Skip to content
RugFrameTerrace

Category 6 of 6

Curtain Panels

The job: reaching the floor and covering the window plus the wall beside it

Curtains are sold in two lengths in this catalog and almost every room needs a third. Eight panels here are 84 in and three are 63 in. Sixty-three inches is a number inherited from an era of lower rods, and on a rod hung where rods now go, it stops well short of the floor.

Width is the other half, and it is stated less often. Five of these ten listings give a panel width — 40, 42, 42, 50, 52 and 52 in across the set — and five give none. A grommet or pleated header gathers flat fabric down to roughly half to two-thirds of its width, so the number on the packet is not the number on the wall.

Where a listing says 100% blackout or total blackout, that describes the fabric. Light arrives around the sides and over the top of any panel, which is a fact about geometry rather than a complaint about the product.

Listings here
10
Stated drop given
10
Stating nothing
0
Subgroups
2

Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. It changes nothing about the numbers below, which come from the listings.

Blackout

8 listings

52 in wide, grommet

MIULEE Blackout Linen Curtains, 52 x 84 in

MIULEE Blackout Linen Curtains, 52 x 84 in

The listing states 52 by 84 in with a grommet top. One other panel here states the same 52 in width.

Fifty-two by eighty-four inches, which is the combination this catalog is best at: the long drop and the wider of the two panel widths on offer. Two panels at 52 in gives 104 in of flat fabric, and a grommet header gathers that down to something like 60 to 70 in of covered width. The listing states 100% blackout, which is the seller’s phrase for the fabric and says nothing about the gap at the edges.

The listing states
100% blackout, thermal insulation, a grommet top, a linen texture and 2 panels.
Best for
A rod-to-floor drop close to 84 in with a window up to about 50 in wide.

What works

  • Eighty-four inches of drop, the longer of the two lengths this catalog carries.
  • Fifty-two inches per panel, the wider of the two stated widths.
  • A grommet top, which slides and stacks more easily than a rod pocket.
  • A linen texture, per the listing, which hangs with more weight than a flat weave.

What does not

  • 100% blackout describes the fabric, and light still arrives around the sides and over the top of any panel.
  • The listing states no fabric weight, so the fall of the panel is unknown.
  • Thermal insulation is stated without any figure attached to it.
Check the listing

The other 52 in panel

NICETOWN Blackout Curtains, 52 x 84 in

NICETOWN Blackout Curtains, 52 x 84 in

The second of the two panels here that state a 52 in width.

Fifty-two by eighty-four inches, and a listing that says light reducing rather than 100% blackout. That is the more careful of the two phrasings, and it describes the same kind of fabric. A solid color with a grommet header.

The listing states
light reducing thermal drapes with a solid grommet top and 2 panels.
Best for
A window where the honest phrasing matters more than the strongest claim.

What works

  • Eighty-four inches of drop with 52 in of panel width.
  • The listing says light reducing, which is a claim it can keep.
  • A solid grommet top, which is the easiest header to hang and to slide.
  • A plain color, which does not fight a patterned rug.

What does not

  • Thermal is stated with no figure behind it.
  • No fabric weight is stated.
  • A solid panel shows creases from the fold more than a textured one does.
Check the listing

Only back tab or rod pocket

Linen Total Blackout Curtains, 50 x 84 in

Linen Total Blackout Curtains, 50 x 84 in

The only panel here whose listing states both a back tab and a rod pocket header on the same product.

The only panel here whose listing offers two headers in one product: back tab or rod pocket. That matters more than it sounds, because a back tab hangs the fabric in front of the rod and a rod pocket gathers it onto the rod, and the two give different stack backs. Fifty by eighty-four inches, in a linen texture.

The listing states
100% blackout, a linen texture, a back tab or rod pocket header, thermal insulation and 2 panels.
Best for
A rod near the ceiling where the header should not show.

