How wide should curtains be for a 48 inch window?

It depends on the rod. With the rod 8 in past each side — a 64 in rod — curtains at 2× fullness need to be 128 in wide in total, or 64 in each side.

Should curtains be twice the width of the window?

Twice the width they cover is a common choice. Measure the rod rather than the window if the rod extends past it.

Do returns count toward curtain width?

They add to the width you need but not to the fullness: two 3.5 in returns add 7 in that wraps back to the wall rather than across the window.

How wide should each curtain panel be in a pair?

Half the total. For 138 in in total, each side needs 69 in, made up of one or more panels.

Is it better to have curtains too wide or too narrow?

Slightly too wide. Extra width just adds fullness; too little leaves curtains flat or gaps at the edges.

Illustration of 128 inches of curtain fabric laid flat beneath the 64 inch rod it gathers to cover

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How Wide Should Curtains Be?

Curtains that are exactly as wide as the window look flat and skimpy when closed, and leave glass showing when open. The width that looks right is always more than the space covered, because curtains are gathered into folds. This guide gives the formula, explains what to measure, and works through examples.

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Start from what the curtains cover

Curtains cover the rod, not just the window. Most rods run a few inches or more past each side so that open curtains can clear the glass, so the width to work from is the rod’s span. If the rod isn’t chosen yet, size it first — window width plus the extension on both sides.

The formula

Width covered: the rod width, or the window width for a rod inside the frame.
Multiply by the fullness you want — 2× is a common choice.
Add a return at each end if the curtain wraps back to the wall.
Add the overlap where a pair meets in the middle, if it has one.

Worked examples

Worked examples comparison
Width covered	Fullness	Extras	Finished width
64 in rod	2×	—	128 in
64 in rod	2×	3.5 in returns, 3 in overlap	138 in
120 cm window	2.5×	—	300 cm
36 in window, one side	1.5×	—	54 in

Splitting it for a pair

For curtains that open from the middle, each side is half the total. A 138 in total is 69 in each side, and that is the finished width each side’s panels need to add up to.

Finished width isn’t fabric off the bolt

Ready-made panels are sold by finished width, so compare the total with the panels’ widths.
Sewing your own needs extra for side hems and seams, and for matching patterns across widths.
Pleated headings are sometimes sold by their pleated width — check which width the label means.

How Wide Curtains Should Be FAQ

How wide should curtains be for a 48 inch window?: It depends on the rod. With the rod 8 in past each side — a 64 in rod — curtains at 2× fullness need to be 128 in wide in total, or 64 in each side.
Should curtains be twice the width of the window?: Twice the width they cover is a common choice. Measure the rod rather than the window if the rod extends past it.
Do returns count toward curtain width?: They add to the width you need but not to the fullness: two 3.5 in returns add 7 in that wraps back to the wall rather than across the window.
How wide should each curtain panel be in a pair?: Half the total. For 138 in in total, each side needs 69 in, made up of one or more panels.
Is it better to have curtains too wide or too narrow?: Slightly too wide. Extra width just adds fullness; too little leaves curtains flat or gaps at the edges.