How high to hang curtains

Last reviewed October 22, 2026

Hang the curtain rod about 4 to 6 inches above the window frame, and keep at least 2 inches between the rod and the ceiling. You can go higher when there is more space above the window, but each inch higher needs an inch more curtain.

What the guides recommend

• Standard: rod about 4 to 6 in above the top of the window frame. IKEA's guide uses 6 in.
• Near the ceiling: leave at least 2 in between the rod and the ceiling (Taskrabbit's minimum).
• Tall ceilings: the guides disagree. Taskrabbit suggests raising the rod to 1/2 or 2/3 of the space between the window trim and the ceiling. Bob Vila advises staying within 8 in of the window top, because a rod far above the window can look awkward. Choose the look you prefer.
• Then check the length. Common ready-made lengths are 84, 96, 108 in, so a higher rod can leave a curtain short.

Step by step

1. Measure the space above the window: from the top of the window frame (or trim) up to the ceiling, or to the underside of any crown molding.
2. Choose a rod height from the options above. If the space is small, the rod goes near the ceiling and the 2 in clearance decides.
3. Measure the drop from the planned top of the rod to where the curtains should end (floor or puddle: see the questions below).
4. Pick the length with the curtain length check: drop minus how the curtain top sits on the rod. If no length fits, lower the rod a little or buy longer and hem.

Rod height and curtain length by ceiling height

Example window: the top of the frame is 80 in above the floor. Each cell shows the height of the rod top, then the shortest of the common lengths (84, 96, 108 in) that reaches 0.5 in above the floor when the curtain top is level with the rod top. Grommets, tabs and rings change this; see the length check.

What the table assumes:

• The frame top is 80 in above the floor. Yours is probably different, so the method matters more than the numbers.
• Heights are measured to the top of the rod, and the curtain top is level with it.
• Hems end 0.5 in above the floor.
• Only 84, 96, 108 in lengths are compared. Some sellers offer other or longer lengths.

Worked example: a 9 ft ceiling

The ceiling is 108 in high and the frame top 80 in, so there are 28 in above the window.

• Rod 6 in above the frame: top at 86 in, about 85.5 in of curtain needed; a 96 in curtain is the shortest that reaches, with 10.5 in extra.
• Halfway up: top at 94 in, about 93.5 in needed; a 96 in curtain is the shortest that reaches, with 2.5 in extra.
• Two thirds of the way up: top at 98.7 in, about 98.2 in needed; a 108 in curtain is the shortest that reaches, with 9.8 in extra.

84 in curtains are too short for every option here, even the lowest rod.

Common questions

What if there is very little space above the window?

Bob Vila suggests going higher when the space between the top of the window and the ceiling is less than 12 in. In practice the rod then sits near the ceiling, and the 2 in clearance sets the limit.

Should the curtains touch the floor?

It is a style choice. The guides suggest hems about 0.5 in off the floor for a neat look; Bob Vila adds that 1 to 3 in of extra length gives a slight puddle. Add the extra to the drop before you pick a length.

Do I measure from the rod or from the rings?

Measure from one fixed point, ideally the top of the rod, then account for how the curtain top sits on it: grommet and rod-pocket tops sit above the rod, curtains on rings hang below it. The curtain length guide shows how much that changes the length.

What about crown molding or deep trim?

Measure the space to the bottom of the molding or trim, not to the ceiling, and keep the clearance from there.

How wide should the rod be?

Height is only half of the placement. How to measure for curtains covers how far past the frame the rod should reach, and the Curtain Panel Calculator turns the rod width into panels and packs to buy.