Curtains Too Heavy for Bay Window Ceiling?
Worried Your Curtains Are Too Heavy?
A common concern customers share with me is:
“My curtains are too heavy to hang from a bay window ceiling track — won’t they just pull it down?”
If you’re worried about curtains too heavy for a bay window ceiling, the short answer is: almost certainly not. Unless you’ve got stage-size curtains covering massive widths and drops, our tracks are more than strong enough to handle domestic curtains — even heavy, lined, full-length ones.
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10-Year Guarantee
Free remake if it doesn’t fit — even if mis-measured
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Video Measuring Guides
Short step-by-steps so you know it’s right
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No Charge Per Bend
You pay for length only — big savings on multi-bend bays
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Fast UK Delivery
Recyclable, eco-friendly packaging as standard
Why Our Tracks Handle Heavy Curtains with Ease
Twice as Many Brackets
We supply twice as many brackets as most competitors. That means the weight of your curtains is spread evenly across the ceiling, reducing strain on any single point.
Strong Fixings Where It Counts
- Corners: Around 95% of curtain weight hangs at the bay’s corners. The last bracket at each corner usually fixes into a lintel (timber or metal), giving excellent strength.
- Returns: If your track returns out of the bay, the end brackets normally fix into brickwork, which is rock solid.
- Ceiling inside the bay: As you draw the curtains around the bay, the load spreads across multiple brackets fixed into the plasterboard. With the supplied plugs, these are more than strong enough.
Extra Peace of Mind for Heavy Curtains
If you’re still worried, or if your ceiling and bay are the same height and you’re fixing into the ceiling on the returns, you can:
- Order one or two extra brackets for the return section.
- Fit 2–3 brackets close together for a super-strong fixing.
What About Plasterboard?
Many people assume plasterboard can’t hold much weight. In fact, once plasterboard is screwed and fixed to the battens above, it’s surprisingly strong. Combine that with the supplied plugs and the number of brackets we provide, and you’ll have no problem hanging heavy curtains.
If you do hit a soft spot in the ceiling where a plug doesn’t feel firm, you can use an alternative fixing such as a toggle bolt. We’ve covered that in detail in our toggle bolt guide.
Curtains Too Heavy for Bay Window Ceiling – Final Recommendation
Don’t worry about battens, and don’t overthink ceiling strength. Our tracks are designed, supplied, and tested for domestic curtains of all sizes. Once fitted correctly, they’ll hold your curtains securely for years to come.
Watch the Video
How to Fit a Curtain Track to a Bay Window Ceiling
Hi, I’m Lee Stevens from ezecurtains.co.uk. I hear this a lot: “My ceiling isn’t strong enough for a ceiling-fixed curtain track. I need to know where the joists are so I can fix all my brackets into them.”
The truth is, for domestic windows, your ceiling is almost certainly strong enough. I’ve fitted thousands of bay tracks over nearly 30 years, and the joists are rarely in the perfect places for every bracket anyway—so you don’t need to find every single one.
The Big Idea (Don’t Overthink the Joists)
- Most domestic ceilings are hollow (lath & plaster or plasterboard). That’s normal.
- You’ll usually hit some timber with a few screws—great—but it’s not essential for every bracket.
- Start with the supplied screws and plugs; they work for 95–98% of fittings.
- Only reach for alternative fixings if a particular spot isn’t firm enough.
Basic Fitting Approach
- Present the pre-bent track to the ceiling and position it to your marks.
- Drive the supplied screws straight through the bracket holes into the ceiling.
- Note which brackets feel solid (often the end brackets hit a lintel) and which need extra attention.
- If a fixing isn’t firm: slide the bracket aside, drill a pilot/hole as needed, add a suitable plug, slide the bracket back, and re-fix.
Fixing Into Different Materials
Timber lintel (often in older houses): Drive the screws straight in—nice and secure.
Metal lintel (common in newer houses): Use a 3.5 mm high-speed steel (HSS) drill bit to make a pilot hole, then drive the supplied screws directly—no plug needed.
Brick returns (where the track turns out of the bay): Use the supplied red plugs. Drill a 6 mm hole with a masonry bit, insert the plug flush with the surface, and screw the bracket back on.
When to Use Alternative Fixings
Only if the supplied screws/plugs don’t give a firm fixing (that’s rare). Keep a couple of alternative fixings in mind, but don’t buy everything up front—nip to your local DIY store if you actually need them.
What You Don’t Need to Do
- Don’t lift floorboards upstairs hunting for joists.
- Don’t try to move brackets to meet every joist position—your support needs to follow the bay shape, not the joists.
Final Tips
- The last bracket on each side (just before the track turns out of the bay) usually fixes into the lintel—this gives excellent support for stacked curtains.
- For very smooth running, your track is supplied pre-sprayed with silicone. Give it a quick spray annually to keep it gliding.
- These guidelines apply to domestic-size windows and curtains (including heavy blackout); not stage-scale curtains.
In Short
Start with the basics: fit all brackets with the supplied screws and plugs, accept that a few will land in timber (bonus), reinforce any soft spots with a plug or pilot-and-screw into metal lintel where needed, and you’re done—no joist-hunting required.
Video Highlights
- You don’t need to line up brackets with every joist.
- Supplied screws & plugs work for 95–98% of ceilings.
- Hitting timber is a bonus, not a requirement.
- Metal lintel: 3.5 mm pilot hole, screw directly (no plug).
- Brick returns: 6 mm masonry bit + supplied red plugs.
- No floorboards up, no joist-hunting needed.
- End brackets into lintels support stacked curtains well.
- Tracks are pre-sprayed with silicone; re-spray yearly.
- No need to find every joist — use the supplied screws & plugs.
- Metal lintel? Drill a 3.5 mm pilot and screw directly.
- Brick returns: 6 mm masonry bit + supplied plugs.
Video Highlights
Next Steps
If you’re still feeling nervous, don’t be. Follow the fitting videos, order your custom track with the right brackets, and you’ll soon have your heavy curtains hanging beautifully in your bay. You can browse our bay tracks here. Or if unsure send us your bay photo.