Pick The Right Curtain For Your Shower: 4 Simple Steps

After moving into a new home or renovating your bathroom, there is so much that you need to prepare to make it a space perfect for you.

Pick The Right Curtain For Your Shower: 4 Simple Steps

Something you may not have considered but is actually an essential bathroom feature is a shower curtain. 

This may sound like a simple thing to obtain, but it is actually more complicated than you may think.

Shower curtains come in various sizes and it is important to make sure you have picked the right one for your bathroom.

The process of finding the right size shower curtain can be confusing, but luckily, we are here to help! 

In this article, we will tell you all you need to know about picking the right size curtain for your shower in just four simple steps! So, if this is of interest to you, read on for more! 

What Are The Different Shower Curtain Sizes?

There are three different shower curtain sizes. Such as: 

  • 70 x 70 inches
  • 70 x 72 inches 
  • 72 x 72 inches 

Out of these three sizes, only one will work for showers that you will find in the majority of homes.

However, there will be exceptions to this rule, and you may find that you need one of the other shower curtain sizes for the shower in your own home.

It all depends on if you have a curved curtain rod, a stall shower, or an oversized shower. 

You may find this confusing, but there is no need to worry! Let’s check out the four easy steps that will help you find the perfect shower curtain for your bathroom! 

Step 1: Measuring The Width Of The Shower Curtain

The first step in finding the right shower curtain for your bathroom is to measure the width of the shower space in your bathroom.

All you need to do for this is to get the tape measure and go ahead and measure the length of the shower in its entirety, from one wall to the other. 

After you do this, you will need to add 12 inches to this number.

This is so the shower curtain can move from wall to wall freely, and still cover the person showering in their entirety by reaching from wall to wall. 

You should now have worked out the measurements of your shower in inches.

If it does not fit one of the three mentioned above, then do not panic.

In step 4, we cover the exceptions to these measurements and what you can do in these instances. 

Step 2: Deciding Where To Put The Rod 

If you have no rod for your shower curtain already installed, then this will be your next step!

Here, you need to decide how to mount the shower curtain rod, meaning you must choose whether you want it to be on the inside or the outside of the shower. 

If you choose to put the shower curtain rod inside the shower, then it will fit in exact measurements between the opening and will go from one wall to the other.

However, choosing to put the shower curtain rod outside the shower will grant it more flexibility, and the shower curtain will be able to go beyond the opening. 

Now, if you decide to use a rod that you can mount to the wall permanently, then you will be able to buy a shower curtain before you mount it, and then you can make any adjustments to the measurements that are required. 

However, it is sometimes useful to temporarily use a spring rod.

A spring rod will take the place of an actual shower curtain rod while you take the measurements correctly. 

Once you have completed this step, the next step is to measure the height of the shower curtain. 

Step 3: Measuring The Height Of The Shower Curtain 

Now you need to measure the height of the shower curtain.

First, you need to decide how high you would like your shower curtain to sit off the floor.

The ideal height for a shower curtain is when it sits around 1-2 inches from the floor, but we will leave the decision-making to you!

Although, it is important to note that if your curtain sits too high then water will be able to escape the shower and it will collect on the floor, leaving a large and unpleasant puddle. 

Meanwhile, if you hang your shower curtain too low, then this will result in it bunching as it hits the floor and will eventually grow mildew or mold, which is not very nice to deal with.

Pick The Right Curtain For Your Shower: 4 Simple Steps

Or, if you hang your shower curtain too low you may accidentally trip over it while trying to get out of the shower, which could result in pain or injury. 

Once you have decided how far your shower curtain will sit from the floor, you will need to take your tape measure and measure the space from where your rod will sit all the way down to the floor.

Take away around an inch to make space for the hooks, and a further inch or two (or whatever you have decided) for the space between the floor and the shower curtain. 

Step 4: The Exceptions To Regular Shower Curtain Sizes 

As previously mentioned, there are exceptions to the three main shower curtain sizes listed above. 

It is important to remember that a standard shower curtain will measure around 72 x 72 inches, plus or minus 1-2 inches.

These types of shower curtains are supposed to fit a tub that measures 60 inches with an additional 12 inches of fabric that will guarantee complete coverage for the person showering. 

So, if your rod and your shower are of standard size then you do not need to pay attention to this last step, go and choose your new shower curtain!

However, there are some showers that do not meet these measurements, and there are different rules that apply to them. 

Let’s check these out in more detail below! 

Oversized Showers 

Most homes will have basic, standard-sized tubs and showers.

However, they do come in various sizes, so this may not be the case in your home.

Fortunately, if your shower is bigger than 60 inches, then you will be able to purchase designer curtains that have a much larger width – some even go up to 180 inches! 

Alternatively, you have the option of purchasing two different shower curtains and then hanging them together.

However, you need to be cautious with this alternate method because it can result in there being far too much shower curtain fabric left over. If this happens, then tiebacks will be the answer!

Stall Showers 

Now, if you do not have a tub, but have a stall shower instead, then the way you measure the shower space and the standard measurements are going to differ slightly.

As a rule, standard showers are shorter and bigger than stall showers. 

So, stall shower curtains are longer in length and shorter in width to accommodate for these changes, and their sizes typically look like this as standard: 

  • 50 x 78 inches
  • 54 x 78 inches

To measure the width of a stall shower, you need to take the measuring tape and go from one side of the stall shower to the other and then add an extra 12 inches or so to permit the shower curtain to move freely. 

Regarding the height of the stall shower, you will need to ensure that the curtain sits low enough that water will not spill out of the shower, but not so low that it drags on the floor and has the potential to cause an accident. 

Curved Curtain Rods 

If the style of curtain rod you have is curved, then the shape of the rod will need to be measured as a whole.

On average, curved rods measure around 6 inches longer than the standard shape of shower curtain rod.

This means while it is possible to use a regular 72 x 2-inch shower curtain, you will not have many inches of fabric that can move freely. 

While this is decent coverage, it is still better to look for a shower curtain that will be slightly oversized. 

Why Is It Important To Have A Shower Curtain That Is The Right Size?

Your bathroom is a room that has a significant purpose. It is also likely to be the smallest room in the home.

So, your shower curtain should not be there solely for random decoration.

It is the main thing people will see when they walk in, so aesthetically, it plays a very important role and should be treated as such. 

Not only that, but shower curtains are very practical items and need to serve their purpose correctly in this way, too.

They will stop your floors from becoming damaged by water, stop your guests from falling, and more. 

So, you need to ensure that your shower curtain is the right size in terms of height, width, and the way it fits on the rod.

If it is too small, you will be adjusting it constantly (not to mention cold!) If it is too big, you will be trying to stop any extra length from getting wet and growing mold, or bunching up. 

Final Thoughts 

Having the right shower curtain is vital to ensuring your bathroom is a practical and pretty space.

You need to make sure that it measures correctly in height, width, and the way it fits on your shower rod, in order to have safe and comfortable showers.

Luckily, these four steps are easy to follow and will help you in achieving these goals! 

Adrienne Carrie Hubbard