Fullness Required
When you are choosing new curtains, one of the biggest influences on how your curtains will look is how much fullness (or gather) there is in your curtains. The fullness required is the number of times you multiply the width of your window to get the amount of gather that you prefer. The fullness selections available in the calculator are to be taken as suggested fullness values only, curtain fullness is a matter of personal preference. Knowing how to gather curtains could be difficult if you don’t have much experience with curtains however it generally comes down to how much material you have.
Please note: that whilst we recommend the following fullness, if you are having your curtains made professionally, we recommend you seek advice from your curtain maker.
Standard Curtain Heading - 3" Or 6" Deep Tape
For the best results for this type of curtain heading aim for a minimum fullness of 2.25 times the rail width. This will give an adequate amount of fullness to the pencil pleats, across the full width of the window when the curtains are in the closed position. However, the nearer to 2.5 times fullness you can achieve, the better and fuller the finished curtains will look, as this gives a more desirable and attractive fullness to the pleats.
Eyelet Heading Curtains
When hanging your curtains, it is important to know how much fullness is needed; a common question we get is how much fullness for eyelet curtains is required? For the best results with eyelet heading aim for a minimum fullness of 1.75 times the pole width, up to 2 times fullness. If you are in any doubt about the fullness with this type of heading it is best to overestimate and put more fullness in rather than less. If you are having your curtains made for you, we recommend you seek advice from your curtain maker if in doubt. (N.B. Remember that eyelet headed curtains have a 4cm/1.5”stand up of fabric above the pole, so remember to allow for this in your calculated finished drop as it will affect the final fabric quantity)
Tab Tops/Tie Tops
This style of curtain demands less fullness than normal gathered curtains for the best look. Aiming for 1.5-1.75 times the width of your window will give the best results. Too much fullness results in too many tabs for the width of the pole and affects how far the curtains can be pushed back when in the open position. When making tab top or tie top curtains you need to allow for the material for making the tabs. An additional 0.5m of fabric per width of curtain should be sufficient for this style.
Curtains With Pelmets
Gathered pelmets, usually referred to as Valances, need a greater fullness ratio than the curtains they are to go with as they tend to look better with more gather. So, if you are having curtains with a gathered valance, our experience has taught us that for the best results, you should aim for the curtains to have a fullness ratio of 2.0 – 2.5 times the rail width and the valance to have a fullness of around 2.5 – 3.0 times the rail width.
As a general rule of thumb it is usually advisable to have at least one additional width of fabric in the pelmet than in the curtains. For example: Over a pair of curtains with 2 widths of fabric in each curtain, giving you a total of 4 widths of fabric; the pelmet would likely have at least 5 widths of fabric in it to give it a full gathered look and the correct fullness ratio against the curtains.
Goblet Pleat/Pinch Pleat Headings
We recommend for this style of heading a minimum fullness of 2.25 if you are using goblet or pinch pleat tape. If you are tailoring your heading using buckram as we do in our workshop, then we recommend a fullness of between 2.25 to 2.5. Again, if you are having your curtains made for you, we recommend you speak to your curtain maker as different curtain makers require different fullness when making hand tailored headings of this style.
How to Gather Curtains
How you go about creating gather in your curtains will be reliant on the type of curtains you have. It is quite a simple process once you have figured out the correct measurements and ideal amount of fullness desired in the curtains.
FAQs
So, if you are having curtains with a gathered valance, our experience has taught us that for the best results, you should aim for the curtains to have a fullness ratio of 2.0 – 2.5 times the rail width and the valance to have a fullness of around 2.5 – 3.0 times the rail width.
How do you calculate curtain fullness? ›
When it comes to determining specific measurements, the standard fullness multiplier is 2x the size of the area you're covering with the fabric. Essentially, you should use twice as much fabric as you'd use if it were a flat curtain. By doubling the width of a flat curtain, you achieve 100% fullness.
What is the formula for calculating curtains? ›
The standard curtain width is always 2, 2.5, or 3 times the width of the window. So the formulas used to calculate the width of your curtain are: Standard curtain width = width of window × 2. Deluxe curtain width = width of window × 2.5.
What is the best gather for net curtains? ›
There are many different options for gather - Single, 1.5 , double, 2.5 or triple. It is customers own choice and the more gather means more net curtain fabric so will be more expensive. However generally we find the most popular option is double.
How much extra fabric for gathered curtains? ›
Fabric calculations – Most curtains will require somewhere between 1 ½ and 2 ½ times fullness, depending on the heading and look you want to achieve. I always prefer to be generous and use 2 ½ times the width, skimpy curtains don't look good and you can always use any extra fabric for cushions or tie backs.
How do you calculate curtain gather? ›
So, if you are having curtains with a gathered valance, our experience has taught us that for the best results, you should aim for the curtains to have a fullness ratio of 2.0 – 2.5 times the rail width and the valance to have a fullness of around 2.5 – 3.0 times the rail width.
How do you specify drapery fullness? ›
A drape with 50% fullness uses 1.5 times more fabric than the finished width of the curtain. A drape with 75% fullness uses 1.75 times more fabric than the finished width of the curtain. A drape with 100% fullness uses 2 times as much fabric as the finished width of the curtain.
Should net curtains touch the window sill? ›
When it comes to measuring the drop required then it is more of a personal preference, based on how you would like it to look. Ideally, net curtains should hang to just above the window sill for the best look.
Is it old fashioned to have net curtains? ›
Far from being old-fashioned, today's net curtains are a staple in contemporary interior design, serving as chic alternatives to conventional blinds or heavier drapes.
How much fullness do you need for net curtains? ›
To measure the width of your window for your net curtain, simply measure the inside of your window recess from wall to wall. Once you have this measurement times the measurement by 2 to give the optimal gather to your net curtain.
The actual amount of gather depends on heading styles and personal preference, but as a general rule the width of your curtains should amount to double the width of your track. This is referred to as 'two times gather'.
How to calculate how much curtain fabric you need? ›
Measure the finished drop you require the curtains to be. Take the pole/track width and multiply by 2 for pencil pleat, or 2.5 for pinch pleat heading. Divide this by the fabric width to determine how many widths of fabric you will need to join up to give you sufficient fulness.
How do I calculate how much fabric I need to repeat a curtain? ›
You take the curtain drop and add the hem allowance for the choosen heading, then divide the pattern repeat into this total and round up. Example - Curtain drop 220cm, hem 25cm (for pencil pleat). 220cm + 25cm = 245cm. Pattern repeat is 64cm.
What is the standard fullness for drapes? ›
Drapery fullness is typically chosen based on the project's budget, design and/or the brand's standards. Typical fullness is set at a 2 to 1 ratio or 200% fullness. Meaning there is twice as much fabric as the area being covered.
How much extra do you add to curtain width? ›
As a general rule, the width of your curtains should be at least twice the width of your window (if not more) to achieve a look of fullness. So, if your window is 116cms (45.5 inches) in width, you need two curtains of at least 232cms (91 inches) in width in total. You should always round up to the next full number.
