Applications · Rolling Shutter Guide
How big should an outdoor TV enclosure be for a rolling shutter?
Start from the TV's measured size, not its screen size. Add clearance for the clear opening (one example used about 2 in a side; confirm yours with us), add a guide rail each side to the width, and the box plus 2 in to the height. A recessed 6.5 in box needs about 7 to 7-1/2 in of depth.
Key facts
- Roll-A-Shield supplies the shutter only (box, guide rails and curtain), usually reverse-mounted so the box hides inside the cabinet; the owner or a contractor builds the enclosure. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield staff describe the 38 mm insulated slat as the most popular TV-enclosure choice; on a curtain up to 60 in tall it rolls into the smallest box, 6.5 in. Roll-A-Shield data
- Each 38 mm guide rail takes about 2-1/8 in of width per side (2.0875 in). Roll-A-Shield data
- When the clear opening is given, the overall height is the clear opening plus the box plus a 2 in end-slat allowance. Roll-A-Shield data
- A reverse-mounted 6.5 in box typically needs about 7 to 7-1/2 in of cabinet depth to sit flush; confirm it for your opening. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Rolling shutters used to close an outdoor TV cabinet or enclosure, any make; the sizing figures are for Roll-A-Shield's 38 mm insulated slat on a motorized or manual shutter.
An outdoor TV enclosure is a cabinet with a rolling shutter as its door: the curtain comes down over the screen and the box hides in the top of the cabinet. Getting the cabinet size right before it is built is the whole job, so this page is the sizing math. On Roll-A-Shield shutters, staff describe the 38 mm insulated slat as the most popular choice, because it rolls up tight into the smallest box.
How big should the cavity be for my TV?
Work outward from the TV in order: clearance, rails, then box. Use the TV's actual width and height from its spec sheet or a tape measure, not its advertised screen size.
- Clear opening width = TV width + side clearance. Example only: on one job, a TV just over 58 in wide went into a 62-1/8 in clear opening, which left about 2 in each side. Confirm the clearance for your own TV with us before the cabinet is built.
- Clear opening height = TV height + clearance top and bottom, so there is room to get the TV in and out; on one recorded call staff suggested a couple of inches all round.
- Cavity width (rails inside the cavity) = clear opening width + two guide rails. The 38 mm rail is 2.0875 in per side, about 2-1/8 in.
- Cavity height (box inside the cavity) = clear opening height + the box + 2 in, the configurator's allowance for the end slat.
- Cavity depth = at least the box depth plus a little; for the 6.5 in box, typically about 7 to 7-1/2 in.
The same math works backwards. If the cabinet is already built, take off the box and the 2 in to find the height the TV has to fit in: on one enclosure a 34 in tall TV would not fit, because only 31-7/8 in of open height was left under the box.
Tip: The body of the TV is always larger than the screen, and a soundbar or a mount can add more. Do the math with your own TV's measured size, and confirm the clearance with us, before the cabinet is framed. Every Roll-A-Shield shutter is built to the opening you give, so there is no need to round to a stock size.
How much room does the box need above the TV?
The box size follows the height of the curtain. For the 38 mm slat:
| Curtain height up to | Box | Actual box height |
|---|---|---|
| 60 in | 6.5 in | 6.575 in |
| 70 in | 7 in | 7.204 in |
| 110 in | 8 in | 8.150 in |
| 134 in | 9 in | 9.055 in |
A typical TV enclosure with an opening around 60 in tall uses the 6.5 in box. The box sits at the top of the cavity, and the overall height of the shutter is the clear opening plus the box plus about 2 in. More on how box size grows with height is in Why do taller shutters need bigger boxes?.
How deep does the cavity need to be?
Deep enough for the box, which is about as deep as it is tall. To keep the back of the box and the whole shutter flush with a 6.5 in box, allow about 7 to 7-1/2 in of depth; the exact figure depends on the job, so confirm it for your opening.
The box is not the only thing in the cavity. The TV and its wall mount must sit behind the curtain line, so add their depth to the cabinet plan; Roll-A-Shield does not set that figure, because it depends on your TV and mount.
Should the box show, or hide inside the cabinet?
Usually it hides. A reverse-mounted shutter faces the box into the cabinet, so the front reads as one flush panel; Roll-A-Shield's measure sheet lists it as a special order commonly used for TV enclosures. It has to be ordered that way, because the slats face the other way round on a reverse mount; see What is a reverse-mount shutter?. If the box will be out of reach, ask about the Easy Access Panel, a special-order option that allows access to the box for repairs.
Roll-A-Shield supplies the shutter only: the box, guide rails and curtain. The cabinet or enclosure is built by the owner or their contractor.
Motor or manual, and where does the power go?
A TV shutter can be motorized with a remote, and some owners add a phone app; a manual version is also offered. A wired motor needs a power source within 3 ft of the shutter. The motor can go on either side; the control side is chosen on the order, so put power on the side that suits you. On one recorded call, staff suggested an outlet at the top of the cabinet, in the left or right corner. Solar and battery motors need no wiring. See Which side should the motor go on?.
Safety: Follow the motor maker's instructions: terminate in a listed junction box; do not run the motor cable through the wall. Mains wiring by a licensed electrician.
Will the shutter keep rain off the TV?
It helps, but it is not waterproof. A U-channel along the bottom has weep holes to let water out, and caulking the edges of the enclosure makes a real difference. A U-channel is fitted when the curtain has no flat surface to rest on, or for an extra seal.
What next
Send the TV's measured width and height, the cabinet's inside dimensions (or your plan for them) and where power will be. For pricing, see How much do rolling shutters cost?; for a quote, call (480) 921-0200 or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Do I measure the screen or the whole TV?
The whole TV. Use its measured width and height rather than the advertised screen size, include anything that sits inside the opening, such as a soundbar, and confirm the clearance with us before the cabinet is framed.
Do you build the TV cabinet?
No. Roll-A-Shield builds the shutter, and the owner or their contractor builds the cabinet or enclosure around it.
Can I open it with a remote?
Yes, if it is motorized: a motorized TV shutter runs from a remote, and some owners add a phone app. A manual version is also available.
Is the enclosure waterproof once the shutter is down?
No. It is not waterproof. A U-channel at the bottom has weep holes, and caulking the edges of the enclosure makes a real difference.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Replacement motors, remotes, straps, slats and hardware ship from our Tempe, Arizona factory. Phoenix-area owners can book a service visit; everywhere else, our technicians help by phone. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.