LENGTHS GUIDE · REVIEWED SEPTEMBER 11, 2026

Apron-Length Curtains: Below-Sill Measurement

Calculate an apron or below-sill curtain drop and understand the common 6-inch / 15-centimeter example.

MEASURED WIDTHFINISHED DROP
Original proportional diagram. Use actual measurements; drawing is not to scale for a specific product.

SHORT ANSWER

Start here

Apron-length or below-sill curtains intentionally finish beneath the sill. A common published example is 15 cm (6 in) below, but the visible wall, furniture, and selected product should determine the real endpoint.

EndpointBelow the sill
Published example6 in / 15 cm
Measure fromHeading reference
UseShort window treatment

How to measure

  1. 01

    Measure the actual working rod or track width; if hardware is not installed, record the window-frame width and your planned side extensions separately.

  2. 02

    Measure the drop from the reference point stated for the selected heading—not from an unrelated edge of the window.

  3. 03

    Check whether a package contains one panel or a pair, then compare total flat fabric width rather than the label width alone.

  4. 04

    Recheck the selected product, tape, hooks, carriers, and fabric before ordering or cutting.

Apron is an endpoint, not a standard size

The sill height and rod position vary, so apron curtains cannot be selected from window height alone.

Keep the wall composition in view

A few inches can look balanced on one window and awkward on another. Mark the proposed line temporarily before ordering.

Check product construction

Tabs, grommets, rings, and tracks change the starting reference and therefore the final drop.

Before you order or cut

Measure the actual window and selected product. Finished sizes, fullness, header take-up, hardware geometry, and manufacturer tolerances vary. Fabric can shrink, stretch, or behave differently by composition. Measurements do not guarantee fit, privacy, water containment, installation, load capacity, or structural safety. Use the selected product instructions, and have a professional workroom verify expensive custom-fabric orders.

SOURCE NOTES

What this page is based on

Measurements here combine mathematical results with labeled commercial conventions and design recommendations. Disagreements are kept as ranges rather than averaged into a false standard.

  1. Buying curtainsJohn Lewis & Partners · reviewed 2026-09-11

    Retailer/workroom guidance on pole extension, hanging references, sill/floor endpoints, ready-made metric ranges, and double fullness.