How to Measure for Curtains & Blinds
Table of Contents
How to Measure For Curtains, Blinds and Tracks.
Pen and Paper
For recording your
measurements.
Helper
Someone to assist if your
windows are large .
Metal Tape Measure
As this will allow you to get a
rigid full length measurement.
Make sure your curtain tracks and poles are fitted in the position you want.
Choose the type of curtains that you would like and how you want to hang your curtains. See our heading styles guide
We recommend fitting your hardware first before measuring, this avoids any issues with not getting the perfect fit.
Measure your window using our main guide. Quick summary below. Remember wave, pinch, and designer headings require slightly different measurement
Measure in 3 places and take the shortest drop – Floors and ceilings can run out.
Double / Triple check your measurements
Choosing your Curtain Track Width
The width of the curtain track should extend past your window this allows for the curtains to stack back away from your window and allow light in.
Measure your recess and then add on 15cm on either side. For acoustics , we recommend further to fully cover the window and the surrounding area. In our test we added an additional 30cm to the width and also made the curtain floor length.
Wave curtains, for every 100cm of track the curtains will stack circa *18cm
Eyelet curtains, they will stack back circa 10cm per *70cm of track width
Pencil Pleat will stack approx 25% of the track width. eg. 210cm track will stack 52.5%
* all dependent on thickness of fabric
Selecting your Curtain Drop
Where to Measure From for Different Type of Curtains
|
Type of Curtains |
Fitted On |
Where to Measure from - to desired length |
|
Pencil Pleat Curtains |
Curtain Track |
Top of the Track - If using a extra wide track or designer track like silent gliss metropole, then measure from the underside of the track. |
|
Pencil Pleat Curtains |
Curtain Pole |
Measure from small ring at the bottom of eye under the ring, this is where your curtain clips into. |
|
Eyelet Curtains |
Curtain Pole – Only |
Top of the pole *we add on the upstand to our curtains, |
|
Pinch Pleat Curtains |
Curtain Track |
The underside of the track |
|
Wave Curtains |
Curtain Track Designer Pole |
The glider underneath the track. The curtain will sit under the track. |
|
Acoustic Curtains |
See Heading Style of Choice above |
Same but make sure wider than normal ideally 30cm past either side and 30 above. Also to the floor. |
How to Measure for Blinds going Inside the Recess
- Measure the exact width of the recess in three places; at the top of the recess, in the centre of the recess and near the bottom - then take the smallest size.
- Measure the exact drop of the recess in three places on the left hand side of the recess, in the centre of the recess and on the right hand side of the recess - then take the smallest size.
- We will take one cm off the finished width size you have given us, to allow for the blind to pull up and down easily.
- Double check your measurements
- Cord Safety - Mounting Height - We ask for the mounting height of your blinds to allow for the cord to be 150cm off the ground. If mounting at 210cm This is what you enter in the Fitting height box. We make a deduction to ensure the cord is 150cm from the floor. Thus the cord loop will be 60cm
How to Measure Outside of the Recess
- Measure the recess in 3 places on the width and also 3 places on the drop. Take the widest measurement.
- Measure the width of the actual recess plus an additional amount – Usually from 7cm-15cm whatever you think looks appropriate. This is for overlap.
- Measure the exact drop of the recess. The blind would be fitted above the recess, so check the space above and add an amount on to the drop – usually from 7-15cm
- These sizes you have taken will be the size of the finished blind.
- Double check your measurements
- Cord Safety - Mounting Height - We ask for the mounting height of your blinds to allow for the cord to be 150cm off the ground. If mounting at 210cm This is what you enter in the fitting height box. We make a deduction to ensure the cord is 150cm from the floor. Thus the cord loop will be 60cm
Cubicle Tracks you have to measure with right angles from wall to wall where you want the track to go
Draw your room on a piece of paper with a sky view
Now measure from the wall to wall for straight tracks,
L Shape Tracks Measure to a point on the floor and mark with a piece of tape. Then for the other sides measure from the other wall to that point.
Always check for obstructions and fitting issues you may need to work around
Everything you need to know about Curtain Fullness
Curtain Fullness – This is the amount of fabric that is used to cover the width of your curtain track or pole. Depending how much flat fabric you have covering your curtain track will mean when it is gathered up you will have more fullness or pleats.
So when deciding how much fullness you require for your window will mean that you will have a different effect. Here is a basic guide to the amount of fullness for standard heading types and location types
Basic Calculation of Curtain Fullness
Fullness = % of Track width.
Track Width + fullness = Total Flat Fabric
Eg Track Width (140cm) + 100% fullness = 280cm
Eg Track Width (140cm) + 50% fullness = 210cm
Heading Styles and Curtain Fullness
Pencil Pleat Curtains & Eyelet Curtains
- A 3 inch or 6 inch pencil pleat heading will normally require 2x the track width or 100% fullness. This add plenty of pleats to a window and as such you will have a luxurious
- An eyelet curtain will usually have 2 x fullness = 100% of the track width.
Pinch Pleat
- A pinch pleat curtain requires more fabric to sew in the pleats as it gathers up tighter. As such you will require 2.5x the track width or 150% fullness.
Types of Curtains
Standard window curtains you will use the guide above to decide on the amount of fabric.
In the case of large stage curtains with a pencil pleat heading the requirement is less. So you will use 1.5x also known as 50% fullness for the curtains. This is to reduce the weight and to have less gather so they may fold back of the stage easier.
Final Point
When deciding on fullness.
Direct Fabrics use 2x fullness for all eyelet and pencil pleat curtains unless stated otherwise and recommend 1.5x fullness for front of house stage curtains.
Direct Fabrics will always round up the widths to the nearest width to avoid wastage.
EG Track width 170cm with Pencil Pleat Curtains (fullness 2x or 100%) = Recommend flat curtain of 340cm.
If using a fabric with a width of 140cm. this would require 2.43 widths of fabric. So Direct Fabrics will use 3 widths of fabric to add more fullness and a better effect.
Where to go next?
Curtains can be confusing so we suggest looking at our full range of curtains. we make to double fullness so you get an incredible finish. We are confident you will love the quality and enjoy buying from our friendly professional team. Check out our hotel curtains range or our flame retardant curtain range.
Curtain Stacking and How Much Space Curtains Take When Open
When curtains are pulled open, they stack back on either side of the window. This stack—called the curtain stack back—varies based on the heading style and the thickness of the fabric. Thicker fabrics and tighter gathers result in a larger stack. Below is a guide to estimate how much space different heading types take when open.
Note: These are estimates and can vary based on fabric thickness and whether the curtain is lined or interlined.
When planning your curtain stack, it’s important to know how the curtains are configured:
- Single curtain: The full stack will gather to one side. Ensure you allow the full estimated stack space on that side, plus a small overlap on the non-stacking side (typically around 5–10cm) to ensure full window coverage and avoid gaps.
- Pair of curtains: The total stack is divided evenly between both sides. For example, a 50cm stack for a pencil pleat pair on a 200cm track would be 25cm per side.
Other Useful Curtain Guides
