Knowing how to measure for curtain panels will help answer the question, “How many curtain panels do I need?” Hanging too few curtain panels will make a window look incomplete. On the other hand, hanging too many curtain panels will make a window look bulky and over-dressed.

Before you begin buying based on guesswork, there are a few easy steps to help you determine how many curtain panels are right for your windows.

Consider Material Thickness and Fullness

Choosing a color and pattern for your curtain panels is usually the first thing that comes to mind when shopping for new curtain panels. However, there are a few other matters to determine first: material thickness and fullness.

Material Thickness

The thickness of the material is directly related to the material itself. However, thickness also serves a few other purposes.

Material thickness…

• Determines how much of the inside of your home can be seen at night. You may want to consider thicker curtain panels for privacy if you live in a street-level, densely-populated area versus a rural environment.
• Affects how full the curtain panels will ultimately appear. As a rule, the thinner the material, like sheer panels, the fuller they will appear.
• Provide shade from sunlight during the day. East and west facing windows will require a thicker material in order to protect furniture and flooring from the harmful effects of direct sunlight.
• Thicker curtains can serve as insulators. The thicker the curtain material, the less cold or heat will enter your home.

Our Ella Collection Abstract Foil Printed Blackout Curtain is great at keeping your home cool during the summer and warm during the winter. You will need fewer of these panels to cover your window.

Fullness

Curtain fullness refers to the ratio of the curtain rod to the amount of curtain fabric used in the finished panel. Curtains with more fullness will have more pleats and a tailored appearance.

The amount of fullness desired is a personal choice and will depend on the décor and overall look you want to present in a room.

Depending on the fabric, curtains can range anywhere from 1.5 – 3 times fullness. You will need to take into consideration how full you want your curtains to appear when choosing how many curtain panels you need.

Curtain Fullness Ratio Guide:

• 1.5x: minimum fullness
• 2x: medium fullness
• 2.5x: high fullness
• 3x: extra high fullness

It is important to note that custom curtains can have specific fraction amounts of curtain fullness. You can also layer curtains, as seen with our Bella Window Treatment Set, to add both color and texture to your room.

Calculate How Many Curtain Panels You Need

To calculate how many curtain panels you need, grab a tape measure and a notepad to keep track of measurements.

• Measure the width of the curtain rod. Take into account how much overlap you will want on each side of the window, especially if you are purchasing thick, light-blocking curtains. In general, you will want to add 1 – 3 extra inches per side.
• Measure the height of the area that needs to be covered. For floor-length curtains, it is recommended to keep at least 1 inch of space between the bottom of the curtain and the floor. This will help prevent a tripping hazard, as well as avoid too much dust from accumulating in pooled fabric.
• Using the rod length, calculate the desired amount of curtain fullness using the ratio guide above.
  
  • Rod length x Curtain fullness ratio = Amount of curtain fabric needed
• Once you have determined the amount of curtain fabric needed for your desired look, you can calculate how many panels you need.
  
  • Amount of curtain fabric needed ÷ Width of chosen panels = Number of panels needed

If your calculations have resulted in a fraction, round the number of panels up for a fuller look; round down for a less full appearance. If you are aiming for a center-split arrangement, round the number to the next even number to allow the same number of panels on each side.

Helpful Tips for Curtain Panel Shopping

• The width of the curtain panel, as listed on the packaging, is the flat width of the panel unless the package indicates otherwise. The width refers to a single curtain panel, even when they are sold in pairs.
• Curtain panel sizes are always listed width by length. Therefore, a curtain panel listed 54” x 84” is 54 inches wide by 84 inches long.
• Installing a curtain rod prior to choosing curtains can help ensure that you have the perfect fullness ratio. If you do not have a curtain rod yet, measure your window and add 6 inches to the window measurement.
• When using clips or rings, take the hanging distance into consideration when measuring curtain length.
• At Linen Store, our curtain panel measurements can be found in the product description area.

If you would like some help answering “How many curtain panels do I need?”, we are always happy to answer all of your curtain panel questions.