How to Measure Windows for Curtains

by Lucas Lee

Adding curtains to the windows of your room will not only make it look complete but also will increase the overall aesthetics of it and make it more inviting. In that case, most people struggle on is when taking the measurements of the windows for choosing the best fit for the curtain.

Therefore, getting a curtain that will have a perfect fit in your windows can be a challenging task without taking measurements first. And, if you are wondering about how to measure windows for curtains, you came to the right place. We are going to provide you a step by step guide and make sure that you can get a perfect fit in your windows.

How to Measure Windows for Curtains
How to Measure Windows for Curtains

Five Simple Steps For Measuring Your Windows

Measuring the windows for curtains might sound an easy task, but if you do not keep some key elements, you will not be able to get a perfect fit. Well, to make things easier for you, we are here to provide you a five-step process for that. They are:

Step 1: Factoring The Mounting Hardware

The first thing that you have to factor in is the mounting hardware. There are a lot of options in this regard, and each will have a different mounting process. Alongside that, each of them also has a different role in the case of overall aesthetics.

So, after you have decided on selecting the mounting hardware, you have to factor in the mounting style. The two methods that you can choose from are:

How To Measure For Curtain Rods
How To Measure For Curtain Rods
  • Outside mounts

This one is the most common way of hanging the curtains on the windows. Usually, in this case, the curtain rod is on the outside of the window frame. Outside mounted curtains will not only make your windows look larger but also will be able to block out outside lights efficiently.

Other than that, they can also give a touch of luxury to your windows.

  • Inside mounts

This type of mounting style houses the rod inside the frame, which will let you achieve a different look for the windows. While this method is not that common, these can let you get the streamlined appearance that outside mounts fail to deliver.

However, they are not that efficient in the case of blocking sunlight, but they will surely offer you an adequate amount of privacy.

Step 2: Factoring In The Length Of The Rod

The length of the rod has an important role in the case of the width of the curtains. Typically, rods will extend from three to six inches past the window frame. So, as there are three different styles of the rods, you will have to factor in what method you are going to shoot for before measuring the length of the rods. The styles are:

  • Inside mount
Length Of The Curtains Rod
Length Of The Curtains Rod

This rod style is often used for tailored, streamlined window treatments. These will allow you to suspend the treatments from within the frame. In this case, we would recommend you to shoot for the ones that come with protective end caps and a telescoping body. With those, you will be able to get a snug fit inside the frame.

For this style, you will have to factor in the entire length of the rod for hanging a curtain on them.

  • Above trim mount

These rods are typically placed at 6 to 12 inches above the window frame. And for that reason, we would recommend you to not only take the measurement of the length of the rod but also add a few inches to that. That extra inches will compensate for the elongated appearance and make the curtains cover more surface area.

  • Below trim mount

This type of rods is usually ideal for the window frames that have a molding design on the top. It will let you showcase the aesthetic molding. Alongside that, it will not also skimp one bit in case of overall privacy. In this case, you should look for the ones that are at least three to five inches wider than the window frame.

Step 3: Choosing the Curtain Length

After the length of the rod is taken care of, you will have to choose from three of the curtain lengths. They are:

  • Above sill
Measuring Curtains Length
Measuring Curtains Length

These are the ones that stay at typically 1 centimeter above. This type of curtain will be able to cover most of the areas. However, they might not work best for blocking the outside sunlight.

  • Below sill

This type of curtains is the one that will stay at least 15 centimeters below the sill. They are a great option if you do not want to block sunlight from entering your room.

  • Floor-length

These curtains usually rest 1 centimeter above the floor. However, many will touch the floor, and some will even have more fabric cluttered on the floor.

Step 4: Measure The Width

Measuring Curtains Width
Measuring Curtains Width

The width of the curtains will play an important role in the case of blocking light and providing you adequate privacy. Mostly, the curtains should be about 1-1/2 times to three times wider than the width of the window frame.

However, if you want to cover more surfaces of your walls, you can opt for wider ones, or you can also go for the narrower ones if you prefer a tailored look.

Before you put a curtain into your shopping cart, you can always compare the width with a blanket of the same size or a tablecloth. With that, you will get a rough estimation of what your window is going to look like after you install your desired curtains.

Step 5: Measure The Length

Curtains Length
Curtains Length

If the window treatments that you are opting for is a valance, it should only take about one-quarter of the top surface of the windows. For the regular curtains, the length is up to the looks you are shooting for and the hanging method.

Therefore, to measure your desired length, we would recommend you to put measuring tape at the top of the frame or in the inside corner and measure the length. Then get the curtains that meet your desired length.

Final Words

The question of how to measure windows for curtains will come into most people’s minds when they decide to shop for curtains. And we hope that we were able to make the process much simple and straightforward for you. With that, we would like to conclude here by wishing you good luck and hoping that you can get a curtain that will perfectly fit your windows.

About Lucas Lee

Lucas Lee was raised outside the city of Livermore, in the legendary Bay Area of North California. Lucas considers his family and researches to be most important to him. If he isn’t hanging out with his loved ones, you can almost always find him around his sweet little garden of fruits right in the backyard of his lovely home.

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