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How to measure for curtains and blinds

Rough measurements are all we need to give you a guide price. Here's what to measure for each kind of window, in centimetres. Before anything is made, we visit and measure precisely ourselves.

Knowing how to measure for curtains can feel daunting, but for a guide price you only need a tape measure and a few minutes. You don't need to work out how wide your curtains should be or what length to make them. Measure the window as it is, send us the numbers, and we'll take it from there.

Choose your window below, follow the numbered steps, then send us your measurements. Photos help, but they aren't essential.

Close-up of square brass curtain rings with eyes on a polished metal pole

Choose your window.

These are rough measurements for a guide price. We always measure precisely at the visit.

How to measure a bay windowA three-sided bay window seen from above, with arrows along the left side, the front and the right side where a track would run, and a side view with an arrow from the track position down to where the curtains would finish.1234
  1. Left side
  2. Front
  3. Right side
  4. Drop

Bay window

A bay is measured in sections, one for each flat run of wall, because the curtains follow the shape of the bay.

  1. Left side. Measure the left-hand section of the bay, from the corner of the wall to the angle, along the line where a track would run.
  2. Front. Measure the front section, from one angle to the other, along the same line.
  3. Right side. Measure the right-hand section the same way. If your bay has more than three sections, note the others under "Anything else".
  4. Drop (the curtain length). Measure from where the track would sit down to where you'd like the curtains to finish: the sill, below the sill or the floor.

At the visit: these are rough sizes for a guide price. We measure every section of the bay precisely when we visit, before anything is made.

How to measure for curtains at French doorsA pair of French doors seen from the front, with an arrow across the full width of the frame, an arrow from above the frame down to the floor, and an arrow from the top of the frame up to the ceiling.123
  1. Width
  2. Drop
  3. Space above

French doors

Curtains for French doors usually hang above and beside the frame, so the space around the doors matters as much as the doors themselves.

  1. Width. Measure across the doors from the outside edge of the frame on one side to the outside edge on the other. If a pole or track is already up, measure its length instead.
  2. Drop. Measure from where the pole or track would sit down to the floor.
  3. Space above. Measure from the top of the frame up to the ceiling or coving.

Note under "Anything else" whether the doors open into the room.

At the visit: these are rough sizes for a guide price. We measure precisely when we visit, before anything is made.

How to measure an arched windowAn arched window seen from the front, with an arrow across the widest point, an arrow from the floor to where the curve begins, and an arrow from the floor to the top of the arch.123
  1. Width
  2. Height to the curve
  3. Height to the top

Arched window

An arched window has two heights that matter: where the curve begins and the top of the arch.

  1. Width. Measure across the window at its widest point, from the outside edge of the frame on one side to the other.
  2. Height to the curve. Measure from the floor up to where the arch begins to curve.
  3. Height to the top. Measure from the floor up to the very top of the arch.

At the visit: these are rough sizes for a guide price. We'll look at how best to dress the arch, and measure precisely, when we visit.

Tall taupe curtains with tiebacks framing an arched sash window that opens onto a balustraded terrace

See our curtains for 12ft arched windows.

How to measure for a Roman blind inside the recessA window recess seen from the front, with three arrows across its width at the top, middle and bottom, an arrow from the top of the recess down to the sill, and a side view with an arrow showing the depth of the recess.12345
  1. Width at the top
  2. Width in the middle
  3. Width at the bottom
  4. Drop
  5. Depth

Roman blind inside the recess

A Roman blind fitted inside the recess sits within the window opening, so we need the size of the opening itself.

  1. Width at the top. Measure across the recess, wall to wall, just below the top.
  2. Width in the middle. Measure across the recess halfway down.
  3. Width at the bottom. Measure across the recess just above the sill. Walls aren't always straight, so the three widths may differ: note all three.
  4. Drop. Measure from the top of the recess down to the sill.
  5. Depth. Measure how deep the recess is, from the front edge of the wall back to the window frame.

At the visit: these are rough sizes for a guide price. We measure the recess precisely when we visit, before your blind is made in our workroom.

How to measure for a Roman blind outside the recessA window seen from the front with a blind outline over it, an arrow across the width the blind would cover, an arrow from where the blind would be fixed down to where it would finish, and an arrow from the top of the window up to the ceiling.123
  1. Width
  2. Drop
  3. Space above

Roman blind outside the recess

A Roman blind fitted outside the recess is fixed on the wall above the window and covers the opening. It can have side returns, which hide the headrail when the blind is up.

  1. Width. Measure the width you'd like the blind to cover, across the window opening and onto the wall either side.
  2. Drop. Measure from where the blind would be fixed above the window down to where you'd like it to finish.
  3. Space above. Measure from the top of the window opening up to the ceiling or coving.

At the visit: these are rough sizes for a guide price. We measure precisely when we visit, before your blind is made in our workroom.

Send us your measurements.

Add whatever you've measured. Every box is optional, and you can change anything on the next page before you send it.

What is it for?
Window type
Measurements (rough, in cm)

Whole centimetres are fine.

Bay window: measurements (rough, in cm)
French doors: measurements (rough, in cm)
Arched window: measurements (rough, in cm)
Roman blind inside the recess: measurements (rough, in cm)
Roman blind outside the recess: measurements (rough, in cm)

For example, more bay sections, or the fabric or style you have in mind. Up to 300 characters. Please don't add your name, phone number or email address here: you can add those on the next page.

We'll use these for a guide price, then measure precisely when we visit.

This opens our enquiry form with your measurements filled in. Nothing is sent until you send that form.

What happens next.

  1. You send rough sizes

    Send us your rough measurements, and a few photos if you have them.

  2. We give you a guide price

    We'll come back to you with a guide price for the curtains or blinds you have in mind.

  3. We visit and measure precisely

    Before anything is made, we visit, measure every window precisely and talk through fabrics and styles with you.

Find out more about the curtains we make and our made-to-measure Roman blinds, or see our curtains for 12ft arched windows.

Questions

Questions about measuring

Rough is fine. Your measurements are only for a guide price, and we always measure precisely at the visit before anything is made.

No, but they help: photos are helpful but not essential. You can add a few on the enquiry form, or email them to info@sewandsewinteriors.com.