Standard curtain lengths and length rules
By the Sizemaven team. Checked against its sources October 14, 2026.
Ready-made curtain panels in the US come in 63, 84, 95 or 96, 108 and 120 inches. With the rod hung 2 inches below the ceiling, 95 or 96 inches reaches the floor under an 8 ft ceiling, 108 inches under 9 ft and 120 inches under 10 ft. 84 inches suits a rod hung lower, and 63 inches ends near the sill.
- 8 ft ceiling
- 95 or 96 in
- 9 ft ceiling
- 108 in
- 10 ft ceiling
- 120 in
- Sill or apron
- 63 in
The standard curtain lengths and what each suits
Stock panels are sold in a small set of lengths: 63, 84, 96, 108 and 120 inches (Kwik-Hang), and some brands make 95 inches in place of 96 (Graywind). The length is the drop of the panel, so it decides how high the rod can go.
| Length | Suits |
|---|---|
| 63 in | Sill or apron length, above a radiator, counter, seat or furniture |
| 84 in | Floor length from a rod about 84 inches up, such as just above a standard window |
| 95 or 96 in | Floor length under an 8 ft ceiling with the rod hung high |
| 108 in | Floor length under a 9 ft ceiling with the rod hung high |
| 120 in | Floor length under a 10 ft ceiling with the rod hung high |
Graywind notes that 84 inches is often too short for a rod hung high under an 8 ft ceiling. Nicetown puts the rod for 84-inch curtains at about 84 to 86 inches from the floor, which is about 4 inches above a typical 80-inch window.
Which length for your ceiling height
The curtain size tool hangs the rod 2 to 6 inches below the ceiling and picks the stock length that lands at the floor from there. When a panel lands an inch or two on the floor, you can let it rest there or hem it for a clean edge.
| Ceiling | Window top from floor | Rod height | Panel length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 80 in | 14 in above, 2 in below ceiling | 95 in, hem 1 in |
| 8 ft | 84 in | 10 in above, 2 in below ceiling | 95 in, hem 1 in |
| 8 ft | 88 in | 6 in above, 2 in below ceiling | 95 in, hem 1 in |
| 9 ft | 84 in | 22 in above, 2 in below ceiling | 108 in, hem 2 in |
| 9 ft | 96 in | 10 in above, 2 in below ceiling | 108 in, hem 2 in |
| 10 ft | 84 in | 34 in above, 2 in below ceiling | 120 in, hem 2 in |
| 10 ft | 96 in | 22 in above, 2 in below ceiling | 120 in, hem 2 in |
| 10 ft | 108 in | 10 in above, 2 in below ceiling | 120 in, hem 2 in |
| 12 ft | 96 in | 25 in above, 23 in below ceiling | 120 in |
95 and 96 inches differ by 1 inch, and brands make one or the other. Check which one a listing is when the hem has to land exactly.
Curtain length rules: hover, kiss, break and puddle
Floor-length curtains have four common finishes, set by how far the hem sits from the floor. Sources agree on the order and differ by an inch or two on the amounts.
| Rule | Where the hem sits | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Hover (float) | 1/2 to 1 inch above the floor | Graywind, Kwik-Hang, Galaxy Draperies |
| Kiss | Just touching the floor | Kwik-Hang, Galaxy Draperies |
| Break | 1 to 2 inches longer, bending once at the floor | Graywind, The Shade Store |
| Puddle | Several inches pooled on the floor, most often 3 to 8 | Kwik-Hang, The Shade Store, Graywind |
The curtain tool uses the same rules: floor (just clears or touches the floor), break (1 to 2 inches on the floor) and puddle (3 to 8 inches). For a puddle, Graywind uses 6 to 10 inches and Kwik-Hang splits it into 1 to 3, 3 to 6 and 6 to 8 inches.
Above the floor, a sill length ends at the windowsill, and an apron length ends a few inches below it. Galaxy Draperies puts the apron most often at 4 inches below the sill.
When no stock length fits
- Between two sizes: buy the longer length and hem it, as Kwik-Hang advises.
- Too long by an inch or two: let it break on the floor, or hem it.
- Ceilings over 10 ft: 120 inches is the longest stock length, so the tool lowers the rod, never below halfway between the window and the ceiling, or you can look for 144-inch or custom panels.
- Too short for the rod you want: hang the rod lower, no lower than halfway up the gap above the window.
To take the measurements for any of these, see how to measure for curtains.
Questions
What length curtains for an 8 ft ceiling?
Usually 95 or 96 inches, with the rod hung just below the ceiling. 84-inch panels reach the floor only when the rod sits about 84 inches up, just above a standard window.
What length curtains for a 9 ft ceiling?
Usually 108 inches, with the rod about 2 inches below the ceiling. They rest about 2 inches on the floor, so hem them or let them break.
What length curtains for a 10 ft ceiling?
Usually 120 inches, with the rod about 2 inches below the ceiling. They rest about 2 inches on the floor, so hem them or let them break.
Is there a difference between 95 and 96 inch curtains?
One inch. Brands make one or the other, so check the listing when the hem has to land exactly.
Should curtains touch the floor?
That is a style choice. Hover stops 1/2 to 1 inch above the floor, kiss just touches it, a break adds 1 to 2 inches, and a puddle adds 3 inches or more.
Sources
The numbers on this page come from the pages below. Brands differ, so check the size chart on the product page before you buy. Read our method