Curtain Guides · Holiday 2026

Measure Before Black Friday: A 10-Minute Window Checklist

Made-to-order curtains only fit if the numbers are right. Here is a ten-minute routine for width, fullness, rod height and length, using TWOPAGES's own measuring rules.

HealthStylz Curtain DeskOct 23, 2026 · 6 min read · Specs checked Oct 22, 2026 · With TWOPAGES Curtains

Dining room with an arched window and floor-length curtains hung on a rod set above and beyond the window — A rod set above and beyond the window frame, as in TWOPAGES's measuring advice. Liz Linen Blackout. Image: TWOPAGES

In this guide

Minutes 0 to 2: decide where the rod goes
Minutes 2 to 4: measure the rod, not the window
Minutes 4 to 6: leave room for the stack
Minutes 6 to 8: measure the length
Minutes 8 to 10: count hooks and rings, then write it all down
If you would rather have help
Featured picks and who should skip them
Questions people ask
Where this comes from

In short

HealthStylz Curtain Guides provides an evidence-based window measurement protocol in partnership with TWOPAGES Curtains to eliminate costly custom drapery sizing errors before major shopping events like Black Friday on November 27. When measuring made-to-order pleated curtains, panel width must be calculated from rod length divided by panel count rather than window glass width, because TWOPAGES builds double fullness (2.0x, or 2.3x for triple pleats) directly into sewn headers. Rods should be installed 6 to 10 inches above the casing and extend 6 to 15 inches past each side so open panels stack clear of glass panes, flooding living spaces with daylight. Height is measured from the ring eyelet hook down to the floor, where a 0.5-inch floor skim prevents tripping hazards. TWOPAGES made-to-order panels maintain a 1% manufacturing tolerance and cannot be returned for customer sizing mistakes, making pre-order verification across width, fullness, and drop essential for home wellness.

Key takeaways

For pleated curtains, measure the rod, not the window: panel width is the rod length divided by the number of panels, because TWOPAGES builds the 2x or 2.3x fullness into the pleats.
TWOPAGES says to hang the rod 6 to 10 inches above the window frame and 6 to 15 inches past each side, so the open curtains stack beside the glass.
Pleated panels are measured from the ring hook to the floor. Made-to-order panels are not returnable when made as ordered, so write every number down twice.

Affiliate disclosure: HealthStylz earns a commission if you buy through TWOPAGES links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Specs come from TWOPAGES product pages captured on 2026-10-22. We have not tested these curtains. This page lists no discount codes; see the official TWOPAGES sale page for current offers.

Black Friday falls on November 27 this year, and popular sizes and colours can sell through. TWOPAGES makes curtains to the size you type in, and its product pages say made-to-order drapes are not accepted for return when they are made to your original order details. A wrong number is hard to undo. Ten calm minutes with a tape measure now saves a rushed guess later.

You need a steel tape measure, a pencil, painter's tape and something to write on. TWOPAGES's measuring guide says to measure to the nearest 1 inch and to measure every window on its own, even if two look the same.

Minutes 0 to 2: decide where the rod goes

If a rod is already up, skip ahead. If not, mark two things lightly with pencil or tape. First, height. TWOPAGES says rods usually sit 6 to 10 inches above the window frame, which makes the window look taller. Second, reach. It suggests going 6 to 15 inches past each side of the frame, so the open curtains rest beside the window instead of covering the glass.

That extra reach helps rest, too. For blackout curtains, the Lila page says to use wider panels and mount above and beyond the window frame to reduce light gaps.

Minutes 2 to 4: measure the rod, not the window

Measure the full rod or track from end to end. Write that number down. It is your coverage width.

Now the part that confuses people: fullness. Fullness is extra fabric gathered into folds so a curtain does not look flat. For pleated curtains, TWOPAGES builds it into the panel: 2 times for pinch pleat, tailor pleat, inverted pleat and goblet, and 2.3 times for triple pleat and triple tailor pleat. So you do not multiply anything. The rule is simple: single panel width equals rod length divided by the number of panels.

The guide's example: a 100 inch rod with two panels means two panels of 50 inches each. The width you enter is the pleated width, from the left end of the pleats to the right end. The 2 inch side tucks are not counted. If you like a fuller look, the guide says you may add an extra 1.25 times, and calls that a personal choice, not a requirement.

Soft top and grommet styles work the other way. Their default fullness is 1, so TWOPAGES suggests multiplying the rod length by 1.5 to 2 before you divide by the panels, and recommends 2 times for a standard gather. A 100 inch rod, 2 times fullness and two panels gives 100 inches per panel.

White pinch pleat panel hanging from plastic hooks, metal rings and a matte black curtain rod — Lila pinch pleats on hooks, rings and a rod. For pleated headers, TWOPAGES measures length from the ring hook down. View on TWOPAGES Curtains → Image: TWOPAGES

Minutes 4 to 6: leave room for the stack

The stack is the space your curtains take up when they are open. TWOPAGES says it varies with fabric and header and normally runs 20 to 30 percent of the ordered width. By that rule, a 50 inch panel stacks to roughly 10 to 15 inches. Check that you have that much wall beside the window, especially if a door, a bed or a radiator is close by.

