CPSC Window Covering Cord Rule: What Amazon Sellers of Blinds and Shades Must Meet

The CPSC window covering cord rule is a Section 15(j) determination: blinds, shades and other window coverings that fail the applicable sections of ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 are a substantial product hazard because of the strangulation risk cords pose to young children. Stock window coverings must have operating cords that are cordless (motorized counts), 8 inches or shorter, or inaccessible; stock and custom products alike need inner cords that cannot form a hazardous loop and a permanent manufacturer label in or on the headrail or roller tube. The rule took effect December 28, 2022 for products distributed in commerce or imported on or after that date (CPSC and Federal Register, data checked 2026-10-13).

A September 24, 2026 CPSC proposal would extend the list to custom operating cords and move it to the 2022 edition of the standard. This guide lays out the criteria in the regulators’ terms so you can check a blind or shade before listing it on Amazon; it does not decide whether any specific product passes.

Sources: CPSC Window Coverings 15(j) business guidance and Window Coverings 15(j) Rule FAQs; 16 CFR 1120.2 and 1120.3 on eCFR; the Federal Register final rule 87 FR 72873 (November 28, 2022); the ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 read-only copy that CPSC links to; the D.C. Circuit’s September 12, 2023 opinion in No. 22-1300; and CPSC’s September 24, 2026 proposed rule (91 FR 60546). Data checked 2026-10-13.

What the CPSC Window Covering Cord Rule Is

Section 15(j) of the Consumer Product Safety Act lets CPSC name product characteristics that are readily observable hazards. CPSC’s business guidance says the Commission determined that window coverings not meeting the applicable sections of ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 present a substantial product hazard, and it added stock and custom window coverings to the Substantial Product Hazard List in 16 CFR part 1120 (data checked 2026-10-13).

The list entries split by product type:

• 16 CFR 1120.3(e), stock window coverings: the operating cord requirements in section 4.3.1 of the standard, the inner cord requirements in sections 4.5, 6.3, 6.7 and Appendices C and D, and the manufacturer label in section 5.3.
• 16 CFR 1120.3(f), custom window coverings: the same inner cord requirements and the same manufacturer label. Operating cords on custom products are not on this list.

The Federal Register notice (87 FR 72873, November 28, 2022) set the effective date at December 28, 2022 and applies to window coverings distributed in commerce or imported on or after that date. Part 1120 is the same list that holds the children’s drawstring rule; our drawstring guide covers that entry.

Stock vs. Custom: The Line That Decides Your Obligations

Stock and custom carry different obligations, so classify the product before anything else.

Section 1120.2(f) defines a stock window covering by reference to ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018. The standard’s definition (5.02) reads: “A specific stock keeping unit or SKU, which is completely or substantially fabricated (as defined below) in advance of being distributed in commerce” and in advance of any specific consumer request. The standard adds that the SKU stays stock whether it is sold as-is or modified or adjusted by the seller, manufacturer or distributor before or after it enters commerce.

A custom window covering is simply any window covering that does not meet the stock definition (16 CFR 1120.2(g)).

Three points matter for marketplace sellers:

1. Cutting to size does not make a product custom. eCFR’s 1120.2(f) treats later sizing, rail attachment and similar modifications as leaving a stock product stock.
2. Selling online does not make a product custom. The Federal Register notice says online sales of the product, or the size of the order, do not make it a non-stock product.
3. Made-to-order means fabricated after the customer’s order. A blind built only after a buyer specifies it falls under custom; a finished SKU sitting in an FBA warehouse is stock.

Requirements at a Glance

Data checked 2026-10-13 against CPSC’s business guidance, 16 CFR 1120.3 and the standard.

Operating Cords on Stock Products: Cordless, 8 Inches or Inaccessible

An operating cord is the cord or loop a consumer uses to raise, lower or tilt the window covering. For stock products, section 4.3.1 of the standard allows three designs, and where more than one method is used, at least one must meet the applicable requirement in section 6:

• Cordless operating system, which includes motorized systems. The product has no operating cords.
• Short static or access cord. The standard defines it as an operating cord or band “fixed in length in any state (free or under tension), to be a length equal to or less than 8 inches.”
• Inaccessible operating cords, as determined by the accessible-cord test in Appendix C. Any operating cord the cord accessibility probe can contact counts as accessible (C3.1).

That leaves no room on a stock product for a long pull cord, a free-hanging continuous loop or a bead chain a child can reach. Tie-down cleats and tension devices are not among the 4.3.1 options for stock products.

For an Amazon listing, the operating system should be stated plainly in the title, bullets or attributes: cordless, motorized, wand, or short pull. Buyers searching “cordless blinds” are already filtering on exactly this point.

Inner Cords: Appendix C Accessibility and the Appendix D Loop Test

Inner cords transfer force from the user interface to the moving parts. They run through the slats of horizontal blinds or the folds of Roman and pleated shades. Both stock and custom products must meet section 4.5, which points to the tests in Appendices C and D.

Step 1, accessibility (Appendix C). Inner cords within 12 inches of the bottom of the headrail are treated as not accessible. Below that line, a cord accessibility probe is applied with the product fully lowered:

• Open construction (cords exposed at the front, rear, bottom or sides, typical of Roman, horizontal and pleated products): cords are accessible if the probe touches them before reaching its 2-inch (51 mm) diameter section, or if that section fits into an opening.
• Closed construction (cords enclosed in segmented layers, typical of cellular shades): the same test uses the 4-inch (102 mm) section.

Step 2, hazardous loop (Appendix D). Accessible inner cords are then pulled out with a hook fixture over about 5 seconds until the gauge reads 5 lb (22.2 N) or the arm travels 25 inches, whichever comes first. A head probe is then pushed through the opening with up to 10 lb (44.5 N) of force. If it passes, the loop is a “Hazardous Loop” and the product is non-compliant (D2.4, D2.5).

