How to Measure a Bay Window Curtain Track for Sill Length Curtains
If you want curtains to hang down to the window sill, this guide will show you exactly where to measure for your new custom-made bay window curtain track. Don’t worry — it’s much simpler than most people think!
To place an order with me you only need the total width around your bay window. So grab your tape measure and follow where you’d naturally like your curtains to hang.
Most of the time, sill-length curtains stay within the bay when open, stacking neatly on the small side walls. In those cases, the track doesn’t usually need to return out of the bay at all.
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To get started, have a quick watch of the video below — it shows the whole process how to measure a bay window curtain track for sill length curtains step-by-step.
Introduction
Let me show you how simple it is to get a price and place an order for a custom-made regular bay window curtain track here at Easy Curtains. The process has two main parts: choosing your track options, then providing your final sizes.
After Placing Your Order
Once you’ve placed your order, you’ll be directed to the Order Confirmation page. On this page is a button that takes you to the Final Sizes page. This is where, following a template, you’ll give us all the measurements we need to make your new bay window curtain track fit perfectly. Don’t worry — we’re always happy to help if needed.
You’ll need two things to complete this form:
- A photo of your bay
- An overall width of your track, following the bay and including any returns (if needed). This doesn’t have to be exact at this stage — within a few centimetres is fine.
Selecting the Overall Bay Size
The first step is to select your overall bay size. Once chosen, press the Next button.
Choosing the Fitting Method
Now choose how your bay track will fix in your bay. You have five options. In this example, we’re choosing option two: ceiling fix with wall-fixed returns out of the bay. This is a popular option. If we think you’ve selected the wrong option, we’ll query it with you before starting. Then, press Next.
Choosing the Bay Shape
Next is the bending service — selecting your bay shape. Open the drop-down menu and choose your bay shape. An image of the chosen shape will appear. If it doesn’t look right, choose another option. If you’re still unsure, click the Bay Window Styles link to view many examples with names. If your bay shape isn’t listed, use the link to send us a photo. We’ll create and add it for you, then let you know it’s ready. Press Next.
Middle Track Option
Choose from two options for the middle of your track:
- Overlapping tracks – great for overlapping curtains that hang well.
- Heavy-duty joining splice – strong and simple join.
Select your preferred option, then press Next.
Optional Extras
Now you can choose optional extras for your custom bay window curtain track:
- Brakes – add to keep curtains in place (I selected “Yes”).
- Curtain draw rods – available in pairs, 75cm long (I selected a pair).
- Curtain hooks – choose from nylon, zinc metal, or zinc pin hooks (packs of 50). I selected nylon hooks and two packs (typical for bay windows).
Each option has a video link showing what it is and how it works. Press Next.
Uploading a Photo
Upload a photo of your bay window. Stand well back to get the whole window, plus some wall on each side, and include the windowsill. If using a smartphone, pressing the Upload button will open your camera. Your photo will be added automatically. Press Next.
Final Confirmation and Payment
This is the final step. On the right, you’ll see a list of your selections and the total price at the bottom. Enter your email address (and confirm it), then fill in your name, address, and phone number. Enter your card details, including the billing postcode, and press the “Place Your Order” button.
You’ll then be redirected to the Order Confirmation page, which has a button linking to the Final Sizes form. You’ll also receive this link in your order confirmation email.
Need Help?
If you need help at any stage, use the Help Assistance button in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Still unsure? Contact us via the contact form — we’ll be happy to help.
Ceiling Fix or Wall Fix — Where to Measure From
The main thing that changes the measuring method is how your track will be fitted.
✔ If the track is ceiling-fixed
Measure from the window sill level — nice and simple.
Follow the lines where your curtains naturally hang:
- Along the window frames where they meet the sill
- Onto the small return walls inside the bay
This gives us accurate bay angles and the correct spacing from the sill.
✔ If the track is wall-fixed
Measure across the walls where the brackets will sit, not the sill.
This is the best method if:
- You already have wooden battens in place
- There isn’t enough room to ceiling-fix
- The window sill design makes ceiling fixing tricky
When Measuring the Walls Under the Sill Works Better
Some bays have window sills that don’t return out of the bay, or they stop short of the external corners. In these cases, measuring from the wall under the sill is the safest method.
You’ll then just let me know how far the sill projects into the room. You can pop this in the “Additional Information” box on the final measuring form.
This method helps because it:
- Removes guesswork at the external corners
- Gives perfect bay angles
- Makes your track fit exactly where your curtains will hang
You can see this clearly in the dotted-line examples below (add your images here).
Examples From Real Customer Bays
Splay Bays
Ideal candidates for measuring under the sill. If the window sill ends before the outside corners of the bay
The curtains in these examples hang down to meet the sill, then stack back onto the side walls.
Five-Sided Bays
These tracks are fully ceiling-fixed and sit entirely within the bay.
