How to measure
- 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.
- 02
Measure the drop from the reference point stated for the selected heading—not from an unrelated edge of the window.
- 03
Check whether a package contains one panel or a pair, then compare total flat fabric width rather than the label width alone.
- 04
Recheck the selected product, tape, hooks, carriers, and fabric before ordering or cutting.
Avoid letting the panel package choose the rod
Establish the intended coverage and side extension first, then select the nearest product.
Single versus paired panels
A single panel reduces the center split and can stack to one side. A pair creates symmetry but may crowd a very short rod.
Use the surrounding wall
Window size alone does not decide length. Furniture, sill projection, and the desired visual line also matter.
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.
- BETYDLIG/RÄCKA/HUGAD buying guide — Measure your windowIKEA · reviewed 2026-09-11
Primary manufacturer guide: add at least 6 in each side, add 6 in above, and use 2–2.5× rod width for panel planning.
- 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.