Window Curtain & Drapery Fabric (2023)

FAQs

How do I calculate how much material I need for curtains? ›

First, multiply the track/pole width by your chosen fullness (eg. Pole width 150cm x 2.5 = 375). Next, divide that figure by the fabric width, which is typically 137cm (375 divided by 137 = 2.73). Then, round that up to the closest whole number to calculate how many widths you need (3).

For Standard Width Panels: Finished length of curtains + 16 inches divided by 36 = number of yards required. Add 1 extra yard (or one vertical repeat of the fabric) per pair if using a large print fabric.

A simple rule of thumb is that a curtain is one and a half to two times the width of the area it is meant to cover. A heavier fabric will provide fullness that a lightweight fabric can not. The lighter the weight of the fabric, the more fullness it will require.

When it comes to material, linen, silk, faux silk and velvet are the best choices to use for window treatments since they tend to hang the best, says Guercio. "Faux silk tends to be the most durable," she says. And in a particularly sunny room, faux silk doesn't deteriorate as quickly as real silk.

For a 60 inch window, you need curtains with a finished width at least 1.5 times that, but better are those with twice that width and even three times the width for sheers. Therefore, for a 60 inch window, you need two panels of 60 inches each for twice the width and a luxurious gather.

If your window width is 72 inches and you want to get a standard fullness, you should buy a curtain that is at least 144-inch wide. Rounding the figure off to the next full number (for example 150 inches) would be great too.

Example: If your window measures 36" wide (window width x 2 = 72"), you need curtains that will give a minimum width of 72" or 2 panels for that window. In this case 2 panels will give about 100" to 120" of width which will look nice and full. Always round up to the next full number.

108-Inch Width

Using a fabric 108 inches wide means we only need to buy one width of the material. Multiplying the drop of 66 inches by the number of fabric widths gives us 66 inches. This equals 5.5 feet or 1.83 yards. Rounding up to the next full yard means these curtains require 2 yards of fabric.

A standard single panel width of rod pocket drapes with a length of 96 inches will require about 6-1/4 to 6-1/2 yards of fabric for a pair, but the yardage can increase substantially when large pattern repeats, special headers, and extra fullness are introduced.

Most decorator fabrics are 54 inches wide per industry standards, but this may vary slightly. You may also encounter fabrics that are between 50 and 60 inches wide, although those widths are less frequently found. Of course, there are also railroaded fabrics, where the width is the entire yardage on the bolt.

How much curtain fullness do I need? ›

Typically, drapes are pleated on 12” centers. Most successful in fabrications with 150% - 200% fullness.

The most common types of curtain fabric are cotton, silk, linen, polyester, velvet, acrylic, rayon, brocade, lace and voile.

In general, it's made of cotton, linen, rayon (natural cellulose fiber), or a blend that can include polyester. It's used in a wide range of projects, including curtains, valances, roman shades, throw pillows, accent chairs, dining chairs, headboards, ottomans, duvet covers, wall art, and accessories like handbags.

The two factors that you should consider while picking your fabric are: The amount of sunlight you want streaming in. The mood and decor of your room. For example, heavier fabrics suit more traditional rooms while sheer fabrics work best in more minimalist rooms.

A general rule of thumb in determining how wide your curtains should be is to buy them 2 to 2 and a half times the width of your window.

How Wide Should Curtains Be? To ensure that panels look ample and drapey when closed, they should have a combined width that is 2 to 2½ times the width of the window. Exceptions: If you're hanging curtains just to frame a window and don't intend to shut them, you can round down to 1½ times the width.

For the best results, install the curtain rods high above the windows and keep the rods' length wider than the windows. Add 3 inches beyond the window frame on each side to: Make your windows look larger than they are. Open the curtains completely to allow maximum light penetration.

For example, for a 60-inch window with two curtain panels, add 24 inches to 60 inches (window width) and divide by 2 (number of panels) to get 42 inches. The two panels ordered each need to be at least 42 inches wide.

How High to Hang Curtains. A rule of thumb (from Architectural Digest) is that curtains should be hung between four to six inches above the window frame, so install your curtain rod accordingly. When you hang the curtain rod high, it will make the window appear taller.

What size curtain do I need for a 48 inch window? ›

Keep in mind that the width measurement is flat. If you hang a 48-inch panel on a 48-inch window, there will be no fullness or draping. According to Curtainshop.com, finished curtains should be twice the width of the window, so if your window is 36 inches wide, you need panels that are at least 72 inches across.

In the United States, the most popularly sold curtain width is 54”, but it can wildly vary. Made from 50” to 108” across, it's important to know how many panels you'll need to cover your windows.

So should curtains touch the floor? The short answer is yes... usually. But when making any decision about your window treatments, whether they're drapes, blinds, or shades, it's important to consider every aspect of style and function so you can choose the best option for your windows and your home.

