How to Measure Curtains

To find the overall width of the area you need to cover, add about 12 to 16 inches to the width of the window. This leaves six to eight inches of overhang on each side, which allows you to reveal most of the window when the curtains are pulled back. This also gives the illusion that the window is larger than it actually is.

This measurement will be the size of the curtain rod. When sizing the curtain rod, do not include any finials (the decorative end pieces) in this measurement. Once you have your curtain rod width, use these guidelines to find the width of curtains you should purchase:

Pleated/Ring: Rod width x 1.5 (since the pleat is already built-in)
Grommet/Eyelet: Rod width x 2
Rod Pocket: Rod width x 2
Tab Top: Rod width x 1.5

Tip: Add another inch or two to your final curtain measurement so that the panels can overlap slightly when closed and no light peeks through.

Let’s look at an example: If your window width is 36 inches, your rod should be about 48 inches. This means you would need 72 to 96 inches of curtain depending on the desired fullness.

These guidelines will give you the standard curtain fullness, but if you want an extra luxurious look, try multiplying by two and a half or three times the rod width. Always round up when choosing curtain width — a fuller look will appear better than curtains that are pulled tight.

Standard fullness: x 2
More fullness: x 2.5
Extra fullness: x 3

Using sheer curtains? Use at least three times the width of the rod to find the width of curtains, otherwise they can look sparse and unfinished.

Shop curtains by type:
Pleated Curtains
Grommet Curtains
Rod Pocket Curtains
Tab Top Curtains

Getting your curtain length, or “drop”, right is just as important as the width. Too short and it will look like your prepping for a flood; too long and you might end up with more curtain than you know what to do with.

Let’s start with where to hang the curtain rod. Your curtain rod should be about six inches above the top of the window, though you can adjust this depending on the look you are going for and the space you actually have above the window. From there, measure from the top of the rod to the spot where you want your curtains to end. This will give you the number you are looking for.

Note: If you are using curtains with additional rings that leave the rod exposed, measure from the bottom of the rings to get an accurate curtain length.

Here are the most common measurements for where your curtains should end:

Sill Length: ½ inch above the window sill or 6 inches below
Floor Length: ½ inch above the floor
Pooled/Puddled: Add 2 to 4 inches (or more!) to length depending on desired look

When shopping for curtains, you’ll likely come across the following standard curtain sizes. Use these sizes as a starting point to calculate how many panels you might need and at what length.

Standard curtain lengths: 63, 84, 95, 108, and 120 inches

Standard curtain widths: 36, 40, 48, 50, 54, 72, 80, 96 and 100 inches and higher

These widths often refer to one panel, but they can be sold in pairs, so make sure you double check what the single panel width is before purchasing.

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