Home Curtain sizing & fullness
Where do you measure curtain length with rings or clips?
Published by Drape Notes
Fit the ring and clip or hook you intend to use, then identify where the top of the finished fabric will sit. Measure from that point to the intended hem at the left, middle and right. Use the product’s stated length convention when converting these measurements into an order.
Hang one clip before you commit to a drop
The top of a pole, the eye under a ring and the point where a clip grips the fabric are at different heights. Clip a fabric scrap to mark the intended top edge. Measure from that edge if the panel length is stated top to hem. For a hook set lower down the heading, the top of the fabric may sit above the eye. A sample heading settles that difference.
Use the shortest measurement when clearing a floor
Suppose the top-of-fabric reference measures 88¼ in from the floor at the left, 88 in in the middle and 87¾ in at the right. You want at least ½ in of clearance all the way across. A finished length of 87¼ in leaves gaps of 1 in, ¾ in and ½ in respectively. Ordering from the largest reading would let one corner brush the floor.
If stock sizes force a longer panel, pin a trial hem on the installed hardware before altering the pair. Move each curtain through its full travel to find the closest point. Check the fabric care instructions before hemming or washing it.
Write the reference point on the order
A note such as “87¼ in, top of clipped fabric to hem” helps another person reproduce your measurement. For a custom heading, check the maker’s diagram for its requested starting point and include the planned clearance only once. If the rod or rings change, measure the drop again even when the window frame is unchanged.