How to Measure Curtains
The right measurements for a perfect order
What you’ll need to measure
1 -2 people
Less than 5 mins
Your tape measure (metal is best)
Your step ladder
A pen and some paper
Designing your dream curtains
The fun starts with designing how your curtains will fit, so channel your inner stylist and get creative! This is about finding your dream look and getting custom curtains that fit and function perfectly.
Ceiling mount
Curtains that hang from your ceiling are called ceiling mount:
Give a sense of space and draw focus to the height of your room
Curtains are best attached to ceiling battens
Great option for a straight edge ceiling and to fit inside cornices
Opt for a double track to layer curtains (see our measure guide for double curtains)
Add motorisation for effortless luxury and choose wired or battery motors for your curtains
Go for sheer curtains for a soft and floaty look and blockout fabrics to stop light coming in
Select lined curtains for incredible thermal insulation and an ultra plush feel
Keep it on trend with a left stack or right stack, or pick a centre opening or multiple openings for easy access to your windows and doors
Get the luxe look with an S fold or go traditional with pleated curtains
Choose from 3 finishes - just off the floor, touching the floor or puddled
Pick your perfect hem and for premium linens opt for our 100 mm hem
Customise your track flow by choosing a fixed flow or free flow
For larger drops, go for a longer wand or no wand at all
Opt for our designer or residential track in white to blend with light walls and in black or silver to tie in with similar features in your home
Combine curtains with roller blinds, giving you all the options to control light and privacy
Looking for something unique? Contact us about our designer curtain rods and different fabrics
Face mount
Curtains that hang on your wall are called face mount:
For a lush feel cover your entire wall with designer curtains
Curtains are best attached to wall studs and also attach to concrete, stone, brick or tile
Opt for a double track to layer curtains (see our measure guide for double curtains)
Add motorisation for effortless luxury and choose wired or battery motors for your curtains
Go for sheers for a soft and floaty look and blockout fabrics to stop light coming in
Select lined curtains for incredible thermal insulation and an ultra plush feel
Keep it on trend with a left stack or right stack, or pick a centre opening or multiple openings for easy access to your windows and doors
Get the luxe look with an S fold or go traditional with pleated curtains
Choose from 3 finishes -just off the floor, touching the floor or puddled
Pick your perfect hem and for premium linens opt for our 100 mm hem
Customise your track flow by choosing a fixed flow or free flow
For larger drops, go for a longer wand or no wand at all
Opt for our residential track in white to blend with light walls and in black or silver to tie in with similar features in your home
Combine curtains with roller blinds, giving you all the options to control light and privacy
Looking for something unique? Contact us about our designer curtain rods and different fabrics
Recess Fit
Blinds that sit inside the frame are called recess fit
seamless and modern look
ideal fit for living areas
our customers often pick light filtering or sunscreen fabrics
let a small amount of light in down the sides
perfect for nice, deep windows with minimal obstructions
front rolling blinds are usually recommended
add motorisation for effortless luxury, you can choose either wired or battery motors for your blinds
go for a pelmet for a luxe look, available in 4 neutral colours or to match your blind fabric
choose the 100 mm pelmet for a slimline look and the 120 mm pelmet for large windows
match your chain, bracket and base rail colour to your blind fabric, or choose a contrasting colour to tie in with other features in your home
Steps
Ceiling mount
Measuring up is easy, here's how to do it:
Measure your width
Measure the exact width of your ceiling from one wall to the other, and write it down. If you have cornices, you'll measure from the inside of your cornices. This measurement will be your track width.
Don't worry about measuring how much fabric you need; we'll take care of it for you based on your track width.
Measure your splits (optional)
For multiple openings you can choose 1 or 2 splits and tell us exactly where you'd like them. Splitting your curtains is a fantastic option for bi-fold and sliding doors so you can easily move sections of your curtains to access your doors.
Make a note of how many splits you'd like in your curtains. We will assume that your splits are evenly spaced if you don't give us split measurements.
If you don't want any splits you can skip to step 3.
For one custom split measure the width from the left across to where your split will be and write it down.
For two custom splits measure the widths from the left across to each split position and write them down.
Measure your drop
Measure from your ceiling down to the floor on the left side, middle and right side. If you have cornices, you'll measure from the inside of your cornice. Write down the largest of all three.
Go for puddling if your 3 measurements have a greater than 10 mm difference.
Choose your finish
When you design and order your curtains choose from the three options below.
Please only provide the hard measurements to us and please don't make any deductions or additions. We'll make the necessary adjustments so you get the perfect finish.
If you choose curtains just off the floor they will be approximately 5 - 10 mm shorter than your drop measurement, and they will hover just above your floor.
If you choose curtains touching the floor they will skim your floor by up to 5 mm.
If you choose puddling your curtains will puddle on your floor by 20 mm. If you'd like a larger puddle let us know in the comment section during checkout.
Choose your wand, stack option and track flow
Note down which wand you want. It sounds obvious but the larger your drop, the larger your wand needs to be so you can reach it.
Note down whether you want a left stack, right stack, centre opening or multiple openings. Think about which side is easiest to reach, obstruction free and which part of your window you'll want to open often. If you're adding motorisation your motor will sit on your stack side. Choose the side for your motor, if you want centre opening curtains. Motorisation is not available for multiple openings. We’ll make sure your motor fits; you don’t need to alter the measurements you took.
When you order choose between a fixed flow track and a free flow track. A free flow track gives you complete flexibility with how you open and stack your curtains. Motorisation is not available for free flow tracks.
Order your custom Curtains online
You're all set to order your curtains! When you order you'll choose your hem option. Just remember you don't need to add any extra to your measurements for your hem; we'll do it for you.
