How to Fix Curtains That Are Too Long or Short

Curtains end up the wrong length for all sorts of reasons: poles get moved, you’ve switched from rings to a track, or they simply came with the house and were never right to begin with.

Either way, it’s a fixable problem. You don’t need a sewing machine or professional alterations to sort it.

What You’ll Need

Tools

• Tape measure
• Fabric chalk or dressing pins
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors (fabric scissors if you have them)
• Spirit level or long ruler

Materials / Replacement Parts

• Iron-on hem tape (also called hemming tape or bondaweb) for a no-sew fix
• Matching thread if hand or machine stitching
• Press cloth (a damp tea towel works)
• Curtain weights (optional, for heavier or lined fabrics that need to hang straight)

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How to Fix It: Step by Step

Step 1: Measure the Correct Drop

Get this right before you touch a single pin. Hang the curtains on their pole or track first, because fabric hangs differently when it’s up than when it’s laid flat.

1. Measure from the top of the curtain (or the bottom of the ring/hook) to the floor or sill, depending on your intended finish
2. For floor-length curtains, most people aim for either a clean break (1-2cm off the floor) or a deliberate puddle effect (an extra 10-15cm pooling on the floor)
3. Mark the new hemline with pins at several points across the width, not just at the edges
4. Use a spirit level or long ruler to check the pins are even before you take anything down

If you’re lengthening curtains, measure how much extra drop you need and check whether there’s enough fabric turned up in the existing hem to let out.

Step 2: Prepare the Hem

Take the curtains down and lay them flat on a clean surface. Remove the existing hem if you’re adjusting the length.

1. Unpick the old stitching carefully with a seam ripper, working slowly to avoid pulling the fabric
2. Press the fabric flat with a warm iron once the old hem is out, so you’re working with a smooth edge
3. For curtains that are too short and need lengthening, check the existing hem allowance by measuring the folded-over section. If there’s at least 5-8cm of fabric tucked in, you may have enough to let the hem out and rehang lower
4. If there isn’t enough fabric to let out, you’ll need to add a separate hem band or fabric extension to the bottom. Use a matching or contrast fabric depending on the look you’re going for

Step 3: Create the New Hem

For most people, iron-on hem tape is the right call. It’s fast, holds well on lined curtains and most standard fabrics, and you don’t need any sewing skills.

1. Fold the raw edge up by about 1cm first, press it flat
2. Fold again to your marked hemline and press again so you have a clean double fold
3. Slide hem tape between the two layers and press firmly with a damp cloth and hot iron for 10-15 seconds per section, working along the full width
4. For sheer or delicate fabrics, hand stitching is safer than hem tape, which can sometimes leave a visible line through lighter materials
5. If machine stitching, use a stitch length of around 2.5mm and match the thread to the fabric as closely as possible. Test on a scrap piece first

Give the finished hem a final press and let it cool completely before handling.

Step 4: Rehang and Check

Don’t call it done until you’ve checked the hang with the curtains back up on the pole.

1. Rehang the curtains and step back to check the fall from a distance
2. Look across the full width, not just the centre, as any slight unevenness in the hem will be visible when they’re hanging
3. Check both curtains together if it’s a pair, because small differences in length between the two panels are obvious when they’re next to each other
4. If anything looks off, re-mark and adjust before making anything permanent