Pinch Pleated Drapery Measurements

Window Width

• The width of your window should be measured from the left side to the right. Add 15 percent to account for the fullness of the curtain rod; to do this, multiply the window width by 0.15 and add this number to the width.

Return

• The return in pinch-pleated drapes is the distance from the front of the curtain rod to the wall. For pinch-pleated drapes, install a curtain rod that extends out from the wall; the curtains will hang on the entire length of the rod. Add 4 inches to each side of the window measurements to account for the size of the return on the curtain rod.

Account for Fullness

• You don't want your pinch-pleated drapes to be exactly the same width as your window or else they will only fit tightly when closed all the way. Instead, use an approximate measurement of double the window's width when ordering pinch-pleated drapes. If you plan to use the type of drapes that open in the center, remember that the width of each curtain should be half the total width desired since you will install two curtains per window.

Height

• The height of the window should be measured from the top of the curtain rod to the base of the window sill. Use this measurement if you want your drapes to be only as tall as the window itself; if you want the drapes to hang lower than the window, measure the distance from the window sill to the position where you want the hem of the curtains to fall and add this to your length measurement.