How to Measure for Curtains: Easy Guide

Curtains have to hang right to look good and fully serve their purpose, and to achieve this, you need precise window and curtain measurements.

Since Sedar was established in 1892, and we have tirelessly worked on perfecting our window and wall decor craft. For this reason, we offer our clients a free measurement service and put together this guide on how to measure for curtains.

 

Key Takeaways

• Precise window measurements for width and height are essential to ensure your curtains hang properly.
• Selecting the right mount (inside or outside) depends on your window frame's depth and your desired style.
• When in doubt, professional measurement services provide accurate window measurements for a perfect curtain fit.

 

Table of Contents

• The Objective
• The Tools
• How Do You Measure for Curtains: A Curtain Measurements Guide
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Beautiful Curtains Require Precise Measurements

 

The Objective

Our technical team has mastered how to measure windows for curtains. Precision is necessary because we base curtain measurements on the height and width of windows. In other words, knowing how to measure curtains for windows first requires knowing how to measure a window for curtains.

For best results and to ensure precision in the measurements of curtains, let our technical team handle your window measurement task.

 

The Tools

The following are the tools you need to measure windows for curtains.

• Steel tape measure: A steel tape measure is rigid and won't stretch, twist, or pull while in use, so it provides accurate measurements.
• Spirit level: Measuring lengths must be done on a perfectly straight line, thus the need for a spirit level.
• Ladder: This is necessary for scaling windows, especially double-height ones.
• Pencil and paper: Mark spots when measuring and immediately record every measurement.

 

How Do You Measure for Curtains: A Curtain Measurements Guide

How do you measure curtains for a window? This curtain measuring guide previews the process to follow when measuring windows for curtains and drapes:

1. Decide on curtain placement.

Will the curtain be mounted inside the window (inside mount) or over it (outside mount)?

The inside mount is suitable for deep-set window frames, characterized by a wide space between the glass and the interior wall. Bow and bay windows are examples of deep-set windows.

Inside-mount curtains are also a good way to showcase beautiful window frames.

The outside mount is particularly appropriate for shallow-frame windows or windows where there's minimal space between the glass and the surface of the interior wall. The frame is so shallow that the window appears almost flush against the wall. Typical examples include fixed, casement, awning, and sliding windows.

Outside-mount curtains will allow you to use window treatments to play with the room's proportions.

2. Measure the window width to determine curtain width.

The width of the curtains depends on the mount type. Inside-mount curtains can only be as wide as the horizontal space inside the window frame. Outside-mount curtains can be as wide as you want.

How to measure curtain width for inside mounts:

Hook the metal tab (zero mark) of the steel tape measure at the edge of the inner window frame, and stretch the tape measure horizontally until you reach the other end of the inner window frame.

Record the measurement. That's your window frame's width.

How to measure the width of curtains for outside mounts:

Hook the metal tab on the outer edge of the window casing on the left-hand side (from where the casing meets the interior wall). Pull the tape in a straight line to the right until you reach the outer edge of the window casing on the right-hand side.

Record the measurement; that's the width of the entire window, including the window casing.

Tip on how to measure curtain size: Whatever you do, make sure your horizontal lines are perfectly level when you measure the width of the window. You should also take your curtain width measurements in three places (e.g., top, middle, and bottom) and record all values.

Remember: The above are window width measurements, not curtain width measurements. You need to give this to your custom curtain provider, and they will use that as a basis to determine the coverage width (the width the curtain must cover) and the width of your actual curtains.

How much wider should curtains be than the window? At least 12 inches for outside-mounted curtains, but it depends on your interior design. You can even measure the width of the entire wall if you prefer wall-to-wall curtain coverage.

Pro Tip on How to Measure the Width for Curtains

At this point, you're probably wondering, "What width of curtains do I need?"

Your curtains must be wider than the area you wish to cover. Remember to account for the curtains' waves and folds when you measure the width of fabric you need.

When measuring for ready-made curtains, take the width of a single panel of pleated curtains into account. If one pleated panel covers half of your preferred coverage, buy two curtain panels. If one pleated panel covers one-third, buy three.

Measure the width of a single curtain panel while it is pleated, not stretched out. This method, in particular, is useful if you're measuring width for eyelet curtains, pencil pleat curtains, and other pleated curtain types.

If you're not confident you know how to measure the curtains' width, just send us your window measurements, and we'll take it from there. Even better, schedule a visit so our technical team can measure your windows themselves.

 

 

 

3. Measure the window height to determine curtain length.

How to measure for curtain length? Measure the window's height.

Inside-mounted curtains can only be as long as the window frame's height. Hook the steel tape measure's tab from the top-left corner of the window frame, then pull straight down until it reaches the bottom-left corner. Record the height. Repeat the measurements for the middle and the right side of the frame.

How long should curtains be for outside mounts? They must be longer than the height of the window. Specifically, curtains usually begin at least a few inches above the head and drop to at least a few inches below the sill.

Once you have your window dimensions, relay them to your custom curtain designer. They will know how to measure your curtain drop based only on the window height.

If you prefer floor-to-ceiling window treatments, measure your entire wall height. Alternatively, just let our team of experts visit, and we'll correctly measure your window and make you exactly the length of curtains you need.

Should the curtains drop to a few centimeters above your baseboard, puddle on the floor, or end just below the sill? It depends on the look you want to achieve. We have an in-home styling consultant who can visit your home and make window treatment recommendations based on your home's interior design and your preferred style.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Should curtains touch the floor?

The decision is entirely up to you. For easier cleaning, you don't want curtains touching the floor. However, if you're going for dramatic statement windows, you can let your curtains create a puddle of fabric on the floor. Finally, if you have small windows, you may want to consider shorter and narrower curtains.

How many curtain panels do I need?

The number of curtain panels you need depends on the width of your windows. Ideally, your curtains should cover up to six inches beyond the window casing, so you need as many panels as will achieve that. For even better results, schedule a free window measurement service.

What curtain length is best for a bedroom?

The curtain length that's best for a bedroom depends on your interior design. Do you want visual impact? Let your curtains pool on the floor. In this case, measure from the curtain rod (or from ceiling height) to the floor, then add several inches to achieve a puddle of fabric.

Do I measure the window or the curtain rod?

When you don't know how to measure for curtains using your window's dimensions or when you have an exposed curtain rod, measure for curtains using the curtain rod. In this case, the length of your curtain rod gives you the base curtain width. Its height (how high up it is installed) and your preferred curtain drop determine curtain length.

Note, however, that if the curtain rods are hidden behind a pelmet, a cornice, or a recessed ceiling cove, you don't have to measure your curtains according to your rod's length. You can just base it on your window's size.

How wide should curtains be for a 72-inch window?

Add at least 12 inches to your window's width. That's the minimum curtain width. For a 72-inch window, that's at least 84 inches, giving you an allowance of at least six inches on either side. However, remember that curtains need to be even wider, since you must account for the folds, waves, or pleats.

How high should I hang curtains to make windows look bigger?

You should hang curtains higher to make windows look bigger. You can install the curtains at least 10 inches above the window head. Better yet, install them at ceiling height. Installing curtains high up on the wall draws the eyes upward and makes the window appear taller and bigger.

 

Beautiful Curtains Require Precise Measurements

Beautifully hung curtains add so much character to spaces, but hanging curtains demands precision. Custom-made curtains look best because they hang down and flow as envisioned.

If you want beautifully hung curtains for your home, contact us to book an in-home styling consultation and window measurement service with Sedar.