How Much Does It Cost to Fit Curtains?
This guide will include the overall cost of a curtain fitting service, the supply costs of hanging curtains, the labour costs of hanging curtains, and any additional costs that may come up with this type of work.
We will also take a look at the timescales that you can expect with hanging curtains, the different types of curtains that you can choose from, and the cost of removing curtains.
If you don’t feel confident enough to fit curtains as a DIY job, then you can hire a handyperson to complete this work for you.
You will most commonly pay a professional an hourly rate for this type of work. You can expect to pay around £40-£70 per hour for this type of work.
It usually takes around 20 minutes per window to hang curtains on a basic curtain rail with brackets and around 45 minutes per window for a track rod.
Depending on the complexity of the job, the average cost of fitting curtains is around £40-£400 per window. This includes the cost of the curtains, the hardware, and the installation.
Simple nylon curtains will usually cost around £10-£40, whereas the price for professionally fitted custom-designed silk curtains on a large bay window is around £2000-£3000.
The average cost for fitting a curtain pole or handrail is around £80-£150. The overall cost will depend on the number of curtain poles or handrails you require.
Curtain Fitting Prices
Below is a table which highlights the average costs for fitting curtains in the UK:
| JOB DESCRIPTION | AVERAGE COST |
|---|---|
| Fitting curtain rack (per window) | £100-£150 |
| Fitting blinds (per window) | £60-£115 |
| Curtain pole fitting (per window) | £60-£90 |
Most curtain fitting prices will depend on the customisation needs, the number of windows that need curtains, and your location in the UK. Those based in the London area can expect to pay more for the work than those based in the North or other areas of the UK.
What are the Supply Costs for Curtain Fitting?
If you plan on fitting your new curtains yourself, then you may only be interested in finding out the average costs of curtains. Curtains come in a huge range of fabrics. Budget options include nylon and acrylic, and high-end options include velvet or hand-printed silk.
The material of the curtains that you choose will have the biggest influence on the material costs.
Below is a table showing the average prices for curtains in the UK:
| CURTAIN MATERIAL | AVERAGE COST (per window) |
|---|---|
| Nylon | £8-£40 |
| Acrylic | £8-£55 |
| Polyester | £10-£75 |
| Voile | £15-£80 |
| Cotton | £15-£110 |
| Chenille | £15-£110 |
| Chiffon | £15-£110 |
| Lace | £20-£220 |
| Bamboo | £20-£220 |
| Linen | £15-£220 |
| Wool | £22-£380 |
| Velvet | £38-£550 |
| Silk | £75-£1200 |
The average cost of the window supplies will vary depending on several factors. These factors can include the material of the fabric, the current pricing structures, the size of the window, and the number of windows you need curtains for.
What are the Additional Costs of Fitting Curtains?
When it comes to fitting curtains, there are several additional costs that you may wish to consider. Below is a list of the additional things that you may need to budget for with this type of work:
New Windows
When installing new curtains for your windows, you may also wish to further improve the look of the windows by having some completely new windows installed.
Since there are so many different styles of windows to choose from, various materials and different sizes of windows to choose from, it can be difficult to estimate the price that you can expect to pay for this type of work.
However, the average cost for installing new windows is around £300-£700. The average cost for a medium-sized UPVC window is typically around £400-£550, and for the same sized aluminium window, you can expect to pay around £650-£800 per window.
Painting and Decorating
If you are fitting new curtains in your home, you may want to consider painting and decorating your home to further improve the appearance of the rooms that are getting new curtains.
The prices for painting and decorating a room will vary depending on the size of the room and the quality of the paint used. However, the average price for painting a room is usually around £180-£500. If you would prefer to hang wallpaper in a room, this will usually cost around £200-£600.
New Flooring
Similarly, if you are installing new curtains to improve the look of your home, you may also be interested in fitting some new flooring.
The average cost for installing new flooring in your home will vary depending on the type of materials used, the size of the room in which the flooring is going, and your location in the UK.
In the majority of cases, you can expect a new flooring installation to cost around £400-£1000 per room. Carpets are generally the cheapest option.
The cost for installing carpets in a medium-sized room is around £140-£580. Karndean flooring, on the other hand, tends to be the most expensive option. The price for this is around £960-£1520 for the installation in a medium-sized room.
Tradesmen Costs for Fitting Curtains
In some cases, you may be interested in the cost of labour without the cost of the materials. This may be the case if you have already bought the curtains and you just want to hire someone to come and fit them for you.
If you want to hire a tradesperson to complete this for you, you can expect to pay around £40-£70 per hour for this type of work.
With the average curtain hanging job taking less than an hour, you can expect to pay around £40-£70 in total for each window.
How Long Does It Take to Hang Curtains?
If you plan to hire someone to come and hang your curtains for you, you may be interested in finding out how long it takes to complete this type of work.
It usually takes around 20 minutes per window to hang curtains on a basic curtain pole with brackets and around 45 minutes per window for a track rod.
If you are getting multiple sets of curtains fitted, you can see how the timescales may add up. If you are planning on fitting new curtains around your entire home, this will usually take around 4-8 hours, depending on the complexity of the job and the number of windows that you have in your home.
Types of Curtains
There are several different types of curtains that you can choose from. Below is a list of the various types of curtains you can choose from and the pros and cons of each type.
We have also listed the costs you can expect to pay for each type of curtain. The prices can vary by quite a sizeable amount depending on the type of fabric that is used.
Pencil Pleat Curtains
Pencil pleat curtains have relatively short and shallow headers with small pleats along the top of the curtain that grow fuller as you descend.
These curtains tend to be quite affordable and work very well on small and large windows. The price you can expect to pay for these curtains is around £8-£550 per window.
