Will My Existing Curtains Work on a Bay Window Curtain Track?
In many cases, yes. Existing curtains can often be reused with a made-to-measure bay window curtain track, provided the heading, width and curtain drop are suitable.
The answer mainly depends on the curtain heading you already have, how wide your curtains are, and whether the curtain drop still works once the new track is fitted.
This guide explains which curtain styles usually work, which ones do not, and what to check before ordering a new bay window curtain track.
Can I Use My Existing Curtains with a Bay Window Curtain Track?
Yes, many existing curtains can be used with our standard glider bay window curtain tracks.
The most flexible curtain heading is usually pencil pleat. Pinch pleat curtains can also work very well, but they offer much less adjustment because the pleats are sewn in place.
Eyelet, tab top and slot top curtains usually do not work with standard curtain tracks because they are designed to slide over a curtain pole rather than hang from curtain hooks.
Lee’s Advice
The important thing is not whether your curtains currently hang from a pole or a track. The important thing is the heading style at the top of the curtain.
What If My Existing Curtains Are Not Wide Enough?
This is one of the most common issues when reusing existing curtains on a bay window curtain track.
Even if the curtain heading is suitable, the curtains still need enough fabric to cover the bay window properly when closed.
Bay windows are often much wider than standard windows, which is why many bay window curtains are made to measure. If your existing curtains originally came from a standard window, there is a good chance they may not contain enough fabric to gather nicely across the bay.
If the curtains are only slightly narrower than ideal, you may still achieve a perfectly acceptable result.
However, if they are significantly narrower than the track length, the curtains may appear flat when closed and lose the attractive folds created by the heading tape.
Can I Use Two Pairs of Curtains?
Sometimes, yes.
If you have two matching pairs of curtains, combining them can be a simple and cost-effective way of achieving the extra width needed for a bay window.
This provides more fabric, creates fuller curtains and can often produce a much better finished appearance than trying to stretch a single narrow pair across a wide bay.
Using two pairs of curtains can work particularly well when the existing curtains are the correct length and heading style but simply do not contain enough fabric to gather attractively across the bay window.
If you’re considering this approach, we’ve created a dedicated guide explaining when using two pairs of curtains works well and what to consider before choosing this option.
Lee’s Advice
If your existing curtains are not quite wide enough, don’t assume they need replacing. Using two matching pairs of curtains can sometimes be an excellent solution and may save you the cost of buying made-to-measure replacements.
We have a dedicated guide explaining when using two pairs of curtains can work well and what to consider before choosing this option.
Which Existing Curtains Work with Our Bay Window Tracks?
| Curtain heading | Works with standard glider bay tracks? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Pencil pleat | Usually yes | Width, gather and curtain drop |
| Pinch pleat | Usually yes | Finished curtain width and drop |
| Wave curtains | Only with a wave track | Wave tape, wave gliders and track position |
| Eyelet curtains | No | Eyelets are designed for curtain poles |
| Tab top curtains | No | Tabs slide over a pole, not track gliders |
| Slot top curtains | No | The curtain sleeve is designed for a pole or rod |
My Curtains Currently Hang from a Pole. Will They Work on a Track?
Very often, yes.
Many curtains hanging from a curtain pole are actually pencil pleat or pinch pleat curtains. The curtains hang from hooks, and those hooks attach to rings on the pole.
If this is the case, the rings are usually removed and the same style of curtains can often be hung from track gliders instead.
So do not worry too much about whether the curtains currently hang from a pole. Look at the heading at the top of the curtain and check whether it uses curtain hooks.
Pencil Pleat Curtains Are Usually the Most Flexible Option
Pencil pleat curtains are the traditional curtains with heading tape across the top. You pull the cords in the tape to gather the curtain, then tie the cords securely at the outside edge.
This heading style is usually the most flexible option because you can let the gather out slightly or pull more gather into the tape to adjust the finished curtain width.
In an ideal situation, the total flat width of your pair of curtains would be roughly double the overall length of the bay window curtain track.
This gives enough fabric for the curtains to gather nicely when closed, while still allowing them to meet properly in the middle.
Pinch Pleat Curtains Can Also Work Well
Pinch pleat curtains can also be hung from our standard glider bay window curtain tracks, provided the finished curtain width is suitable.
Unlike pencil pleat curtains, pinch pleat curtains do not give you much flexibility to adjust the width. The pleats are already sewn into place.
This means each curtain needs to be wide enough to cover just over half of the track when closed.
If the curtains are much narrower than needed, they will not meet properly in the middle. If they are much wider than needed, you may be left with too much curtain bunched at the sides.
How Wide Do My Existing Curtains Need to Be?
As a guide, each curtain should be able to cover just over half of the finished bay window curtain track.