The standard’s rationale appendix says the 5 lb pull comes from ASTM F963 section 4.14.1 and the 10 lb insertion force from ASTM F963 section 8.22. Cord shrouds and inner cord stop devices or connectors, where a design uses them, carry their own requirements in sections 6.3 and 6.7.

The Permanent Headrail Label

Section 5.3 requires a permanent label or marking on every finished window covering, located within or on the headrail or on the roller tube. It must show:

1. The readily distinguishable name, city and state of the manufacturer, importer of record or fabricator.
2. The month and year of manufacture.
3. A “Custom” or “Stock” designation (CPSC’s guidance also accepts “C” or “S”).
4. For custom products, customer order information such as the customer name or order number.

The standard defines “permanent” as a marking that cannot be removed, or that tears or damages the surface when someone tries to remove it by hand without tools or solvents. A hang tag or a sticker on the box does not meet that definition.

Custom Operating Cords: The Vacated 16 CFR 1260 and the 2026 Proposal

CPSC adopted a second rule the same day: a mandatory standard for operating cords on custom window coverings (87 FR 73189, codified as 16 CFR part 1260). On September 12, 2023, the D.C. Circuit, in Window Covering Manufacturers Association v. CPSC (No. 22-1300), found the Commission breached notice-and-comment requirements, relied on certain data in error and picked an arbitrary effective date: “we grant the WCMA’s petition for review and vacate the rule.” eCFR still displays part 1260 as of 2026-10-13, with no removal in its version history.

CPSC has since taken a second route through the 15(j) list. On September 24, 2026 it published a proposed rule, “Substantial Product Hazard List: Amendments to Requirements for Window Covering Cords” (91 FR 60546, docket CPSC-2026-0463), with comments due November 23, 2026. The proposal would:

• Move every reference from ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 to the 2022 edition.
• Add, for custom products, operating cords that must be cordless, short or inaccessible (sections 4.4.2.1 to 4.4.2.3); no continuous loops on horizontal blinds, with or without a tension device; continuous loop limits on other custom blinds and shades; single retractable cord lift limits (the notice describes a 36-inch maximum stroke); and warning label and tag requirements for those two systems.
• Add, for stock and custom roll up style shades, a cordless requirement in place of cord loop lifts.

It would take effect 30 days after a final rule is published. Until then it is a proposal, and custom operating cords stay outside the federal list (data checked 2026-10-13).

Testing, Certification and Consequences

Certification. The Federal Register notice states that the 15(j) rule “does not trigger the testing or certification requirements under section 14(a) of the CPSA,” and CPSC’s FAQ says the same. Unlike magnets or children’s products, there is no CPC or GCC requirement that flows from this rule alone. Our Children’s Product Certificate guide covers the cases where a CPC does apply.

That does not make testing optional in practice. Compliance is defined by the Appendix C and D tests and the label check, so test reports against ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 are the evidence you would show a retailer or CPSC.

Consequences. CPSC’s FAQ and the Federal Register notice list what follows when a window covering does not comply:

• It is subject to the mandatory reporting requirements of Section 15(b); see our Section 15(b) reporting guide.
• The Commission can order corrective action under Sections 15(c) and (d), including repair, replacement or refund; see our guide to Amazon product recalls for how recalls reach listings.
• Imports that do not comply are to be refused admission under Section 17(a), and CBP may seize them.

The documents name no exemption for commercial or hospitality buyers.

What This Means for an Amazon Listing

The rule attaches to the product, not the sales channel. If you import finished blinds yourself, you may be the importer of record the label names. If Amazon asks for compliance documents on a window covering ASIN, our Manage Your Compliance guide explains how uploads and appeals work.

Common Mistakes

• Calling a pre-made SKU “custom” because it is cut to width before shipping.
• Assuming a cord cleat or tension device fixes a long pull cord on a stock product.
• Testing operating cords but skipping the inner cord loop test on Roman or pleated shades.
• Putting the manufacturer label on packaging instead of the headrail or roller tube.
• Treating the vacated 16 CFR 1260 as in force, or ignoring the 2026 proposal when sourcing custom designs.

Pre-Listing Checklist

1. Classify each SKU as stock or custom using the 5.02 definition.
2. For stock: confirm the operating system is cordless, motorized, an 8-inch-or-shorter cord, or inaccessible per Appendix C.
3. Run the Appendix C accessibility and Appendix D hazardous loop tests on inner cords.
4. Check shrouds and cord stops against sections 6.3 and 6.7 if the design uses them.
5. Verify the permanent label: name, city and state; month and year; Stock or Custom; order details for custom.
6. Keep the test report on file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are corded blinds banned on Amazon?

Not by name. Stock window coverings with operating cords that are long and accessible fail 16 CFR 1120.3(e). A corded design can comply if the cord is 8 inches or shorter or inaccessible per Appendix C.

Do custom window coverings have to be cordless?

Not under current rules. The 15(j) entry for custom products covers inner cords and the label, and the custom operating cord rule, 16 CFR 1260, was vacated on September 12, 2023. CPSC’s September 24, 2026 proposal would add custom operating cord requirements if finalized.

Does the window covering rule require a CPC or GCC?

No. The Federal Register notice says the 15(j) rule does not trigger Section 14(a) testing or certification. Compliance is still judged by the ANSI/WCMA tests.

When did the rule take effect?

December 28, 2022, for window coverings distributed in commerce or imported on or after that date (87 FR 72873).

Conclusion

The rule turns on one classification and three checks. Decide whether the SKU is stock or custom, make stock operating cords cordless, short or inaccessible, prove inner cords cannot form a hazardous loop, and put a permanent label in the headrail.