Short answer: Somfy motorizes cellular shades with its Cord Lift WireFree motors, which sit inside the headrail and wind the lift cords. The TLW25 (0.8 Nm, 30 rpm) suits most cellular, pleated, Roman and woven shades, in RTS or Zigbee. The CL32 (0.34 Nm, 72 rpm) is the faster RTS option. Both run on 12V DC battery or plug-in power.
A cellular shade has no roller tube. The fabric stacks as cords pull it up, so the motor has to turn the cord spools in the headrail. Somfy builds a separate family for that job, the Cord Lift WireFree range, and a tubular roller motor will not do it. The decisions below run in the order an installer takes them: shade type, motor, headrail fit, power, then control.
Shades a Somfy cord lift motor drives
Somfy describes the Somfy Cord Lift WireFree TLW25 RTS (External Battery) (1003294) for cellular, pleated, Roman and woven shade applications. The Somfy Cord Lift WireFree CL32 RTS (External Battery) (1002422) fits the same shades, and Somfy calls it ideal for cellular, pleated and Roman styles. Honeycomb shades are cellular shades under another name, so the same motors apply.
The three references are interior motors rated IP 20. A porch or sunroom exposed to rain needs an exterior product instead. Roller shades, zebra shades and horizontal blinds use different Somfy motors, covered in the tubular and tilt families.
TLW25 or CL32: the specs that decide it
The TLW25 is Somfy's newer dual-shaft design. It mounts in the center of the headrail and drives both lift cords, and Somfy markets it for increased lifting capacity over earlier cord lift motors. The CL32 runs faster with less torque. Somfy publishes the figures below on somfypro.com and somfysystems.com.
| Spec | TLW25 RTS (1003294) | TLW25 Zigbee (1241780) | CL32 RTS (1002422) |
| Torque / speed | 0.8 Nm (7.1 in-lb) / 30 rpm | 0.8 Nm (7.1 in-lb) / 30 rpm | 0.34 Nm (3.0 in-lb) / 72 rpm |
| Noise level | 50 dB | 46 dB | 56 dB |
| Control | RTS, 433.420 MHz, 12 channels | Zigbee 3.0, 2.450 GHz, two-way | RTS, 433.420 MHz |
| Range in open field | 656.2 ft | 492.15 ft | 65.62 ft |
| Limits | Electronic, 100 turns | Electronic, 100 turns | Electronic, 180 turns |
| Power | 12V DC external | 12V DC external (10.5 to 16.5 V) | 12V DC external |
| Consumption | 10.2 W, 0.096 W standby | 10.2 W, 0.094 W standby | 20.4 W, 0.001 W standby |
| Protection | IP 20 | IP 20 | IP 20 |
| Store price (Oct 20, 2026) | $168.53 | $176.96 | $210.95 |
Pick the TLW25 for a bedroom or living room. At 46 to 50 dB it is the quieter pair, and its 0.8 Nm gives headroom on a wide or heavy Roman shade. The CL32 earns its place on a tall cellular shade where travel time matters, and its 180-turn limit capacity covers long drops. Somfy does not publish a lift weight for either motor, so size by torque and by the shade maker's guidance for the fabric.
Fitting the motor into your headrail
Fit decides more cellular jobs than torque does. Somfy rates the TLW25 Zigbee for headrails at least 25 x 25 mm wide, with a 0.98 in minimum internal diameter, and the motor body measures 0.94 in across. Measure the inside of the headrail channel before ordering anything.
The motor has to engage the shade's lift shaft and sit securely in the rail. Somfy lists shaft adaptors and headrail adaptors for several headrail systems on its product pages, among them Turnils, HT Window, Comfortex/Turnils Global Rail, Spears shafts, 5 mm hex, 5 mm square and V-notch shafts. Some adaptors fit the CL32 only and some fit the TLV25 and TLW25 only, and the dual-shaft TLW25 adaptors are sold as two-required sets.
For Graber and Bali EasyUp cord loop headrails, the Somfy Headrail Adaptor for Graber/Bali EasyUp Cord Loop, CL32 Only (9013288) seats a CL32 into the existing rail, so the shade keeps its headrail. Other headrails need the adaptor Somfy names for that system. Read the brand and model off the headrail, then call our team at 859-414-6872 with it before you order.
Can you motorize existing cellular shades?
Often, yes. Four checks decide it. The headrail has to meet the motor's minimum size. Somfy has to make an adaptor for that headrail and its lift shaft. The shade's cords have to wind on spools driven by that shaft. And the motor's torque has to suit the shade's size and fabric. A cord loop shade such as Graber or Bali EasyUp can pass, since Somfy makes an adaptor for that rail. A headrail too shallow for the motor body is the usual stopper.
