Buying guide

How to Measure for Curtains and Roman Blinds

Learn the safe way to measure for made-to-measure curtains and Roman blinds, from fitting position to recess checks and pre-order mistakes.

British Made Interiors19 July 2026

Measure the fitting position first. For curtains, use the fitted pole or track width and the finished drop, not just the window opening. For Roman blinds, decide whether the blind will sit inside or outside the recess, then measure width and drop in several places and check the relevant made-to-measure guidance before ordering.

For the safest result, decide where the curtain or blind will be fitted before taking final measurements. If a curtain pole or track is already in place, measure that hardware and the finished drop. If it is not, decide the fitting position and use the right curtain measuring guide before ordering. For Roman blinds, choose inside or outside recess first, checking depth, obstructions, opening direction and bracket or track requirements before finalising the order.

Key Takeaways

Measure the thing the fabric will hang from: the pole, track, brackets or blind position.
Curtains should start with pole or track width and finished drop. Graham Sanderson also advises measuring the curtain track or pole rather than the window when hardware is fitted.^[1]
Roman blinds start with the inside-versus-outside recess choice. Warner House and The Pure Edit both put that decision before final measurements.^[2]^[3]
Do not borrow another supplier’s deduction rules for a British Made Interiors order. Check the measuring instructions for the curtain or Roman blind you want to order.

Quick fitting-position check before you measure
Situation	Best choice	Main trade-off	What to do next
You already have a curtain pole or track fitted.	Measure the fitted pole or track width and the finished drop.	Measuring only the window opening can miss the actual hardware width and stack-back position.	Use our curtain measuring guides before moving to made-to-measure curtains.
You want Roman blinds inside the recess.	Check the recess, opening direction and obstructions, then measure width and drop in several places.	A shallow, obstructed or uneven recess can make a snug inside fit hard to use.	Review our Roman blinds and confirm whether an inside or outside recess fit is right for your window.
You want Roman blinds outside the recess.	Plan the bracket or track position outside the recess and measure the coverage needed.	Skipping handle, bracket and track-depth checks can make the final position impractical.	Check the Roman blind product details before placing the order.
You are choosing a curtain heading after measuring.	Confirm whether the heading affects depth, hooks or track requirements.	Not every heading hangs in the same way.	View our made-to-measure curtains once you have chosen the heading and style.

Start by choosing the fitting position

Before you take a tape measure to the window, decide where the finished curtain or blind will sit. Curtains depend on the pole or track position. Roman blinds depend on whether the blind will sit inside the recess, outside the recess, on the frame or above the window.

This matters because a small change in fitting point can change both the width and the drop. Homes & Gardens gives one general rod-position example of 8 to 10 inches^[4] above the window, while other retailers give their own side allowances. Treat those figures as market examples, not a universal rule for every made-to-measure order.

If you have not fitted hardware yet, pause and choose the look first. Do you want curtains to stack back away from the glass? Do you want a Roman blind to sit neat within a deep recess, or cover more wall around the window? The safer order is: fitting position, then measurements, then product-specific guide.

How to measure for curtains

When a pole or track is already fitted, measure the actual pole or track width and the finished drop rather than relying only on the window opening. This is the clearest way to make sure the fabric is made for the hardware it will hang from.

If no pole or track is fitted, do not guess one fixed allowance. B&Q gives a recess-based example of adding 15-20cm^[5] either side so curtains can sit neatly when open. Dunelm gives a no-pole example of adding 40cm^[6] to the window width. These are useful reminders that supplier guidance varies, so use our curtain measuring guide before you order.

Also choose the heading before you finalise the order. On our curtain details, pencil pleat is 3” deep and has 3 places to attach your hooks, while deep pleats are 6” deep and have 6 slots for your hooks^[7]. Wave curtains need extra care because a wave track is required to get the most out of Wave curtains^[8]. If you are still choosing the look, our guide to choosing the correct curtain style can help you match heading, room and fitting before you order.

Curtain measuring diagram showing heading choice and pole or track fitting. — Choose the curtain heading and whether you are fitting to a pole or track before you follow the detailed measuring guide.

Choose inside or outside recess for Roman blinds

For Roman blinds, the first decision is not the fabric. It is the fitting position. Inside-recess Roman blinds suit a clear, deep, straight recess. Outside-recess fitting is safer when the recess is shallow, obstructed, inward-opening or uneven.

