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made to measure measuring guide: pinch pleat curtains.

Woven eyelet curtains a jacquard floral design in a calming blue shade, hung in a room with green walls and a white ceiling.

give your made to measure pinch pleat curtains the perfect fit with our measuring guide.


Achieving a perfect fit for your made to measure pinch pleat curtains can be a tricky business, but it’s far from impossible. Arguably the most luxurious of all, this heading type is made up of sewn fabric pleats which run across the top of the fabric. The finish is luxurious, creating an elegant flow from top to bottom that feels gloriously smart and sophisticated.

You’ve been drawn in by the romantic allure of pinch pleats, but how do you go about getting that oh-so-satisfying fit? Strap in, because we’re taking you through every step of the process in our measuring guide for made to measure pinch pleat curtains.


measuring + fitting your curtain pole.

Your very first step in measuring for made to measure pinch pleat curtains? Making sure your pole or track is perfectly in place. This will make the following steps much easier, and leave you with the best fit possible at the end of the process. A great benefit of pinch pleat curtains is that they can be hung on either a pole or track, meaning you don’t have to worry about swapping one out for the other if you’ve already got either installed.

A graphic showing the minimum distance required between a window frame and a curtain pole, in terms of both height and extension on either side.
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When fitting your pole or track, ensure that it extends at least 15cm beyond each side of your window frame. This will give you plenty of space to completely draw your curtains back, and ensure that the maximum amount of light floods your space when you want it to.

If your fabric of choice is especially thick – like chenille or velvet – leave up to 30cm of excess on either side. If you’re using a pole, always remember to exclude any decorative ends – or ‘finials’ – from your measurements.

Dawn Blackout Eyelet Curtains in Linen

Just as important is the height at which your pole or track is hung. Go too low (we’re talking right on the window frame) and your space will feel small and enclosed. Go too high and you’ll be paying for a lot of extra fabric – not to mention that it might just look a bit silly.

The perfect height for a curtain pole or track? Somewhere between halfway and two-thirds up the wall between the top of your window frame and the ceiling. Your room will feel open, airy and splendidly spacious.


measuring the width of made to measure pinch pleat curtains.

Once your pole is fitted at the perfect height and suitably extending on either side, it’s time to start measuring for the width of your pinch pleat curtains. Keep going - this is the easiest step!

A graphic showing the correct area to cover when measuring the length of a curtain pole for made to measure pinch pleat curtains. A graphic showing the correct area to cover when measuring the length of a curtain track for made to measure pinch pleat curtains.
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All you need to do is measure your curtain pole or track from one end to the other. As always, exclude any decorative finials on either end from your measurements.

It’s important that you don’t just measure the width of your window, as you’ll end up short on fabric with curtains that don’t meet in the middle.

This step might sound tricky if you’re working with a bay window, but it’s a lot easier than you think! Just measure each straight section of your pole or track from end to end, and add up all these measurements to find the full width of your made to measure pinch pleat curtains.


measuring the drop/length of made to measure pinch pleat curtains.

You’ve correctly fitted your pole or track and measured the width of your pinch pleat curtains – so now it’s time to settle on a length. Also known as the ‘drop’ of your curtains, this is where your choice of track or pole comes into play.

The correct starting point for measuring the drop of made to measure pinch pleat curtains if using a curtain track - the top of the track.
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If you’ve chosen to hang your made to measure pinch pleat curtains on a track, you’ll need to start your length measurement from the top of the track.

The correct starting point when measuring the drop of made to measure pinch pleat curtains for a curtain pole - the centre of your curtain rings.
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If you’re working with a pole, you’ll need curtain rings to hang pinch pleat curtains.

When finding the length of your curtains, you’ll need to start measuring from the eye of these rings.

Just how long you want your curtains to hang is entirely up to you. It all depends on your personal style, and practical factors in your space that you might want to consider.

A graphic showing the the correct drop for short length made to measure pinch pleat curtains, 1cm above the window sill.
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short curtains.

Short curtains usually sit slightly above (1cm) or slightly below (up to 15cm) the window sill.

It’s a neat-looking drop, and works great if you’ve got a radiator, furniture, or nice wallpaper under your window that you don’t want to cover up. It’s also a great option if you want to minimise cleaning, as your curtains will be far less likely to pick up dust and stains.

A graphic showing the correct drop for floor length made to measure pinch pleat curtains, 1cm above the floor.
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floor length curtains.

Floor length curtains are just as long as they sound, generally dropping to 1cm above the floor. This creates a sense of neatness and sophistication, and is the drop of choice for most modern spaces.

If your made to measure pinch pleat curtains have a statement pattern or design, a floor length drop will ensure that it gets maximum visibility.

pooled/puddled curtains.

While not the most practical choice, ‘pooled’ or ‘puddled’ curtains are a uniquely romantic statement. The idea is to add 10-20cm onto the floor length of your curtains, resulting in excess fabric gathering on the floor.

This works best with heavy, textured curtain fabrics like velvet or chenille – but it does mean that your curtains will need more tweaking, adjusting and cleaning than with other lengths.


And with that, it’s curtains for measuring your bespoke pinch pleat drapes! You should now know all the ins and outs of measuring for made to measure pinch pleat curtains, from fitting your pole to finding the perfect width, to settling on your preferred length/drop.

As always, triple check your measurements before placing an order, and make sure to get some help if working with high windows.

If you haven’t already, make sure to add some free samples to your bag to see our curtains up close. You can order up to 10 free fabric samples from across our entire made to measure curtains range, and our fabric samples guide takes you through the entire process.

We’ve got four different heading and lining types to choose from, as well as a whole range of measuring guides for each heading type.