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Knowing that a window is a metre and a half wide feels helpful until a shop asks about headings, tracks and pairs of panels. Take three separate measurements with you: the window opening, the hanging system and the finished drop you want. Keeping them distinct makes the order much easier to discuss.
Start with the pole or track
If it is already installed, measure the usable run and note whether a central bracket divides the curtains. Photograph the fittings and record whether the panels open to both sides or gather at one end. Decorative pole finials are not part of the fabric’s travel.
If you are choosing a new system, settle its position and compatible fittings first. IKEA’s curtain guide separates poles, tracks, brackets and accessories. That is a useful shopping order: decide how the fabric will hang before ordering it. Follow the chosen system’s instructions for fixings and permitted loads.
Agree where the drop starts
An eyelet heading sits differently from a curtain hung on hooks. Ask the seller to mark the measuring point for your particular heading on a sketch, then use that point at home. Clarify whether the quoted length describes the whole panel or its finished hanging drop.
Choose where the curtain should end: below the sill, just above the floor or resting on it. Measure at several positions across the run, especially if the floor or ceiling is uneven. Record any differences and discuss the hem before ordering. Where a radiator sits below the window, check the clearances specified for that appliance.
Flat width and covered width are different
A flat panel covers a different width once gathered. Ask for the recommended fullness for the particular fabric and heading. A single multiplier is not suitable for every design.
For example, two flat panels each 100 cm wide add up to a 200 cm run, but that leaves no extra fabric for folds. This is a simple arithmetic check, not a curtain-making specification. The amount to buy depends on the finish you choose.
Make a short shopping note
- Usable pole or track length and opening direction.
- Start and end points for the drop, shown on a sketch.
- Handles, radiators, furniture and doors nearby.
- Each panel’s width and length, plus the number in a pack.
- Care instructions and any preparation required before hemming.
For a wider room update, our living-room rug measuring guide can help you check the walking space near the window.
Can I copy my old curtains’ dimensions?
Use them as a reference, then measure the hanging arrangement again. A different heading, hook position or hem can change the result. Keep the sketch and ask the seller to record the order using the same measuring convention.
Sources checked on 23 September 2026.
