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The Daily Insight

How wide should curtains be for French doors

Author

William Smith

Updated on April 22, 2026

Your French door rods should be just about as wide, or just slightly wider, than the width of the window opening. Rod-pocket French door curtains should measure double the width of the glass for a rich, shirred look–three times fullness for sheers.

Do you put curtains over French doors?

Should You Hang Curtains On French Doors? Many people love French doors for their wide-open look and invitation to the outdoors. However, French doors don’t offer much privacy. We strongly recommend hanging curtains on French doors, so you have the option of displaying the doors or shielding the panes from public view.

What size curtains do I need for a patio door?

To determine the height of the curtain panel, measure the height of the door frame and add 4 inches. Most doors are 80 inches high, so the typical curtain panel for a sliding door would be 84 inches high.

How wide should a door curtain be?

“Real Simple” magazine recommends making a window curtain 2 to 2 1/2 times as wide as a window for proper fullness, but a door curtain should be closer to 1 1/2 times the width unless you want a very full look. Add 1 inch to each cut edge so you have room to hem.

What are French door curtains called?

Valances. A valance is a fabric window treatment that is positioned at the top of a window, covering only the top portion of the window. Valances are used either alone or as a topper over drapes or blinds. Custom valances for French doors may coordinate with the room décor and other window treatments in the room.

How do you put privacy on French doors?

  1. Curtains. Adding curtains to your French doors is the most common way to make them more private. …
  2. Blinds. …
  3. Window Film. …
  4. Paint.

How do you hang curtains on a French door?

  1. Measure the height and width of the French door windows. …
  2. Purchase a sash rod kit for each French door. …
  3. Slide a curtain panel onto one of the sash rods. …
  4. Ask an assistant to hold the brackets and curtain panels against the French door where you want them positioned.

How do I know what size curtains to buy?

Measure the width of your window. Add 12 inches to each side, 24 inches total. Take the total number (width plus the number you added to each side) and divide that number by how many drapery panels you want in the window.

How much wider should curtains be than the window?

How wide should curtains be? To ensure that curtain panels look ample when closed, they should have a combined width that is 2 to 2.5 times the width of the window/rod. That means if you are ordering Grommet style or Rod-pocket style, the total drapery width should be at least 2 times the window/rod widths.

Is it better to have curtains too long or too short?

Short curtains and drapes are not ideal, and most often you don’t want curtains that hang more than an inch above the ground. Too short curtains can not only look outdated, but they can also sometimes make the ceiling look lower. However, there are a couple of scenarios where short curtains are a more practical option.

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How do you cover patio doors for privacy?

  1. Woven or Natural Vertical Draperies. Designers are loving these lately. …
  2. Vertical Sheers. These are the best substitute for the standard vertical blinds that you see on many sliding doors. …
  3. honeycomb shades. What do we love most about these? …
  4. shutters. …
  5. bi-fold shutters.
  6. bypass shutters.
  7. sliding panels.

What is the average size of a patio door?

What Is Considered a Standard Sliding Glass Door Size? A standard sliding glass door is 80-inches tall with a width varying from 60 inches to 72 inches depending on the space.

How do French curtain rods work?

A French rod, or French pole, is one that instead of cutting off in midair is a curtain rod that returns to the wall. … I love that the rod extends into the wall without the finial on the end and feeling like the curtain rod has a beginning and end.

What are door curtains called?

A portière is a hanging curtain placed over a door or over the doorless entrance to a room. Its name is derived from the French word for door, porte.

What is a sash curtain rod?

Sash rods are slender curtain rods that are used in pairs, one at the top and one at the bottom with the curtain fabric taut between them. Sash rods are secured to the door so the curtains move with the door when it is opened or closed.

Should my curtains touch the floor?

Yes, curtains should be long enough to touch the floor. With a few exceptions, the longer the curtains are the more stylish and elegant it will look. This is why most standard ready-made curtains are lengthy. But the reality is that various decorating styles use different curtain lengths.

What kind of blinds are good for French doors?

Cellular shades are excellent for French doors, as they’re extremely energy-efficient and provide good light control. Duette® Honeycomb Shades are among the most energy-efficient window treatments available.

Can you put plantation shutters on French doors?

Plantation shutters aren’t just for windows – they’re also one of the best choices for covering French doors. If you have one or two patio doors that swing outward but want to cover the glass panes for better lighting or style, plantation shutters make the perfect solution.

How wide should curtains be for 96 inch window?

How Wide Should Curtains Be For A 96-Inch Window? Following the rule of thumb, curtains for a 96-inch window should range between 192 and 240 inches wide. To get a fuller look, aim for 288 inches wide. For decorative curtains, you can pick out something as narrow as 144 inches.

Should you hang curtains above window?

A rule of thumb (from Architectural Digest) is that curtains should be hung between four to six inches above the window frame, so install your curtain rod accordingly. When you hang the curtain rod high, it will make the window appear taller.

How do you measure width of curtains?

For the width, take your steel tape measure and take the full length measurement of your pole or track. For pencil pleats on a track, measure the drop by starting from the top of the track, and for pencil pleats on a curtain pole, measure from the eye of the curtain rings (where you’ll be hooking your curtains into).

How wide should curtains be for sliding glass door?

ComponentDimensionSliding Door72 inches high, 80 inches wideCurtain Rod84 inches wideCurtains84 inches long

How far below the window sill should curtains hang?

Just over sill length Take the hem of the curtain to just above the radiator, or up to about a maximum of 4 inches (10cms) below the sill.

Should curtains touch the window sill?

In formal or dressy rooms, curtains should just touch the floor. … Curtains to the sill, or to the bottom of the window trim (called the apron), look great and are practical in a kitchen. Never hang curtains of any length near a stove.

Should curtains touch the ceiling?

Ceiling height plays a major role in how high you should hang your curtains. … It is often best to use the 4 to 6 inches above the window trim rule here unless the windows stretch close to the high ceilings. If there is little space between the trim and the ceiling, then hang the curtains from the ceiling.

How do you measure for door curtains?

Measure the width of the glass area you are covering as well as the length. Door panels and sidelights are measured from the top rod pocket to the bottom rod pocket. The headings at the top and bottom are not included in the length. Select a panel that is 1 ½ times to double the width of the area to be covered.

Can you put curtains on sliding glass doors?

Hanging curtains over sliding glass doors can solve these issues and is no different from putting curtains up over a window. All you need is a longer curtain rod with a center bracket. … Measure 2 inches out from each side of the sliding doors, 4 inches from the top of the frame.

What is a zebra blind?

What Are Zebra Blinds? Zebra blinds combine sheer sunscreen and solid weave fabric. When the solid fabric strips overlap, sunlight is blocked out; when the sheer fabric strips overlap, light is let in. From a sunlit room to a darker, more private space, these shades can transition from open to closed in seconds.

How do you make a sliding glass door private?

If you want to avoid the mess by applying window film or even paint, curtains are the best bet for privacy on glass doors. This keeps the glass clear to look out of when you would like. All you need to do is pick out your curtain rods, curtains, and put them up!

How wide are French patio doors?

The sizes that your French doors come in will be set by the manufacturer, but french door dimensions are generally between 30 and 72 inches wide per door. And generally, are available in 2-inch increments.

How much room do you need for a sliding door?

Generally, at least a 6-inch clearance is recommended, but there are hardware options that work with less room. Next, you need to make sure that there’s enough empty space next to the opening to accommodate the door as it slides open.