PROS
- Cheap option
- Attractive finish
- Work well on small and large windows
CONS
- The pleats are small
Pinch Pleat Curtains
Pinch pleat curtains are pinched at the top. This creates very full, distinctive pleats and a nice gathered look down the curtains.
These curtains look very impressive when they are long and fitted to large and impressive window frames. The average cost for pinch pleat curtains is around £8-£750.
PROS
- Large, full pleats
- Nice gathered appearance
- Great for long, large windows
CONS
- Not the best option for smaller windows
Eyelet Curtains
Eyelet curtains are sometimes also known as grommet curtains. These are fitted with holes at the top and have all the hardware built into them. This makes it very easy to slide curtain rods through the holes.
These curtains form very large and impressive folds, providing a look that works very well in most modern homes. These curtains tend to cost around £8-£750.
PROS
- Easy to install
- Large, impressive folds
- Great for modern homes
CONS
- Not to everyone’s taste
Wave Header Curtains
Wave header curtains offer a very sleek, minimalistic appearance that works well in most contemporary homes. These curtains tend to cost around £15-£1270 per window, depending on the size, style, and material used.
PROS
- Sleek, minimalistic appearance
- Great for contemporary homes
CONS
- Not the best option for traditional homes
Hobbled Shade Curtains
Hobbled Roman curtains are great for providing an elegant, airy appearance. They have much softer folds than Roman blinds.
The average cost for these types of curtains is around £45-£1090 per window, depending on the size, style, and material used.
PROS
- Elegant, airy appearance
- Much softer folds than Roman blinds
CONS
- Not to everyone’s taste
Fixed Window Curtains
Fixed windows are a style of window that you can't open and a purely designed to allow light to flood into the home and to provide an outside view. These windows are usually smaller than most windows.
Curtains for fixed windows are designed for this type of window. On average, you can expect to pay around £8-£750 per window for these curtains.
PROS
- Great for fixed windows
CONS
- Not great for other types of windows
Sash Window Curtains
Sash windows are a very popular type of window constructed from different panels or sashes.
Curtains for this type of window are designed specifically for these windows. The average cost of sash window curtains is around £8-£1090 per window.
PROS
- Great for sash windows
CONS
- Not great for other types of windows
Casement Curtains
Casement windows are ones with hinged frames that open completely outwards for maximum ventilation.
The size of these windows can vary, leading to a wide range of potential costs depending on the size of the window and the curtain material. On average, you can expect to pay around £8-£1090 for these types of curtains.
PROS
- Great for casement windows
CONS
- Not great for other types of windows
Skylight Curtains
Skylight curtains are ones that are designed specifically for skylights. The price for these curtains will mostly depend on the selected material and the size of the window.
Skylight curtains are most commonly positioned on ceilings or sloped walls. Regular curtains simply won't work in these positions. The average cost for skylight curtains is around £50-£1090 per window.
PROS
- Perfect for skylights
CONS
- Not great for other types of windows
Bay Window Curtains
Bay windows usually tend to be very large, with one central panel and two side panels. All of the curtains for this type of window need to measure the same.
This means that these types of curtains tend to cost more than a sash or small fixed window curtain. Curtains for this type of window tend to cost around £50-£1090.
PROS
- Perfect for skylights
CONS
- Not great for other types of windows
How Much Does It Cost to Remove Curtains?
In some cases, you may need to remove some curtains. This may be the case if you are planning on hanging new curtains or if you are planning on installing something else such as a blind. You may also need to remove your curtains if you are decorating a room.
If you would prefer to hire a handyperson to remove your curtains for you, you can expect to pay around £40-£70 per hour for this type of work. On average, it will take a tradesperson around 10-30 minutes to remove one set of curtains.
The timescales of removing your curtains will increase depending on the number of curtain sets you want to remove.
If you are moving home and plan to remove all of the curtains from your property, this will likely take around 3-5 hours to complete, depending on the number of windows in your home and the type of curtains you have.
To remove all of the curtains in your home, you can expect to pay around £120-350.
FAQs
Q: How do you clean curtains?
A: Some types of curtains can be washed in the washing machine. However, you should avoid putting them in the dryer, which can damage certain fabrics. Before you wash your curtains, you should vacuum them to eliminate any dust and debris from the materials.
Alternatively, you can take your curtains to a dry cleaner if you are unsure of the best cleaning method or if they are a delicate fabric. In most cases, you can find out the best washing method by checking the label that comes with these curtains.
Q: How long does it take to install curtain rods?
A: Instant installation rods are very easy to get hold of and are also very simple to install. If you are working with more specialised hardware, then the curtain rod installation may take around 30-45 minutes per window.
Q: Where should the curtain pole brackets be placed?
A: Where you place the curtain rod brackets is important if you want your curtains to be properly hung. Calculate the top measurement of the curtains by measuring the distance from the bottom to the top. Then, install the brackets, so the curtain pole is attached to the top measurement.
Q: How high should a curtain pole be above a window?
A: As a general rule of thumb, the most common placement for a curtain pole is around 15cm above the window. This is so that the curtain can hang properly.
Q: How far apart should curtain hooks be placed?
A: You should place curtain hooks evenly across the heading tape. This is most commonly in every 4th, 5th, or 6th pocket.
Q: How do you attach curtain hooks to the curtain poles?
A: If you have a curtain pole, you should place the curtain hooks into the top row of the pockets. This is so that the curtain hangs below the pole.
Q: Can I hang curtains myself?
A: Yes, hanging curtains is quite a simple job that most people should be able to complete as a DIY job. However, if you are at all nervous about hanging the curtains yourself, it is always recommended that you choose a professional to come and hang the curtains for you.
A professional will provide the work to a high standard so you can be sure that the curtains are installed well and that they are safe for use. A professional will also be able to hang the curtains properly without damaging them.
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