How to Measure for a Bay Window Curtain Track
Measuring a bay window can feel a bit daunting at first, but it’s usually much simpler than people expect once you know where to measure from.
This mini hub helps you choose the right measuring guide for your setup. Just pick the option that best matches how your curtains will hang, then follow the step-by-step guide.
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Choose Your Measuring Guide
Start by choosing the option that best matches your curtain setup.
1) Curtains hanging within the bay to the top of the sill
Ceiling-Fixed Bay Track
Use this guide if your track will be fixed directly to the ceiling and your curtains will hang neatly within the bay down to the top of the window sill.
Wall-Fixed Bay Track
Use this guide if ceiling fixing isn’t possible and your track will be fitted on wall brackets, with curtains hanging within the bay down to the sill.
2) Floor-length curtains hanging inside of the bay
Ceiling-Fixed Floor-Length Curtains
Use this guide if your track will be fixed to the ceiling and your curtains will hang down in front of the bay to floor level.
Wall-Fixed Floor-Length Curtains
Use this guide if your track will be wall-fixed on brackets and your curtains will hang in front of the bay to floor level.
Not quite sure which one applies to your bay?
A simple way to think about it is this:
- Within the bay = curtains finish at sill level and stay inside the bay shape
- In front of the bay = curtains hang in front of the sill and usually go down to floor level
- Ceiling-fixed = the track fixes directly to the ceiling
- Wall-fixed = the track fixes to wall brackets because ceiling fixing isn’t possible
Printable Measuring Templates
If you prefer to write your sizes down as you measure, you can use one of our printable bay window measuring templates.
Just print the template that matches your bay shape, fill in the sizes as you go, then either upload a photo of the completed sheet when you order or enter the sizes manually.
Example of one of our printable measuring templates — just fill in the sizes as you go.
A Few Quick Measuring Tips
- Use a steel tape measure if possible
- Measure in centimetres only
- Write each size down straight away
- If your bay is wide, get someone to help if you can
- If something looks odd, double-check it before sending it over
Frequently Asked Questions
Start by deciding whether your curtains will hang within the bay or in front of it, then whether your track will be ceiling-fixed or wall-fixed. If you’re still unsure, send me a photo and I’ll point you to the right guide.
Yes. If your curtains will hang down in front of the sill to floor level, the measuring position changes, so it’s best to use the dedicated floor-length guide.
That’s very common. The measuring guides work for most standard bay shapes, but if your bay is unusual or you’re unsure which template to use, just send me a photo and I’ll help you choose the right one.
Yes. In fact, it often makes things easier. You can fill in the template, take a photo of it, and upload that on the measuring page of the order form instead of typing all the sizes in manually.
Still not sure? Send me a photo
If you’re not quite sure which guide fits your bay, send me a photo and a quick note about how you want the curtains to hang. I’ll point you in the right direction.