died in 48 percent of them.
Part of the danger is speed. Children can become strangled on pull cords, continuous loop cords, inner cords or any accessible cord longer than 8 inches. CPSC staff estimate that about two-thirds of potentially fatal incidents could be prevented if looped cords and long operating cords were made inaccessible or unable to form a hazardous loop. Product design matters more than supervision or after-the-fact fixes.
Cord-Safe Options Compared
| Option | How it works | Points to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Cordless | Lift, lower and tilt by hand with no operating cords | The safest option and widely available at most retailers |
| Motorized | Raise and lower with a remote, app or wall switch | No dangling cords, but check battery or power needs |
| Corded with tension devices | Continuous loops anchored taut to the wall or floor | Reduces risk only, and only if installed correctly |
Keep one point in mind as you compare: the CPSC says cordless is the only option that eliminates the strangulation hazard. Everything else, including tension devices and cord stops, only reduces it.
How to Read Labels and Safety Standards
A revised voluntary safety standard, ANSI/WCMA A100-2018, took effect on December 15, 2018. It requires stock window coverings sold in stores and online to be cordless or have inaccessible cords or short cords of 8 inches or less. A further revision, ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2022, applies to products manufactured on or after June 1, 2024. It eliminates free hanging operating and tilt cords on made-to-order custom products and prohibits continuous cord loops and bead chains on horizontal slatted custom products.
When you shop, look for:
- Products clearly described as cordless, especially when buying online
- The Best for Kids certification label, a program created in 2015 in which manufacturers submit products to a third-party testing laboratory
- Warning tags, which the standards require to emphasize the strangulation hazard
Choosing Coverings Room by Room
Start with the rooms where children spend time. Bedrooms and nurseries come first, since cords hang right where kids sleep and play. The CPSC and the Window Covering Safety Council agree that only cordless coverings, or those with inaccessible cords, belong in homes and childcare centers, anywhere young children are present.
In living rooms and dining rooms, cordless shades or curtains keep the look clean and remove the hazard entirely. Curtains work well too, but if you choose a style operated by a continuous loop cord, plan to anchor it. Window treatments also shape the light in a room; our layered lighting guide shows how shades and curtains fit a lighting plan.
Installing Window Coverings Safely
Most cordless blinds and shades mount with a few screws into the window frame or wall, which makes them a realistic weekend job. Use fasteners appropriate for the surface, and hit a stud or use anchors in drywall. If you are replacing coverings on several windows in one afternoon, review our ladder safety basics before you start climbing.
If the product includes a tension device for a continuous loop cord, install it. CPSC staff have found that many consumers skip tension devices, remove them, or install them incorrectly, which undermines the whole system. The cord should be taut but still operable.
Safety first
Retrofit kits do not fix the dangling pull cord hazard on many common blinds. Where children live or visit, replacing corded blinds with cordless products is the safest step.
What to Do About Corded Blinds You Already Own
First, check the age. Most blinds sold before November 2000 have inner cords that a child can pull into a dangerous loop, and the CPSC says to replace these immediately.
If you cannot replace corded coverings right away, the CPSC recommends these steps:
- Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and cords, preferably to another wall
- Keep cords out of the reach of children, and shorten or tie them up and away
- Adjust cord stops, the donut-shaped devices on pull cords, so they sit within 1 to 2 inches of the head rail when fully lowered
- Anchor continuous-loop cords on draperies and blinds to the floor or wall with a tension device
- Use cleats to wrap loose cords every time, so children cannot reach them
For free repair kits, contact the Window Covering Safety Council at 800-506-4636. A kit can add cord stops or hold-down devices, but these measures reduce the hazard rather than eliminate it.
Once the windows are done, the walls nearby deserve the same care. Our guide to wall anchors and mounting hardware explains which fasteners keep frames secure in drywall and studs.
Common questions
Are cordless blinds really safer than corded ones?
Yes. The CPSC says cordless window coverings are the safest option for homes with children and the only choice that eliminates the strangulation hazard. Retrofit steps on corded products only reduce the risk, not remove it.
What is the Best for Kids label?
It is a certification program created in 2015 by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association. Manufacturers submit products to a third-party testing lab, and products that pass can carry the label, which identifies cordless options.
Can I make my old corded blinds safe with a repair kit?
Repair kits from the Window Covering Safety Council can reduce some risks, such as by adding cord stops or hold-down devices. They do not address the dangling pull cord hazard on many common blinds, and CPSC advises replacing older corded blinds, especially where children live or visit.
Do I need a professional to install cordless blinds?
Most cordless blinds and shades mount with a few screws and are a straightforward DIY job. Just follow the manufacturer’s instructions, use appropriate fasteners for your wall type and work safely on a ladder.
This guide is general information, not professional advice. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and your local building codes, and hire a licensed professional for electrical, gas, structural or roofing work.