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FabricWorkRoom.com > Rod Pocket Drape Width Measuring
Rod Pocket Drape Width Measuring
There are two ways to order and install your drapes. One is for privacy and light control and the other is for decorative stationary panels. Once you decide which one best suits your circumstances, just follow our simple guidelines below. We recommend that you print this guide and note your measurements. This style drape does not have overlap and returns to include in the measurements.
1. Simple Privacy & Light Control (Installing New Hardware)
Measure your window casing-to-casing and add 8" to that width. That will give you 4" on each side where you will mount your decorative brackets. This is your bracket-to-bracket width. If you follow the Privacy Width Chart guidelines below, your drapes will have approximately a luxurious 2 to 1 fullness. When they are closed for privacy, your drapes will have a nice full appearance.
| Width |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure window casing-to-casing: |
_______ |
42" |
| 2. Add Bracket Extension: |
_______ |
8" |
| 3. Add 1. & 2. for your Bracket-to-Bracket width |
_______ |
50" |
4. See Chart for Width per Panel
|
_______ |
1 Width |
| Privacy Width Chart |
Bracket-to-Bracket
Width |
Width per Panel
to Order |
| up to 52" |
1 Width per Panel |
| up to 74" |
1.5 Widths per Panel |
| up to 96" |
2 Widths per Panel |
Tip: The width measurements in the chart above are for drapes you plan to use for privacy and light control. In order for the drapes to close properly and to look great when closed, we recommend staying within the ranges in the chart. If your window comes in on the low end of the range, you will end up with a very full looking drape when it is closed. For example a bracket-to-bracket width of 40" will work well with 1 Width Panels and have a very rich full appearance.
| Length |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure from the top of your casing to the floor: |
_______ |
80" |
| 2. Add minimum of 4" above the casing: |
_______ |
4" |
| 3. Rod Take-up (see chart): |
_______ |
1" |
| 4. Header in inches (can be zero or no header): |
_______ |
2" |
5. Add 1., 2.,3 & 4. for your Finished Length
|
_______ |
87" |
If the drapery is going to the floor, deduct 1/2" for floor clearance. You can order your rod pocket drape with or without a header. The header is fabric located above the rod. The header is included in your total length. If you want to go higher above your casing or create a puddle on the floor with your drape, you will need to add this to your length. Add 5" to 8" to your casing floor measurement for a casual trouser break. Add 8" to 12" to your casing floor measurement for a dramatic puddle. Follow our simple Installation Guide at the bottom of the page.
2. Glass Clearing Privacy & Light Control (New Hardware)
If you want your drapes to more or less clear the glass when open, you will need to move your brackets out farther from your casing. This will give you the extra space necessary for your drapes to gather (stack) beyond the glass. Instead of casing-to-casing measuring, you want to measure the glass width on the window or slider. The following chart will give you the approximate amount of inches you should add to your glass width for mounting your brackets. If your measurements are between the widths in the chart, then simply average them. If you are ordering two panels, then split the inches to add on each side for your brackets. If you are ordering one panel, then the inches to add for your brackets will all be on the stacking side. Remember this isn't rocket science - it is drapery. There will be slight variances in the way a drape gathers based on fabric thickness, lining selected and the hardware you will install. Try not to get overly analytic. Your drapes will be finished to a luxurious 2 to 1 fullness so when they are closed for privacy, they will have a nice full appearance. Tip: most designers will have the drapes cover the glass slightly on each side to cover the casing and window framing.
Glass
Width
|
Inches
to Add
|
Approximate
Width to Order
|
up to 48"
|
20"
|
68"
|
up to 72"
|
30"
|
102"
|
up to 96"
|
40"
|
136"
|
up to 120"
|
48"
|
168"
|
up to 144"
|
58"
|
202"
|
| Width |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure window glass width: |
_______ |
48" |
| 2. Add Glass Clearing Amount: |
_______ |
20" |
| 3. Add 1. & 2. for your Bracket-to-Bracket width |
_______ |
68" |
4. See Chart for Width per Panel
|
_______ |
1.5 Width |
| Privacy Width Chart |
Bracket-to-Bracket
Width |
Width per Panel
to Order |
| up to 52" |
1 Width per Panel |
| up to 74" |
1.5 Widths per Panel |
| up to 96" |
2 Widths per Panel |
Tip: The width measurements in the chart above are for drapes you plan to use for privacy and light control. In order for the drapes to close properly and to look great when closed, we recommend staying within the ranges in the chart. If you window comes in on the low end of the range, you will end up with a very full looking drape when it is closed. For example a bracket-to-bracket width of 40" will work well with 1 Width Panels and have a very rich full appearance.