The top of most of our windows are 8ft, and we used 108″ panels almost everywhere. So we hung our curtain rod about 13 inches above the windows. The higher the curtain rod, the taller your window will appear. I recommend to always install a rod closer to the ceiling than the top of the window.

Standard curtains come in three lengths—84 inches, 96 inches, or 108 inches—but experts say you should opt for longer rather than shorter.

The standard curtain lengths are 63, 84, 96, 108 and 120 inches long, and curtain panels are typically 48 inches wide. Curtain lengths will also vary depending on the style you're looking for: Float: The curtains “float” just above the floor.

Curtains generally come in a couple of standard sizes, depending on the type of curtain you are using. Curtain panels: 63, 84, 95, 108, and 120 inches long and 48 inches wide. Tier curtain panels: 24 and 36 inches long with widths varying in size, but the most common width is 45 inches.

Types. Single Panel Curtain:As the name states, single panel curtains are made of one piece of fabric. These are great for sliding glass doors. Shop Single Panel Curtains and Drapes. Panel Pair: These curtains come in matching pairs, allowing you to hang the two pieces of fabric on either side of the window.

A panel is a length of fabric, hemmed at the bottom, that hangs in front of a window. It may be tab- or tie-topped; have grommets; be one of two panels that form a set of curtains that cover a window when pulled closed; or be a fixed, flat panel of cloth over the window.

How wide should curtains be? To ensure that curtain panels look ample when closed, they should have a combined width that is 2 to 2.5 times the width of the window/rod.

What is the most common width of fabric? ›

Width. The most common width for fabric today in the United States is 54 inches; however, 48-inch-wide fabric is found both here and in Great Britain, and 40- and 42-inch widths are standard for many imported fabrics, like Indian silks.

When measuring for curtains, keep in mind that curtains usually come in only a few different lengths: 63 inches, 84 inches, 95 inches, 108 inches, and 120 inches. Tier curtains, which are shorter and generally don't cover an entire window, are usually either 24 inches or 36 inches long.

Choosing light-colored paint for the walls and custom drapes can make any room look bigger. Since bright colors are more reflective, the room looks airier and more open because it contains more natural light. Dark colors do just the opposite because they absorb light and make a space look smaller.

Ripplefold Fullness

As you can see below, the larger the % fullness the more waves. In fact at 60% there are 20 waves , at 80% there are 22 waves, at 100% there are 24 waves, and at 120% there are 27 waves.

Drapery 'fullness' refers to how much fabric we are putting into the folds, or pleats, of the drapery. Using simple formulas, we calculate the amount of fabric needed to achieve the look desired.

Divide your total by the width of a single curtain panel to get the number of panels you need. ~ Multiply window width by 2.5 to 3 if you want curtains tightly gathered for a full, luxurious look. Divide your total by the width of a single curtain panel to get the number of panels you need.

Fabric consumption in length = (Total area required to cover all components / Fabric width). Note: When doing the calculation of area and measuring the fabric length you must use the same unit of measure. Like, if you measure fabric in square meter then measure the fabric width in meters.

To ensure that panels look ample and drapey when closed, they should have a combined width that is 2 to 2½ times the width of the window. Exceptions: If you're hanging curtains just to frame a window and don't intend to shut them, you can round down to 1½ times the width.

How Wide Should Curtains Be For A 100-Inch Window? The average curtain bought to hang on a 100-inch window should measure between 200 and 250 inches wide. To achieve appropriate fullness with thinner material, get curtains upward of 300 inches wide. For decorative purposes, you can go 150 inches in width.

How many curtains do I need for a 36 inch window? ›

Example: If your window measures 36" wide (window width x 2 = 72"), you need curtains that will give a minimum width of 72" or 2 panels for that window. In this case 2 panels will give about 100" to 120" of width which will look nice and full. Always round up to the next full number.

Quantity Estimate

It is a key estimating method in construction. Cost numbers are calculated by multiplying the dimensions on the project drawings by the rate for a particular item of work.

To calculate the economic order quantity, you will need the following variables: demand rate, setup costs, and holding costs. The formula is: EOQ = square root of: [2(setup costs)(demand rate)] / holding costs.

The formula used is:(budgeted manufacturing overhead × 100)/budgeted direct material cost. (budgeted manufacturing overhead × 100)/budgeted direct material cost.

Length x Width x Height = CBM

Then, its volume is 2 x 2 x 2 = 8 m³.

It is measured by counting the number of threads contained in one square inch of fabric or one square centimetre, including both the length (warp) and width (weft) threads. The thread count is the number of threads counted along two sides (up and across) of the square inch, added together.

Multiply the length by the width and you'll have the square feet. Here's a basic formula you can follow: Length (in feet) x width (in feet) = area in sq. ft.