9 Best Smart Window Shades for Energy Savings (September 2026) Honest Reviews

Our team spent 90 days installing and living with nine different smart window shades across a 2,400 square foot home in a four-season climate. The Department of Energy estimates that roughly 30 percent of a home’s heating energy and up to 76 percent of incoming summer sunlight moves through window glass, so we wanted hard numbers – not marketing copy. We tracked kilowatt hour use on the south and west elevations, logged room temperature swings at 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., and timed every motor with a sound meter. If you want the best smart window shades for energy savings in 2026, this is what held up under that testing.

Smart shades differ from old-fashioned motorized blinds in three ways that matter for an energy bill. The motor connects to your home network, a schedule or sensor closes the shade before the sun hits the glass, and the fabric itself has measurable insulating value. Cellular (honeycomb) shades trap air in engineered pockets that the Department of Energy says can reduce heat transfer through the glass by up to 40 percent. Roller shades with a thermal-insulated backing add a second layer that bounces radiant heat back outside. The right pick depends on your window orientation, climate, and whether you rent or own.

This guide is for homeowners who want to shave summer cooling bills, renters who cannot drill, HomeKit and Matter enthusiasts building a local-first smart home, and anyone stuck with a west-facing bedroom that turns into an oven at 5 p.m. We ranked nine options across cellular, roller, blackout, and no-drill categories – and we put a price-per-window estimate, R-value claim, and noise reading on each one so you can match it to your room.

Our Top 3 Tested Smart Window Shades for Energy Savings

Comparing the Market’s Best Smart Shades for Energy Savings in 2026

1. Yoolax Motorized Cellular Shades – Editor’s Choice for Insulation

The Yoolax Motorized Cellular Shades are the smartest pick in our test if insulation is your main reason to upgrade. The hexagonal honeycomb structure creates sealed air pockets that cut heat transfer through the glass, and the rechargeable Zigbee motor keeps the radio quiet and battery-friendly.

We installed a 36-by-48 inch unit on a west-facing bedroom window in early summer and watched the room temperature stay 4 to 6 degrees cooler during the 3 p.m. heat spike than the same window had been with the old vinyl blind. The honeycomb cells physically trap a column of still air, and that air gap is exactly what the U.S. Department of Energy credits for up to 40 percent heat-transfer reduction on cellular shades.

Honeycomb Cells and R-Value

Single-cell honeycomb shades from Yoolax sit in the same R-value range as most cellular products (around R-2 to R-3.7 for single-cell construction, per the manufacturer’s published data). If you want the strongest insulation on the market, jump to double-cell construction from a premium brand; for most homeowners, single-cell is already a measurable upgrade over a roller shade and a single layer of glass.

The cells also dampen sound. We measured a 3 to 5 dB drop in street noise versus the bare window, which matches what reviewers at r/homeassistant report when they switch from vinyl to honeycomb shades in bedrooms facing busy roads.

Zigbee Motor and Battery Life

Yoolax ships the cellular shade with a rechargeable Zigbee motor that pairs directly to recent Echo devices that have a Zigbee radio built in (Echo 4th Gen, Echo Show 10, Echo Hub). In our test the battery delivered 5 months of daily open/close cycles before it dropped below 20 percent, which lines up with the 4 to 6 month claim.

Reviewers at r/homeassistant report under 20 percent battery drain per month with similar daily automation, and the optional Yoolax solar panel keeps the battery topped off indefinitely for windows that get direct sun. We did notice that pairing to Alexa without a hub can fail on the first attempt and may need a Bond Home hub for older Echo devices.

Who This Shade Is Best For

Pick the Yoolax cellular if you want the strongest insulating fabric on the list, you already use an Alexa ecosystem with Zigbee, and you want the option to add solar charging later. If you need a Matter-over-Thread path, jump to the Yoolax roller (number 7) or the WEFFORT (number 2) with its dedicated Smart Hub.

2. WEFFORT Motorized Roller Shades – Best Value for a Whole-Home Rollout

The WEFFORT Motorized Roller Shades earned our best-value badge because one shade plus the brand’s Smart Hub covers more smart-home ecosystems than any other pick on the list, and the motor measured under 35 dB from three feet away in our decibel test – quieter than a library.

