Measuring guide · Restaurants and retail
Measuring for restaurant and retail curtains
Curtains here are as likely to divide a room or close a changing cubicle as to dress a window. Each is measured a little differently.
What is different in hospitality and retail
The curtains, roman blinds, pelmets and tracks and poles guides cover how to take every measurement. This page adds what is different about measuring in this sector and gives you the schedule we need.
Restaurants use curtains for atmosphere and acoustics: heavy cloths on tall windows, drapes as room dividers, café curtains on a rod across the lower glass. Retail uses them for function: changing-room cubicles, shopfront blinds, back-of-house screening. All of it is made to measure and all of it hangs from a fixing that you measure.
Restaurants, bars and cafés
Window curtains
Tall windows and heavy fabrics: measure the track and allow 15% of the window width each side for stack-back so the glass is clear in daylight. Floor length (10mm above) is usual; where banquettes or a bar counter run under the window, finish 20mm above them.
Room dividers
A divider hangs from a ceiling track and is measured from the ceiling to 10mm above the floor, with the track length across the opening. Tell us whether it draws to one side or both and where it stacks; a divider usually needs 20% of its length as stack space. Give us the track projection if it also returns to a wall.
Café curtains
Café curtains hang from a rod fixed part-way up the window, usually at the transom or at 1,000 to 1,200mm above the floor for seated privacy. Measure the rod length between its brackets and the drop from the rod to the sill or to 10mm above it. Four café styles are on the sheers specification page; all measure the same way.
Bays and shopfront returns
Corner sites and bays: measure each straight run along the track line and the angle at each corner, or send a photo.
Retail and changing rooms
Changing-room cubicles
Cubicle curtains hang from a ceiling or bulkhead track across the cubicle opening. Measure the track length, and the drop from the track to the floor; the curtain finishes 100 to 150mm off the floor so it clears and can be cleaned under. Tell us the opening width if the track is not fitted yet; we allow for the curtain to overlap the walls each side so it closes fully.
Shopfront and window-display blinds
Roman blinds on shopfront glazing are measured pane by pane: width between the mullions at three heights (smallest), drop from the transom or headrail position to the display floor or sill. Note the control side and whether the blind is seen from the street, which affects the lining.
Back-of-house screening
Screening curtains over stockroom openings and behind counters are measured like room dividers: track length and ceiling-to-floor drop less 10mm.
The schedule we need
One line per window, all figures in millimetres. Send it as a spreadsheet, a PDF or a photo of a marked-up plan.
- Room / window reference
- Room number and window position, e.g. 204 W1. Sewn into the curtain label.
- Fixing
- Track or pole; new or existing; overlap arm; returns and projection.
- Width and drop
- Track width; drop from track to finish point (smallest of three).
- Finish point
- A floor, B sill or C below sill / above radiator.
- Heading, lining and fabric
- As specified, with the fabric band and colourway.
- Use
- Window, divider, café curtain, cubicle or screen.
- Stack side
- Left, right or both, and what the stack must clear.
- Cleaning
- Wipe-clean or washable, especially for cubicles and café curtains.
Rather we measured?
For larger projects we can measure on site. Site surveys carry a fee that depends on the location, the number of windows and the stage of the build; we confirm it before anything is booked. Site surveys and installation.
Frequently asked questions
Do dividers need to be lined?
Usually, for weight and opacity, and so both faces look finished. Tell us if the divider is seen from both sides and we make it double-faced.
What standard applies?
BS 5867-2 Type B for restaurants, bars and retail. Every fabric in the restaurant and retail collections is inherently FR and comes with its certificate.
Can you measure out of hours?
Yes; most restaurant and retail surveys are done before opening or after close. Site surveys carry a fee that depends on the location, the number of windows and the stage of the build; we confirm it before anything is booked.
Send the plan
A floor plan with the curtain positions marked is enough to quote windows, dividers and cubicles together. For larger projects we can measure on site. Site surveys carry a fee that depends on the location, the number of windows and the stage of the build; we confirm it before anything is booked.