Eyelet curtains

A heading with the rings built in

Eyelet curtains are a lovely, simple choice when you want the pole to form part of the look. We'll help you choose a fabric and length that hangs nicely and works with your window.

An eyelet curtain has a row of large metal or plastic rings set into the top edge of the fabric. You thread the pole straight through them, so there are no hooks, tapes or separate rings. The curtain hangs in wide, deep, regular folds, and because the pole is on view, it becomes part of the look.

Why people choose eyelets

• Simplicity. There is nothing to hook or pin, so hanging is quick and taking them down to wash is easy, though you will need the pole to come apart or the finial off.
• A relaxed look. The folds are wide and rounded. It reads casual and modern, not formal.
• Smooth sliding. The rings glide along a smooth pole, so the curtain is easy to draw.

The pole matters as much as the curtain

Because the pole carries the whole curtain, it needs to be strong enough and the right size for the ring diameter. A pole that is too thin, or too long without a centre support, can sag. The fixing also matters: brackets need to go into something solid, and plasterboard walls may need suitable fixings. Our page on curtain tracks and poles explains how to choose, and eyelets do not suit a track in the usual way, because the rings need a pole to slide on.

Fabric weight decides how it hangs

This is the most useful thing to know. With eyelets, the folds form because the fabric falls between the rings, so the fabric needs enough body to do it.

• Light fabrics can look flimsy and fall into uneven or shallow folds.
• Medium weights usually give the cleanest, deepest folds.
• Heavy, thick fabrics can make the rings feel strained, and heavier curtains can drag on the pole, so check the rating of the pole.
• Lined or thermal-backed curtains are heavier again. They can help with light and draughts, depending on the fabric.

Good to know

The rings are fixed, so the spacing is set, whereas a tape and hooks heading can be tweaked, as with pencil pleat. The curtain also stops at the ring, so the heading is more open on top, which means a little light can show above the fabric. For a better seal, a pelmet, a deeper return at the wall end or a blind behind helps. Eyelet curtains can also be a little harder to draw smoothly past a bracket in the middle of a long pole, unless the brackets are designed to allow it.

Measuring for eyelets

For length, measure from the pole position to the floor or sill, then allow for how the curtain falls. Hang the pole high enough that the rings do not sit on the glass and the curtain clears the sill. For width, the pole should extend beyond the window so the curtain can stack off the glass when open. We take these figures at the measure and explain why.

Where they fit, and where something else would

Eyelets suit living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms and home offices where a casual style is wanted. They are a little less suited to a formal dining room or to a bay with sharp corners, where a narrow pole can be hard to bend. For a more formal look, see pencil pleat curtains, and for a track-hung option, wave curtains.

Cleaning and care

Take the curtain down by sliding it off the pole. Check the care label for wash temperature, and keep the iron away from the metal rings. Re-hang while slightly damp if the label allows, to help the folds fall naturally.

Curtains are a smaller part of what Boro does, so we will be upfront about what we can arrange for your windows. Browse our main curtains page, or if you want light control behind the curtain, see blackout blinds.

Want a second pair of eyes on your window? Book a free measure and we will confirm what suits before you commit to anything.