You bought blockout blinds for the bedroom. They went up. And you still wake at 5am, because a thin bright line is running down the side of the window where the fabric meets the frame. The fabric is not the problem — it is doing exactly what blockout fabric does. The problem is that the edges are open, and on a standard installation all four of them are.
Side tracks are the fix for the two vertical edges, and they are the single most requested upgrade we quote for bedrooms, nurseries and shift-worker rooms across Sydney. This guide covers what they actually are, what they cost in 2026, where they stop working, and how to specify them so you are not paying for a half-solution.
Quick answer: side tracks (also called side channels) are aluminium profiles fixed either side of the window, with a groove the blind fabric slides into. They add roughly AU$250–$600 per window in Sydney in 2026. On their own they close the sides only — for a genuinely dark room you pair them with outside-reveal mounting and a pelmet, which puts a fully sealed window at about AU$600–$1,600 supplied and installed.
What's in this guide
Why blockout fabric still leaves light in
In Australia, blockout and blackout are used interchangeably to describe fabric that stops light passing through the material. That is all the word means. A fabric can be genuinely 100% opaque and still leave a bright room, because opacity is a property of the sheet — not of the window.
A roller blind is one sheet of fabric hanging from a tube. Even a perfect sheet leaves four openings:
- Both sides — the gap between the fabric edge and the window frame or reveal.
- The top — the gap between the roll and the ceiling or lintel, which throws light across the ceiling.
- The bottom — the gap at the sill, which lights the floor.
- The centre join — on wide windows with two blinds, the seam where they meet.
Side tracks address exactly one of those four — the two sides. That is why a quote for “blockout with side tracks” that does not also deal with the top and bottom will still leave you with a stripe. We break the four gaps down one at a time in our guide to stopping light leaking around blockout roller blinds.
What side tracks actually are
A side track is an aluminium extrusion, usually powder-coated to match the blind, fixed vertically to each side of the window opening. Each track has a groove or channel running its full length. The blind fabric is fitted with a thin edge spline that sits inside that groove, so when the blind comes down the fabric runs inside the track rather than past it.
Three consequences follow, and all three matter:
- There is no side gap. The fabric is captured in the channel, so light cannot pass between fabric and frame.
- The fabric cannot bow away from the window. A free-hanging blind curves out at the edges; a tracked one is held flat, which also stops the “glow around the edge” effect on a bright day.
- It needs a solid fixing surface on both sides. This is the detail that decides whether your window can take tracks at all — and the reason a retro-fit sometimes is not possible.
Naming varies between suppliers: side tracks, side channels, side rails and light-blocking channels all describe the same component. If you are comparing quotes, ask whether the profile is made to your window or cut from a standard length — made-to-measure tracks fit the reveal properly and are the version worth paying for.
Four levels of dark, and what each one costs
The most common expensive mistake is buying “blockout” and expecting dark. There are four distinct levels of light control, and they cost different amounts. Be clear about which one you actually need before you ask for a quote.
| Level | What it does | Typical cost per window |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Blockout blind, inside the reveal | Stops light through the fabric. Still leaves all four edge gaps — the room is dim, not dark. | $150–$500 |
| 2. Blockout blind, outside the reveal | Blind overlaps the frame, so the top and bottom improve and side gaps shrink. The usual minimum for a bedroom. | $200–$600 |
| 3. Outside reveal + side tracks | Sides closed, top and bottom improved. Removes the side stripe that most people are actually complaining about. | $450–$1,200 |
| 4. Fully sealed system | Outside reveal + side tracks + pelmet + hem seal. All four edges closed as one system — the closest a roller blind gets to true blackout. | $600–$1,600 |
If your goal is “stop the streetlight keeping me awake”, level 2 is often enough. If the goal is “I work nights and need to sleep at 11am in summer”, you want level 4 — and paying for level 3 will disappoint you. We build the sealed version as a single system rather than a set of add-ons; you can read how it works on our NOX™ total blackout system page.
