Curtain Size Calculator
Curtains that are too short, too narrow or hung too low make a living room look smaller. Enter your window, choose how you want the curtains to hang, and get the rod length and height, the number of panels and the length to buy.
Result
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Home decor to finish your living room
Curtain Size Chart by Window Width
This chart shows how much fabric a window needs at the standard 2× fullness, with the rod extending 6 inches past the window on each side. Panels are counted as a pair, with the same number on each side.
| Window width | Rod length | Fabric needed (2×) | Panels 50 in wide | Panels 84 in wide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in (61 cm) | 36 in (91 cm) | 72 in (183 cm) | 2 | 2 |
| 36 in (91 cm) | 48 in (122 cm) | 96 in (244 cm) | 2 | 2 |
| 48 in (122 cm) | 60 in (152 cm) | 120 in (305 cm) | 4 | 2 |
| 60 in (152 cm) | 72 in (183 cm) | 144 in (366 cm) | 4 | 2 |
| 72 in (183 cm) | 84 in (213 cm) | 168 in (427 cm) | 4 | 2 |
| 84 in (213 cm) | 96 in (244 cm) | 192 in (488 cm) | 4 | 4 |
| 96 in (244 cm) | 108 in (274 cm) | 216 in (549 cm) | 4 | 4 |
| 120 in (305 cm) | 132 in (335 cm) | 264 in (671 cm) | 6 | 4 |
Ready-made panels are sold in fixed widths, so the count rounds to an even pair. We accept up to 10% under the 2× target rather than buying a whole extra pair for a few inches. Use the calculator for your exact numbers.
How Long Should Curtains Be?
Curtain length is measured from the rod down. These examples assume a window 60 inches tall, a sill 30 inches off the floor and the rod hung 4 inches above the window frame, so the rod sits 94 inches from the floor.
| Style | How it hangs | Length from the rod | Nearest ready-made |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sill length | Stops about ½ in above the sill | 63.5 in | 63 in |
| Below the sill (apron) | About 5 in below the sill | 69 in | 84 in (hem it) |
| Floor length | Clears the floor by about ½ in | 93.5 in | 95 in |
| Puddle | Rests about 3 in on the floor | 97 in | 96 in |
Floor-length curtains depend on where the window sits on the wall. This table shows the length for a floor-length hang with the rod 4 inches above the frame.
| Window height | Sill 24 in off floor | Sill 30 in off floor | Sill 36 in off floor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 in (122 cm) | 75.5 in → 84 in | 81.5 in → 84 in | 87.5 in → 95 in |
| 60 in (152 cm) | 87.5 in → 95 in | 93.5 in → 95 in | 99.5 in → 108 in |
| 72 in (183 cm) | 99.5 in → 108 in | 105.5 in → 108 in | 111.5 in → 120 in |
The arrow shows the nearest ready-made length (63, 84, 95, 96, 108 or 120 inches). If you are between sizes, buy the longer panel and hem it, or move the rod up or down a little.
Fullness: How Many Times Wider Than the Rod?
Fullness is how much wider the fabric is than the rod. More fullness means deeper folds and a richer look; less looks flatter and more modern. Heavier or stiffer fabrics can be a little less full, while light, sheer fabric needs more to look good.
| Fullness | Look | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5× | Relaxed, flatter folds | Modern, minimal rooms; heavier fabrics; tight budgets |
| 2× | Standard, even folds | Most living rooms; rod pocket and ring-clip styles |
| 2.5× | Fuller, more formal | Pleated and tailored headings; a richer look |
| 3× | Very full | Sheers and lightweight fabrics |
How this calculator works
These are common interior-design guidelines, and the numbers are our own editorial estimates rather than lab-tested values. They are a sound starting point for most windows.
Rod length: the window width plus the extension on each side. A rod that extends 3 to 6 inches past the window frame lets the curtains stack off the glass, so the window looks wider and lets in more light. Our standard setting is 6 inches each side.
Rod height: hanging the rod 4 to 6 inches above the window frame makes the window and the ceiling look taller. For a dramatic look you can hang it near the ceiling.
Fabric width (fullness): the total width of fabric is the rod length multiplied by the fullness: 1.5× for a relaxed look, 2× for standard, 2.5× for a fuller look, and up to 3× for sheers.
Panels: we divide the fabric you need by the width of one panel and round to the nearest whole panel, allowing up to 10% under the target fullness. Pairs are kept even, so the same number of panels hangs on each side.
Length: measured from the rod. Sill length stops about half an inch above the sill; below-the-sill hangs about 5 inches lower; floor length clears the floor by about half an inch; and a puddle adds about 3 inches of fabric on the floor.
Making your own: if you tick this box we add about 4 inches for the bottom hem, 4 inches for the heading and 4 inches across for the side hems.
Tips for a better result
Hang the rod first
If you can, install the rod before you measure for length. The exact rod height changes the length you need, and measuring from the rod avoids a cut that is a couple of inches off.
When in doubt, go longer
You can shorten a panel with a hem or by hiding the extra at the top in a ring-and-clip style, but you cannot add length. Buying the longer of two sizes is almost always the safer choice.
Allow for rings and brackets
Rings and clips add about 1 to 2 inches between the rod and the top of the curtain. Subtract that from the length if you want the hem to land exactly at the floor.
Check the floor in a few spots
Floors are rarely perfectly level. Measure from the rod to the floor at both ends and the middle, and use the shortest of the three if you want a clean break.
Limitations of This Estimate
This calculator assumes a single, flat window or a straight stretch of wall with a straight rod. Bay and bow windows, arched windows and corner windows need a measurement for each section.
The ready-made sizes (63, 84, 95, 96, 108 and 120 inches long; panels 50, 54 and 84 inches wide) are common in the US but vary by brand, so check the product size before you buy.
Fabric, lining and heading style change how a curtain hangs. Treat the numbers as a starting point, and check the label for the finished size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Floor length is the most popular choice: the hem clears the floor by about half an inch. For a window with a deep sill or a radiator beneath it, sill length or just below the sill works better. Measure from the rod to the floor or sill, and use the calculator above for the exact number.
The fabric should be about 2 times the length of the rod for a standard look, 1.5 times for a flatter look and 2.5 to 3 times for a very full or sheer look. A 72 inch rod needs about 144 inches of fabric at 2× fullness.
Divide the fabric you need by the width of one panel and round up to a pair. With 50 inch panels, a 72 inch rod at 2× fullness needs 144 inches of fabric, so 4 panels (2 on each side). With 84 inch panels you need only 2.
About 4 to 6 inches above the top of the window frame is the usual guide. Hanging it higher, even close to the ceiling, makes the room feel taller.
Extend the rod 3 to 6 inches beyond each side of the window frame, or up to about 9 inches if you want the curtains to clear the glass completely when open. Our calculator uses 6 inches as its standard.
They can either just clear the floor, which is the cleanest look, or lightly graze it. A deliberate puddle adds about 3 inches of fabric on the floor and suits a more traditional, romantic style. Avoid curtains that stop a few inches above the floor, since they look like a mistake.
Read the curtain guides
Curtains for Living Room: Style, Length & Fabric Guide
How to choose curtains for your living room, from length and width to fabric and colour.
Read the guideHow Long Should Curtains Be? Sill, Floor & Puddle Lengths
Compare the four curtain lengths and find the right one for your window.
Read the guideHow Wide Should Curtains Be? Panels & Fullness Explained
How much fabric you need, how many panels to buy and what fullness means.
Read the guideHow High to Hang a Curtain Rod (and How Wide It Should Be)
The rod height and width rules that make a room feel taller.
Read the guide
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