Drop: Ready-made curtains are available in three different drops: 137 cm (54 inches), 183 cm (72 inches) or 228 cm (90 inches). Some manufacturers also offer a 274 cm (108 inch) drop; click on this link to view the available designs: Larger Sizes.
Standard curtains come in three lengths—84 inches, 96 inches, or 108 inches. "Generally, you want to stay away from the 84 inch standard curtains unless you have very low ceilings.
If your curtain rod is too low, it'll shrink your window size and this is definitely something you do not want. Still unsure? A standard rule of thumb is about 4” up from the top of the window but you can definitely go up from there.
Measuring your curtain drop
Sill length curtains: Take away ½ inch from your measurement so the curtains graze the sill. Below sill curtains: These sit at about 15cm below the sill. Floor length curtains: Take away ½ inch from your measurement so the curtains graze the floor.
When we list or write curtain measurements, the width always comes before the drop. Ready-made curtains are available in three standard widths: 112 cm (44 inches), 167 cm (66 inches) or 228 cm (90 inches). You should choose the width that most closely matches the size of your track or pole.
To get the measurements, measure the width of the rod from left to right. For instance, if your window measures 72” wide, you will need curtains that will give a maximum width of 144” (window width x 2 = 144”.)
As a rule, measure the drop from the underside of the curtain rings to ensure the pole can be seen above the curtains. The curtain drop is the length from the top to the bottom of the curtain. The drop will depend on where the base of the curtain is to finish, ie sill, below sill or floor and the heading style.
The drop of your curtains, also known as the length, is a matter of taste so just consider the following as a guide. Generally people choose one of three options: just above the windowsill (by 1cm), below the sill (by 15cm), or floor length (ending 1cm above the floor).
As a general rule, drapes will be open during the day, so make sure the curtain rod extends at least four inches on each side of the window's inside frame. To create the illusion of a wider window, extend the rod up to 10 inches beyond the window's frame.
Measure the width of the rod from left to right. A common rule for displaying curtains properly says the curtains finished width should be at least 2 times the width of your window (if not more - sheers can be 3 times the window width) to achieve a look of proper fullness.
If you have the space between the top of your window frame and the ceiling or crown molding, though, you should hang the rod over the window. I like to go 3 to 5 inches down from the ceiling. Doing this visually extends the length of your wall, making your ceiling look higher.
How High to Hang Curtains 8 Foot Ceiling. An 8 foot ceiling is pretty standard for a residential home. With this standard height will be safe to put the rod about 6 inches above the top of the framing of the window. This avoids any extra framing and gives space between the frame and the rod.
Just like in clothes, curtain panel sizes give a standard measurement of the curtain's length. These sizes are strictly followed by architects and interior designers. The most common sizes would range from 63, 84, 95, 108 and 120. Width size can vary but the most common is at 45-inches.
Curtain Width Guide
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.
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. That means if you are ordering Grommet style or Rod-pocket style, the total drapery width should be at least 2 times the window/rod widths.
The material should barely touch the floor or hover half an inch above. Use this approach for café curtains, too, short panels covering only the lower portion of a window, hitting the sill, which works well in kitchens and bathrooms, where long drapes or curtains aren't practical.
Interior designers note the bottom of your curtains should fall to the floor, and you can even let them “puddle” a bit. However, if you don't want your curtains to drag on the floor when you open and close them, let them stop about an inch from the floor, but no more.
Short curtains are typically only used when long curtains are unrealistic (such as when a radiator, the bed headboard, or some other object would interfere with the curtains). In addition, long curtains provide a better aesthetic and can make the room appear bigger, especially when hung higher than the window frame.
We use 'drop' to refer to the total finished length of the curtain from top to bottom, but you might also hear it used by our curtain-makers talking about how many widths of fabric are to be used in your curtains.
Take a soft tape measure and wrap it under your armpits at the widest part of your chest. The tape measure should be snug around your chest and shoulder blades, but not so tight that it compresses your chest. The number in inches is your chest size.
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.
Each curtain panel should be at least as wide as your window. Measure from the spot you plan to hang the rod (usually four to six inches above the window, but a minimum of two inches) to the floor to figure out the length of the curtains. Add more length if you want the drapes to pool.
90 inch wide curtain tend to be the widest width available in ready made curtains, and so will fit most larger and patio windows. This makes it easy for you to find matching curtains for every window in your home.