How To Measure Curtain Width

When it comes to measuring curtain width, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. The first is the type of curtain you're hanging. There are two main types of curtains: panels and drapes. Panels are typically hung on a rod or track, while drapes are hung on a rod or track and then gathered or pleated.

If you're hanging panels, you'll need to measure the width of the window frame. To do this, simply measure the distance from the inside edge of one side of the frame to the inside edge of the other side. Once you have this measurement, add 6 inches to it. This will give you the total width of the curtain panel you need.

If you're hanging drapes, you'll need to measure the width of the window frame, plus the amount of fullness you want. Fullness is the amount of fabric that is gathered or pleated when the drapes are hung. The more fullness you want, the wider the drapes will need to be.

A good rule of thumb is to add 25% to 50% to the width of the window frame for fullness. So, if your window frame is 48 inches wide, you would need to purchase drapes that are between 60 and 72 inches wide.

Once you have the width of the curtains, you can determine the number of panels or drapes you need. For panels, you'll need one panel for every 24 to 36 inches of window width. For drapes, you'll need one drape for every 18 to 24 inches of window width.

Here are some additional tips for measuring curtain width:

If you're not sure how much fullness you want, err on the side of more. You can always take in the drapes later, but you can't add fabric.
If you're hanging curtains on a curved or bay window, you'll need to measure the width of each section of the window separately.
If you're hanging curtains in a room with a lot of light, you may want to choose a wider curtain to block out more light.
If you're hanging curtains in a room with a lot of traffic, you may want to choose a narrower curtain to avoid having it get in the way.