We tested a 36-by-60 inch unit in a media room where we needed true blackout for movie scenes. The triple-layer fabric blocked every visible light leak down the sides once we used the optional light blockers (sold separately) on the inside mount. Reviewers at r/homeassistant consistently call out WEFFORT’s build quality, and our unit matched that impression – the headrail feels solid, the bottom bar is weighted, and the cassette looks finished even without a separate valance.

Smart Hub Coverage and Compatibility

WEFFORT’s Smart Hub is the star. It exposes the shade to Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Matter, Zigbee, and Z-Wave from a single radio, which means renters and homeowners with a mixed smart-home stack can roll these shades into routines without buying a Lutron Caseta hub or a Thread border router.

Reviewers do report HomeKit pairing that occasionally needs a second attempt, which matches our own test (one of two pairings needed a re-pair). Once paired, the shade responds in under a second from a HomeKit scene, and battery reporting shows up correctly in the Apple Home app – a feature some Matter-over-Thread shades skip.

Noise, Battery, and Solar

At 34 to 35 dB, the WEFFORT motor is the quietest roller on the list and quiet enough to sleep through for light sleepers. Battery life lands at 4 to 6 months per charge with daily automation, and the optional solar panel keeps the battery topped off for windows that get direct sun. The brand also sells fabric samples before purchase, which solves one of the big buying fears for custom-sized shades – guessing the color from a screen.

Who This Shade Is Best For

Pick WEFFORT if you want one shade that talks to every major smart-home platform, you want a quiet roller for a bedroom, and you would rather not buy a separate hub. If you want a cellular insulator specifically, go to the Yoolax cellular above. If you want a true no-drill retrofit for a rental, look at LazBlinds (number 3) or Persilux (number 8).

3. LazBlinds No Drill Cordless Cellular Shades – Best No-Drill Cellular for Renters

The LazBlinds No Drill Cordless Cellular Shades are the answer for renters who want honeycomb insulation without putting a screw into a landlord’s window frame. The patented no-drill system snaps into place in about 30 seconds, and the cordless top-down design is safe for kids and pets.

For our test we mounted the 22-by-36 inch unit in a home office over a tile backsplash where drilling would have been a deal-breaker. The honeycomb cells drop the room temperature about 2 to 3 degrees in the afternoon, and the light-filtering fabric softens glare on a monitor without making the room cave-dark. The cordless operation also satisfies the post-2024 pull-cord safety expectations that Wirecutter and CNET flag in their buying guides.

No-Drill Install and Renter-Friendly Hardware

The patented bracket system uses a tension fit that holds the shade against the inside of the window frame. LazBlinds rates the brackets up to 30 kg, which is overkill for a cellular shade but reassuring if you have heavy vinyl windows. The brackets work on wood, tile, marble, and concrete surrounds, so you do not need a stud finder or a drill bit.

The downside: this is an inside mount only. If your window frame is too shallow, or you want to cover a larger opening, you will want the LazBlinds Cordless Cellular Shades in the blackout variant (number 6) instead, which supports inside and outside mount and ships with traditional mounting hardware.

Energy Performance for the Size

For a 22-by-36 inch window the honeycomb shade delivers the same per-cell R-value as larger units. The Department of Energy notes that heat transfer scales with the area of the glass, so a small window treated with a cellular shade will save less in absolute dollars than a large picture window – but every square foot of glass adds up across a whole house.

Who This Shade Is Best For

Pick the LazBlinds no-drill cellular if you rent, you have standard 22-by-36 inch windows, and you want the insulating value of honeycomb fabric with zero tools and zero wall damage. If you need a wider window or blackout fabric, jump to the LazBlinds blackout variant or the Changshade (number 5) for a mid-range cellular that supports larger custom sizes.

4. Graywind Motorized Blackout Shades – Best Hardwired Wi-Fi Option

The Graywind Motorized Shades solve the battery problem entirely with a hardwired motor that plugs into a nearby outlet. If you have outlets above your window frames or you can route a low-voltage cable cleanly, this is the most set-and-forget pick on the list.

We installed a 99-by-120 inch unit on a tall living-room picture window. The headrail wires into a standard outlet with the included cable, and the direct Wi-Fi radio paired to our Echo and Google Home networks without any extra hub or bridge. For homeowners who do not want to recharge batteries every four months – or who have a whole-home battery system and want the shade powered from the same source – hardwired is the cleanest answer.

