How Long Should Curtains Be? A Curtain Length Guide

In most living rooms and bedrooms, curtains look best when they reach the floor, either floating just above it or lightly touching it. Shorter lengths, ending at the windowsill or a little below it, suit kitchens, bathrooms and windows above radiators or furniture. Where the rod goes matters as much as the fabric: hanging it higher and wider than the window frame makes the window, and the room, look bigger.

The main curtain lengths

Float and kiss are the safest choices for most homes. A puddle looks lovely in photographs but gathers dust and gets stepped on in a room people walk through every day.

How high to hang curtains

A common guideline is to place the rod at least four to six inches above the top of the window frame. In rooms with low or average ceilings, many designers go higher, about halfway between the frame and the ceiling or just below the crown molding. That extra height draws the eye upward and makes the ceiling feel taller, which is especially useful in a compact room; our tips on decorating a small living room use the same trick with lighting and color.

Width counts too. Extending the rod several inches past each side of the frame lets open curtains rest against the wall rather than over the glass, so more daylight comes in and the window reads wider.

How to measure for curtains

1. Install or mark the rod position first. Every measurement depends on where the rod will sit.
2. Measure from the rod down. For rings or clips, measure from the bottom of the ring; for rod pockets or grommets, measure from the top of the rod.
3. Stop at the target length. To the sill, below it, or to the floor, minus half an inch for a float.
4. Measure in several places. Floors and ceilings are rarely perfectly level. Use the shortest floor measurement so no panel drags.
5. Measure the rod width. For a full look when closed, the combined width of the panels is usually around one and a half to two and a half times the rod width, depending on the fabric.

Standard curtain lengths and when to use them

Ready-made curtains in the United States are typically sold in a handful of lengths, most often 63, 84, 95, 108 and 120 inches. Here is how they usually line up:

• 63 inches: short windows, sill or apron lengths, small bedrooms and kitchens.
• 84 inches: rooms with standard ceilings when the rod sits just above the frame.
• 95–96 inches: the most flexible choice for standard ceilings with the rod hung higher.
• 108 inches: taller ceilings, or a break or puddle effect in standard rooms.
• 120 inches and longer: high ceilings, double-height spaces, tall sliding doors.

If your measurement falls between sizes, buy the next length up and hem it, or adjust the rod height slightly. Fabrics like linen and cotton can shrink when washed, so leave a little extra if you plan to launder them.

Mistakes that make windows look smaller

• Curtains that stop halfway. A hem hovering a few inches above the floor looks like the curtains were bought for a different window.
• A rod hung right on the frame. It squashes the window and lowers the ceiling visually.
• Panels that are too narrow. Flat, stretched fabric looks thin even when closed.
• Ignoring the light. Sheer curtains change the mood of a room in the evening, especially when lamps and ceiling fixtures are on; our guide to recessed lighting shows how light and fabric work together.

Room-by-room suggestions

Living room

Floor length with a float or kiss, rod hung high and wide. Choose a fabric weight that matches the room's mood.

Bedroom

Floor length with a lining or a blackout layer behind lighter fabric. A slight break adds softness.

Kitchen and bathroom

Sill or apron length, in washable fabric that copes with steam and splashes.

Guest room

Lined, floor-length curtains help visitors sleep in a room they do not know; there are more ideas in our piece on guest room ideas.