How Long Should Curtains Be

Measure from the rod down to where the curtain should stop. For floor length, take off ½ in so it just clears the floor; to the sill, stop ½ in above it; for a puddle, add 6 to 12 in (Wayfair). Then buy the next ready-made length up: 63, 84, 96, 108, 120 inches.

Floor-length curtains with the rod 84½ in up, to scaleFront view: rod 84½ in above the floor, 11½ in below the ceiling; 84 in panels.84½ in84 in11½ in
Drawn to scale, each grid square one foot. Left: curtain length. Right: rod height from the floor. Top: gap to the ceiling.

Example: a rod hung 84½ in above the floor needs 84 in curtains, a standard length.

Length to buy for floor-length curtains
Rod heightLength neededReady-made length to buy
72 in71½ in84 in (hem 12½ in)
80 in79½ in84 in (hem 4½ in)
84½ in84 in84 in
90 in89½ in96 in (hem 6½ in)
96½ in96 in96 in
100 in99½ in108 in (hem 8½ in)
108½ in108 in108 in

The rule

  • Floor-length curtains stop no more than half an inch above the floor (Wayfair).
  • Sill-length curtains stop about half an inch above the sill (Wayfair).
  • A puddle adds 6 to 12 inches to the floor length (Wayfair).
  • A puddle adds 3 inches (restrained) to 6 inches (lavish) (The Home Depot).
  • Ready-made lengths come in bands, so buy the next length up and hem or hang it to fit (Wayfair).

Sources

  1. Wayfair: How to Measure for Curtains, checked
  2. The Home Depot: How to Measure Curtains, checked

Rules checked