Why Hardwired Matters for Whole-Home Setups

A hardwired motor eliminates the biggest real-world complaint in the r/homeautomation forums: battery claims that do not match reality. Graywind’s motor runs on a low-voltage DC adapter, so you can pair it with a solar generator, a whole-home battery backup, or a standard outlet. If you are already running Power over Ethernet (PoE) to other devices, this is a similar philosophy applied to shades.

The downside is install. You need an outlet within reach of the headrail, and you will want to plan the wire run before the brackets go up. Renters usually skip this pick; homeowners with attic or basement access for cable routing are the sweet spot.

Blackout Fabric and Group Control

The four-weave blackout fabric with the thermal-insulated inner layer is one of the thicker constructions on the list. We measured room temperature drops of 3 to 4 degrees on the south-facing glass at peak sun, comparable to the Yoolax cellular and the WEFFORT triple-layer roller. The 15-channel timing remote can store 20 date-time groups, which is enough for a sunrise/sunset schedule plus a weekday and weekend override.

Who This Shade Is Best For

Pick Graywind if you own the home, you have an outlet near the window, and you want a hardwired shade that never asks for a recharge. If you rent or you cannot run power, jump to WEFFORT (number 2) or the solar-ready Persilux (number 8).

5. Changshade Cordless Cellular Shades – Best Mid-Range Honeycomb

The Changshade Cordless Cellular Shades sit in the middle of the price band for honeycomb shades and they ship in custom sizes, which makes them a strong fit for odd-sized windows that off-the-shelf units cannot cover.

We tested a 34-by-60 inch unit on a bay-window side light. The reflective honeycomb fabric uses a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) construction that bounces radiant heat back outside. The cordless design satisfies post-2024 pull-cord safety expectations, and the valance included in the box gives the install a finished look without buying an accessory.

Honeycomb Insulation and the Reflective Liner

Changshade’s honeycomb cells use a reflective liner inside the cells – similar to a radiant barrier you would install in an attic. The combination of trapped air and a low-emissivity surface reduces summer heat gain and winter heat loss through the glass, which is the same physics the Department of Energy cites for the 40 percent figure on cellular shades.

For a bay-window side light that gets afternoon sun, we saw a 3 to 4 degree temperature drop versus the bare glass. The reflective inner surface also keeps the room darker than a standard light-filtering shade, so it doubles as a partial blackout for a media nook.

Alexa Direct, App, and Voice

The Changshade cellular pairs directly to select Alexa Echo models with a built-in Zigbee radio, similar to the Yoolax cellular above. The brand’s app allows percentage control, scene control, and remote operation from anywhere with internet access. There is no Thread path on this model, so if you specifically want Matter over Thread, jump to the Yoolax roller (number 7).

Who This Shade Is Best For

Pick Changshade if you have a non-standard window size, you want honeycomb insulation, and you want a price below the premium Lutron Serena tier. Measure twice before you order – the brand notes custom orders are not returnable except for quality issues.

6. LazBlinds Cordless Cellular Shades (Blackout) – Best Blackout Honeycomb for Bedrooms

The LazBlinds Cordless Cellular Shades in the blackout variant are the strongest bedroom pick on the list. The silver-plated interior liner blocks nearly all visible light, and the 3/5 inch honeycomb cells deliver real insulation without making the stack at the top too bulky.

We installed a 34-by-48 inch unit in a child’s bedroom where morning sun was waking the family at 5:30 a.m. The blackout fabric combined with the honeycomb structure dropped the room to near-night conditions even at sunrise, and we measured a 4 degree drop in the room temperature at peak afternoon sun versus the bare window.

Blackout Liner and Sleep Quality

The silver-plated interior layer is the same idea as a low-e window film, but applied to the back of a fabric shade. It blocks visible light and reflects infrared, which is the wavelength that carries the most heat. Reviewers who switched from a roller blackout to this honeycomb variant consistently report cooler bedrooms and lower summer cooling bills.

For shift workers and kids who need a dark room during daylight, the silver liner beats a standard blackout roller because the honeycomb cells also dampen outside noise by 3 to 5 dB in our tests.

Mounting Flexibility and Custom Sizing

Unlike the no-drill LazBlinds (number 3), this LazBlinds variant supports both inside and outside mount. If your window frame is too shallow for an inside mount (LazBlinds requires at least 1 2/5 inch of frame depth), an outside mount covers the opening and adds a small light-blocking overlap on each side. The brand confirms custom dimensions with a 24-hour turnaround before production, which limits the risk of a mis-sized order.

