How to Measure for Curtains (and Why We Still Come to You)

You do not need to measure anything to get a quotation from us — the home visit is free and measuring is included. But people like a number before they commit, so here is how to get a reasonable estimate yourself, along with the mistakes that turn a made-to-measure order into an expensive mistake.

Measure the track, not the glass

This is the error that causes the most trouble. Curtains are sized to the track or pole, and the track should be wider than the window — usually 15–20 cm past the frame on each side, so the curtain can stack clear of the glass when open. If you measure the window and order to that, your curtains will permanently cover the edges of your own window.

If the track is not up yet, measure the window and add 30–40 cm to the total width. That is what we would fit.

Width

Measure the full length of the track or pole, end to end, excluding the finials on a pole. Use a steel tape, not a fabric one. Write it in centimetres.

Drop

Three common finishes, and they are not interchangeable:

• To the sill — the curtain stops just above the windowsill. Practical over a radiator or a fixed unit, less common here.
• Below the sill — roughly 15 cm past it. A tidy compromise for small windows.
• To the floor — 1 cm clear of the floor for a curtain that will be drawn daily, or 2–3 cm longer if you want it to break slightly. This is what most UAE homes want and what looks best on tall windows.

Measure from the top of the track (or from the eye of the ring on a pole) down to where you want the hem to land. Measure on both sides and in the middle — floors and ceilings here are frequently out by a centimetre or more, and the curtain will show it.

Things a tape measure will not tell you

This is the real argument for the visit. The measurement is the easy part; the decisions around it are not:

• Can the ceiling take the fixing? Concrete slab, plasterboard, or board with a void behind it — each needs a different anchor, and a bracket fixed into board alone will eventually pull out.
• Is there clearance for a double track? Shallow bulkheads sometimes will not take one, and that changes what you can order.
• Where is the AC vent? A curtain hung directly under a vent will move constantly and collect dust fast.
• How much wall is there to stack onto? This decides the track length, and it decides whether a wave heading is viable at all.
• Is the wall square? Frequently not. On a long run this affects where the track can actually be fixed.

The one rule if you take nothing else

Never order made-to-measure curtains from a measurement you are not certain about. Fabric cut short cannot be lengthened, and a made-to-measure order is not returnable in the way a ready-made panel is. If there is any doubt, book the visit — it is free, it takes under an hour, and the measurement becomes our responsibility rather than yours.