What works

  • Two header options in one panel, which no other listing here offers.
  • Eighty-four inches of drop with 50 in of width per panel.
  • A back tab hides the rod, which suits a rod mounted close to the ceiling.
  • A linen texture, per the listing.

What does not

  • 100% blackout is the seller’s phrase; light arrives at the edges of any panel regardless of the fabric.
  • A rod pocket does not slide well, so daily opening favors the back tab.
  • No fabric weight is stated.
Check the listing

Only stated certification

H.VERSAILTEX Blackout Linen Curtains, 84 in

H.VERSAILTEX Blackout Linen Curtains, 84 in

The only curtain listing here that states a certification. GRS is the seller’s claim.

The only panel here whose listing states a certification of any kind, and the only one that describes a separate white liner rather than a single fabric. A liner is what makes a linen-look panel block light, and it is also what makes it hang heavier. Eighty-four inches of drop; the listing states no panel width.

The listing states
100% blackout, a white liner, a grommet top and GRS certification.
Best for
An 84 in drop where a stated liner is the deciding feature.

What works

  • A white liner is stated, so the light blocking is a construction rather than a coating.
  • GRS certification is stated, which no other panel here states.
  • Eighty-four inches of drop.
  • A white liner faces the street, which keeps the outside of the house consistent.

What does not

  • No panel width is stated, so the covered width cannot be worked out.
  • 100% blackout remains the seller’s phrase, and edge light is a matter of geometry.
  • A lined panel is heavier, and the listing does not state a weight.
Check the listing

Only white stated

NICETOWN White Blackout Curtains, 84 in

NICETOWN White Blackout Curtains, 84 in

The only curtain listing here that names white as the color of the panel.

The only panel in this catalog whose listing names white as the color, which is worth noting because white and blackout pull in opposite directions. Eighty-four inches of drop, grommet header, two pieces. No panel width is stated.

The listing states
100% blackout, thermal insulation, noise reduction, a grommet header and 2 pieces.
Best for
A room where the panel has to read white from inside and out.

What works

  • Eighty-four inches of drop.
  • White is named, so there is no guessing from the photograph.
  • A grommet header, which is the easiest to draw daily.
  • Two pieces per order.

What does not

  • No panel width is stated.
  • 100% blackout on a white panel is a strong claim, and it is the seller’s claim.
  • Noise reduction is stated with no figure attached.
Check the listing

The 63 in NICETOWN

NICETOWN Blackout Curtains, 42 x 63 in

NICETOWN Blackout Curtains, 42 x 63 in

One of three 63 in panels here, and the only 63 in panel from NICETOWN.

Sixty-three inches is the shorter of the two drops this catalog carries, and it is the length that causes most of the trouble on this site. Sixty-three inches reaches the floor only if the rod sits about 63 in above it, which is below the top of most windows. Forty-two inches of panel width, solid color, grommet header.

The listing states
solid grommet thermal insulated drapes with noise reduction and room darkening, 2 panels.
Best for
A short window, or a rod set unusually low.

What works

  • Forty-two inches per panel, which suits a narrow window.
  • A solid grommet header, easy to draw.
  • The listing says room darkening rather than only blackout.
  • Two panels per order.

What does not

  • Sixty-three inches will float above the floor on any normal rod height.
  • Thermal and noise reduction are stated with no figures.
  • Forty-two inches of flat panel gathers to well under 30 in of covered width.
Check the listing

Light blocking, not blackout

ChrisDowa Blackout Curtains, 42 x 63 in

ChrisDowa Blackout Curtains, 42 x 63 in

The listing states light blocking and room darkening and does not claim 100% blackout.

Forty-two by sixty-three inches, and a listing that says light blocking and room darkening without ever claiming 100% blackout. That is a more careful set of words for the same category of fabric. The drop is still 63 in, which is the number that decides whether it reaches the floor.

The listing states
thermal insulation, light blocking, room darkening, a grommet header and 2 panels.
Best for
A short window where the phrasing on the listing is the reassurance.