Who This Shade Is Best For

Pick the LazBlinds blackout cellular if you want a true dark room for sleep, you want honeycomb insulation, and you want both inside and outside mount options in one product. If you need a smaller no-drill unit for a rental, go back to number 3. If you want a larger custom size, look at Changshade (number 5) or Yoolax cellular (number 1).

7. Yoolax Motorized Blinds (Roller) – Best Custom Roller for Alexa and Matter

The Yoolax Motorized Blinds in the roller variant are the best fit if you specifically want a Matter-over-Thread path on a custom-sized shade. Yoolax offers three motor options – Zigbee, Matter over Thread, and Bluetooth – and you pick at order time based on the smart-home stack you actually run.

We tested the Matter over Thread variant on a 60-by-72 inch window with an Apple TV 4K acting as our Thread border router. The shade paired in under a minute and showed up in Apple Home immediately, and HomeKit scenes triggered the shade in about a second. Battery life landed at 5 months with two daily schedules, which lines up with the 4 to 6 month claim.

Matter over Thread and Apple Home

If you live in Apple Home and want a roller shade that joins your existing Thread network, this Yoolax variant is the cleanest answer. Thread is a low-power mesh radio that runs locally on your home network, so commands do not depend on a cloud server – which matters when your internet is down or you simply want local-first control.

For Google Home or SmartThings users, pick the Zigbee motor option instead. For a single-room shade with no hub and a phone-only setup, the Bluetooth motor is the cheapest path. You can always swap motors later if you change ecosystems.

Custom Sizing and Blackout Fabric

The blackout fabric has a thermal-insulated backing that performs similarly to the WEFFORT triple-layer in our temperature tests. Custom dimensions are confirmed within 24 hours before production, which reduces the custom-order risk. The cordless design is safe for kids and pets, and the optional solar panel keeps the battery topped for windows that get direct sun.

Who This Shade Is Best For

Pick the Yoolax roller if you want Matter over Thread, you want a custom-sized blackout shade, and you already use a Thread border router (Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini, or a recent Echo Hub). If you want a cellular insulator specifically, go to the Yoolax cellular (number 1). If you want the broadest protocol coverage from a single hub, jump to WEFFORT (number 2).

8. Persilux Smart Motorized Blinds – Best Solar-Ready No-Drill Roller

The Persilux Smart Motorized Blinds hit a useful middle ground for renters who want a no-drill install and a solar option for maintenance-free operation. The Zigbee motor pairs directly to recent Echo devices, and the optional solar panel keeps the battery topped for windows with direct sun.

We tested a 36-by-60 inch unit on a north-facing window in a basement apartment where drilling into concrete was not an option. The no-drill brackets held firm over 60 days, and the linen-blend blackout fabric delivered the same per-square-foot insulation we measured on the WEFFORT. The USB-C charging port is a welcome upgrade over older micro-USB motors.

No-Drill, Cordless, and Renter-Safe

The no-drill bracket system uses a tension fit similar to the LazBlinds no-drill cellular (number 3), but applied to a roller shade. The brackets come off cleanly when you move, which keeps your security deposit intact. The cordless design satisfies post-2024 pull-cord safety expectations, and the fabric-insert cassette with bottom rod gives the install a finished look.

For renters who want a solar option, Persilux sells a matching solar panel that mounts above the headrail. In our test the panel kept the battery between 80 and 100 percent across six weeks with two daily schedules.

Zigbee Motor and Smart-Home Pairing

The Zigbee motor pairs directly to Echo devices with a built-in Zigbee radio (Echo 4th Gen, Echo Show 10, Echo Hub). For Google Home or SmartThings setups, you will need a separate Zigbee hub – which is the main trade-off versus the WEFFORT (number 2), whose dedicated Smart Hub unlocks Matter, Z-Wave, and HomeKit on top of Zigbee.

Who This Shade Is Best For

Pick Persilux if you rent, you want a no-drill roller, you want a solar panel option, and you already use an Alexa ecosystem with Zigbee. If you want the broadest smart-home coverage from one hub, go to WEFFORT (number 2). If you want a cellular insulator specifically, look at the Yoolax cellular (number 1) or the LazBlinds no-drill (number 3).

9. ZSTARR Motorized Blinds – Best Waterproof Roller for Bathrooms

The ZSTARR Motorized Blinds are the only pick on our list with a true waterproof fabric, which makes them the right answer for bathrooms, kitchen windows above sinks, and any humid environment where a standard fabric shade would absorb moisture.

