Free tool
Measure your window and get rod length, finished panel width and length, the nearest ready-made size and the fabric yardage for made-to-measure — in inches or centimeters.
How it works
Rod length = window width + overhang on each side (10 in / 25 cm is the designer default, so open curtains clear the glass). Rod height = floor-to-frame + mount height, or the ceiling height for a ceiling track. Finished length is measured from the top of the rod or track: to the sill, 4 in (10 cm) below it, ½ in (1 cm) off the floor for a clean “kiss”, 1 in (2.5 cm) onto the floor for a break, or 5 in (12 cm) for a puddle. Deduct ring or hook drop if you hang below the rod.
Fullness is how much fabric gathers across the rod: 2.25× for pinch and pencil pleats, 2× for wave, 1.75× for grommets, 1.5× for rod pockets and tabs. Total fabric width = rod length × fullness, split across the panels with 2 in (5 cm) of overlap on a pair.
Ready-made matches use US lengths of 63, 84, 96, 108 and 120 in with 50 or 54 in wide panels, and UK/EU lengths of 137, 183, 229 and 274 cm with 117, 168 and 228 cm widths; if the nearest size is more than 2 in (5 cm) off or the panels run too narrow, we suggest made to measure. Yardage = fabric widths per panel × panels × cut length (finished length + 10 in / 25 cm for hems and heading, rounded up to whole pattern repeats). Full guide: how to measure for curtains.
FAQ
Mount the rod about 10 in past the frame on each side, giving an 80 in rod, and buy panels that total 1.5–2.25 times that — 120 to 180 in of fabric width, so for a pair choose two 50–54 in ready-made panels for a light look or two 100 in panels for a full pleated look.
Between 4 and 6 in above the frame is standard; mounting closer to the ceiling — or using a ceiling track — makes the window read taller. Leave at least 2 in between the rod and the ceiling for the brackets.
Yes for living rooms and bedrooms: either ½ in above the floor (the tidy “kiss”) or 1 in onto it for a relaxed break. Puddled curtains are a formal look for heavy fabrics. Sill or apron lengths suit kitchens, bathrooms and windows above radiators.
Multiply the rod length by the fullness ratio to get the fabric width, divide by the fabric’s width (usually 54 in / 137 cm) and round up to whole widths, then multiply by the cut length — finished length plus about 10 in for hems and heading, rounded up to the pattern repeat. Two 84 in pinch-pleat panels for an 80 in rod take about 10 yards of plain 54 in fabric.
Keep reading
The four curtain lengths, where to hang the rod, how far to extend it, fullness ratios by heading style, a panel-width table and a measuring checklist that works for homes, hotels and rentals.
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