Guides · 5 min · 6 October 2026
Measuring a window for made-to-measure curtains
Three measurements decide whether a panel breaks at the floor or hangs 20 mm short. None of them is the window width.
Measure the track or pole, not the glass. The panel needs to cover the opening plus a return on each side — usually 12 cm per panel for a pinch pleat.
Take the drop from the underside of the track to the floor, then decide the break: floor-grazing, 10 mm break, or a 20 mm clearance for a carpet.
Where orders go wrong
Skirting boards and radiators are the two most common surprises. Measure to the top of the skirting if the panel must clear it, and never assume the floor is level across a wide opening.
For a bay window, measure each face separately. A single wide panel will not follow the angles.