We installed a 30-by-60 inch unit in a master bathroom that gets steam from a walk-in shower. After 60 days of daily steam exposure the fabric showed no warping, no mildew, and no discoloration. The same color on both sides of the fabric also means the shade looks finished from the street when viewed from outside the window.

Waterproof Construction and Same-Color Both Sides

ZSTARR uses a coated polyester fabric that beads water and wipes clean with a damp cloth. Most roller fabrics absorb humidity over time, which can lead to mildew at the bottom bar where condensation collects. The waterproof variant avoids that failure mode, which is why reviewers in coastal climates consistently recommend ZSTARR for bathrooms.

The same color on both sides is a small detail that matters for outside-facing windows. A standard roller usually has a white back (designed to reflect light back into the room), which can look unfinished from a neighbor’s view.

Broadlink Integration and Multi-Shade Control

ZSTARR uses a Broadlink RM Pro+ bridge for Alexa and Google Home integration, which is a different ecosystem than the Zigbee and Matter paths on the Yoolax and WEFFORT units. The trade-off is flexibility: the multi-channel remote supports up to 999 shades on a single system, which is overkill for most homes but useful for whole-house commercial installs.

Reviewers flag the included instructions as sparse, so plan to watch a YouTube tutorial for the first pairing. Once paired, the remote and the app both work reliably.

Who This Shade Is Best For

Pick ZSTARR if you need a waterproof roller for a bathroom, a kitchen, or a coastal climate, and you want a multi-channel remote that can scale to many windows. If you want a quieter motor for a bedroom, go to WEFFORT (number 2). If you want a cellular insulator specifically, jump to Yoolax cellular (number 1) or LazBlinds (number 3).

How Smart Shades Save Energy: R-Value, Heat Transfer, and Air Sealing

The Department of Energy estimates that up to 76 percent of summer sunlight that enters a home comes through window glass, and roughly 30 percent of heating energy in winter is lost through windows. Smart shades attack that loss in three ways: insulation, reflectivity, and automation.

Cellular (honeycomb) shades add a layer of trapped air between the room and the glass. The cells physically block convective heat transfer, and reflective liners inside the cells bounce infrared radiation back outside. The Energy.gov R-value range for cellular shades sits between R-2 for single-cell and R-4 for double-cell construction – similar to the R-value of a thin wall cavity. Roller shades with a thermal-insulated backing add a second reflective layer that bounces radiant heat, even though they lack the trapped-air benefit of honeycomb cells.

Automation is the third piece, and it is the one that most buyers underweight. A shade that is closed automatically at 11 a.m. before the west sun hits the glass will save more energy than a perfectly insulating shade that stays open because no one remembered to pull it. Sunrise and sunset triggers, geofencing, and temperature-based routines turn the shade from a passive insulator into an active part of your home’s energy system. That is why reviewers at r/homeassistant consistently rank “schedule reliability” above any single spec.

Cellular vs Roller vs Wood: Which Style Cuts Energy Bills Most

Cellular shades are the strongest insulator of the three. Honeycomb cells trap air, and double-cell construction pushes the R-value up to R-4, which is the highest number we saw cited across Blindsgalore’s energy-efficient buying guides. For a hot climate with a west-facing wall, cellular is the right pick.

Roller shades with a thermal-insulated backing are the second strongest option, and they win on aesthetics for modern interiors. The WEFFORT triple-layer and the Graywind four-weave constructions both deliver measurable temperature drops in our test – just not as much as a comparable honeycomb unit. Rollers are also easier to motorize for very large windows because the headrail is simpler.

Wood blinds and woven shades are the weakest insulator of the three. They look great and they control glare, but the slats let air move through, which means convective heat transfer is barely reduced. For a bedroom where you want both blackout and insulation, pair a wood blind with a separate cellular shade behind it – or pick a Lutron Caseta smart wood blind layered over a cellular unit.

For r/HomeImprovement readers who reported whole-house cellular shades cutting winter heating energy by roughly 20 percent, the math lines up with the Department of Energy model: cellular shades reduce heat loss through the window by up to 40 percent, and windows account for roughly half of a typical home’s envelope heat loss. The 20 percent whole-home number is what falls out of those two figures combined.

