How to Measure and Fit Your Curtains

A Guide On How To Take Measurements Of Your Own Curtains And Fit Them To The Windows Yourself

Step 1 – Decide whether you want a track or pole curtains: Photo 5 of both.

Pole 1 – If you have a curtain with a pole then you will need to:
Measure from the ring if you have a curtain with pencil pleat or pinch pleats.
For Eyelet curtains, measure from the top of the pole making sure that you add on however much you want the curtains above the pole, generally, this is 3cm.
When measuring, make sure that you add 2.5-5 cm onto your measurement for the finials, depending which finials you have. Measure from the end of the ring to where you would like the curtain to be (either the windowsill, just below the windowsill or to the floor). When you make this decision, you should consider where the curtains will be and what the room is used for.

For windowsill measuring: The length from the ring of the curtain to 1cm off the sill.
For under the sill: The length from the ring of the curtain to 10/15 cm below the sill.
For floor length curtains: Measure from the ring to 1cm off the floor.

Pole 2 – To measure where you want your end brackets to be you need to calculate how long the pole is and then how long the window is as seen in Photo 6 below.

The pole will need to be longer than the window and you will need to come in 5cm for the end brackets. You will need to make sure that everything is straight using a spirit level. The pole will need to be roughly 20cm above the window to block out the optimal amount of light, however if there isn’t room above then it can be lower.
Before making any holes, make sure that there are no pipes or electric cables in the way and that you have the correct drill and bit. Once the holes have been made for the brackets using a drill, put in wall plugs and then screw the brackets in.
If the pole is longer than 2 meters, you may need a middle bracket to put up in the exact middle of the pole at the same height as the other brackets.

If you have a curtain with a track:

Track 1 – With a track you can have an inside recess or outside recess.

Inside recess curtains hang inside the recess of the window. Outside recess curtains cover the whole window and a small area of surrounding space. You can see the difference in the Photo 1.

Track 2 – Measure from the top of the track to where you would like your curtains to sit as seen in Photo 4.

You will need to make sure when deciding whether you want inside or outside recess that you consider any protruding objects such as handles or radiators.

For windowsill measuring: the length from the top of the track to 1cm off the sill.
For under the sill: the length from top of the track to 10/15 cm below the sill.
For floor length curtains: measure from top of the track to 1cm off the floor.

If you have electric curtains then you will need to make sure that you allow enough space behind the track (if inside recess) for the battery to sit comfortably.

Track 3 – When you have an inside recess, the brackets will be fixed to the window frame or top of the window. For outside recess you need to measure where you want your end brackets to be you need to calculate how long the track is and then how long the window is as seen in the Photo 7 below.

The track will need to be longer than the window. You will need to make sure that everything is straight using a spirit level. The track will need to be roughly 20cm above the window to block out the optimal amount of light.
Before making any holes, make sure that there are no pipes or electric cables in the way and that you have the correct drill and bit.
If you are not using a pelmet move to Track 5.

Track 4 – Make sure that the pelmet is roughly 5cm longer than the track. To put the pelmet up you will need to measure up where you want the pelmet to be on either side with the correct height then draw a line between the marks that you just made, this can be done by using a long piece of wood or a long ruler. Hold the brackets up to the wall about 2.5cm in from the end of the line and mark, then drill the holes. Insert the plugs into the wall and fix the brackets. Lay the pelmet over the brackets making sure that the pelmet is in the middle. Put the brackets through the underside of the board, this will secure the pelmet in position as seen in Photo 8.

Secure the track to the underside of the pelmet.

Track 5 – From the calculated end of the track come in 3cm on both sides and that is where the brackets will be. Once the holes have been made for the fix, put in wall plug and then screw the brackets in. If you are using a pelmet just secure the brackets to the pelmet instead. Cut the track down to the necessary length using a hacksaw. File the rough ends off before putting an end stopper on the end of the track and then put the endcaps on.