You’ve taken measurements of your windows. You’ve looked around the choices. Now you’re looking at two of the most popular window coverings available, cell shades and roller shades and wondering, which one is right for your home?
Both are sleek. Both are functional. Both are available in a variety of different colors and materials. They have different functions, however, and installing the wrong one in a particular room can lead to sub-optimal performance, higher operating costs and/or an installed shade color that doesn’t match the intended design.
From insulation and light control to cost, durability, and which shade is best for each room, this guide covers it all – so you can make the decision before you purchase.
What Are Cellular Shades?
Cellular shades, also referred to as honeycomb shades, are constructed from fabric with cells or pockets created by pleating the fabric. The spaces between the window and room form a natural barrier to air flow, providing insulation.
Raised, they fold like an accordion, and are offered in three cell designs:
- Single cell – a single layer of pockets for mild climates
- Double cell – 2 layers of pockets, more insulated, most popular choice
- Triple cell – three layers, highest energy efficiency, best for extreme weather
Cellular shades are also available in a special top down/bottom up shades style so you can open them top up to allow light to enter through them from above, and then open a lower section to give privacy. This is something that only feature roller shades can’t come close to.
What Are Roller Shades?
Roller shades are simply as their title implies – one strip of material fastened onto the tube in the top of the window. Roll shade down to cover the glass and roll up when ready.
The simple aspects of their appeal is why. No pleating, no pockets or any fancy mechanism. Nothing more than a flat and smooth piece of fabric in practically any color, pattern or degree of transparency.
Roller shades come in a variety of choices including:
- Light-filtering – diffuses natural light but does not absorb all of it
- Room-darkening – dims most of the outside light, great for sleeping during the day
- Blackout – blocks 97% of light, ideal for bedrooms & media spaces
- Solar / screen fabric – rejects UV rays and heat without blocking your outdoor view.
Cellular Shades vs Roller Shades: Head-to-Head Comparison
Energy Efficiency and Insulation
That is where cellular shades rule, though it’s not exactly close.
The honeycomb structure creates an air buffer between the window and reduces the amount of heat that passes through in either direction. In Maryland, that means fewer days of getting hot into your house during the warm summer months. During a DC winter it translates to less warm air lost through the glass. The double-cell shades also have R values of approximately 2.0 to 3.5, which is much higher than the R value of standard roller shades, which range from 1.3 to 1.8.
Roller shades with just some solar-screen fabric are effective in the southern or west-facing window, which gets the most amount of sunlight, because they block the UV rays and reflect it away from the glass so that it can’t heat the glass. However, if you are looking for a consistent thermal performance all day long, then the cellular shades are a better option.
Winner: Cellular shades, particularly in Maryland, DC, and Virginia, where summer humidity and winter cold stresses home energy use.
Light Control
Either type of shade is good for light control over a variety of opacities. The main differentiator is flexibility.
Roller shades provide simple and pure light control. You set them, you step on, and light is blocked at any level – simple, consistent and predictable.
With cellular shades, there’s a range of sheer to blackout and with the added feature of being able to open or close the shade with the top. This allows for natural daylight to enter from above and provides privacy on the view-level if needed, but still maintaining privacy on the street-level; a welcome luxury in rooms that are positioned to look out, bathrooms, and ground floor bedrooms.
Winner: Cellular shades for versatility. Roller shades for easy, clean light control.
Style and Aesthetics
Modern minimalists opt for the design of ‘roller shades’. Because of their thin and sleek design, clean lines, and ability to use virtually any fabric, including custom prints, textures, and patterns, they are incredibly useful for modern interior design styles.
Cellular shades are made of more of a textured fabric look. The pleated design brings depth and a subtle warmth to traditional, transitional and casual modern interior spaces. Unlike roller shades, they have less fabric and pattern variety, but these options can be extensive from brands such as Norman and Hunter Douglas.
Winner: Personal preference. Clean and modern → roller shades. If you’re looking for soft and layered, these are the cellular shades for you.
Privacy
Both have effective blackout and room-darkening properties. But there’s a structural benefit to cellular shades: the thick fabric cannot be seen through, even in the lightest of the opacities. Some of the more light and sheer types of roller shades let out some silhouettes when the interiors are lit at night.
Winner: Cellular shades for regular privacy without resorting to blackout fabric.
Durability and Maintenance
Roller shades are easier to clean and will last longer in high traffic and high humidity areas. Most roller shade fabrics can be wiped down with a moistened cloth. They are also moisture resistant and are a good choice for bathrooms and kitchens as they are made of vinyl or PVC.
Cellular shades need to be handled with great care. The pleated polyester material may become crumpled or folded with age and doesn’t need to be quickly wiped clean; a vacuum brush attachment or professional cleaning is necessary. They also have a greater risk in homes with pets or children under the age of 10 that might tug on the fabric.
Winner: Roller shades for durability, easy to clean, and moisture resistance.
Cost
Roller shades will usually be a lower initial cost. A basic custom roller shade in a high-quality fabric will be less expensive than a double-cell cellular shade for the same window size.
But energy efficiency is a long-term benefit of cellular shades. Cellular shades can make a difference in reducing costs in the long-term for Maryland and Virginia homeowners who use central air conditioning in a hot summer and heat in a cold winter. Some double-cell cellular shades are also 30% Federal Energy Efficiency qualified.
Winner: Roller shades for upfront cost. Cellular shades for long-term value and potential tax savings.
Which Shade Is Best for Each Room?
| Room | Best Choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | Cellular (blackout) | Insulation + top-down privacy + light control |
| Living room | Roller (solar or light-filtering) | Style versatility + view preservation |
| Kitchen | Roller (vinyl or moisture-resistant) | Easy to wipe down, humidity resistant |
| Bathroom | Roller (vinyl or blackout) | Moisture resistance, simple privacy |
| Home office | Either – roller for solar, cellular for noise reduction | Depends on sun exposure and focus needs |
| Nursery / child’s room | Cellular (cordless blackout) | Safe cordless design + sleep-quality darkness |
| Dining room | Cellular or Roman shades | Warmth and texture suit the space |
Quick Summary: Which Should You Choose?
Consider cellular shades when:
- Energy efficiency and saving utilities are a priority
- You desire top-down, bottom-up window control
- Insulation is important in your Maryland, DC or Virginia house
- Furnishing a Bedroom, Nursery or frequently heated/cooled room
Choose roller shades if:
- You like a contemporary and tidy design
- Budget is also an important consideration
- You need easy-clean shades for a kitchen or bathroom
- A wide variety of patterns and custom fabric is preferred
- Large windows and you want solar screen fabric to retain your view
Not Sure? We Can Help
Cellular shades versus roller shades is a decision that is made based upon the room, the amount of sunlight entering the room, and the purpose the room serves. A style that is ideal for a bedroom may not be appropriate for a kitchen.
Marcus and his team provide a complimentary in-home consultation throughout Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia at BuyHomeBlinds. We use samples of both cellular and roller shades to bring to you home, measure all windows, and customize the window with shade, fabric, and opacity as needed for each room – all without any pressure or obligation to purchase.
FAQs: Cellular Shades vs Roller Shades
Are cellular shades better than roller shades for energy efficiency?
Yes. Cellular shades are much more effective insulators because they have an air-pocket design in a honeycomb pattern. They are used to reduce heat transfer both in winter and summer: prevents cooling in winter and heat transfer in summer. Roller shades can keep solar heat gain out using reflective solar-screen fabrics, but they are not as insulating as double or triple-cell cellular shades.
Can roller shades and cellular shades be motorized?
Yes, both are available motorised. Motorized roller shades are especially useful for big windows, skylights and hard-to-reach spots. Motorized cellular shades are great for the bedroom and office, where you want to schedule the lights. Either can be used in conjunction with Alexa, Google Home, and other smart home systems.
What is the difference between honeycomb shades and cellular shades?
They are the same product! Cellular shades are often called “honeycomb shades” because they are made in a honeycomb pattern of hexagons. Manufacturers and retailers will use either of these terms. The double and triple cell types are just two or three layers of honeycomb cells over each other as an added layer of insulation.
Which shades are better for a bedroom - cellular or roller?
Cellular blackout shades are a better option for most bedrooms. They are completely light-blocking, temperature comfortable, and are frequently cordless, which may be safer for kids. Nonetheless, black out roller shades are a great deal superior and more budget friendly solution when a light barricade is more crucial than insulation.
Do cellular shades qualify for the federal energy efficiency tax credit?
Some cellular shades are eligible for the 30% Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit on a primary residence, however. To qualify, products must be ENERGY STAR certified to specific insulation ratings. At your in-home consultation with BuyHomeBlinds we can let you know which products are cellular shades and let you know what documentation you will need to file.
Are roller shades good for Maryland summers?
Yes, especially solar screening roller shades on south and west windows. By blocking out the UV rays and reflecting heat away from the room before it enters, solar fabric decreases cooling load in the hottest peak time in the afternoon. Combine solar roller shades with cellular shades for full house energy efficiency in all seasons on sun-facing windows with cellular shades in bedrooms and heavily air conditioned rooms.
How do I clean cellular shades vs roller shades?
Cleaning with roller shades is much easier as most fabrics can be wiped down with a soft damp cloth and vinyl shades can be cleaned more thoroughly. Cellular shades should be cleaned gently using a vacuum cleaner fitted with a soft brush attachment to pick up dust from the pleats and spot cleaned with a mild detergent as necessary. Don’t soak cellular shades because the fabric cells can get crushed and lose shape.