| Length |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure from the top of your casing to the floor: |
_______ |
80" |
| 2. Add minimum of 4" above the casing: |
_______ |
4" |
| 3. Rod Take-up (see chart below): |
_______ |
1" |
| 4. Header in inches (can be zero or no header): |
_______ |
2" |
5. Add 1., 2., 3. & 4. for your Finished Length
|
_______ |
87" |
If the drapery is going to the floor, deduct 1/2" for floor clearance. You can order your rod pocket drape with or without a header. The header is fabric located above the rod. The header is included in your total length. If you want to go higher above your casing or create a puddle on the floor with your drape, you will need to add this to your length. Add 5" to 8" to your casing floor measurement for a casual trouser break. Add 8" to 12" to your casing floor measurement for a dramatic puddle. Follow our simple Installation Guide at the bottom of the page.
3. Decorative Panels (Installing New Hardware)
A Decorative Drape or Panel is for "decorative" purposes and not intended to provide complete privacy and light control. Decorative panels are made in 1.0, 1.5 & 2.0 widths of fabric for each panel. It isn't necessary to follow the Privacy Width Chart when using the drapes for decorative purposes. The important issue for decorative drapes is the scale of the window to the drape. You don't want to put 1 Width Panels on a large French Door. It will look too skimpy. Conversely, you don't want to put 2 Width Panels on a 40" window. It will look very heavy. Tip: If you use the Decorative Width Chart below, you'll be fine.
| Decorative Width Chart |
| Window Width |
Finished Width to Order |
| Up to 72" |
1 Width per Panel |
| 73" to 97" |
1.5 Widths per Panel |
| 98" Plus |
2.0 Widths per Panel |
| Length |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure from the top of your casing to the floor: |
_______ |
80" |
| 2. Add minimum of 4" above the casing: |
_______ |
4" |
| 3. Rod Take-up (see chart below): |
_______ |
1" |
| 4. Header in inches (can be zero or no header): |
_______ |
2" |
5. Add 1., 2., 3. & 4. for your Finished Length
|
_______ |
87" |
If the drapery is going to the floor, deduct 1/2" for floor clearance. You can order your rod pocket drape with or without a header. The header is fabric located above the rod. The header is included in your total length. If you want to go higher above your casing or create a puddle on the floor with your drape, you will need to add this to your length. Add 5" to 8" to your casing floor measurement for a casual trouser break. Add 8" to 12" to your casing floor measurement for a dramatic puddle. Follow our simple Installation Guide at the bottom of the page.
4. Existing Drapery Hardware Measuring
Existing hardware makes your job very simple. You don't have any brackets or hardware to install. You just have to get your measurements from your existing hardware. You can also simply measure an existing drape, if you like how it hangs.
Decorative Rod
If you have an existing decorative rod, your width measurement is your existing bracket-to-bracket width.
| Width |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure window bracket-to-bracket: |
_______ |
48" |
2. See Chart for Width per Panel
|
_______ |
1 Width |
Bracket-to-Bracket
Width |
Width per Panel
to Order |
| up to 52" |
1 Width per Panel |
| up to 74" |
1.5 Widths per Panel |
| up to 96" |
2 Widths per Panel |
Tip: The width measurements in the chart above are for drapes you plan to use for privacy and light control. In order for the drapes to close properly and to look great when closed, we recommend staying within the ranges in the chart. If you window comes in on the low end of the range, you will end up with a very full looking drape when it is closed. For example a bracket-to-bracket width of 40" will work well with 1 Width Panels and have a very rich full appearance.