I usually recommend allowing half the overall track length, plus around 5cm extra for each curtain. This helps the curtains overlap slightly in the middle rather than just meeting and creeping apart.
If your curtains are slightly wider or slightly narrower than ideal, they may still work perfectly well, especially if they are pencil pleat curtains.
If they are a lot narrower than the track width, the curtains may have very little gather when closed. The heading tape may look flat rather than forming neat pleats.
If they are a lot wider than needed, you may end up with too much gathered curtain at the sides of the window, even when the curtains are closed.
Will My Existing Curtains Be the Right Length?
Even if your curtains work for the width, you still need to check the drop.
This is especially important if you want the curtains to finish just above the floor.
If the curtains are too long, they can usually be shortened. Many local dry cleaners, curtain alteration services or garment alteration businesses can do this for you.
If the curtains are too short for floor length but still hang past the window sill, you may decide to use them as they are. Another option is to shorten them so they finish neatly below the sill, often around 10cm past the sill or wherever looks best for your window.
Which Existing Curtains Usually Do Not Work?
Some curtain styles are designed specifically for curtain poles and do not usually work with standard glider curtain tracks.
Eyelet Curtains
Eyelet curtains have metal rings just below the top of the curtain. They do not have heading tape for hooks and are designed to slide directly over a curtain pole.
Tab Top Curtains
Tab top curtains use fabric loops that pass over a curtain pole. They are not designed to hang from curtain track gliders.
Slot Top Curtains
Slot top curtains have a fabric sleeve or pocket for a pole or rod. They do not use curtain hooks, so they are not suitable for our standard glider tracks.
Can Existing Curtains Be Altered?
Sometimes the answer is not simply yes or no.
Even if your existing curtains are not immediately suitable for a bay window curtain track, they may still be worth keeping.
In many cases, a local curtain alteration service, dry cleaner or garment alteration business can modify existing curtains so they work perfectly with a curtain track.
Can Eyelet Curtains Be Converted?
Eyelet curtains do not normally work with a curtain track because the metal rings are designed to slide over a curtain pole rather than hang from curtain hooks.
However, if the curtains are longer than you need, it may be possible to shorten them from the top, remove the eyelet heading and sew on a new pencil pleat heading tape.
This effectively creates a new curtain heading that can be hung from a bay window curtain track.
Can Pinch Pleat Curtains Be Modified?
Sometimes, yes.
If your pinch pleat curtains are not quite the right width for the bay window, it may be possible to remove the existing heading and replace it with a pencil pleat heading tape.
This provides much more flexibility because the gathered width can be adjusted to better suit the finished track length.
Can Curtains Be Shortened?
If your curtains are too long for the new track position, shortening them is often straightforward.
Many local dry cleaners and curtain alteration services offer shortening and re-hemming services. This can be particularly useful when moving from a curtain pole to a bay window curtain track.
Lee’s Advice
Before replacing perfectly good curtains, it’s often worth exploring whether they can be altered. A simple heading conversion or shortening can sometimes save a significant amount of money while still allowing the curtains to work beautifully on a bay window curtain track.
What If I Want Wave Curtains?
Wave curtains are different from pencil pleat or pinch pleat curtains.
If you want wave curtains in your bay window, you will need one of our bay window curtain tracks fitted with wave gliders. A standard glider bay track will not create the wave effect.
You will also need curtains with wave heading tape. This tape is usually stiffer than standard pencil pleat tape and allows for wider, more regular hook spacing.
If you already have a pair of curtains that are longer than needed, it may be possible for a local curtain alteration service, dry cleaner or garment alteration business to shorten the curtains and add wave tape to the top.
Lee’s Advice
If you are thinking about wave curtains, treat them as a separate curtain style. They need the correct wave track, wave gliders and wave heading tape to work properly.
FAQs About Using Existing Curtains with Bay Window Tracks
In many cases, yes. Pencil pleat and pinch pleat curtains often work well, provided the width and drop are suitable.
Yes, if the curtains use hooks. Many pencil pleat and pinch pleat curtains on poles are simply hooked onto curtain rings, so they can often be transferred to track gliders.
No. Eyelet curtains are designed to slide over a curtain pole and do not have heading tape for curtain hooks.
Not always. If your existing curtains have a suitable heading and are the right size, you may be able to reuse them.
Sometimes. If the curtains are long enough and suitable for alteration, a local curtain or garment alteration service may be able to shorten them and add wave heading tape.
Need Help Checking Your Curtains?
If you are not sure what type of curtain heading you have, or whether your existing curtains will be suitable, you are welcome to send us a photo.
A clear photo of the curtain heading and a rough idea of your bay window size is usually enough for us to give practical advice.