Curtain Yardage

This chart will help you calculate yardage for curtain panels or drapes.

The chart assumes that your hardware has already been installed. If it has not been installed, a traverse rod should be installed at least 4" above the window frame (to prevent pleats from showing on the outside of your window) and should extend 4" past the window frame on both sides (to prevent light from entering on the side of the window). Placement of decorator rods will vary based on the type of rod (e.g. the size of the ring, clip, etc.).

Placement of all rods depends on the effect you want to achieve, for example, if you want to make your room appear to have more height, you may want to place your rod more than 4" above the window. Some designers place them almost to the ceiling.

Please use the following diagram for reference points:

Sill length drapes are used very infrequently -- you would usually use apron length drapes.

a. Determine finished length in inches. Measure from the top of the rod to the desired lengths. Full length are usually about 1/2" from the floor. Sheers beneath drapes are about 1 1/2" from the floor. If you want to puddle them, allow about 12"-18" for puddling. Shorter drapes usually extend 4" below the apron.

Finished Length

in inches =____________

b. Allow for header. Typical allowance is 8" (4" doubled). If using pleater tape, this may vary depending on the type of tape used and the method of application.

+

Header in inches:__________

c. Allow for hems. Typically 8" (4" doubled).

+

Hem in inches:____________

d. Cut Length. This is the length you will use for each panel of your fabric. For print fabric, you must make an addition - see * below.

=

Cut Length

for solids or

vertical stripes: ____________

*Cut Length

2. Determine your finished width:

a. Measure the width of your rod.

Rod width

in inches: ________________

b. Add for returns and overlaps. This is typically 7" for a traverse rod and 18" for a double traverse rod.

+

Amt. for returns

& overlaps in

inches: ______________

c. Finished width

=

Finished width ____________

3. Determine the fullness you want:

This is usually 3 to 1, 2 1/2 to 1 or 2 to 1. Use 3 to 1 for lighter weight fabrics where you want more gathering or fullness. Use 2 to 1 for heavier fabrics or where you want the pattern to be more apparent.

Desired Fullness:

(2, 2.5, 3): __________

a. Take the finished width from step 2.

a. Finished with: __________

b. Multiply by the fullness determined in step 3.

x

b. Fullness ____________

c. Divide this by the width of your fabric (in inches).

c. Width of

Fabric in inches: _______

d. This will determine the number of panels you need.

=

d. Number of panels: ______

A. Multiply the cut length determined in Step 1. Use cut length for solids or for prints as appropriate for your fabric.

a. Cut Length: ____________

B. By the number of panels needed (determined in step 4).

x

b. Number of

panels needed: ___________

C. This will give you the total length you need in inches.

=

Total inches of

length needed: ___________

D. Divide by 36 inches in a yard.

36

E. This will give you the yards you need for one window (if you it does not divide evenly, you need to round up to the next highest whole number or the next fraction. 9"= 1/4 yard, 12"= 1/3 yard, 18" = 1/2 yard, 24" = 2/3 yard, 27" = 3/4 yard).

=

Yards needed: ___________

You will need to determine the yardage needed for each window and add them together. Be sure to measure each window individually - the sizes will often vary, even in the same room. Use a metal tape measure.

* FOR PRINT FABRICS (fabrics with a vertical repeat).

When you are using a patterned fabric with a vertical repeat, you must allow for the repeat so that you can "match" the pattern across the width of the fabric.

To do so, take the cut length you would need if your fabric were a solid and divide that by the fabric's "vertical repeat". This will usually give you a number plus a fraction. Round that up to the nearest whole number and take it times the vertical repeat. That will give you the cut length inches needed for Step 1.

For example, you have determined that you need a cut length of 100" (if the fabric were solid). The fabric has a vertical repeat of 16". 10016= 6.25. You will need to round the 6.25 up to 7 and take that times 16". Your cut length (for prints) in Step 1 would then be 7x16=112". So you would enter 112 as your cut length in Step 1d and that is the length you would enter in Step 5a.

There are a few fabrics with a half drop (e.g. our toiles). If you need help figuring yardage for those, please e-mail us.