Quick answer
Measure the window width and add 40-60 cm for the pole. Mark the height 10-15 cm above the frame (or 5 cm from the ceiling), check for pipes, drill with an 8 mm bit and fix brackets with plug and screw at no more than 120-150 cm intervals. With a shutter box, do not screw into the cover: use long brackets over the lintel or a ceiling track.
What you need
- Hammer drill and 6 and 8 mm bits
- Spirit level or laser level
- Tape measure and pencil
- Screwdrivers and Allen key
- Cable, pipe and metal detector (such as the Bosch GMS 120)
- Stable stepladder
- 20 or 28 mm curtain pole with brackets and rings or hooks (Inspire from Leroy Merlin, IKEA RACKA or HUGAD, Bricodepot)
- Centre bracket if the pole is longer than 1.5 m
- Fischer DuoPower 6x30 or 8x40 plugs and screws, depending on the wall
- Fischer GKM or DuoTec cavity fixings for plasterboard, if there is plasterboard
- Curtains with tabs, eyelets, pencil pleat tape or clips
- Masking tape for marking
Step by step
- 1
Measure the window and the fabric
Measure the width of the opening or the frame. The pole should be that width plus 40-60 cm (20-30 cm each side) so the curtains stack back without covering the glass. The fabric should be 1.5-2 times the width of the pole to make folds. If the pole is 2 m, the whole curtain must be between 3 and 4 m wide in total.
- 2
Decide the height
Set the pole 10-15 cm above the frame, or 5-10 cm from the ceiling if you want to give an impression of height. For long curtains, measure from the pole to 1 or 2 cm above the floor; if there is a radiator or a piece of furniture, to the windowsill or 1 cm below it. Do not let curtains trail: they collect dust and damp.
- 3
Check the shutter box
The roller shutter box is hollow, made of PVC or aluminium, and its cover does not hold weight. Do not drill it or fix the brackets to it. Measure how far it sticks out from the wall: if it projects 5-10 cm, use brackets with a 12-15 cm projection so the curtains hang in front. If space is tight, fit a ceiling track.
- 4
Mark the bracket positions
With the level and pencil, mark the horizontal line at the chosen height. Mark the first bracket 5-8 cm from each end of the pole, and one in the centre if the pole is over 1.5 m. Stick masking tape where you will drill to cut down the dust.
- 5
Detect pipes and cables
Pass the detector over the drilling area and at least 30 cm above it. Above a window there is usually the lintel (concrete or solid brick) but cables can also run to a nearby socket or switch. If the detector beeps, move the position 3-4 cm.
- 6
Drill and insert the plugs
In concrete and solid brick use an 8 mm bit with hammer action; in hollow brick, without hammer action. Clear the dust and push the plug in flush. In plasterboard over a stud, screw straight into the stud; with no stud, use a metal cavity fixing and do not load it with more than 5-8 kg.
- 7
Screw on the brackets
Screw each bracket on until the plate sits flat with no play. Check with the level that both ends are at the same height before the final tightening. Test by pulling down on each bracket by hand: it must not move.
- 8
Assemble the pole and rings
Thread the rings onto the pole before fitting it (they will not go on afterwards). Fit the finials, seat the pole in the brackets and tighten the fixing screws with the Allen key. If the centre bracket is a support type, make sure it does not stop the rings.
- 9
Hang the curtains
Clip on the clips or slide the pole through the tabs and adjust the folds by hand. Let the fabric drop for 24 hours and check the length. If it drops a further 2-3 cm, adjust the hem with iron-on tape or have it altered.
- 10
Check and adjust
Open and close the curtains several times. If the pole tilts, go over the brackets again. If you see it catching on the window when you open the sash, bring the brackets forward or raise the pole a few centimetres.
How to hang curtains: pole or track, which system to choose
A metal or wooden pole with rings is the most common system in living rooms and bedrooms: it is visible, holds heavy curtains well and goes up quickly. A ceiling track (such as the IKEA KVARTAL or the Leroy Merlin ones) keeps the curtain tight to the ceiling, is ideal when the shutter box takes up the space above and takes weight if it is fixed to a slab or a beam. Tension poles that need no drilling work for light nets in small recesses, but not for heavy curtains.