Side track prices in Sydney (2026)
These are the figures we quote, supplied and installed, for a standard bedroom window. They are indicative — the number that matters is confirmed in writing after a free in-home measure, because width, drop, fixing surface and access all move it.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Blockout roller blind, mounted inside the reveal | $150–$500 per window |
| Blockout roller blind, mounted outside the reveal | $200–$600 per window |
| Add side tracks (made to the window) | +$250–$600 per window |
| Add a pelmet or headrail box | +$150–$400 per window |
| Add motorisation | +$400–$900 per blind |
| Full sealed setup (outside reveal + tracks + pelmet) | $600–$1,600 per window |
| Whole wall, four or more windows | $2,000 or more |
Why tracks are the biggest single line item: each track is a separate made-to-measure extrusion, and fitting it adds a second fixing point on each side of the window. That is real labour and real material — which is also why a “side tracks included” price far below this range usually means a standard-length profile cut on site, not a track made for your opening.
The full component breakdown, including fabric grades and motor options, sits on our blockout blinds with side tracks product page.
Where side tracks stop working
We would rather tell you the limits than sell you a track that cannot do the job.
- They only close the sides. Tracks without a pelmet still leak across the ceiling, and without a hem seal they still leak at the sill. If the top gap is what wakes you, tracks alone will not fix it.
- Wide openings need splitting. Past roughly 2.5–3 metres, a single blind loses tension in the middle and the fabric bows away from the window — the track cannot compensate. Split the opening into two or three panels, each with its own tracks and its own tube.
- The fixing surface has to exist. Tracks screw into the wall or reveal on both sides. On a flush-mounted window with no return, or on a very shallow reveal, there may be nothing to fix to without building out the frame.
- Retro-fitting is hit and miss. A blind cut to sit inside the reveal is usually too narrow to run inside a track, so it has to be re-made. A blind already mounted outside the reveal with some overlap is often fine.
- They do not insulate much. Tracks improve the seal, which helps slightly with draughts and heat, but a blockout blind is not a thermal barrier. If the room is hot, the fix is external shading, not a better blind.
Rule of thumb: darkness is about fit, not fabric. Two identical blockout fabrics on two identical windows produce completely different rooms depending on how they are mounted and whether the edges are closed.
How to specify them so they fit
If you are getting quotes — from us or anyone else — these are the questions that separate a track that works from one that gets abandoned:
- “Is the track made to my window, or cut from a standard length?” Made-to-measure is what you want.
- “Will the blind be mounted outside the reveal?” If not, the side gap you are trying to close mostly stays open.
- “What closes the top?” A pelmet or headrail box. Without it, the ceiling stays bright.
- “What happens at the bottom?” Ask about a hem seal or sill bar — this is the gap most quotes leave out.
- “How wide before you split the opening?” A supplier who never splits is a supplier who has not fitted a wide tracked blind.
- “What is the maximum width for one panel with tracks?” Get the number in writing, then measure your window.
- “Who fixes it if the fabric runs off the track?” Tracks are mechanical; ask about the warranty on the track and the fabric separately.
One more that catches people out: tracks need clearance. The blind now sits further off the glass, which matters if you have a deep sill, a window handle, or a curtain that also needs to pass. Mention it before the measure, not after.
Side tracks vs the alternatives
| Option | How dark it gets | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Blockout blind with side tracks | Very dark, if paired with a pelmet and outside-reveal mount | Bedrooms, nurseries, shift workers — the default choice |
| Blockout blind, no tracks | Dim, with visible edge glow | Living areas, studies, rooms where “dim” is fine |
| Blockout curtains on a double track | Dark, but light still passes the sides and top unless the track returns to the wall | Rooms where softness and insulation matter as much as darkness |
| Plantation shutters | Significantly darker, never fully dark — louvre gaps and frame edges remain | Daytime light control plus looks; pair with a blind for sleep |
| Window film | Reduces glare and UV, not darkness | Glare and heat, not sleep |
Shutters and curtains both come up in this conversation, and both are reasonable — but neither is a blackout solution on its own. If you are weighing shutters, our comparison of PVC vs timber plantation shutters covers the material question, and our guide to custom curtain costs covers the fabric-and-fullness side.