| Length |
Measure |
Example |
| 1. Measure from the top of your rod to the floor: |
_______ |
82" |
| 2. Rod Take-up (see chart below): |
_______ |
1" |
| 3. Header in inches (can be zero or no header): |
_______ |
2" |
| 4. Add 1., 2. & 3. for your Finished Length |
_______ |
85" |
If the drapery is going to the floor, deduct 1/2" for floor clearance. You can order your rod pocket drape with or without a header. The header is fabric located above the rod. The header is included in your total length. If you want to go higher above your casing or create a puddle on the floor with your drape, you will need to add this to your length. Add 5" to 8" to your casing floor measurement for a casual trouser break. Add 8" to 12" to your casing floor measurement for a dramatic puddle. Follow our simple Installation Guide at the bottom of the page.
5. Rod Take-up Adjustment
When a pocket or tab drape style is installed on a rod, the fabric will wrap around rod. This causes the tab or pocket to expand around rod and slightly shortening the overall length of the drape. To compensate for this, you will need to add a little extra length based on the rod you have. The chart below will show the Take-up amount you will need to add.
| Rod Take-up |
| Rod Type |
Pocket Size |
Take Up Amt. |
| 1" Sash Rod |
1-1/2" |
1/2" |
| 1-3/8" Pole |
3" |
1" |
| 2-1/2" Flat Continental Rod |
3" |
1/2" |
| 2-1/4" Pole |
5-1/2" |
1-3/4" |
| 4-1/2" Flat Continental Rod |
5-1/2" |
1/2" |
6. New Hardware Installation Tips
New Hardware:
Hanging drapes is actually a fairly easy project. There are a few tips that will help your installation go smoothly. You should allow for about an hour for the first one. It can go much quicker, but this is one of those projects where most people double and tripe check themselves. If you have multiple windows, the subsequent installations will go much faster.
| 1. Since this is a new installation and you are not experts, you should start by putting the drapes on the rod |
| 2. Place the rod on the floor running parallel to the window in about the same position as if were hanging on the wall |
| 3. Spread the drape to the closed position on the floor as if it were mounted on the window |
| 4. Once you have the drape in that position, place the brackets on the floor. Measure the distance from bracket to bracket and write that down. This is your width position |
| 5. Using a pencil, mark those two points on the wall above the window making sure you have equal distance from the center point of the window. Don’t worry about the height just yet; we are only interested in getting the width position right now |
| 6. This next step is a little tricky, but it’s fool proof. Raise the drape off the floor (it will take 2 people with two step stools). If you have a very large drape or heavy fabric, you can just slip one panel on the rod. You may want to attach the finials to keep the drape from slipping off the end of the rod |
| 7. Lift it to a point where you want the bottom of the drape to be relative to the floor. You can be a ½” off the floor or just kiss the floor, slight break or puddle the drape. It's all based on how you ordered your drapes |
| 8. While holding the bracket in position, mark one of the screw holes on the bracket. This mark is for the height only; we’ll get to the width in a second. Now you can set the drape down. Then you will intersect the width mark with the height mark for one bracket only |
| 9. Take a small finishing nail and using a hammer, gently drive the nail it into the sheetrock at your intersecting mark. If the nail goes in easily to a hollow, you will need anchor bolts. If the nail hits something hard, that is the wood framing around the window and you can just use wood screws. You will need a power drill to create the hole for the anchor bolt or to create a pilot hole if you hit wood. The anchor that you use will have instructions on the drill bit size required. A pilot hole is a very small drilled hole that guides the screw into the wood. The pilot bit needs to be much smaller than the screw so you still get a strong bond |
| 10. Set the first bracket firmly in place with two screws or toggle bolts |
| 11. Now you need to attach the second bracket. There are two ways to do this. One is to measure the installed bracket from the floor and transfer that to the second bracket. This is not fool proof, especially if you have an old house where the floors have settled. We recommend that you take the drape off the pole (yes it’s a pain) and set it in the installed bracket. Using a carpenter's level to make sure the pole is level, mark and then attach the second bracket just like you did the first |
| 12. On long spans or telescoping rods, you will need a center bracket to keep the center from sagging. That is the last bracket to install |
| 13. Put the drape back on the pole and set in on the brackets and you are done! |
| 14. If you are putting up more than one set of drapes, the next ones will go quickly |
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