As for the type of fabric, linen or cotton curtains hang from clips or rings; eyelet curtains gather on a 28 mm pole; pencil pleat or wave heading tape curtains need a track or a pole with hooks. For south-facing bedrooms and living rooms in Alicante or Valencia, thermal-lined and blackout curtains stop the afternoon sun fading the fabric and reduce the heat in the room.
| Situation | Recommended system | Indicative weight |
|---|---|---|
| Window with no shutter box | Wall pole, 20-28 mm | 3-6 kg of fabric |
| Window with a protruding shutter box | Pole with long brackets over the lintel | 3-5 kg |
| Little height above the window | Ceiling track fixed to the slab | Up to 8 kg |
| Balcony or full-width patio door | Pole with a centre bracket every 120-150 cm | 5-8 kg |
| Light net in a recess | Tension pole, no drilling | Under 1 kg |
Common mistakes when hanging curtains
- Screwing the pole to the shutter box. The cover is hollow and does not hold weight; the pole ends up tilted or falls at the next tug.
- Putting the pole hard up against the frame. The curtain blocks light from the window when open. Leave 20-30 cm each side.
- Leaving out the centre bracket. A pole over 1.5 m bows under the weight. Add one every 120-150 cm.
- Using small plastic plugs. For a pole carrying 5 kg of curtains you need 8 mm plugs and 4.5x40 mm screws or bigger, not picture-hanging plugs.
- Drilling without a detector. Above a window, pipes or cables can run into the home.
- Cutting the curtain before hanging it. Fabric stretches under its own weight; hang it 24 hours before deciding on the length.
When to call a professional
If the window has a protruding shutter box, the wall is plasterboard, the pole is over 2.5 m or it is a ceiling track, or if you would rather not drill over a lintel with possible pipes, it is worth hiring the installation. It is a quick job with professional tools: at Manitas Costa a curtain pole fitted costs €35-55, and hanging 5 pictures or mirrors €45-70. If it is more than one window, we apply the hourly rate: first hour €35-45, following hours €28-35.
Fixed price on WhatsApp with a photo of the window and the width of the opening, payment when finished and a 6-month guarantee on labour. See the TV, picture and light hanging service and handyman hourly rates. If the shutter box has a problem, see how to fix a roller shutter. For other fittings, see how to hang a ceiling light and how to fit a roller blind.
We work in Valencia, Alicante, Torrevieja and Benidorm, with a response in 20-45 minutes.
Sun, salt air and residents' associations
On the coast, the afternoon sun fades fabrics within two or three summers, and salt air rusts painted iron poles near the sea. Choose aluminium, stainless steel or brass poles on the seafront, and a lining or an inner net curtain to protect the decorative curtain. On covered terraces, use acrylic outdoor fabrics (such as Sunbrella), which stand up to sun and damp.
If the window faces a communal facade, an outside curtain, an awning or anything visible from the street may be regulated by the community statutes: check before hanging curtains on open balconies or terraces. And if you drill near a shared slab (your upstairs neighbour), do it in the hours allowed by the comunidad de vecinos (residents' association).
Frequently asked questions
How high should curtains be hung?
The pole goes 10-15 cm above the window frame, or 5-10 cm from the ceiling if you want an impression of height. The curtain should hang to 1-2 cm above the floor, or to the windowsill if there is a radiator or furniture underneath. Avoid letting it trail because it collects dust and damp.
How do you hang curtains with a roller shutter box?
Do not screw into the box, it is hollow. Fix the brackets to the wall above it, on the lintel, with long brackets of 12-15 cm projection to clear the box, or fit a ceiling track to the slab. With little space, a tension pole with no drilling only suits light nets.
How many brackets does a curtain pole need?
Two at the ends, and one in the centre if the pole is longer than 1.5 m. On poles over 3 m, one bracket every 120-150 cm. With heavy linen or thermal-lined curtains, use 8 mm plugs and coarse-thread screws. Without a centre bracket, the pole bows under the weight.
How much does it cost for a handyman to put up a curtain pole?
A curtain pole fitted costs €35-55 labour. If there are several windows or pictures and mirrors too, we apply the hourly rate: first hour €35-45, following hours €28-35. The pole, brackets and plugs are bought separately. Fixed price before we start, invoice with IVA (VAT) and a 6-month guarantee.
Can you hang a curtain without drilling?
Yes, with tension poles in recesses or with adhesive hooks, but only for light nets under 1 kg. A linen or lined curtain weighs 3-6 kg and will come down. For those fabrics you need to drill with 8 mm plugs, or use a ceiling track if the wall will not do.