Help with Figuring Out What Size Curtains You Need

Window Toppers has taken the guess work out of figuring out what size curtains or window treatments you may need for your window size.

All You Need to know is the "Size of your Window" !

We have provided our customers at our web site Windowtoppers.com with excellent detailed product information regarding sizes. On each and every product page in our site, you will find that we have stated what window width each curtain or window treatment may cover, and even suggestions on how to accommodate wider windows. You can refer to the information provided below as a guideline as well.

Measuring The Length Needed:

*Important Note about Rod Pocket Size and measuring lengths...

Window treatments made with a 1 1/2 inch rod pocket are measured overall. Length is measured from the top edge of the curtain to the bottom edge (longest point) of the curtain.

Window Treatments made with a 3 inch rod pocket are measured from the top stitch line of the rod pocket to the bottom edge (longest point) of the curtain.

Pinch Pleated Drapes & Patio Door Dapery Panels (have no rod pocket) are measured overall. Length is measured from the top edge of the drape to the bottom edge (longest point) of the drapery.

How to measure...

With your empty curtain rod hanging on your window, measure from the top of the curtain rod down to the top edge of the window sill.

Example; if this area measures 63", you would need to order a 63" long curtain if you desired it to hang down this long.

Curtains are made to fit these common window lengths, 24", 30", 36", 38", 45", 54", 63", 72", 81" or 84", & 95".

If you happen to have a window that falls in between these sizes, you could use curtains that are a little longer, or a little shorter, depending on the desired look you are trying to achieve.

Example; if your window measures 60", you could use a 63" long curtain which would hang 3" longer than window sill, or a 54" long, which would hang 6" above window sill.

You could also move your curtain rod hardware to accommodate for the difference in lengths if possible, or order a customized length from us.

*Tiers / Privacy Tiers are usually used to cover the bottom half of your window, and hang down so they just barely reach the window sill. Some people use Tiers as a stand alone window treatment in windows of short lengths.

Measuring The Width Needed:

"Finished Width" - Definition = The Finished Width of a curtain or window treatment is the "overall" width measurement of the item laying flat, not installed / or hanging on the rod.

This is the measurement you see advertised in the product name of each product in our web site.

This finished width measurement is not the actual size/width of a window that it will accommodate, but rather the overall measurement of the item laying flat.

On most curtains & window treatments, it takes one and a half to three times more material/curtain to provide the proper fullness in appearance when installed/hanging on rod than the actual window width.

To help guide your selection, we provide information in the description of each and every product as to "what size window each curtain/window treatment will accommodate".

For more information on figuring out what width curtain or window treatment you might need, please read the information below...

With the empty curtain rod hanging in window, measure the width of the rod from left to right(or vice-versa).

A common rule for displaying curtains (excludes drapes) properly is the curtains finished width should be at least 1 1/2 - 3 times the width of your window to achieve a look of proper fullness in appearance.

Example: If your window measures 40" wide ( window width x 1.5 = minimum width needed / x 3 = maximum width needed), you should need a curtain ( or curtain set/pair) with a width between 60" - 120 wide to properly cover your windows width, and achieve it's proper appearance.
A few inches narrower or wider should not make a difference.

Scarf Window Treatments:

Deciding on the length you might need for a scarf is a judgement call on the customers behalf, because everyone has their own personal taste on how they like to display them.

"THERE IS NO CORRECT OR INCORRECT WAY THAT THEY SHOULD LOOK !"

That is the strongest feature of choosing to use a Scarf - it's Versatility. If you look at the many different styles of Scarves in our site, you will see that many of them are displayed in different ways.

Please read the following information for assistance.

Scarves can be adjusted by hand to accommodate a wide variety of window sizes. Everyone has a different idea as a matter of personal preference on how they like to have Scarf's displayed.

Here is a basic formula for helping you estimate what size you may need.

Length of Window x 2 = ______
+ width of window... + ______

= approximate estimate of scarf length needed.

(Example: if the length is 63" and the width is 32", 63" x 2 {=126"}+ 32" = 158").

This would be the longest possible length you may need - if you would like your scarf to hang down to the bottom of your window sill.

Many people like them to hang down to the floor.

We do not make a 158" Long Scarf (nobody does), and would recommend a 4 YARD - 144" Long Scarf for this window.

At 144" Long, this Scarf would hang down to approximately 7" above the window sill on both sides.

We make scarves in these three lengths... You can be the judge of what length you will need.

The lengths are 108" (3 yard), 144" (4 yard), and 216" (6 Yard).

If you would like to phone us at # 1-800-549-8289 and tell us the size of your window and what style you might be interested in, we can help guide you by telling what size we would recommend.

You can also adjust your hanging hardware such as sconces to accommodate the desired look you are trying to achieve.

Door Panels - (door window curtains)

*Measuring the length needed is done from the top stitch line of the top rod pocket to the bottom stitch line of the bottom rod pocket.

The length of Door Panels which we sell are measured in this manner - from rod pocket to rod pocket.

Example; Our Style# 8420 "Kerry" 40" wide x 63" long Tailored Door Panel measures 63" from rod pocket - to - rod pocket.

If you are measuring rods already installed on a door, the measurement from rod-to-rod is the length you will need.

You can also adjust where the rods are mounted to accommodate Door Panels you are going to buy.

Each 40" wide Door Panel can accommodate approximately 15" - 20" of window width. Most normal width doors require only one or two Door Panels per door window (depending on width). French Doors (Double Door set-up) would require two Door Panels, one for each side.

Pinch Pleated Drapes / Patio Door Drapes

This style of window treatment does not get gathered on a curtain rod (no rod pocket), so the width of your window or patio door / or drapery rod is approximately the width size you would need. With patio doors (sliding glass doors), a little extra width may be needed beyond the actual width of the door frame. With traverse rods (open & close with draw string) you would want the drapery panel or panels to pull completely off to the side to allow for use of the door without the drape interfering with the function of the door.

If you have a drapery rod already installed on your window or patio door, measuring the length from the rod down to approximately where you would like them to hang will give you the estimated length needed.

If you still have questions about what size curtain you may need, please contact us and will gladly help you figure out what size curtain will meet you window decorating needs.

Call us Toll Free at Phone # 1-800-549-8289
Monday - Thursday... hours 8:00 am - 2:30 pm EST
Friday... hours 8:00 am - 12:00 noon EST

or email us your question to customerservice@windowtoppers.com