How to Measure for Curtains?

Step 1:

Measure and Mark for Rod Installation

If your curtain rod is already installed, simply measure the length of the rod and note the measurement.

If the rod is not yet installed, begin by deciding where you want the rod to be positioned above and around the window frame. Consider the desired visual effect when determining the height.

Height Above the Window Frame: For an enhanced appearance, curtain rods are commonly placed 6-10 inches above the window frame. This creates the illusion of a taller window. Use a pencil or masking tape to lightly mark this height as a guide.
Width Beyond the Window Frame: Typically, adding 6-15 inches of width on each side of the window frame allows enough space for the curtains to stack neatly. Mark these points lightly with a pencil or use masking tape to ensure accurate placement.

Understand Neutral's Fullness Guidelines

To ensure your curtains look full and luxurious, the right amount of fullness should be added, depending on the style of the curtain header.

Pleated Styles: The fabric fullness is already built into the design, with fullness ranging from 200-230%. This ensures your curtains maintain a rich, voluminous appearance.
- For pinch pleat, tailor pleat, inverted pleat, and goblet styles, use 2x fullness.
- For triple pleat and triple tailor pleat styles, use 2.3x fullness.

Step 2:

Calculate the Curtain Panel Width

Flat Top (Grommet, Rod Pocket, Back Tab, Tab Top, and Flat Panel)

To calculate the width per panel, use this formula:
Panel Width = Rod or Track Width x Fullness ÷ Number of Panels

Pleated Top (Pinch Pleat - Double/Triple, Euro Pleat - Double/Triple)

For pleated styles, the width per panel is calculated as:
Panel Width = Rod or Track Width ÷ Number of Panels

Ripple Fold

For ripple fold curtains, the width per panel is calculated as:
Panel Width = Rod or Track Width ÷ Number of Panels
(*Note: The top width is used for the calculation, while the bottom width will be approximately 2.1 times larger.)

Note: If you haven't yet selected a rod or track, estimate the rod/track width by adding 6-15" to the width of the window on each side. This will give you an approximate measurement for your rod or track.

Step 3:

Calculate the Curtain Panel Length

Flat Top (Grommet, Rod Pocket, Back Tab)

To determine the length per panel, measure:
Panel Length = Distance from the top part above the rod + Distance from the rod to the floor + Desired bottom length

Pleated Top (Pinch Pleat - Double/Triple, Euro Pleat - Double/Triple)

For pleated styles, the panel length is calculated as:
Panel Length = Desired curtain top height to the floor + Bottom length

Ripple Fold

For ripple fold curtains, the length per panel is:
Panel Length = Distance from the bottom of the track to the floor + Bottom length

Different Bottom Length Options: