How to measure for curtains, step by step

What do you need before you start measuring?

Use a steel tape measure or a laser measure, never a cloth tailor's tape, which stretches. Work in centimetres and write every figure down as you take it. Have a step ladder that safely reaches the ceiling, and a second person for anything wider than 2 metres so the tape stays straight.

Decide two things first, because they change every measurement after them: whether the curtains will hang from a ceiling track or a wall track, and how long you want them to be. If you are not sure yet, measure for both and note which is which. Our curtain track guide explains the options in more detail.

• Steel tape or laser measure
• Pencil and the measuring table below
• Step ladder
• A helper for wide or tall windows
• Photos of each window, including the ceiling and floor

How do you measure the width for a curtain track?

Curtains are sized to the track, not the glass. Measure the full width of the window frame or recess, then add an extension on each side so the curtains can stack back off the glass when open. A common allowance is 15 to 30 cm each side. Heavier lined or blackout curtains, and wider windows, need the larger figure because they take up more space when drawn back.

If a track or pole is already fitted and you are keeping it, measure the track itself from end to end. For a pole, measure between the finials, not including them. For a corner or bay window, measure each straight run separately and note the angle, because the track will be bent or jointed to follow it.

In many Dubai apartments a curtain box or ceiling recess already exists above the window. Measure the internal width of the box at both ends, since plasterboard boxes are often a few centimetres out of square, and use the smaller figure.

What curtain fullness do you need for each heading?

Fullness is how much fabric goes into the curtain compared with the track width. More fullness gives deeper folds and a richer look. Too little looks flat and stretched, especially when the curtains are closed. Multiply your track width by the fullness ratio to find the total flat width of fabric needed across all panels.

As a worked example, a 3 m track with pinch pleat curtains at 2.5 times fullness needs 7.5 m of flat fabric width. With a standard 140 cm wide fabric that is 5.4 widths, which rounds up to 6 widths, split into two curtains of 3 widths each. Wide sheer fabrics, often 280 to 300 cm, are usually turned sideways so the width becomes the drop and no vertical seams are needed. See the types of curtains guide for how each heading looks.

How do you measure the drop to the floor?

The drop is the finished length of the curtain. Measure from the point the curtain hangs from to the point it should finish. On a ceiling track, measure from the ceiling. On a wall track or pole, measure from the top of the track or from the underside of the pole ring, because that is where the heading sits.

Take the drop at the left, the centre and the right of the window. Villa floors, marble thresholds and skirting levels often vary by 1 to 2 cm across a wide opening. Give your maker all three figures and let them make to the shortest, or to each point if the variation is large.

For a curtain that just clears the floor, often called a float or kiss, deduct about 1 cm from the measured drop. This is the cleanest look, the hem stays out of the dust and it suits curtains that are opened and closed every day. If you have stone floors that are mopped often, or pets, this is the length we usually recommend.

Puddle, break, sill or below sill: which length is right?

The finish length changes the feel of the room as much as the fabric does. Floor length is the default for living rooms and bedrooms in Dubai villas and apartments. Shorter lengths suit kitchens, children's rooms and windows over furniture, radiators or window seats.

When does a puddle work in Dubai?

A puddle looks generous in a formal majlis or dining room where the curtains stay open most of the time. It does collect sand and dust, and it does not suit a motorized track, because the fabric drags and the motor works harder. If you want a puddle and still want to draw the curtains daily, choose a break instead.

Sill length and window seats

For a sill finish, the hem should sit about 1 cm above the sill so it does not rest on it. If a window seat cushion sits in the recess, a below sill curtain on a track fixed outside the recess, or a roman blind inside it, usually works better than a short curtain.

How do you measure a recess for curtains or blinds?

A recess is a window set back into the wall. Curtains are usually hung outside it, so you measure as above and extend the track past both sides. If you want the curtain or blind to sit inside the recess, measure the width at the top, middle and bottom, and the height at the left, centre and right. Use the smallest figure of each, because recesses are rarely square.

Check the depth of the recess too. A single track needs about 5 to 7 cm. A double track for a sheer and a blackout layer needs more, often 12 to 15 cm, and a roller blind with a curtain in front needs room for both. Note any window handles, alarm sensors or air conditioning grilles that stick out into the space.

Ceiling track or wall track: how does it change the measurements?

A ceiling track is fixed directly to the ceiling or inside a curtain box. It makes the window look taller, blocks light at the top and hides the heading mechanism. Measure the drop from the ceiling to the floor, then deduct your finish allowance. Check that the ceiling can take fixings: concrete is strong, but plasterboard needs fixings into the supporting frame for heavy curtains.

A wall track or pole is fixed to the wall above the window. The usual position is 10 to 15 cm above the top of the frame, or halfway between the frame and the ceiling when there is a big gap. Fix it higher rather than lower. Mark the bracket height in pencil and measure the drop from that line. A ceiling curtain track is the more common choice in new Dubai developments because many have a built in curtain pocket.

How do you measure tall villa windows and double height rooms?

Double height living rooms and stairwell windows in Dubai villas often have drops of 5 to 7 metres. Do not measure these from a domestic ladder. Use a laser measure from the floor to the ceiling or curtain box, and take readings at several points across the width. Small errors matter more over a long drop.

Long curtains are heavy, so the track, brackets and fixings must be rated for the weight, and a motorized curtain track is usually the practical choice because the cords and wands are impossible to reach. Standard wide fabrics cannot be turned sideways once the drop is over about 2.8 to 3 metres, so tall curtains need vertical seams that are pattern matched and hidden in the folds. Lead weights or a weighted chain in the hem help the curtain hang straight in air conditioned rooms with strong airflow.

For any window over 3.5 metres, or any wall with sockets, sensors or vents near the track line, we recommend a professional survey. Our team measures on a home visit and gives a written quote within 24 hours.

How to measure for curtains: a table for every window

Copy this table for each window. Fill in every column, add a photo, and you will have everything a curtain maker needs to quote accurately. If you would rather we measure, book a home visit and we will check fixings, floor levels and clearances at the same time. You can also read how we work out a price on our pricing page and in the curtain cost guide.