On this page
Short answer
Measure the track or pole, not the window. The width is the length of the track, or of the pole between the finials. The drop is from the top of the track or pole to where the curtain should end: about 1 cm above the floor or sill. Measure with a steel tape in millimetres, at both ends and the middle, and use the shortest drop. Then multiply the width by the heading's fullness to find how much curtain to make.
Before you measure: fit or plan the track first
Curtains are made to fit the track or pole, so fix it first or decide exactly where it will go. Measuring a bare window and guessing the fixing point is the most common reason a finished curtain comes back too short or too narrow.
- Ceiling track: the neatest choice for S-fold and French pleat, and the darkest, because no light escapes above the heading. Common in condos with a curtain box or pelmet.
- Wall-fixed track or pole: fix it about 10 to 15 cm above the window frame. Higher makes the window look taller.
- Inside the recess: a track fitted within the window opening. Tidy, but the curtains cover part of the glass when open.
Extend a wall-fixed track or pole beyond the window on each side, typically 15 to 30 cm, so the open curtains stack against the wall rather than over the glass. Heavier fabrics and fuller curtains stack wider, so allow more for velvet, lined or blackout curtains.
Tip
If the track is not up yet, mark the fixing height and both ends in pencil on the wall, and measure from the marks. Give the same marks to the installer.
Measuring the width
| Fixing | Measure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Track | The full length of the track, end to end | Include any overlap arms; for a pair of curtains, each covers half |
| Pole | Between the finials, not including them | For eyelets, measure the pole length the rings can travel |
| Recess | Wall to wall at the top, middle and bottom | Use the smallest; recesses are rarely square |
| Bay window | Each section of track separately | Note where each curtain should stop and the corner angles |
Write the width in millimetres. Mixing centimetres and millimetres, or rounding to the nearest 10 cm, is how an order ends up a few centimetres short across a whole wall.
Good to know
For a pair of curtains, give your curtain maker the track width and say "pair". They divide the fullness between the two curtains and allow for the overlap at the centre.
Measuring the drop
The drop is the finished length of the curtain. Measure from the fixing down to where the curtain should end, and tell your curtain maker which point you measured from, because the heading and hook position change where the top of the curtain sits.
| Fixing | Measure the drop from | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Track (S-fold, French pleat) | The top of the track, or the ceiling for a ceiling track | The curtain maker sets the hook position to hide the track |
| Pole with rings | The bottom of the ring's eye | The hooks hang from the eye, below the pole |
| Eyelet on a pole | The top of the pole | The heading sits a few centimetres above the pole |
Watch out
Floors and ceilings are seldom level. Measure the drop at both ends and in the middle, and use the shortest, or a floor-length curtain will drag at one end. Note any skirting, sockets or air-conditioner units in the curtain's path.
Where should curtains end?
| Finish | Where it ends | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Floor length | About 1 cm above the floor | Most living rooms and bedrooms; the cleanest look |
| Puddled | About 5 to 10 cm longer than the floor | Formal rooms; avoid where floors are mopped daily |
| Sill length | About 1 cm above the sill | Kitchens, and windows with a deep sill or furniture below |
| Below the sill | About 10 to 15 cm below the sill | Windows above a radiator, cabinet or bed |
Floor-length curtains suit most rooms in Malaysian homes and condos. They make the window look taller and block more light at the bottom edge, which matters for blackout bedrooms. See Blackout Curtains for the other places light gets in.
From measurements to fabric
To work out the fabric, multiply the track width by the fullness of the heading. Add side hems, and add hems and heading to the drop: about 25 to 30 cm in total, depending on the workroom.
| Heading | Typical fullness | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Eyelet | About 1.5 to 2 times | Eyelet Curtains |
| S-fold (ripple fold) | About 1.8 to 2.2 times | S-Fold Curtains |
| French pleat (triple pinch) | About 2.5 times | French Pleat Curtains |
| Sheer, any heading | About 2 times or more | Sheer Curtains |
Example: a 3.0 m track with S-fold curtains at 2 times fullness and a 2.6 m drop needs about 6.0 m of finished curtain width.
- Extra-wide fabric (300 cm), railroaded: the fabric's width becomes the curtain's height, so the pair is about 6.3 m of fabric with no joins.
- Narrow fabric (140 cm), used upright: about five widths at a cut drop of about 2.9 m, so about 14.5 m, plus pattern repeats if the fabric is patterned.
Good to know
These are approximations. Allowances vary by workroom, and patterned fabrics need extra for matching the repeat, so confirm the order quantity with your curtain maker before buying.
Double track: sheer and main curtain
Many Malaysian homes and condos use a double track: a sheer at the back for daytime privacy and a dimout or blackout in front. Measure each track separately, because the front track is often slightly longer.
- Sheer (back track): use about 2 times fullness or more, and make it the same drop as the main curtain or 1 to 2 cm shorter so it does not show below it.
- Main curtain (front track): measure as normal. A blackout or dimout here sets how dark the room gets at night.
See Blackout vs Dimout vs Sheer for choosing the two layers.
Common measuring mistakes
- Measuring the window, not the track. The curtain covers the track, including the stack-back on each side.
- Measuring the drop once. Measure at both ends and the middle, and use the shortest.
- Using a cloth tape. It stretches; use a steel tape measure.
- Forgetting the stack-back. On a track that stops at the window frame, the open curtains cover part of the glass.
- Not saying where the drop was measured from. Track, ceiling, ring eye or top of pole each give a different curtain.
- Buying fabric before allowing for the pattern repeat. A large repeat can add a metre or more across several widths.
Tip
Write the measurements on a simple sketch of each window: track width, drop at the left, middle and right, the fixing point, and where each curtain should end. It saves a site visit.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure curtain width?
Measure the length of the track end to end, or of the pole between the finials, not the window. For a recess, measure wall to wall at the top, middle and bottom and use the smallest. Then multiply by the heading's fullness to get the curtain width.
How do I measure the curtain drop?
Measure from the top of the track (or the ceiling, for a ceiling track) to where the curtain should end, at both ends and the middle, and use the shortest. For a pole with rings, measure from the bottom of the ring's eye; for eyelets, from the top of the pole.
How far above the floor should curtains be?
About 1 cm above the floor, so they hang straight without dragging. Puddled curtains are made about 5 to 10 cm longer than the floor on purpose.
How wide should curtains be compared to the window?
The track or pole should extend about 15 to 30 cm beyond the window on each side so the curtains stack clear of the glass. The curtains are then 1.5 to 2.5 times the track width, depending on the heading.
How much fabric do I need for curtains?
Multiply the track width by the fullness (about 2 times for S-fold, about 2.5 times for French pleat), add side hems, and add about 25 to 30 cm to each drop for hems and heading. With extra-wide 300 cm fabric used railroaded, you often need no joins at all.
Should I measure before or after the track is installed?
After, if possible. If the track is not up yet, mark its height and both ends on the wall and measure from the marks, and make sure the installer uses the same marks.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing, and our team can send samples or open a dealer account.