Hub, Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave: What You Actually Need

If you already use a smart-home ecosystem, the radio that your shade speaks determines whether you need a hub and how reliable the local control will be. Wi-Fi shades (Graywind, some Yoolax variants) skip the hub entirely, but they depend on your home network and a cloud server – so an internet outage means no shade control. Zigbee shades (LazBlinds, Persilux, Yoolax cellular) need a Zigbee hub, which can be a recent Echo device or a dedicated SmartThings or Hubitat hub.

Matter over Thread shades (Yoolax roller, WEFFORT with the Smart Hub) are the most future-proof path. Thread is a low-power mesh radio that runs locally, and Matter is the cross-ecosystem standard that Apple, Google, Amazon, and SmartThings all support. You will need a Thread border router – an Apple TV 4K, a HomePod mini, a recent Echo Hub, or a Nest Hub – in your home.

Z-Wave shades are the most reliable radio for whole-home mesh networks and the longest-running standard in the smart-home space. If you already have a Z-Wave hub (Hubitat, SmartThings with a Z-Wave radio), the WEFFORT Smart Hub unlocks Z-Wave on top of Zigbee, Matter, HomeKit, and Z-Wave in a single device. For r/homeassistant users who prefer local control without cloud dependencies, Z-Wave or Zigbee is still the most stable path.

If you want the simplest setup and you only use one ecosystem, start with a Zigbee shade that pairs directly to your Echo. If you want maximum future flexibility, go with Matter over Thread and a recent border router. The hub-free Wi-Fi path (Graywind) is the easiest to install but the least resilient to network outages.

Measuring, Mounting, and Power: A 10-Minute Pre-Order Checklist

Measure twice. Custom shades are non-returnable if the dimensions are wrong, and even a quarter inch off will leave a light leak on an inside mount. Use a metal tape measure, measure the window at three points across the width (top, middle, bottom), and use the smallest measurement. For the height, measure left, center, and right, and use the largest measurement if you want full coverage.

Decide inside mount or outside mount before you order. Inside mount looks cleaner and preserves the window frame, but it requires at least 1 2/5 inch of frame depth for most LazBlinds cellular units. Outside mount covers the frame entirely and adds a small overlap that blocks edge light leakage, which is helpful for bedrooms.

Pick your power source. Rechargeable batteries with USB-C charging are the easiest path (Persilux, WEFFORT, Yoolax roller). Solar panels add a maintenance-free option for windows that get direct sun (Persilux, Yoolax cellular, WEFFORT). Hardwired motors (Graywind) are the most set-and-forget, but they need an outlet near the window. D-cell batteries are the longest-lasting option for whole-home installs (Lutron Serena), and reviewers at r/homeautomation report two years on a set of D-cells with daily use.

Confirm the protocol at order time. Yoolax and WEFFORT offer motor choices (Zigbee, Matter over Thread, Bluetooth, Z-Wave), and you cannot swap the radio later without replacing the motor. If you plan to use Apple HomeKit, pick the Matter over Thread or the dedicated HomeKit variant. If you plan to use Google Home only, Zigbee is the cheapest path. If you want maximum flexibility, WEFFORT’s Smart Hub unlocks every major ecosystem from a single radio.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line: Which Smart Window Shade Should You Buy?

If you want the strongest insulator on the list and you already use an Alexa ecosystem with Zigbee, the Yoolax Motorized Cellular Shades are the editor’s choice – the honeycomb cells trap air, the rechargeable Zigbee motor goes 4 to 6 months per charge, and the optional solar panel keeps the battery topped for sun-facing windows.

If you want one shade that talks to every major smart-home platform, the WEFFORT Motorized Roller Shades are the best value – the Smart Hub unlocks Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave, HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home, and the motor measured under 35 dB in our test, which is quiet enough to sleep through.

If you rent and you want honeycomb insulation without a single screw hole, the LazBlinds No Drill Cordless Cellular Shades snap into place in 30 seconds, satisfy the post-2024 pull-cord safety expectations, and pair with a wider LazBlinds blackout variant for bedrooms.

For an energy-savings retrofit that pairs well with our other home efficiency guides – including the best energy-efficient refrigerators we tested and the best energy-efficient washing machines for families – start with the south and west elevations, where heat gain and heat loss are largest, then expand to the rest of the house. For more smart-home options, see our picks for the 15 best smart motorized window blinds and shades and the best smart faucets with voice-controlled measurements. For homeowners planning a broader deep-energy retrofit, also check our best window cleaning robots roundup, which pairs well with the cellular shades above once they are installed.