To find the best blackout curtains, we spent hours researching the market and evaluating various styles based on factors such as material, size, heading type, and overall value. We also tapped three interior design experts—Leslie Murphy, founder and creative director of Murphy Maude Interiors; Stephanie Sullivan, design consultant at Stoneside Blinds and Shades; and Shaolin Low, interior designer at Studio Shaolin—for advice on what to look for when choosing a set of blackout curtains for the bedroom. “Every fabric can be used to accomplish a variety of light-filtering levels, but heavy-weight fabrics work best to achieve a true blackout,” says Sullivan. “The key is to use a blackout curtain liner to achieve complete darkness.” Our top pick is the Deconovo Back Tab and Rod Pocket Blackout Curtains because they’re easy to hang and come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. We also appreciate that they come in reasonably priced sets of two panels. Here are the best blackout curtains. Who it isn’t for: People looking for patterned designs. Deconovo’s blackout curtains earned the top spot on our list for plenty of reasons. First of all, they come in a wide range of sizes and colors to suit any windows in your home. You can choose from neutrals like black and gray or spice it up with deep hues such as burgundy and forest green. They’re also extremely easy to install since they can be hung in three different ways: with the back loops, rod pocket, or clip-on rings (sold separately). And since these reasonably priced blackout curtains come in sets of two, you don’t have to worry about accidentally ordering only one panel. Caring for these curtains is easy, too—simply wash them on a gentle cycle at a low temperature.
Size: From 40 x 45 inches to 52 x 108 inches per panelMaterial: PolyesterHeading: Back loops, rod pocket, or clip-on rings
Who it isn’t for: People with very wide windows. Lightweight, easy, and affordable are all words that come to mind when looking at these budget-friendly blackout curtains from Sun Zero. Featuring a grommet heading for a classic look, these polyester blackout curtains are great for anyone who needs to block out light in small spaces. Even though they come in lengths ranging from 54 to 120 inches, these curtains have a maximum width of 40 inches per panel—but they offer a full blackout effect and are incredibly lightweight. Plus, they come in more than 15 different colors, ranging from blush pink to navy blue.
Size: From 40 x 54 inches to 40 x 120 inches per panelMaterial: PolyesterHeading: Grommet
Who it isn’t for: People looking for a low-maintenance option. Crafted from Belgian flax, these linen curtains from Pottery Barn are an elegant, splurge-worthy pick. But if you’re willing to spend more on high-quality materials, we think these luxe blackout curtains are worth it. The three-in-one heading is compatible with rod pocket, back tabs, and ring top hanging options, making it an extremely versatile option. Plus, these linen blackout curtains come pre-washed, so the fabric arrives soft and worn-in. But since they’re dry clean only, these curtains do require a bit more maintenance than we’d like.
Size: From 50 x 84 inches to 100 x 108 inches per panelMaterial: Linen with polyester liningHeading: Rod pocket, back tabs, or ring top
Who it isn’t for: People who want machine-washable curtains. Velvet is a heavier, more luxe material for curtains, which makes it pretty great for maximalist rooms that want a blackout effect. In addition to blocking out light, these velvet curtains from Greyleigh provide thermal insulation and noise-reduction capabilities, too. This means that they’ll help block out heat in the summer and help retain heat in the winter. The individual curtain panels come in a whopping 24 colors, so there’s bound to be a velvet hue that works for your home. You can hang them via the rod pocket or tab top headers (which might be a little harder to install, but it’s so worth it). There are only three size options available, so these thermal blackout curtains are best suited for long and narrow windows—but the weighted hem will make sure they stay put, even when you have the window cracked on breezy days. Just keep in mind that these curtains are dry clean only.
Size: 50 inches x 84 inches to 50 x 108 inches per panel Material: Velvet and polyester Heading: Rod pocket or tab top
Who it isn’t for: People who want their curtains to look white from the outside. Contrary to popular belief, white blackout curtains can be just as effective as darker fabrics—and this set of two panels from Nicetown is a great choice. Despite the light color of the fabric, these total blackout curtains block out as much light as possible. They use a single grommet header for a classic, easy design, and they’re also machine-washable, which will come in handy since white curtains can get dirty quickly. The black polyester lining adds a two-tone look, but keep in mind that this also means the part that’s visible from the outside of your window won’t be white.
Size: From 37 inches x 63 inches to 70 x 108 inches per panelMaterial: Polyester Heading: Grommet
Who it isn’t for: Those who want a wide variety of heading panels to choose from. If you tend to prefer bold patterns and designs, then consider these blackout curtains from Society6. We especially love this tropical leaves design, but the curtains are available in a wide range of patterns designed by artists—so there’s a fun print for everyone’s style. Choose from one or two panels (each with the same design) and two different lengths, either 84 or 96 inches. The panels are made of machine-washable polyester and are designed to block out 85 percent of the light that shines through your windows. And with a rod pocket heading style, these blackout curtains are extremely easy to hang.