Warner House gives examples where outside-recess fitting may be needed, including a recess less than 7.5cm deep, inward-opening windows, or uneven width and height readings.^[2] The Pure Edit gives similar caution and mentions windows that vary by more than 2cm in width or height.^[3] Dunelm also advises checking for protruding handles, phone sockets or fixtures that could stop the blind extending fully.^[9]

Make My Blinds describes inside mounting as snug and seamless, while outside mounting is better for narrow frames or obstructions that are too tight for an inside fit.^[10] Use those examples as a risk check. Then make the order decision through British Made Interiors, not through another supplier’s deduction rules. If you are planning the room style as well as the fit, our Roman blind tips and tricks can help you think about lining, window shape and pairing with curtains.

How to measure Roman blinds

Choose inside or outside recess first; for an inside fit, check depth, opening direction and obstructions, then measure width and drop in several places before following the measuring instructions for the Roman blind you want to order. F&P Interiors asks customers to decide where the track or brackets will sit, then measure inside recess width at the top, middle and bottom and provide the narrowest width for recess blinds.^[11]

If your recess is uneven, do not force an inside fit just because you prefer the cleaner look. The Curtain Store at Home also warns customers to read the Roman blind measuring guide twice and take two sets of measurements before proceeding, with a clear warning that bespoke products may not be returned, refunded or exchanged if measurements are incorrect under its policy.^[12]

For our made-to-measure Roman blinds, our made to measure roman blinds come with everything needed to fit, including high-quality tracks and universal (face or ceiling fixed) brackets^[13]. You should also allow for the fitting depth because including the fixing brackets, the made to measure roman blind tracks are 4cm deep^[14]. Morris & Co. also reminds buyers to remember where the original measurements were taken, because that determines whether the blind sits inside or outside the reveal.^[15]

Common measuring mistakes to check before you order

The biggest mistake is measuring the glass or opening when the product will actually fit to a pole, track, bracket or wall position. Check that your curtain measurements match the hardware, and that your Roman blind measurements match the recess choice.

For curtains, do not leave hook and heading details until the parcel arrives. pencil pleat, deep pleat and wave curtains all require hooks which are not supplied as standard^[16]. That does not change the window size, but it can change whether you have everything needed to hang the curtains well.

For Roman blinds, do not skip obstruction checks. Elite Curtains notes that correct measuring helps Roman blinds fit, operate smoothly and avoid obstructions, gaps or unwanted light filtering through.^[17] If you feel unsure, stop before ordering and re-check the fitting type.

In a Trustpilot review, Paschal wrote: “I got the measurements slightly wrong and they couldn’t have been more helpful in resolving the issue.” This is one person’s experience, not a reason to guess; use it as a reminder to ask for help before a small concern becomes a made-to-measure problem.^[18]

What to do after measuring

Before ordering, confirm the curtain heading, hook or track requirements, and use the relevant made-to-measure measuring guide so the order matches the fitting position. If you are ordering curtains, move from your notes to our curtain measuring guides, then choose your heading and fabric through our made-to-measure curtains.

If you are ordering Roman blinds, keep your inside or outside recess decision with your measurements. Our Roman blind product details show the supplied track and bracket information, so view our made-to-measure Roman blinds once you know the fit is right.

Then decide the finish: fabric sample, lining, room use and light control. If you are comparing sateen, blackout or thermal options after measuring, our curtain and blind linings explained page is a useful next read.

For patterned Roman blinds, we pattern match all roman blinds from the top as standard^[19]. That is a design detail, but it also shows why clear, final measurements matter before the workroom starts making your blind.

FAQ

Should I measure the window or the curtain pole?

If a pole or track is already fitted, measure the pole or track width and the finished drop. If no hardware is fitted, decide the fitting position first and use the correct measuring guide before ordering.

When should Roman blinds go outside the recess?

Choose outside recess when the recess is too shallow, uneven, obstructed by handles or fittings, or when the window opens inwards and could stop the blind working well.

Do I need to make my own deductions for made-to-measure Roman blinds?

Do not apply another supplier’s deduction rules to a British Made Interiors order. Follow the measuring instructions for the Roman blind you are ordering and check the fitting details before you confirm.