What works

  • The listing avoids the 100% claim and describes the effect instead.
  • Forty-two inches per panel with a grommet header.
  • Room darkening and light blocking are both stated, which set expectations correctly.
  • Two panels per order.

What does not

  • Sixty-three inches of drop is short for a rod mounted above a window.
  • Thermal insulation is stated with no figure.
  • No fabric weight is stated.
Check the listing

Narrowest stated width

MIULEE Blackout Curtains, 40 x 63 in

MIULEE Blackout Curtains, 40 x 63 in

40 in, the narrowest stated panel width in this catalog. No other curtain listing here states 40 in.

Forty inches is the narrowest stated panel width in this catalog, and 63 in is the shorter drop. Two panels at 40 in gives 80 in of flat fabric before the header gathers it, which covers a genuinely small window and not much more. Room darkening is stated rather than blackout.

The listing states
thermal insulation, room darkening, a grommet header, noise reduction and 2 panels.
Best for
A small window where a wider panel would bunch.

What works

  • Forty inches per panel suits a window too small for a 52 in panel.
  • The listing says room darkening rather than making a 100% claim.
  • A grommet header.
  • Two panels per order.

What does not

  • Forty inches is the narrowest stated width here, so the covered width is the smallest.
  • Sixty-three inches of drop rarely reaches a floor.
  • Thermal insulation and noise reduction are stated with no figures.
Check the listing

Blackout, side by side

8 listings side by side. Every figure below is the one on its own listing.

0 ft1 ft2 ft3 ft4 ft5 ft6 ft7 ft8 ft5' 6"84in63in
  • 84 in5 listings here state 84 inStated on the listing
  • 63 in3 listings here state 63 inStated on the listing
Stated sizes laid off against a 5 ft 6 in figure

MIULEE Blackout Linen Curtains, 52 x 84 in

Stated drop
52 by 84 in
What sets this one apart
The listing states 52 by 84 in with a grommet top. One other panel here states the same 52 in width.
Best for
A rod-to-floor drop close to 84 in with a window up to about 50 in wide.

NICETOWN Blackout Curtains, 52 x 84 in

Stated drop
52 by 84 in
What sets this one apart
The second of the two panels here that state a 52 in width.
Best for
A window where the honest phrasing matters more than the strongest claim.

Linen Total Blackout Curtains, 50 x 84 in

Stated drop
50 by 84 in
What sets this one apart
The only panel here whose listing states both a back tab and a rod pocket header on the same product.
Best for
A rod near the ceiling where the header should not show.

H.VERSAILTEX Blackout Linen Curtains, 84 in

Stated drop
84 in
What sets this one apart
The only curtain listing here that states a certification. GRS is the seller’s claim.
Best for
An 84 in drop where a stated liner is the deciding feature.

NICETOWN White Blackout Curtains, 84 in

Stated drop
84 in
What sets this one apart
The only curtain listing here that names white as the color of the panel.
Best for
A room where the panel has to read white from inside and out.

NICETOWN Blackout Curtains, 42 x 63 in

Stated drop
42 by 63 in
What sets this one apart
One of three 63 in panels here, and the only 63 in panel from NICETOWN.
Best for
A short window, or a rod set unusually low.

ChrisDowa Blackout Curtains, 42 x 63 in

Stated drop
42 by 63 in
What sets this one apart
The listing states light blocking and room darkening and does not claim 100% blackout.
Best for
A short window where the phrasing on the listing is the reassurance.

MIULEE Blackout Curtains, 40 x 63 in

Stated drop
40 by 63 in
What sets this one apart
40 in, the narrowest stated panel width in this catalog. No other curtain listing here states 40 in.
Best for
A small window where a wider panel would bunch.

Semi-sheer and light-filtering

2 listings

Semi-sheer, back tab

Cream Linen Back Tab Curtains, 84 in

Cream Linen Back Tab Curtains, 84 in

The listing states a semi-sheer linen drape with a pinch-pleated look and a back tab header.

