Guide · Curtains
How to measure your windows for curtains and blinds
Three measurements per window give you a good estimate. We still measure every window ourselves before anything is made.
The short answer
Measure each window's width and height in three places with a steel tape, in centimetres. For a blind inside the recess, keep the smallest width and the longest height. For curtains, measure where the track will go, add room on each side for the curtains to stack clear of the glass, and measure the drop to the floor. These figures give an estimate; our consultant measures again at the free home visit.
- Use a steel tape and centimetres; measure width and height three times each.
- For a blind inside the recess, keep the smallest width and the longest height.
- For curtains, measure the track position, not the glass, and the drop to the floor.
- Your figures are for an estimate; we measure again, free, before we make anything.
What you need
- A steel tape measure. A fabric tape stretches and gives you a wrong figure.
- Your phone, to note the figures and photograph each window.
- A step ladder for tall windows and double-height rooms.
Curtains: measure the track, then the drop
Curtains hang from a track or a rod, so measure where that will go, not the glass.
- Width. If your ceiling has a pocket for the track, as many Dubai apartments do, measure the pocket from wall to wall. Otherwise measure the window frame and add room on each side, so the curtains stack clear of the glass when they are open.
- Drop. Measure from the track, or where it will be fixed, to the floor, on the left, in the middle and on the right. Floors and ceilings are rarely level, so keep the shortest figure for floor-length curtains.
Blinds: inside or outside the recess
| Inside the recess | Outside the recess | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | Measure at the top, middle and bottom; keep the smallest | The recess width plus about 5 to 10 cm on each side |
| Height | Measure on the left, middle and right; keep the longest | The recess height plus room above for the fixing |
| Looks | Neat and built in | Blocks more light at the edges |
What to check in a Dubai home
- AC units and grilles near the window: a curtain shouldn't cover the airflow.
- Sliding balcony doors: curtains and blinds must clear the handle and the track.
- Floor-to-ceiling glass: heavy fabrics need a ceiling fixing that can carry them.
- Sockets and skirting under the window, which change where a curtain can stop.
When to leave it to us
Still choosing the fabric? Blackout, dim-out or sheer explains which each room needs.
Your figures are enough for an estimate. Before anything is made, our consultant measures every window again, brings fabric swatches to choose from and gives you a quote at home.
Questions people ask
Do I need to measure before a home visit?
No. Our consultant measures every window at the free home visit. Your own figures help you use the price guide for an estimate before we come.
Should curtains touch the floor?
Floor-length curtains usually stop about 1 cm above the floor, so they hang straight and stay clean. A longer, pooled look is possible, but it gathers dust and sand.
