Made-to-Measure vs Ready-Made Curtains: What Is the Difference?
Ready-made curtains come folded in a packet, in a handful of set sizes, ready to hang today. Made-to-measure curtains are cut and sewn to your exact window, in the fabric and heading you choose. Both cover a window, but they look, hang and last quite differently, and the gap shows most on larger or feature windows.
The made-to-measure vs ready-made curtains decision usually comes down to three things: fit, choice and finish. This guide walks through each one, plus measuring, installation and what you are actually paying for, so you can tell which option suits your rooms before you buy.
The quick answer
Ready-made suits standard windows, a tight timeframe and a smaller budget. You take the closest size off the shelf and hang it the same day.
Made-to-measure suits feature windows, unusual sizes and anyone who wants a tailored look. It is cut to your window, in your fabric and heading, and hung to fall correctly.
The deciding factor is usually fit. If your windows are a standard size and you are relaxed about the drop, ready-made can work. If you want curtains that sit right, custom is the safer choice.
What ready-made and made-to-measure actually mean
Ready-made curtains are mass produced to a small set of standard sizes and sold from stock. You choose the drop and width closest to your window and hang them as they come. The range of fabrics, colours and heading styles is limited to what the store carries.
Made-to-measure curtains are ordered to your window. The width, the drop, the fabric, the lining and the heading are all specified for your room, then the curtains are cut and sewn to suit. Ours are made to measure in our own workshop, which is why the fit and the finish are held to your measurements rather than a standard chart.
Made-to-measure vs ready-made curtains at a glance
| Ready-made curtains | Made-to-measure curtains | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizing | A few fixed drops and widths | Cut to your exact window |
| Fit | Often too long or short, gaps at the sides | Falls to the floor, covers edge to edge |
| Fabric and colour | Limited to stock | Wide range of fabrics, colours and linings |
| Heading style | Usually one or two options | S-fold, pinch pleat, pencil pleat and more |
| Lead time | Take home today | Made to order, so allow a few weeks |
| Cost | Lower upfront | Higher, for the fit and finish |
| Best for | Standard windows, quick fix | Feature windows, exact fit, tailored look |
Fit: the difference you see first
Fit is where most people notice the gap. Ready-made curtains come in a few set drops, commonly around 213cm, 221cm and 250cm in Australia, so unless your window happens to match, the curtains either stop above the floor or pool more than you wanted. The width works the same way: a packet holds a fixed panel size, so wide windows can end up with skimpy curtains that do not close over properly.
Made-to-measure curtains are cut to the drop you want, then hemmed to finish about 10mm off the floor for a crisp look, or long enough to break gently on the floor if you prefer softer. They are also made with enough width for proper fullness, usually two to two and a half times the track width, so they hang in full, even folds rather than pulling flat. On a tall or wide feature window, that is the difference between curtains that look built for the room and curtains that look borrowed.
Fabric, colour and lining
Ready-made ranges keep a small selection of popular fabrics and colours, which is fine if one of them suits your room. Made-to-measure opens up the full library: sheers, linen-look weaves, heavier blockout fabrics, and a proper choice of colours to match your walls and floor. You also choose the lining, which changes how much light the curtains hold back and how they drape, something a packet curtain decides for you.
Lining is worth a closer look, because it changes more than people expect and ready-made decides it for you. Unlined curtains hang the softest and let the most light through, which suits a relaxed or sheer look. A light-filtering lining adds privacy and body while still letting a soft glow into the room. A blockout lining is the one to choose for bedrooms and media rooms, since it holds back the most light and gives the curtain a fuller, heavier drape. With made-to-measure you match the lining to each room, rather than accepting whatever a packet curtain comes with.
Heading and finish
The heading is the top of the curtain, and it sets the whole look. Ready-made curtains usually come in one or two heading styles. Made-to-measure lets you pick the heading that suits the room: a soft, modern S-fold wave, a classic tailored pinch pleat, or a simple pencil pleat. The heading also decides whether the curtains run on a track or a rod and how they stack back when open.
Measuring and installation
With ready-made curtains you measure the window yourself, pick the nearest size and hang them on your own hardware. It is quick, and for a standard window it can be all you need. The risk is in the measuring: a drop or width that is a little off is the most common reason ready-made curtains look wrong.
Made-to-measure takes the measuring off your hands. The window is measured on site, the track or rod position is set, and the curtains are installed to hang correctly. When we measure a window, the details that matter most are the drop, the track width for fullness, and how the curtains clear the floor, sill or any furniture below, which is hard to get right from a size chart alone.
A made-to-measure track is also usually set wider than the window itself, so the curtains stack back off the glass when open and let in the full view. Whether the curtains sit inside the window recess or face-fix on the wall above is decided at the same time. These are the sort of details a fixed ready-made size cannot account for.
Cost and value: what you are paying for
Ready-made curtains cost less upfront because they are mass produced to standard sizes and sold from stock. Made-to-measure costs more, and the difference pays for your exact measurements, your choice of fabric, lining and heading, a tailored finish, and professional measuring and installation.
We do not put a single price on made-to-measure here, because it depends on the window size, the fabric, the lining, the heading and the track. A measure and quote is the most accurate way to compare the two for your own windows. What is fair to say is that the value of custom shows over time: curtains that fit hang better, wear better and tend to look right for longer than a standard size forced onto the wrong window.
Durability and care
Made-to-measure curtains are usually built with heavier headings, weighted hems and fuller fabric, so they hang cleanly and hold their shape through years of being drawn back and forth. Ready-made curtains can look good on day one, but a lighter make, combined with a size that is not quite right, tends to show sooner. Both are looked after in much the same way: a gentle regular vacuum with a brush head, and professional cleaning rather than a hot machine wash, keeps either at their best.
When each option makes sense
Ready-made is worth it when
- Your windows are a standard size that a stock drop actually matches.
- You need something hung today or on a tight budget.
- The room is low priority, like a spare room or a short-term rental.
Made-to-measure is worth it when
- You have a feature window, a wide window, or an unusual size.
- You want a specific fabric, colour, lining or heading.
- The room matters and you want the curtains to look tailored to it.
- You want the measuring and installation handled for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference in custom curtains vs ready-made curtains?
Fit. Custom curtains vs ready-made curtains comes down to whether the curtains are cut to your exact window or chosen from a few set sizes. Made-to-measure also gives you the full choice of fabric, lining and heading, where ready-made is limited to stock.
Are made-to-measure curtains worth the extra cost?
For a feature window or a room you care about, most people find they are, because the fit and finish are noticeably better and last longer. For a standard window in a low-priority room, ready-made can be enough. The honest answer depends on the window and the room.
How long do made-to-measure curtains take?
Because they are made to order rather than pulled from stock, allow a few weeks from measure to installation. Ready-made curtains, by contrast, can be hung the same day.
Can ready-made curtains be altered to fit?
Up to a point. A ready-made curtain can be shortened or taken up at the hem, but it cannot be made wider or given more fullness than the panel already has. So if the drop is a little long, altering can help; if the width is short for your window, made-to-measure is the more reliable fix.
Can I get made-to-measure sheers as well as blockout curtains?
Yes. Made-to-measure covers sheers, blockout curtains and layered setups on one window, all cut to the same measurements so they hang together neatly.
Next step
If your windows are standard and you just need something up today, ready-made can do the job. If you want curtains that fit and finish the room, made-to-measure is the safer choice. To see fabrics and compare the two for your own windows, browse the made-to-measure curtains range or the full curtains collection, then book a free measure and quote.