A semi-sheer panel at 84 in, which is a completely different purchase from the blackout group even though the drop is the same. Semi-sheer means the fabric passes light and softens it; nothing about that is a claim on the room. The listing describes a pinch-pleated look, which is a description of the header’s appearance rather than of pleat hardware.

The listing states
a semi sheer linen drape with a pinch pleated look and 2 panels.
Best for
A window where light should be softened rather than stopped.

What works

  • Eighty-four inches of drop in a fabric that is not trying to block light.
  • A pinch-pleated look gives a fuller header than a flat panel.
  • A cream linen sits between white and beige without committing to either.
  • Two panels per order.

What does not

  • No panel width is stated, so the covered width is unknown.
  • A pleated look is not pleat hardware, and the listing does not say how the fullness is held.
  • Semi-sheer passes light, which is the point but also the limit.
Check the listing

Only stated pleat hardware

TWODRAPES Pinch Pleated Linen Curtains, 84 in

TWODRAPES Pinch Pleated Linen Curtains, 84 in

The only curtain listing here that states pinch pleat hooks and rings in the box.

The only panel in this catalog that comes with the hardware that makes a pinch pleat: hooks and rings. That is the difference between a header that looks pleated in a photograph and one that is held in pleats on the rod. Eighty-four inches, semi-sheer textured linen, two panels.

The listing states
semi sheer textured linen with pinch pleat hooks and rings, a back tab header and 2 panels.
Best for
A window where a real pleated header is wanted at 84 in.

What works

  • Pinch pleat hooks and rings are stated, which no other listing here includes.
  • Eighty-four inches of drop.
  • A back tab header is also stated, so there are two ways to hang it.
  • Textured linen holds a pleat better than a flat weave.

What does not

  • No panel width is stated.
  • Rings on a rod add height above the rod, which changes where the hem lands.
  • Semi-sheer means it filters light rather than stopping it.
Check the listing

Semi-sheer and light-filtering, side by side

2 listings side by side. Every figure below is the one on its own listing.

Stated dropAll 2 of these state the same figure — 84 in — so it is given once here instead of repeated down a column that would say nothing about any one of them.

Cream Linen Back Tab Curtains, 84 in

What sets this one apart
The listing states a semi-sheer linen drape with a pinch-pleated look and a back tab header.
Best for
A window where light should be softened rather than stopped.

TWODRAPES Pinch Pleated Linen Curtains, 84 in

What sets this one apart
The only curtain listing here that states pinch pleat hooks and rings in the box.
Best for
A window where a real pleated header is wanted at 84 in.

The Amazon links above are affiliate links, and a purchase made through one may earn us a commission. Nothing on this page was ranked, ordered or described differently because of that.

Questions this category keeps producing

4 of them.

Why is 63 in such a common curtain length?

It is a length that suits a rod mounted at or just above a window frame in a room with a lower ceiling, and it has stayed in production. On a rod hung near an 8 ft ceiling, an 84 in panel is already short. Sixty-three inches on that rod finishes about two feet above the floor.

What does the 100% blackout claim actually mean?

It is the seller’s description of the fabric, and four listings here use it. Even where the weave passes no light, a panel hangs a few inches clear of the wall on each side and below the rod above, and light comes in through those gaps. That is geometry, not a fault in the curtain.

How wide should the panels be together?

A common rule of thumb wants the combined flat width of the panels to be about twice the width of the space being covered, so the fabric still looks gathered when drawn. Two 52 in panels give 104 in flat, which covers roughly a 52 in span properly. That is arithmetic, not a standard.

Do any of these have cords?

The panels here are fabric panels without operating cords. That is not the end of the question: the rod, blind or shade already at the window may have a cord or a chain, and cords on window coverings are a strangulation risk to young children. Check the window itself, and keep cribs and climbable furniture away from windows.

The arithmetic behind this category

Across the 10 listings here that state a figure, the range runs from 63 in to 84 in. That is the whole span this catalog covers in this category, and it is narrower than the span of rooms people have.