Size: From 50 x 84 inches to 50 x 96 inches long per panelMaterial: PolyesterHeading: Rod pocket
Who it isn’t for: People with very short windows might find these curtains too long. These cotton blackout curtains from Pottery Barn have a textured design that gives them an airy, minimalist look that would look great alongside your existing home decor. Sold as individual panels, these curtains come in seven colors and six different sizes (with options that are 50 and 100 inches wide), so you can customize them to best fit your windows. Like the other Pottery Barn curtains on our list, these can be hung in three different ways—rod pocket, back tabs, or ring top—depending on your setup. Just make sure you select the “blackout lining” option before adding each panel to your cart to make sure that the curtains filter light. We also like that these blackout curtains are made in a Fair-Trade Certified factory.
Size: From 50 x 84 inches to 100 x 108 inches per panelMaterial: Cotton with polyester liningHeading: Rod pocket, back tabs, or ring top
How to Shop for Blackout Curtains Like a Pro
Fabric and Color
While there isn’t a hard and fast rule in terms of color and fabrics for blackout curtains, a good rule of thumb is to go with naturally thicker materials such as velvet, which may be more durable and block out light better in the long run, according to Leslie Murphy, founder and creative director of Murphy Maude Interiors. “Blackout curtains can instantly look a bit more glamorous by using textured fabrics, too,” says Murphy. “I think there’s a misnomer that blackout curtains have to be a dark color or boring by nature, but plenty of brands offer blackout curtains in fun colors and patterns that allow you to liven up your space and play into the overall design scheme.” Fabric options are practically limitless, too. While polyester and other synthetic materials are typically more budget-friendly than linen or cotton, all will help block out light in your space and showcase your design aesthetic the way you’d like. It just depends on the look you’re going for in your room.
Size
Most blackout curtains are available in plenty of sizes, but the experts we spoke to recommend choosing curtains with at least three extra inches of length than required for the full blackout experience. “You’ll first want to decide how to hang the curtains—either on the outside or inside of the window frame,” says Murphy. “If hanging outside, measure at least two inches beyond the window frame.” (More on this below.)
Heading Type
The heading style (aka the top part of the curtain that attaches to the curtain track or rod) can dramatically change the overall look of your finished curtains. And if you’re starting from scratch, it will also influence the type of rod or track you can use. These are the four different types of headings you’ll find on blackout curtains:
Grommet: Often the most traditional style, grommet curtain headers have metal rings punched along the top for the rod to slide through. Rod Pocket: These curtains are often the easiest to install because they have a slit opening that the rod slips into.Tab Top: These curtains hang from the rod via large fabric loops, and offer a more modern look than some of the other options.Pinch Pleat: The fabric on these curtains is pinched along the top to create fullness and often has small loops for curtain hooks. Even though this is a more unique look, pinch pleat curtains can be a bit more complicated to install.
Questions You Might Ask
What’s the difference between blackout and room-darkening curtains?
Even though blackout curtains and room-darkening curtains both prevent light from entering through the windows, the amount of light that they block out varies. “While providing plenty of light protection, room-darkening curtains will not create a completely dark room,” Sullivan says. “On the other hand, blackout curtains will create a completely dark room—even when the sun is out! This is accomplished through a combination of product placement, fabric thickness, and liner options.” Another important distinction is that blackout curtains tend to be a bit wider and heavier than room-darkening curtains, as they require thicker material and wider dimensions to effectively block out all the light.
Who should buy blackout curtains?
Anyone who wants to make their bedroom darker so they can sleep better would benefit from blackout curtains. They’re especially common among people who work night shifts, as the sun can be too bright for them to sleep during the day. Blackout curtains are also great for nurseries and children’s bedrooms since a darker environment can help kids nap during the day.
How do you measure correctly for blackout curtains?
“The best tip for measuring curtains is to measure from the top of the window to the floor and the width of the window opening at several points,” Sullivan says. “This ensures that the length of the treatment will be accurate and guarantees that the curtain will be wide enough, since windows are not perfectly square.” But when measuring your windows for blackout curtains, you want to add a few extra inches to make sure that no light seeps through. “No matter how long or short the curtains, there should be at least three extra inches of length than is required,” adds Sullivan. “This allows for a subtle pooling effect at the bottom of the curtain, and that helps to block light out.”
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Nikhita Mahtani, a freelance writer who specializes in home decor. To come up with this list, she thoroughly researched blackout curtains and consulted three interior design experts: Leslie Murphy, founder and creative director of Murphy Maude Interiors; Stephanie Sullivan, design consultant at Stoneside Blinds and Shades; and Shaolin Low, interior designer at Studio Shaolin.