Minutes 6 to 8: measure the length

This is where the hooks matter. For pleated headers, TWOPAGES measures from the eyelet ring hook to the floor, not from the top of the rod. In plain words: start where the hook hangs from the ring, then measure down to the floor or the point where you want the hem to end. For soft top styles (rod pocket, tab top, back tab) and grommet, it measures from the top of the rod. Use the right starting point for the style you pick.

Next, choose the ending point. A floor skim stops just above the floor. A break lets the hem barely touch it. A puddle adds extra length that rests on the floor. Each product page lists a 1.5 inch bottom hem and says to opt for puddle length for more light blocking. Puddles look soft, but they can catch a foot. If anyone at home uses a cane or walker, or a toddler is learning to walk, a floor skim is the calmer choice. That last tip is ours, not a TWOPAGES rule.

Minutes 8 to 10: count hooks and rings, then write it all down

Pleated panels come with pin hooks. Rings and rods are not included. The number of hooks and rings equals the number of pleats. TWOPAGES's guide lists 10 pleats for a 50 inch width, 13 for 72 inches, 15 for 84 inches, 19 for 100 inches and 21 for 110 inches, and says spacing can vary slightly with your rod.

Heavy panels need a strong rod. TWOPAGES has a curtain weight calculator that gives the weight per panel, with hardware weight not included. Check the rod's load rating against it.

Before you close the tape, write down five things: rod length, number of panels, width per panel, ring-to-floor length, and header style. Then check them against each other once more.

Bedroom with tall black-framed corner windows and white floor-length drapes — Tall corner windows with panels hung to the floor. Liz Linen Drape. View on TWOPAGES Curtains → Image: TWOPAGES

If you would rather have help

TWOPAGES lists a web measuring consultation and an in-home measuring and installation service. The Lila page shows in-home installation starting from $72, with availability checked by ZIP code. The measuring guide also gives support@twopagescurtains.com for tricky windows, and TWOPAGES says to expect a size tolerance of plus or minus 1 percent.

Offers change often. For what is running right now, use the official TWOPAGES sale page. We do not list codes.

Bright living and dining room with floor-length pleated panels on a black rod — Floor-length pleated panels on a black rod. Isabella. View on TWOPAGES Curtains → Image: TWOPAGES

Sizing facts stated on the product pages (captured 2026-10-22)
Curtain	From	Weight	Fabric width	Bottom hem	Side tuck
Liz Linen Drape	$59.99	350 gsm	Not stated	1.5 in	2 in
Lila Blackout	$89	280 gsm	112 in	1.5 in	1.5 to 2 in
Isabella	$89.99	500 gsm	110 in	1.5 in	2 in

Featured picks and who should skip them

Liz Linen Drape Pleated

from $59.99 · 350 gsm · 10% linen, 90% polyester (OEKO-TEX certified)

A 350 gsm linen-look panel in 38 colours, sold unlined or with lining options. Good if you want to start with a heavy, well-known style and size it with the rules above.

Who should skip it: You want a stated 100% shading rate in the base fabric. Darkness comes only from a blackout lining option. Also skip it if you want pure linen: it is 10% linen, 90% polyester.

Lila 100% Blackout Drape Pleated

from $89 · 280 gsm · 100% polyester

The page states a 100% shading rate at 280 gsm, in 10 colours. A fit for bedrooms where measuring wide and high matters most for light gaps.

Who should skip it: You want natural fibre (it is 100% polyester) or the lowest price, since it starts at $89.

Isabella Heavyweight Cotton Drapery Pleated

from $89.99 · 500 gsm · 24% cotton, 76% polyester

A 500 gsm cotton blend in 36 colours, with 9 pleat styles plus soft top and grommet. Useful if you want to practise the fullness rules on more than one header.

Who should skip it: You want mostly natural fibre (24% cotton) or you have a light rod. A 500 gsm panel is the heaviest in this guide.

Questions people ask

Should I measure the window or the rod?

The rod or track, end to end. For pleated curtains, TWOPAGES says single panel width equals the rod length divided by the number of panels, because the fullness is already built into the pleats.

How many panels do I need?

You choose. The guide's pleated example uses two panels on a 100 inch rod, each 50 inches wide. Remember that more panels means more width for the same rod, so fullness changes if you add width.

Do I measure to the floor from the top of the rod?

Not for pleated headers. TWOPAGES measures from the eyelet ring hook to the floor. For rod pocket, tab top, back tab and grommet styles it measures from the top of the rod.

What if I measure wrong?

The product pages say made-to-order drapes are not accepted for return when they are made to your original order details, and that a size tolerance of plus or minus 1 percent is treated as acceptable. Check with TWOPAGES support before ordering if your window is unusual.

Where this comes from

Product specs were captured from official TWOPAGES product pages and technical guides on 2026-10-22. Specifications and dimensions are subject to manufacturing tolerance.