Short answer: The Somfy tilt motor for a 2 inch horizontal blind is the Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft. It slides onto the blind's existing tilt rod, turns the slats at 1 Nm and 10 rpm, and runs on 12V from an external battery or a plug-in supply. Choose the RTS version (1240276) for Somfy remotes or the Zigbee version (1241783) for a TaHoma Switch home.
A horizontal blind does two jobs. It lifts on cords, and it tilts on a rod that runs the length of the headrail. Somfy's Tilt 50 motorizes the second job, the one most people use daily. The slats swing open for morning light and close for privacy at night, from a remote or a schedule.
Four choices decide the order: the radio, the shaft adaptor, the headrail adaptor and the power source. The sections below take them one at a time.
Somfy tilt motor options for horizontal blinds
Somfy builds the Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft in two radio versions. Both share the same body, torque and speed, and both fit the same adaptors. The radio is the difference, and it decides which remotes and hubs control the blind.
| Spec | Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft RTS (1240276) | Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft Zigbee (1241783) |
|---|---|---|
| Torque and speed | 1 Nm (8.85 in-lb), 10 rpm | 1 Nm (8.85 in-lb), 10 rpm |
| Power | 12V DC external, 0.45 A, 5.4 W | 12V DC external, 0.45 A, 5.4 W |
| Radio | RTS, 433.420 MHz, 656.2 ft open field | Zigbee 3.0, 2.450 GHz, 492.15 ft open field |
| Sound level | 56 dB | 49 dB |
| Limits | Electronic | Electronic |
| Body | 4.06 x 1.93 x 1.22 in, 0.66 lb | 4.06 x 1.93 x 1.22 in, 0.66 lb |
| Rating | IP 20, Class III, interior blinds | IP 20, Class III, interior blinds |
| Operating temperature | 32 to 140 F | 32 to 140 F |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Store price | $138.95 | $143.55 |
Prices are our live store prices on October 11, 2026. The Somfy Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft RTS (1240276) pairs with Somfy RTS remotes and wall switches. The Somfy Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft Zigbee (1241783) joins a Zigbee 3.0 network and runs quieter at 49 dB, a figure worth weighing in a bedroom.
Blinds the Tilt 50 fits
Somfy designed the Tilt 50 for tilting 2 inch horizontal blinds and lists wood, faux wood, composite and metal slats. It mounts inside the headrail on the tilt rod the blind already has, so the installer skips cutting a new shaft or replacing the tilter mechanism.
The motor tilts. It does not raise or lower the blind, and the lift cords keep working by hand. A blind on a window you raise twice a year and tilt twice a day is the ideal candidate.
IP 20 and Class III mark both versions as interior motors. A covered porch or an unheated sunroom counts as outside. Vertical blinds and slat widths other than 2 inches fall outside the application Somfy publishes for this motor.
Match the shaft adaptor to your tilt rod
The through-shaft couples to the tilt rod with a color-coded adaptor, and the adaptor is the part that makes or breaks the fit. Pull the headrail end cap, measure the rod across the flats with a caliper, and note the profile. Somfy lists seven shaft adaptors for both Tilt 50 motors:
| Rod profile and size | Somfy reference |
|---|---|
| 4 mm square (orange) | 9027060 |
| 4 mm D-shape (green) | 9027062 |
| 5 mm hexagonal (cream) | 9025930 |
| 5.5 mm hexagonal | 9025929 |
| 6 mm hexagonal (black) | 9025928 |
| 6 mm square (grey) | 9025931 |
| 6.4 mm square (black) | 9025932 |
A 6 mm hex rod and a 6 mm square rod take different adaptors, so the profile matters as much as the size. The Somfy Tilt 50 6mm Hexagonal Through-Shaft Adaptor (9025928) covers a common hex rod. Each adaptor sells for a few dollars, and installers who service mixed blinds keep a full set on the truck.
Pick the headrail adaptor
The headrail adaptor holds the motor square inside the rail so the shaft lines up with the rod. Somfy publishes three for the through-shaft Tilt 50, each matched to a headrail profile. Measure the inside of the headrail, width by height, and compare:
- The Somfy Low Profile Headrail Adaptor for Through-Shaft (9025743), sized 38 x 57 mm.
- The Gutter Headrail Adaptor for Through-Shaft (9025742), sized 51 x 57 mm.
A Decora Sun headrail takes its own part, the Headrail Adaptor for Decora Sun Headrail (9025739). Somfy lists both Tilt 50 motors as compatible with each adaptor. The adaptor follows the blind, so two blinds in the same room from different makers may need different adaptors.
Power: battery pack, plug-in supply, battery tube or solar
Nothing powers the Tilt 50 from inside its body. Somfy calls it an external battery motor, so you order the power source with it.
