How to Measure and Install Custom Curtains

Measuring and installing custom curtains is a two-part job, and the first part does all the heavy lifting. Get the measurements right and the installation is an afternoon task. Here is the short version of both, with the full measuring walkthrough linked below.

Measuring: the short version

Start with the tools: a steel tape measure, a step ladder if your rod is high, and something to record your numbers in inches.

Decide where the rod will sit before you measure anything. Mounting it several inches above the window frame makes the window look taller, and the rod position determines the length you will measure.

Measure the width. Take the full width of the window frame, then add a few inches on each side so the curtains extend past it. That total is your coverage width.

Apply fullness. Curtains look best when the total fabric width is 1.5 to 2 times the coverage width. Multiply, then divide by the number of panels to get the width of each panel.

Measure the length from the rod down to your chosen ending point: just below the sill, just above the floor with about half an inch of clearance, or lightly touching the floor with an extra inch or two.

Record everything in whole or half inches. Never round to the nearest foot.

The full measuring guide

Those steps are the outline. For the complete walkthrough, including the common mistakes to avoid, follow our step-by-step measuring guide. It takes about five minutes and is worth reading before you pick up the tape.

When your numbers are ready, the configurator turns them into panels at your exact size, with a live price as you enter each dimension.

Installing: what you need

For installation you will need the curtain rod and brackets, a drill or screwdriver, a level, a pencil, and a stepladder. A second pair of hands helps with wide windows.

If your panels are already ordered, you measured from a planned rod position, so stick to that plan. Moving the rod even a couple of inches changes where the panels end.

Installing: the steps

Mark the bracket positions. Measure the same distance from the ceiling or frame on both sides and mark the screw holes with a pencil.

Check the level. A rod that is half an inch off is invisible on paper and obvious in a room. Use the level before drilling anything.

Mount the brackets securely. Wide setups may need a center bracket so the rod does not bow over time.

Hang the rod, then the panels. Arrange the folds by hand so they fall evenly across the width, then step back and look from a few spots in the room. Small adjustments to how the folds sit make a visible difference.

Check the ending point

Once the panels are hung, look at where they end. Just above the floor should show a slim, even gap. Lightly touching the floor should read as a soft, intentional break, not a puddle you never planned.

If something looks off, the cause is almost always the rod position or a measurement, and it is easier to move a bracket now than to live with panels that float or bunch.

Questions before or after you order? Reach us any time through the Contact page.