Curtain Pole CalculatorWhat Size Curtain Pole Do I Need?
Enter your window width and how far you want the curtains to clear the glass. You'll get the pole length you need, the extendable pole that covers it and whether to buy it with rings.
Step 1 of 3
Your curtains
Your window
Your curtain pole size
What size curtain pole do I need?
Take the width of your window, including the frame, and add 15 to 20cm on each side. That extra length is where the curtains sit when they're open, so they don't cover the glass and block daylight.
So a window 150cm wide needs a pole of roughly 180 to 190cm. If you want the curtains to pull right back, go up to 30cm each side. In a tight alcove, 15cm each side is the minimum worth having.
How to measure for a curtain pole
- Use a metal tape and measure across the window from the outer edge of the frame on one side to the outer edge on the other.
- Measure at the top, middle and bottom. Windows are rarely perfectly square, so use the widest figure.
- Add your overhang to each side. For most windows that's 15 to 20cm.
- Check the wall either side. If the window sits in an alcove or near a corner, measure the space available so the pole and finials will fit.
- Decide on the height. Fixing the pole 10 to 15cm above the frame looks neat and makes the window feel taller.
Our extendable pole sizes
Homefords curtain poles are extendable, so one pole covers a range of lengths. Set it to the length you need when you fit it. Choose a range where your length sits near the middle, not right at the end.
| Pole length | Suits windows about | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 120 to 210cm | 80 to 170cm wide | Bedrooms, kitchens and standard windows |
| 160 to 300cm | 120 to 260cm wide | Living rooms, double windows and wider openings |
| 180 to 340cm | 140 to 300cm wide | Patio doors and the widest windows |
Window widths assume 20cm of pole either side of the frame.
Do I need a pole with rings?
It depends on your curtains. Eyelet curtains have metal rings built into the fabric and slide straight onto the pole, so you don't need separate rings. Pencil pleat curtains have hooks, so they need a pole with rings to clip onto.
Homefords poles come with or without rings, in antique brass, black, brushed silver, chrome and cream finishes. If you haven't chosen curtains yet, our curtain size calculator works out the right size for your pole.
Curtain pole questions
How high should I fix a curtain pole?
About 10 to 15cm above the top of the window frame, or higher if the ceiling allows. A higher pole makes the window look taller and the room feel more spacious.
Does the pole length include the finials?
Allow extra room for the finials at each end. That matters most in an alcove or next to a wall, so enter your wall space in the calculator and it will check the fit.
My window is wider than 300cm. What should I do?
Our longest pole extends to 340cm, which suits windows up to about 300cm with a 20cm overhang. For anything wider, a curtain track is usually the better choice.
Can I use an extendable pole in a bay window?
Not around the angles. Bay windows need a bendable pole or a bay kit with corner joints. You can use a straight pole across each flat section if you prefer separate curtains for each.
Should I buy the pole or the curtains first?
Work out the pole first, then size the curtains to the pole. Curtain widths are measured against the pole length, not the window. The curtain size calculator takes it from there.