Short answer: this free curtain measuring cheat sheet fits on one US Letter page. It walks you through the four measurements in the order that matters (rod height, rod length, panel width, panel length), with a diagram, blanks for three windows and the standard US curtain lengths. Print it, measure before you shop, and take it to the store.
Download the free curtain measuring cheat sheet (PDF)
One page, US Letter, free for personal use. Please don’t resell or re-upload it.
Why the order matters
Most curtain mistakes come from shopping first and measuring second. You grab the 84-inch panels because they’re everywhere, and then the rod has to sit wherever those panels allow, usually just above the window frame. The window ends up looking shorter, not taller.
The cheat sheet flips that around. You decide the rod height first, and every other number follows from it.
What’s on the curtain measuring cheat sheet
- A diagram showing where the rod goes, how far it extends past the frame and where to measure from.
- The four measurements in order: rod height, rod length, panel width and panel length, each with the formula next to it.
- A table for three windows with blanks for frame width, rod length, floor to rod, ring drop, panels and the length to buy.
- The standard US panel lengths (63, 84, 95 or 96, 108 and 120 inches) and which ceiling each one usually suits.
- Three quick tips on buying between two sizes, long rods and clip rings, plus room for notes.
If you’d rather not do the math by hand, my curtain size calculator works it out from your numbers, including the panel count, grommet or ring drop and where the hem will land. My full guide to how to hang curtains explains why the two most common rules disagree on how far the rod should extend, and what to do with an 8-foot ceiling.
Questions people ask
Can I print the cheat sheet on A4?
Yes. Choose “Fit to page” in your print dialog. Everything shrinks a little and stays readable.
Do I measure the window or the wall?
Both, in order. The window frame gives you the rod length, and the wall, from the floor up to where the rod will sit, gives you the panel length.
What if I use clip rings?
Write the ring drop in its own column. Clip rings hang the panel a little below the rod, so you subtract that from the floor-to-rod measurement before you pick a length.
Can I share it?
Please share the link to this page rather than the PDF itself. It’s free for personal use and keeps the sheet up to date.
Before and after you measure
- How to Hang Curtains: Measure the Height First, Then Buy the Length
- How Long Should Curtains Be? The Number on the Package Isn’t Where the Hem Lands
- Curtains for Small Windows: What’s Below the Window Decides the Length
- Linen Curtains: Real, Blend or Faux? Match Them to the Window, Not the Photo
- How to Layer Sheer and Blackout Curtains: Which Goes in Front Depends on the Room
- Boho Curtains: Choose Pattern, Texture or Trim, Not All Three
- No Drill Curtain Rods: Pick the One That Fits What’s Around Your Window
- Free Rug Size Cheat Sheet
- How High to Hang a Mirror
- Minimalist Scandinavian Decor for Renters
Mark the rod height, measure, then shop. That’s the whole method on one page.
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