The correct sized curtains are a must for a beautifully dressed window, but lots of homeowners are unsure of how to accurately measure for their chosen look. To help you overcome your curtain hang ups, we’ve put together a guide on how to measure for curtains the expert way.

How to measure the width

First up, use a metal tape measure as opposed to cloth to give yourself the most accurate dimensions. Measure across your curtain pole, track or rail, not the window itself, to work out the length you need. If you have a curtain pole, make sure you only measure the pole itself, and discount any decorative balls or ornaments. If your curtains will run off a track, be aware that some have a central overlap – you’ll just need to measure this separately then add to your end-to-end measurements to get the correct total width.

Generally, your pole, track or rail should roughly be between 15cm and 30cm wider than the window, as this will mean you can draw your curtains away from the window and let in lots of light.

How to measure the drop

If you want your curtains to reach the windowsill then measure from the pole, track or rail to 1cm above the sill itself. For curtains that fall below, measure down to around 15-20cm beneath the windowsill. If your window has a radiator below it, a good trick is to measure about 3cm above the radiator’s top.

When opting for full-length curtains which reach the floor, we usually recommend following the same rule of thumb and measuring from the pole, track or rail to around 1cm above the floor. However, you could also use more generous amounts of fabric which will allow your curtains to pool on the ground, creating a sumptuous look that’s popular with interior designers.

How to measure for headings

When working out the overall length of your curtain you also need to take into account the curtain heading, which is the gathered fabric at the top of the curtain. The heading height firstly depends on whether you’re using a track or a pole. For tracks, we recommend that curtains finish about 5cm above the top of the track, so measure 5cm upwards from the track glider eyelet. When it comes to poles, it really depends on how much of the pole you want to hide, but a good measurement is between 2cm and 5cm, measured upwards from the bottom of the pole’s rings. The heading plus the drop will give you the overall length of your curtain.

Do you have any home décor hang ups you’re dying to know how to solve? Tell us in the comments below and we may feature it in a future Inspiring Interiors blog post.