How to measure for curtains
Five minutes with a metal tape measure now saves an expensive mistake later. Here is the whole process, in the order to do it.
1. Fit the pole or track first
Always measure from the pole or track, never from the window. Fit it 10 to 15 cm above the window frame, or higher if you want the room to feel taller, and let it extend 15 to 25 cm past the frame on each side so open curtains stack beside the glass instead of blocking it.
2. Measure the width
For a pole, measure its length between the finials (the decorative ends), not including them. For a track, measure the full track. If two curtains will meet in the middle with an overlap, that is already allowed for in our calculator, so just enter the pole or track measurement as it is.
3. Choose the drop and measure it
Decide where the curtain will start and stop, then measure that exact distance:
| Length | Measure to | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Sill | 1 cm above the sill | Neat, practical, kitchens and small windows |
| Below sill | 15 cm below the sill | The safe default for radiators under windows |
| Floor | 1 cm above the floor | Elegant, the usual choice for living rooms and bedrooms |
| Puddle | 5 to 10 cm onto the floor | Romantic, more fabric, more dust |
Where you measure from depends on the heading. For pencil pleat and most taped headings, measure from the top of the track or the eye of the pole rings. For eyelet curtains, measure from the top of the pole and add 3 cm, because the fabric stands a little above the pole. For tab tops, measure from the top of the pole.
4. Check, then check again
Measure the drop at both ends and the middle of the window; floors and sills are rarely level, so use the smallest figure for anything that must clear the floor. Use a metal tape (fabric tapes stretch), write the numbers down in cm, and note which window each belongs to. Then take the width and drop straight into the curtain fabric calculator.
Common questions
- Do I measure the window or the pole for curtains?
- The pole or track, always. Curtains hang from it, not from the window, and a properly fitted pole is wider and higher than the frame.
- How high above the window should a curtain pole be?
- 10 to 15 cm above the frame is standard. Hanging it higher, even close to the ceiling, makes the window and the room look taller, and only costs a longer drop of fabric.
- How far off the floor should curtains hang?
- About 1 cm for a clean full length look. Leave 15 cm of clearance over radiators, and let the fabric spill 5 to 10 cm for a deliberate puddle.