Top-down/bottom-up cellular shades have two moving rails. Somfy lists HT Window adaptors for TDBU25 headrails, so check that adaptor list against your headrail before assuming one motor runs both rails. For a wider look at retrofit work across shade types, see the guide to fitting a Somfy motor to a shade you already own.
Powering a cellular shade motor without wiring
The three cord lift motors here are External Battery references. The motor ships without its power source, so add one to the order. Somfy lists four 12V DC options for these motors:
- The Somfy Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack (9021217), which recharges in place and removes battery swaps.
- The 12V DC Reloadable Battery Tube (9018685), loaded with the 8 AA Lithium Battery Package.
- A WireFree Li-ion solar panel kit for a sunny window that is hard to reach.
- The Somfy 12V DC Plug-in Power Supply (1870940) where an outlet sits near the window and you want no charging at all.
Battery packs and tubes mount behind the valance or beside the headrail. Charger heads and cables changed across Somfy generations, so match the cable to the motor. The WireFree batteries, chargers and cables guide lists what fits each motor.
RTS or Zigbee control for cellular shades
The CL32 and the TLW25 RTS carry a built-in Somfy RTS receiver. They pair with RTS remotes, DecoFlex wall switches, timers and the TaHoma Switch hub. A one-room job pairs well with the Somfy Situo 1 Channel RTS Pure Remote (1870571), and a house of shades steps up to a multi-channel Situo or Telis.
The Somfy Cord Lift WireFree TLW25 Zigbee (External Battery) (1241780) speaks Zigbee 3.0 instead. Through the TaHoma app it reports shade position and battery level, and Somfy lets installers set limits step by step from the app. Pair it with the Somfy Ysia 1 Channel Zigbee Remote (1871153) or a DecoFlex WireFree Zigbee keypad. RTS remotes will not talk to the Zigbee motor, and Ysia remotes will not talk to the RTS ones, so pick the protocol before buying controls.
Somfy publishes separate setup guides for each motor. The TLW25 RTS fit and power guide covers that motor in more depth, and the spec library at Shade Motors Specs Direct holds the install and limit-setting documents. Browse the full range of Somfy blind, tilt and cord lift motors to compare them side by side.
Parts list for one motorized cellular shade
| Motor | TLW25 RTS, TLW25 Zigbee or CL32 |
| Headrail or shaft adaptor | The Somfy adaptor named for your headrail, or no adaptor if the rail accepts the motor as built |
| Power | Li-ion pack, battery tube with AA lithium cells, solar kit or 12V plug-in supply |
| Charger | Needed for a Li-ion pack; match the head to the pack |
| Control | RTS remote or wall switch for RTS motors; Ysia remote, Zigbee keypad or TaHoma for Zigbee |
Order the five lines together so the shade runs on day one.
FAQ
Do Somfy roller shade motors work in cellular shades?
No. A roller shade motor turns a tube that the fabric wraps around, and a cellular shade has no tube. Cellular, pleated and Roman shades lift on cords, so they take a Somfy Cord Lift motor such as the TLW25 or CL32, which sits in the headrail and turns the cord spools through the shade's lift shaft.
Is the TLW25 or the CL32 quieter?
The TLW25 is quieter. Somfy rates the TLW25 Zigbee at 46 dB and the TLW25 RTS at 50 dB, against 56 dB for the CL32. The TLW25 also runs slower, at 30 rpm against 72 rpm, which gives a calmer lift in a bedroom. The CL32 suits a tall shade where faster travel matters more than sound.
Can a Somfy cord lift motor run off a wall outlet?
Yes. Somfy lists the 12V DC Plug-in Power Supply (1870940) as a power option for its external battery cord lift motors. It suits a window with an outlet close by and removes recharging from the routine. A Li-ion battery pack, a reloadable battery tube or a solar panel kit covers windows without a nearby outlet.
Can I add a Somfy motor to Graber or Bali cellular shades?
For Graber and Bali EasyUp cord loop headrails, Somfy makes a headrail adaptor (9013288) that fits the CL32 motor. Other Graber, Bali or third-party headrails depend on the adaptor Somfy names for that system. Read the headrail model off the rail, then call 859-414-6872 to confirm the fit.
Sources: Somfy product pages on somfysystems.com and somfypro.com for Cord Lift WireFree TLW25 RTS (1003294), TLW25 Zigbee (1241780) and CL32 RTS (1002422), including their technical data and adaptor lists.
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
