Curtain Tracks vs Curtain Poles

When choosing made to measure curtains, choosing a curtain pole or curtain track often comes down to style preference. However, there are a few things to consider, such as the weight of your fabric, your window and whether you want the curtain track or pole to look a certain way. If you have a heavier pair of curtains - ones which are covering a large window or using a thicker fabric, you will need a thicker pole to hold the weight. In terms of style preference, our poles offer more personalised design than tracks such as colours and pole ends - - - so these may be a better choice if you have a certain look in mind! Take a look at our full breakdown below.

Stitched curtain tracks come in three colours (white, ash and slate) and are all made in the UK. They are made from metal not only because this is more sustainable, but also so you get a more premium look. On a track, rather than hanging your curtains from rings, they are hung from gliders which means that the curtain moves effortlessly up and down the track. Curtain tracks are available on both flat and bay windows. Curtain tracks are often chosen as they are more subtle than a pole, and they can be hung directly from a ceiling or from the wall. Unfortunately, curtain tracks are not suitable for an eyelet heading.

Note - if you are hanging your track directly from the ceiling, you’ll need to keep in mind that you will be adding 5 cms extra to the curtain drop (as this the track hangs down 5cm). Unless you fancy some additional pooling, we suggest you take 5 cm off the final measurement.

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If you are looking for a curtain pole, they come in either metal, or wood. They are available in a range of colours, there’s something for everyone. A curtain pole is a popular choice as it can be quite a statement piece. Curtain poles are available on both flat and bay windows. You can add as many rings as you like, we recommend a ring every 10 cms or so - - - if you have a pencil pleat heading you will need additional rings to achieve a more gathered look. Curtain poles are suitable for every heading type.

Don’t forget to consider how heavy your curtain will be. Heavier curtains (usually the thicker interlined type) will need a wider pole to hold the weight. It’s also important to check what material your wall is made from before you start drilling. Will the wall hold the weight too? If you’re not sure, we would recommend seeking guidance from a trusted fitter or you can ping the Customer Service team a message over web chat, and they should be able to put you in the right direction.

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Take a look at our comparison chart below which might help you decide between a curtain pole or curtain track.

If you are choosing an eyelet heading, these are not compatible with a curtain track, so a pole is your only choice. However, there are a number of different finishes to choose from with our curtain poles. There are no restrictions with any other curtain heading.

If you have a very large window or choose a very heavy fabric, this may influence your choice whether to have a track or pole. If you are choosing a pole, we recommend choosing at least 30mm diameter pole so it can support the weight of the curtain, alternatively a track would be fine for heavy curtains.

Looking for a double layer curtain? These are available in poles and tracks however if you decide on a pole, it is worth noting that the inside curtain will be static. 

You can choose either a track or pole for any bay window and they can both be ceiling hung upon request, please add this to your order on checkout.

If you have a single panel curtain greater than 120cm in width, we recommend a curtain track. A curtain pole would not work for a single panel curtain as the middle bracket would get in the way.

If you wanted a wooden finish, a curtain pole is your only option, whereas both poles and tracks are available in a metallic finish in a number of colourways.

Please get in touch with our friendly customer team for any questions!