Curtain Fabric Calculator
Enter the window size, the mounting type and the pleat ratio to get the finished curtain width, the metres of fabric to order, the track length and the number of rings.
Curtain fabric is sold by the metre, but the metres you need depend on the pleat ratio and on how wide the track runs. Enter the measurements and the calculator returns the finished width, the fabric to order, the track length and the ring count. Figures assume the common 280 cm fixed-height fabric width; confirm the width with your supplier before ordering.
Measurements and settings
Results update as you type. All lengths are in centimetres.
Fabric to order
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Finished curtain width
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Width per panel
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Track or rod length
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Rings or hooks
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Choosing a pleat ratio
| Ratio | Look | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5× | Flat, light folds | Narrow windows, sheer curtains, small rooms |
| 2.0× | Even, standard folds | Most fabrics and most windows |
| 2.5× | Deep, dense folds | Heavy fabric, wide windows, formal rooms |
Before you order
- Measure the window opening, not the glass. Curtains need to overlap the recess so no light leaks around the edges.
- Allow for hems: about 10 cm at the top and 20 cm at the bottom for floor length, or 10 cm at the bottom for sill length.
- Most fabric comes in a 280 cm width. As long as the drop plus hems stays under 280 cm, you buy metres along the width and nothing is joined vertically.
- A track should run about 10 cm past the covered width on each side; a wall rod about 15 cm each side, so the fabric stacks clear of the glass.
- For a two-panel curtain, order two panels of half the finished width each and state "two panels" on the order.
- Patterned or striped fabric needs extra for matching the repeat — add roughly 10–30 cm, or one full pattern repeat, per drop.
Five common mistakes
- Measuring only the glass and forgetting the curtain must cover the frame and the wall beside it.
- Ordering by window height and forgetting the top and bottom hems.
- Mixing up a 280 cm and a 150 cm fabric width — the metres needed are completely different.
- Buying a rod shorter than the covered width, so the curtains cannot open clear of the window.
- Ignoring the pattern repeat, then running short on the last panel.
Estimates only. Fabric width, pattern repeat and making-up allowance vary by supplier — confirm the final metres with the shop before ordering.