The Somfy Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack (9021217) mounts on or behind the headrail and recharges in place with Somfy's Lithium-ion Charger (V2 Head), 9025166. A window near an outlet takes the Somfy 12V DC Plug-in Power Supply (1870940), which removes charging from the list for good.
Somfy lists two more sources for the same motors. The 12V DC Reloadable Battery Tube (9018685) runs on 8 AA lithium cells. Somfy does not approve alkaline or rechargeable AA cells for the tube. The WireFree Li-ion Solar Panel Kit suits a sunny window high enough that a charger means a ladder.
Remotes and hubs for precise slat angles
A tilt motor rewards a remote with a scroll wheel. Somfy builds Variation remotes for this job. The wheel nudges the slats in small steps, so you dial in the angle that cuts glare and keeps the view.
For the RTS motor, the Somfy Situo 5 Variation RTS Pure II remote (1811612) runs five blinds or five groups, reaches 492.15 ft in open field and runs on one CR2430 cell. Somfy names it as the remote for precise tilt on the Tilt 50 RTS.
For the Zigbee motor, the Somfy Ysia 5 Variation Zigbee remote (1871281) carries the same scroll wheel, reaches 164.05 ft in open field and pairs with programmed Zigbee motors directly, no hub required. Add a Somfy TaHoma Switch (1871037) for app control, schedules, scenes and voice, and one hub runs either version of the motor. Our guide to Somfy RTS vs Zigbee covers the radio choice in depth.
Somfy also sells the CLEVER DIY Tilt Blind Motor Kit through its own online store for homeowners who want a boxed retrofit. The kit pairs a tilt motor with a Situo Iron remote, a rechargeable battery pack and sets of headrail and tilt rod adaptors, with the charger or solar panel ordered separately.
Setup notes before the blind goes back up
Bench work stays short on a through-shaft motor. Slide the motor onto the rod with the matching adaptor, seat it in the headrail adaptor, connect power, then program. Somfy publishes the setup steps as numbered function guides on the Tilt 50 product page: Initial Programming and Limit Setting (B-01), Reversing Motor Direction (B-03), Speed Adjustment for Horizontal Blinds (B-06) and Add/Delete Transmitter (U-01). Work from the Tilt 50 guides for these steps, since Somfy writes the speed adjustment for horizontal blinds as its own guide.
Run four checks at the window. The adaptor seats flush with no side play. The motor body clears the lift cords. The power cable exits where the valance hides it. The slats close in the direction the client expects. The motor's own spec sheet and instructions sit in our Somfy spec library, and our Tilt 50 WireFree RTS fit guide goes deeper on the RTS version.
The full range of Somfy WireFree and battery motors sits in one collection, with the Tilt 50 next to the power sources that run it.
Sources: Somfy Pro e-catalog records for 1240276, 1241783, 1811612, 9025742, 9025743 and 9025739; somfysystems.com product pages for 1240276 (application, power options, function guides B-01, B-03, B-06, U-01) and 1871281; Somfy CLEVER DIY Tilt Blind Motor Kit page on store.somfysystems.com.
Somfy tilt motor FAQ
Does a Somfy tilt motor raise and lower the blind?
No. The Tilt 50 WireFree Through-Shaft turns the tilt rod, so the slats swing open or shut and hold any angle in between. The lift cords stay manual. Most people tilt a horizontal blind many times a day and raise it rarely, which is why Somfy built a dedicated tilt motor that drops onto the existing rod with no change to the lift system.
Can I add a Somfy tilt motor to blinds I already own?
Yes, on a 2 inch horizontal blind. The through-shaft design slides onto the tilt rod already in the headrail. Measure the rod across the flats to choose one of Somfy's seven shaft adaptors, then match the headrail adaptor to the rail profile. Wood, faux wood, composite and metal slats all appear on Somfy's application list.
Is the RTS or the Zigbee Tilt 50 the better pick?
Pick by the rest of your system. The RTS version (1240276) pairs with Somfy RTS remotes such as the Situo 5 Variation and suits homes that already run RTS shades. The Zigbee version (1241783) joins a Zigbee 3.0 network, pairs with the Ysia 5 Variation remote and runs at 49 dB against 56 dB for the RTS model.
Do I need a battery for the Tilt 50?
Yes, or a plug-in supply. Somfy builds the Tilt 50 as an external battery motor, so it ships with no power source inside. Choose the Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack (9021217), the 12V DC Plug-in Power Supply (1870940), the Reloadable Battery Tube (9018685) with 8 AA lithium cells, or Somfy's WireFree Li-ion Solar Panel Kit for a sunny window.
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
