How to Measure Your Windows for Ripple Fold Curtains, With No Margin for Error
A custom curtain is only as good as the measurements behind it. We walk you through, step by step, how to take the correct width and height, the most common mistakes, and when it makes sense to request a technical visit.
On a store-bought curtain, a difference of an inch or two can be hidden. On a custom-made curtain, that difference shows: fabric that doesn't reach the floor, a track that falls short, or a fold that doesn't close properly. The good news is that measuring correctly is simple if you follow a sequence. This guide walks you through it from start to finish.
Before you start
- Use a metal tape measure. Cloth ones stretch and lose accuracy.
- Measure in inches, the unit we manufacture in.
- Have paper or your phone handy and note each window separately, with a clear name: 'left living room,' 'main bedroom.'
- If you can, measure with another person: one holds the tape and the other reads it.
Step 1 · Decide which area you want to cover
Ripple Fold installs on a track, usually mounted outside the window frame, on the wall or ceiling. This gives you an aesthetic advantage: you can have the track extend past the sides so that, when open, the fabric stacks on the wall and doesn't cover the glass. Before measuring, decide how far you want the curtain to reach on each side and upward.
Step 2 · Measure the width
Measure from end to end of the area you want to cover, meaning the total length the track will have, not just the glass. If the wall has irregularities, measure at three heights (top, middle, and bottom) and use the larger measurement. Don't subtract anything for the fold's ripple: the system calculates the fabric needed based on the width you give us.
Step 3 · Measure the height
Measure from where the track will go (wall or ceiling) to where you want the curtain to end. For a clean finish, most clients choose to have the fabric just above the floor, barely clear so it doesn't drag. Also measure at both ends and in the center: floors and ceilings are rarely perfectly straight, and the shortest measurement is the one that keeps the fabric from touching the floor.
The Most Common Mistakes
- Measuring only the glass and forgetting the space on the sides where the fabric will stack.
- Rounding to the 'nicest' inch. Write down the exact measurement, with fractions if needed.
- A single height measurement on an uneven floor.
- Not accounting for obstacles: handles, air conditioners, baseboards, or moldings that could interfere with the track or the drop.
Double-check your measurements before requesting a quote. It's the best minute invested in the whole process.
Would you rather we do it?
If your windows are very tall, have special shapes, or you simply prefer not to take the risk, schedule a technical visit: a professional will come to your home in Palm Beach, Broward, or Miami-Dade, measure each window, and advise you before we manufacture. And if you'd like to do it yourself with support, our interactive measuring guide walks you through each measurement and saves your progress.