Traditional and relaxed interiors, bedrooms and projects where flexibility and a familiar heading are more important than very precise fixed pleats.
Curtain Guides & Advice
Curtain Headings & Hems: Types Explained
The curtain heading controls the shape at the top of the curtain, how the fabric folds and whether the curtain works with a pole, track or specialist system. The hem and lower-edge finish affect the way the curtain hangs and how decorative the finished treatment feels.
There is no single “best” heading. The right choice depends on the room, fabric, hardware, stack-back space and the look you want to achieve.
Which Curtain Heading Should You Choose?
Start with the hardware and the style of the room. Some headings are flexible and work on either a pole or track; others need a particular type of pole or dedicated track system.
Pencil pleatTraditional, adaptable and softly gathered.
Pinch pleatTailored, structured and more formal.
EyeletContemporary, simple and designed for a pole.
Tab topRelaxed and decorative, with the pole on show.
WaveClean, uniform folds on a compatible track system.
Heading choice affects more than appearance.
It can change the amount of fabric required, the way the curtains stack when open and the point from which the finished drop must be measured. Final making requirements depend on the chosen heading, fabric and hardware rather than one universal fullness rule.
Pencil Pleat Curtains
Pencil pleat is one of the most familiar curtain headings. A heading tape with draw cords gathers the fabric into closely spaced folds across the top of the curtain. The amount of gather can be adjusted when the curtain is prepared for hanging.
Commonly used with hooks on either a track or curtain rings on a pole.
Soft, narrow gathers rather than large sculpted folds.
The heading must be gathered evenly to the required finished width before the hooks are positioned.
Pinch Pleat Curtains
Pinch pleats are permanently formed and stitched into the heading, creating an evenly spaced, tailored structure. Double and triple pinch pleats are among the most familiar versions, with the fuller triple pleat producing a more decorative and substantial heading.
Classic, formal and tailored interiors where a more architectural curtain heading is wanted.
Can be hung from suitable tracks or from rings on a decorative pole.
Regular stitched pleats create ordered vertical folds down the curtain.
Often uses more fabric than a simpler gathered heading, especially in more elaborate pleat configurations. The maker should calculate the required fullness.
Eyelet Curtains
Eyelet curtains have large rings set directly into the heading so the curtain pole passes through the fabric. This creates broad, regular folds and leaves the pole clearly visible as part of the finished design.
Contemporary and relaxed rooms where a clean, simple heading and visible decorative pole suit the scheme.
Designed for a curtain pole rather than a conventional curtain track.
Large, rounded folds with the eyelets themselves forming part of the visual detail.
Check that the pole diameter and eyelet size are compatible and that the chosen pole finish works with the eyelet colour.
Tab Top Curtains
Tab top curtains hang from fabric loops stitched to the top edge of the curtain. The loops slide directly over the pole, making the pole an obvious part of the design and giving the curtain a relaxed, informal character.
Bedrooms, cottages and relaxed decorative schemes where a casual treatment feels appropriate.
Used with a pole. The pole should be chosen as part of the decorative scheme because it remains visible.
Soft folds spaced by the fabric tabs rather than a tightly controlled pleat system.
Because the fabric tabs run directly over the pole, tab tops may not draw as freely as curtain rings or a track where curtains are opened and closed very frequently.
Wave Curtains
Wave curtains use a compatible track and heading system to hold the fabric in regular, continuous folds. Unlike eyelets, the curtain hangs beneath the track, creating a clean uninterrupted line across the top.
Contemporary interiors, wide glazed areas and rooms where a simple, uniform curtain profile is wanted.
Requires a compatible Wave-style track and glider system rather than a standard decorative pole.
Soft, repeated S-shaped folds that remain orderly across the curtain.
The exact spacing, stack-back and fabric requirement depend on the chosen track system and finished curtain specification.
Curtain Hems & Lower-Edge Finishes
The heading gets most of the attention, but the lower edge also affects the finished look. A good hem adds stability and helps the curtain hang cleanly, while borders and decorative trims can turn the lower edge into a design feature.
A substantial turned hem gives the lower edge body and produces a clean finished appearance.
Weights may be incorporated where appropriate to help some curtains hang more steadily and maintain a neat line.
A contrasting lower border can repeat another colour or textile in the room and gives the curtain a deliberately tailored finish.
Braid, fringe, tassel or other trim can be added for a more individual treatment, subject to the trim being appropriate for the fabric and finished curtain.
Decorative lower-edge treatments should be discussed before the curtains are cut because a border or trim can affect the finished drop, pattern placement and making method.
Curtain Heading Comparison
| Heading | Overall look | Typical hardware | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pencil pleat | Soft and gathered | Pole with rings or track | Adaptable and familiar; gather is adjusted before hanging. |
| Pinch pleat | Tailored and structured | Pole with rings or track | Fixed pleats give a formal made-to-measure appearance. |
| Eyelet | Modern, broad folds | Pole only | Pole and eyelets remain visible and should work together visually. |
| Tab top | Relaxed and informal | Pole only | Best where the pole is decorative; can be less fluid to draw than rings or tracks. |
| Wave | Clean, regular waves | Compatible Wave track | Track specification controls the fold spacing and stack-back. |
Do not order fabric from a generic fullness multiplier alone.
The old guide quoted typical multipliers for different headings, but final fabric quantity also depends on usable fabric width, pattern repeat, whether half-widths are needed, lining, finished dimensions and the maker's chosen construction. Have the final requirement calculated from the actual curtain specification.
Curtain Headings FAQs
Which curtain heading uses the least fabric?
There is no single answer that applies to every curtain. Pencil pleat and some simpler headings can often be made with less fullness than more elaborate pleated treatments, but pattern repeat, fabric width, finished dimensions and the maker's specification can change the total quantity considerably.
Can pinch pleat curtains go on a track?
Yes, pinch pleat curtains can be made to work with a suitable track or with curtain rings on a pole. The hook position and final drop should be specified for the hardware being used.
Can eyelet curtains go on a track?
Conventional eyelet curtains are designed to run directly on a pole, so they are not a standard track heading.
What is the difference between eyelet and Wave curtains?
Both create regular contemporary folds, but eyelet curtains thread directly onto a visible pole. Wave curtains hang beneath a compatible track and use the track/glider system to control the repeated folds.
Which heading is best for a traditional room?
Pencil pleat and pinch pleat are both natural choices for traditional schemes. Pinch pleat generally gives a more tailored, formal result, while pencil pleat feels softer and more adaptable.
Does the heading change how I measure the curtains?
Yes. The reference point for the finished drop changes with the heading and hardware. Use our How to Measure Curtains guide before placing a made-to-measure order.
Related Curtain Guides
Choosing a Heading for Made-to-Measure Curtains?
If you know the pole or track dimensions and the fabric you are considering, the heading can be specified as part of the finished curtain design.
