How Wide Should Curtains Be?

Curtain width is the measurement most people get wrong, and it is the one that most visibly separates curtains that look luxurious from ones that look flat. Here is how to get it right.

Start with coverage width

Coverage width is the total span you want the curtains to cover when closed. It is not the glass width. Measure the full window frame, then add a few inches on each side so the curtains extend past the frame. That extension lets the open panels stack against the wall and keeps the glass clear during the day.

Apply fullness

Fullness is how much wider the total fabric is than the coverage width. At 1x, the fabric is exactly as wide as the coverage width, which means it hangs flat with no folds. At 1.5x, there is enough extra fabric to fall in relaxed, soft folds. At 2x, the folds are deeper and more formal.

For satin, 1.5x to 2x is the right range. Below 1.5x, the panels look stretched and thin. Above 2x, the folds become very dense and the panels get heavy.

Divide by panels

Multiply your coverage width by your chosen fullness factor to get the total fabric width. Then divide by the number of panels to get the width of each panel.

Example: 80-inch coverage width at 1.5x fullness = 120 inches of total fabric. Two panels = 60 inches each. Four panels = 30 inches each.

Why width matters more than most people think

A curtain at the wrong length is noticeable. A curtain at the wrong width is worse, because it affects every fold, every shadow, and the whole impression of the room. Flat, under-wide curtains look like they belong in a different house.

Our measuring guide covers the width calculation step by step. The configurator prices your exact panel width as you enter it.