Fabric is cut to your numbers and cannot be un-cut. That is the whole reason this page exists. Use a steel tape, never a cloth one, and write everything in inches to avoid conversion errors halfway through.
If you would rather not do this at all, we measure free of charge across the western suburbs — but it is genuinely useful to understand the numbers before anyone quotes you.
What you need
- A steel measuring tape (cloth tapes stretch and lie)
- A step stool for the drop measurement
- A pencil and paper, or a note on your phone per window
- Someone to hold the other end for anything wider than five feet
Name each window as you go — “master bedroom, road side” beats “window 3” when the order arrives.
Step 1: Decide track or rod, and where it goes
Measure the track or rod, not the window. Fabric is calculated from the hardware, so the hardware position must be decided first.
- Fix the track 4 to 6 inches above the window frame, or at ceiling level if there is no beam.
- Extend it 6 to 10 inches beyond the frame on each side so the curtains can stack clear of the glass.
- Check for AC units, wall cupboards, beams and switchboards before finalising — this is where most plans change.
Step 2: Measure the width
Measure the full length of the track or rod, excluding decorative finials. For a rod, add 4 inches if the pair will overlap in the middle. For a bay window, measure each straight run separately and add them together.
Write this down as track width.
Step 3: Measure the drop
Measure from the top of the track (or from the eyelet position on a rod, roughly 1.5 inches below the rod) down to where you want the curtain to end.
| Finish | End point | Use in |
|---|---|---|
| Sill | ½ inch above the sill | Kitchens, small windows |
| Below sill | 4–6 inches below the sill | Radiator or furniture in the way |
| Floor | ½ inch clear of the floor | Most rooms — the default |
| Break | 1 inch resting on the floor | Softer, more formal look |
Measure the drop at both ends of a wide window. Older Mumbai buildings are rarely level, and a half-inch difference is visible once the curtain hangs.
Step 4: Apply the fullness multiplier
Curtains need more fabric than the width of the window, or they hang flat and look mean. The multiplier depends on the heading style:
- Pinch pleat: 2.0 to 2.5×
- Eyelet: 1.8 to 2.0×
- S-fold: 2.0×
- Pencil pleat: 2.5 to 3.0×
- Sheers: 2.5 to 3.0× (they look best very full)
Multiply the track width by the multiplier to get the total flat fabric width required.
Step 5: Convert to metres of fabric
Divide the total flat width by the usable width of the fabric to get the number of drops, then round up. Multiply the number of drops by the drop length plus 12 inches for hem and heading, and convert to metres.
Worked example. Track width 72 in. Pinch pleat at 2.25× = 162 in of flat fabric. Fabric is 48 in wide, so 162 ÷ 48 = 3.4, rounded up to 4 drops. Drop is 90 in, plus 12 in for hem and heading = 102 in per drop. Four drops × 102 in = 408 in = 10.4 metres. Order 11 metres of face fabric, and the same again in lining.
If the fabric has a pattern repeat, add one repeat length per drop so the pattern can be matched across panels.
Measuring for blinds is different
Blinds are measured to the recess, not to a track.
- Inside recess: measure width at the top, middle and bottom; use the smallest. Do the same for the height. Deduct nothing — the manufacturer allows clearance.
- Outside recess: add 3 to 4 inches on each side and 4 inches above for a better light seal.
- Check recess depth: roller mechanisms need about 3 inches, Roman blinds a little more.
Five mistakes we see every week
- Measuring the window instead of the track.
- Using a cloth tape that has stretched over the years.
- Forgetting the hem and heading allowance.
- Ignoring an AC unit or beam that blocks the track line.
- Ordering exactly the calculated quantity with no margin — always round up.
When in doubt, send us the photos and rough numbers and we will check them before anything is cut. Full fabric and stitching prices are on our curtains and blinds page.
Free measurement across Goregaon West and East, Malad, Andheri West, Jogeshwari, Oshiwara, Kandivali and Borivali — usually within 48 hours. We bring samples so you can hold fabric against your own light while we measure.
