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Most people can hang a ready-made curtain on an existing rod. Fitting new tracks, mounting blinds square inside a window frame and fixing brackets into brick or plasterboard take the right tools and some practice, which is why many homeowners pay an installer. A well-chosen window covering can also save you money on heating and cooling.
How much does it cost to install curtains and blinds?
Curtain installation usually costs about $70 to $200. A single curtain on a simple track sits at the low end; double-layered curtains, such as a sheer behind a blockout, and motorised tracks cost more.
Blind installation usually costs about $80 to $250 per window, plus the cost of the blinds. Installers often quote per window, so the number of windows in the job moves the total more than anything else.
Some installers charge by the hour instead. As a general market rate, expect about $40 to $75 an hour for curtain and blind installation, and ask whether there is a minimum charge or call-out fee.
Many curtain and blind businesses supply and install together. They measure the windows, make or order the product and come back to fit it. A supply-and-install quote is one price for the lot, so it isn't directly comparable with a fitting-only quote for products you've bought yourself. Ask each business which kind of quote it's giving you.
What changes the price
- Number and size of windows. Per-window pricing means a whole house costs far more than one room. Wide windows and sliding doors need longer tracks or more than one blind.
- Made-to-measure or ready-made. Ready-made curtains and blinds come in set sizes. Made-to-measure products cost more but fit windows that aren't a standard size.
- What the brackets fix into. Timber frames are quick to fix into. Brick, concrete and plasterboard without a stud behind it need different fixings and take longer.
- Height and access. Windows over stairs, high windows and anything that needs a tall ladder or scaffold add time to the job.
- Motorised systems. Motorised tracks and blinds cost more to buy and to fit. Ask whether the motor uses batteries, a plug or fixed wiring. Any fixed electrical work needs a licensed electrician; check whether that work is included.
- Removing old fittings. Taking down old tracks, rods or blinds and patching the holes is extra work. Ask whether it's in the quote.
Curtaining a whole house
For a whole house, count the windows and sliding doors in each room and decide what each one needs. A bedroom might need blockout curtains, a living room sheers with a second layer for privacy, and a bathroom a moisture-resistant blind.
Ask installers to quote the whole house in one visit. Measuring every window in one visit saves a second call-out, and one quote for the lot is easier to compare. You can mix curtains and blinds across the house and spend more where it matters, such as a main bedroom that needs full blockout.
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Types of Curtains
The fabric affects how a curtain hangs, how much light it blocks, how it wears and how you clean it. The cost of curtains themselves varies widely: as a general guide, ready-made curtains cost roughly $20 to $150 per panel and are often sold in pairs, while made-to-measure curtains usually cost about $300 to $1,500 per window, depending on the size, fabric and lining and whether the track is included. Compare fabric by the same unit and width: a price per metre of fabric cannot be compared directly with the price of a finished curtain. Ask whether lining, heading tape, making and hemming are included.
Sheer curtains
Sheers let light in and give daytime privacy. They're often hung on a double track behind a heavier curtain, which costs more to install than a single track.
Linen curtains
Linen comes in different weights and shades. Check the care label before washing: the lining and construction can change how a curtain needs to be cleaned.
Cotton curtains
Cotton is available in ready-made and made-to-measure curtains. Check the care label for washing and shrinkage advice.
Acrylic curtains
Acrylic and other synthetic fabrics offer different finishes and care requirements. Ask the supplier how the particular fabric handles sun exposure and cleaning.
Silk curtains
Silk hangs well and comes in different weights. It is expensive, can be damaged by strong sun and usually can't be washed at home.
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Types of Blinds
Blinds cost more or less depending on the type, the fabric and how closely they're made to fit the window. The right blind can also help you insulate your home. Approximate product budgets before installation, which vary with window size and specifications:
- Blockout roller blinds: $60 to $70
- Light-filtering blinds: $75 to $85
- Honeycomb blinds: $70 to $125
- Bonded roller blinds: can be over $300
Large windows and custom features push the price up, and a single blind can reach $1,000. Budget blinds can cost as little as $20 and are easy to fit yourself, but check the mechanism, fabric, warranty and safety fittings before buying. For rooms with particular needs, see our guide to choosing kitchen blinds.
Roller Shutters
Roller shutters are one of the more expensive options, at about $200 to $700 per window, with professional installation adding about $150 to $400 per window. They fit on the outside of the window and help control light, noise, heat and cold, and they add security and storm protection.
Getting quotes from curtain and blind installers
Quotes are only comparable if they cover the same job. Before you compare them, check each one for:
- whether it's supply and install, or fitting only;
- the number of windows and the product for each one;
- removal of old fittings and patching;
- wiring for any motorised blinds or tracks;
- the warranty on the product and on the installation.
Ask each business whether it holds public liability insurance, and ask to see the certificate. A quote given without anyone measuring the windows is an estimate, and the price can change once the installer has measured.
Tip: Book the measure-and-quote visit before you buy anything, and ask the installer to confirm in writing who pays if a blind or curtain doesn't fit.
Common Mistakes When Installing Curtains and Blinds
- Measuring wrong. Decide first whether the blind sits inside the window recess or outside it, then measure for that and check the measurements twice.
- Using the wrong fixings. Brackets screwed into plasterboard without the right anchors can pull out. Match the fixing to the wall or frame.
- Choosing for looks over light. A sheer curtain alone won't darken a bedroom. Decide how much light and privacy each room needs before choosing the product.
- Not testing before the installer leaves. Open, close and adjust every curtain and blind while the installer is still there.
- Forgetting clearance. Check that curtains and blinds open fully without catching on furniture, handles or window winders.
- Leaving cords within reach of children. Corded internal blinds and curtains must meet a national mandatory safety standard. The installer must follow the product instructions, use the specified cord-safety fittings, keep warning labels attached and add their contact label. Have loose cords secured so they cannot form a hazardous loop within a child's reach. A cordless design removes the operating cord; follow the product's safety instructions and keep climbable furniture away from windows. See the mandatory standard for blinds, curtains and window fittings.