Remember to only give us the exact measurements you took; don't make any deductions or additions for your chosen finish.
If you order motorised curtains with a wired motor we'll mail out your cables straight away, so your electrician can start wiring.
Face mount
Measuring up is easy, here's how to do it:
Measure your width
For curtains to cover your entire wall: measure the exact width from one wall to the other and write it down. This measurement will be your track width.
For curtains to frame your window: measure the exact outside width of your window frame or recess across the top and write it down. Then add around 30% to the total width, so your curtains stack to the edge of your window. This measurement will be your track width. Example: your window frame width measures 1810 mm. You'll add 30% (543 mm), and then give us 2353 mm.
Don't worry about measuring how much fabric you need, we'll take care of that for you based on your track width.
Measure your splits (optional)
For multiple openings you can choose 1 or 2 splits and tell us exactly where you'd like them. Splitting your curtains is a fantastic option for bi-fold and sliding doors so you can easily move sections of your curtains to access your doors.
Make a note of how many splits you'd like in your curtains. We will assume that your splits are evenly spaced if you don't give us split measurements.
If you don't want any splits you can skip to step 3.
For one custom split measure the width from the left across to where your split will be and write it down.
If you're measuring from the left outside edge of your window frame or recess, add your left stack allowance in mm to your width. This is so your curtains stack off your window glass. Write down this measurement.
For two custom splits measure the widths from the left across to each split position and write them down.
If you're measuring one or both splits from the left outside edge of your window frame or recess, add your left stack allowance in mm to one or both widths. This is so your curtains stack off your window glass. Write down these measurements.
Measure your drop
Measure and mark with a pencil where your curtains will start - this will be the top of your curtain track. Use your ceiling or window frame as a reference point, so you get a level starting point across the top. Remember, it's best to hang your curtains from wall studs.
Go for puddling if your 3 measurements have a greater than 10 mm difference.
Measure from where your curtain will start down to the floor on the left side, middle and right side, and write down the largest of all three.
Please note: the drop measurement will be from where the top of the track will be mounted to the finished floor.
Go for puddling if your 3 measurements have a greater than 10 mm difference.
Choose your finish
When you design and order your curtains choose from the three options below.
Please only provide your hard measurements to us and please don't make any deductions or additions. We'll make the necessary adjustments so you get the perfect finish.
If you choose curtains just off the floor they will be approximately 5 - 10 mm shorter than your drop measurement, and they will hover just above your floor.
If you choose curtains touching the floor they will skim your floor by up to 5 mm.
If you choose puddling your curtains will puddle on your floor by 20 mm. If you'd like a larger puddle let us know in the comment section during checkout.
Choose your wand, stack option and track flow
Note down which wand you want. It sounds obvious but the larger your drop, the larger your wand needs to be so you can reach it.
Note down whether you want a left stack, right stack, centre opening or multiple openings. Think about which side is easiest to reach, obstruction free and which part of your window you'll want to open often. If you're adding motorisation your motor will sit on your stack side. Choose the side for your motor, if you want centre opening curtains. Motorisation is not available for multiple openings. We’ll make sure your motor fits; you don’t need to alter the measurements you took.
When you order choose between a fixed flow track and a free flow track. A free flow track gives you complete flexibility with how you open and stack your curtains. Motorisation is not available for free flow tracks.
Order your custom Curtains online
You're all set to order your curtains! When you order you'll choose your hem option. Just remember you don't need to add any extra to your measurements for your hem; we'll do it for you.
Remember to only give us the exact measurements you took; don't make any deductions or additions for your chosen finish.
If you order motorised curtains with a wired motor we'll mail out your cables straight away, so your electrician can start wiring.
Recess Fit
Measuring up is easy; we just need to know five things - your depth, your width, your drop, which side you'd like your chain on and any minor obstructions. Here's how to do it:
Check your depth
Ensure that there is at least 70mm of depth between the glass and the edge of your window frame to provide enough space for the roller blinds to fit neatly inside. If you are ordering an FRS pelmet, a minimum depth of 90mm is required.
Take note of any obstructions, which should be minimal. If you're unsure, feel free to contact us
Measure your Width
Measure and provide us with the exact inside width of the window frame across the top, and write it down. We will deduct 4mm from this width to ensure your blind fits perfectly in the reveal.
Please note that the fabric will be approximately 30-35mm narrower than your bracket-to-bracket measurement.
Measure your Drop
Measure the exact inside height of the window frame from top to bottom, and write it down. When your blind is rolled down, it will sit flush against the bottom of the frame.
Choose your chain side
Make a note of which side you'd like your chain to be on. Think about which side is easiest to reach, obstruction free and where the chain will be least visible.
Order your custom blinds online
You're all set to order your blinds!
If you want to add a pelmet to your order, just choose your size (100 mm or 120 mm) and know we'll do all the hard work so it fits like a dream. We don't need any extra measurements.
Our hints and tips
Want to know our top tips for measuring up like a pro?
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Give us your measurements in millimetres (mm).
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Double check all of your measurements before you order.
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Always write down 'width' and 'drop' next to your measurements, so you don't reverse them by accident!
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Only give us the exact measurements we ask for. Our team custom makes your curtains to fit your windows. They make standard adjustments to your drop to account for your chosen finish and tracks, so you don't have to.
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Measure every window. The size of your windows might vary slightly and we want all your curtains to fit perfectly!
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We know every home is unique and we're just a phone call away if you want advice: 1800 79 19 74
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For help deciding on a mount email a photo of your window(s) to our team: info@handyblinds.com.au.
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