Ceiling fixing is usually the simplest and neatest solution, especially with sill-length curtains.
Square Bays
With square bays, measuring at sill level is often the easiest method — especially when you’re on your own. You don’t need a helper to hold the tape above the window.
For most square bays we make the track to:
- Sit approx. 3cm off the side windows
- Sit 5cm off blinds on the main window (if fitted)
- Keep the stack tidy without the curtains dragging on the sill
Square Bay With Wall Fix
In this example, the track is wall-fixed onto a wooden batten to match the curtain length. Ceiling fixing would have looked cleaner, but the customer’s existing curtains dictated the height.
Where the side battens didn’t meet the corners, we supplied spacers behind the wall brackets to keep everything level.
Curtains Hanging Inside the Bay But In Front of the Sill
This is a common situation when the track doesn’t return out of the bay. This can create gaps between the walls and the sides of the bay. The video below shows exactly how we deal with that, keeping the sides covered and making the whole setup look neat.
How to Stop Gaps When Your Bay Track Sits Inside the Bay Only
Hi, I’m Lee Stevens from Ezecurtains.co.uk.
Some customers only want their curtain track to sit within the bay window. That’s absolutely fine, but if you’ve got a deeper window sill and your curtains need to move slightly further out to clear the sill and hang freely, you’ll almost certainly need the track to be ceiling-fixed inside the bay.
Ceiling fixing works really well, but it does create one small issue…
The Problem: Gaps Down the Outside Edges
When the track stops inside the bay, the curtains hang neatly across the windows — but you can sometimes end up with visible gaps down the outside edges of the bay, between the curtain and the window reveal.
This happens simply because the track doesn’t return out of the bay, so the curtains can’t naturally cover those last few centimetres.
The Fix: Use Screw Eyes for the Last Few Curtain Hooks
We solve this by using a couple of small screw eyes for the final hooks on your curtains. These let you “hook” the last bit of the curtain neatly around the corner to close the gaps.
If you look at the clip in the video, you’ll see how:
- The track ends inside the bay
- But the last hooks swing around the corner using the screw eyes
- Everything lines up cleanly with no visible gaps
It’s a simple fix and works brilliantly for deeper sills and recessed bays.
What to Choose When Ordering
When choosing the position of your track, select:
Option 1 — Track fixing to ceiling within bay only.
You Don’t Need to Order the Screw Eyes Separately
No need to add screw eyes to your order — we sort that for you. When we draw out your bay, we’ll look carefully at the photo you upload with your order. If we can see your track will finish inside the bay and the curtains need to wrap around, we’ll automatically include the screw eyes for you.
Thanks for watching.
The Main Thing to Remember
Measuring for a bay track when your curtains hang to the sill is usually quick and straightforward, and you can absolutely do it on your own.
Once you’ve taken your bay sizes, just send them through and I’ll take care of the angles, the joins, and the perfect fit.
FAQ’s
For this type of track (sitting inside the bay with sill-length curtains), you’ll normally measure along the walls/window frame rather than from the front edge of the sill.
Measure each wall section within the bay at sill level, following where the track will sit. I’ll then set the track out the correct distance so your curtains to either clear the sill and hang freely. Or to hang down to the top of the sill depending on your preference.
Yes — that’s very common. As long as we set the track the right distance out from the wall, sill-length curtains will hang nicely to the sill and stack back inside the bay.
If you send a quick photo with your order, I’ll double-check the setup and make sure the track position will work with your curtain length.
When the track finishes inside the bay, you can sometimes see a gap between the last bit of curtain and the wall.
We solve this by using small screw eyes for the last couple of hooks. This lets the curtain wrap around the corner and close the gap neatly.
No, you don’t need to worry about that. When I draw out your bay and look at the photo you’ve uploaded, I can see if the track ends inside the bay and the curtains need to hook around the corner.
If that’s the case, I’ll automatically include the screw eyes with your order at no extra cost.
If your sill projects quite a long way, just measure along the walls at sill level as normal and then let me know roughly how far the sill sticks out in the comments box on the measuring form.
I’ll use that info to set the track far enough forward so the curtains clear the sill but still sit nice and close to the window.
Don’t panic — small differences are usually easy to work with, especially if I’ve got a clear photo of the bay as well.
If anything looks odd when I draw the bay out, I’ll get in touch and double-check the sizes with you before we start making the track.
Yes, that’s possible on some bays. For this particular setup the track is usually ceiling fixed within the bay only, but if you’re not sure what’s best, just send a photo and a quick note with your order.
I’ll advise whether a mixed fixing is a good idea for your window or if a simple ceiling-fix-only track will work better.
Need Help With Your Own Window?
If you’re in the same position — no wall space above your window, and wondering where to attach your curtain track — don’t worry. With the right track and a simple spacer if needed, you’ll get a strong, neat installation that works perfectly with your existing curtains.