I always find this confusing. Do you count the bit above ther rail or knock it off the height ? Is it to the bottom, centre, or top of the rail ? Do you get one and a half times the width or double ? Each time I make a guess and hope I get it right.
Maybe check the size of the ones you are replacing, they are likely to be one of the standard sizes.
When you buy ready made curtains the measurements you would buy to fit your window would be:(curtains are measured individually in a pack of 2)
46" width x 72" drop ( each curtain measures that ). That would be the nearest size you can buy ready made. Hope this makes sense.
I measure the width and the drop from the rail not the window.
I like quite full curtains so buy 2½ width so if the curtian pole was 60" wide and 60" to the floor I'd buy curtains 75" x 60" (each curtain)
Oh yeah I forgot that one. You measure the window width, and see the curtains are sold in pairs. Do they quote the width of each curtain, or the total width of the pair ? It's a nightmare. Stick up some newspaper; it'll be easier, far less stressful.
Agree with OG - nightmare - maybe I will do newspaper !! Seriously thanks all, think I know what I am need to buy now - putting them up will be a whole different problem !