Where we install
We are based in Auburn and measure, make and install across Greater Sydney — including Parramatta and the Hills District, the Inner West, the Sutherland Shire, the Northern Beaches, and the south-west corridor around Greenacre, Bankstown and Liverpool. See our service areas for the suburbs we cover most often, or our project gallery for bedrooms done both with and without tracks.
Outside Sydney? We do not install interstate, and we would rather say so than take a deposit we cannot service. If you are elsewhere in NSW, call us and we will tell you honestly whether we can reach you.
Our verdict
If a room needs to be dark — not dim, dark — side tracks are the component that makes the difference, and they are worth the AU$250–$600 per window. But buy them as part of a sealed system, not as a standalone add-on: outside-reveal mounting, tracks on both sides, a pelmet across the top and a seal at the hem. Buy tracks alone and you will still be looking at a stripe, just a thinner one. Every Sync blockout blind with side tracks is measured on site and confirmed in writing before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
What are side tracks on a blockout blind?
Side tracks — also called side channels or side rails — are aluminium profiles fixed to each side of the window, with a groove that the blind fabric slides into. The blind is held inside the channel instead of hanging free, so the gap between fabric and frame is closed. It is the single most effective upgrade for a bedroom that still gets a stripe of light.
Do side tracks make a room 100% blackout?
Not on their own. Side tracks close the two vertical edges. To get a genuinely dark room you also need outside-reveal mounting (so the blind overlaps the frame), a pelmet or headrail box across the top, and a seal at the bottom hem. Closing only the sides usually removes the worst of the light but leaves a bright line at the top and along the sill.
How much do side tracks add to a blockout blind in Sydney?
In 2026 expect roughly AU$250 to AU$600 per window on top of the blind itself. A blockout roller blind mounted outside the reveal runs AU$200 to AU$600, a pelmet adds AU$150 to AU$400, and side tracks add AU$250 to AU$600 — so a fully sealed window typically lands between AU$600 and AU$1,600 per window, supplied and installed.
Can side tracks be retrofitted to blinds I already have?
Sometimes, but not always. The tracks are made to the exact window and they need a fixing surface on each side, so a blind that was cut to sit inside the reveal usually cannot take them without being re-made. The fabric also has to be the right width to run inside the channel. If the existing blind was mounted outside the reveal with a little overlap, a retrofit is often possible.
Do side tracks work on wide windows and sliding doors?
Yes, but a single wide blind will sag and the track will not fix that. Beyond roughly 2.5 to 3 metres you should split the opening into two or more linked blinds, each with its own pair of tracks, so every panel keeps tension. For sliding doors, a track system on each leaf is usually the only way to keep the centre join dark.
Are side tracks worth it if I only care about street light, not total darkness?
Usually not. If you just want to cut glare and street light, an outside-reveal blockout blind is enough and costs less. Side tracks earn their money in bedrooms, nurseries and shift-worker rooms where the goal is genuinely dark, or where a streetlight or security light hits the window edge directly.
Want to know if your windows can take side tracks?
Book a free in-home measure. We will check the fixing surface on both sides, confirm whether your opening needs splitting, and quote the sealed version and the tracks-only version so you can see the difference.
Book a free measure & quoteOr call us at 0423 353 538
Sync Blinds Sydney is a family-owned window covering specialist based in Auburn, NSW. We measure, make, and install blockout blinds, roller blinds, curtains, flyscreens, pergolas, Zipscreen, awnings, and plantation shutters across Greater Sydney. Call 0423 353 538 or view our blockout range.