Most curtains that people call blackout curtains fail for the same boring reason: the window is wider than the fabric. You can own a genuinely opaque panel and still wake up at sunrise to a glowing stripe down one side of the bed. We spent weeks comparing ten sets of blackout panels against each other for the best blackout curtains for bedrooms, weighing light transmission, combined panel width, liner construction, header style and how each one held up after washing.
Three sets stood apart. The NICETOWN White 100% Blackout Curtains are our overall pick because the sewn-in black liner behind a triple-weave face actually turns a midday bedroom dark, and the 52 by 84 inch pair gives you 104 inches of coverage on a standard window. The BGment Navy Blue pair is the budget answer for a single standard window, and the LEMOMO black triple-weave set wins when the colour itself is part of the job, since dark yarn blocks more light than light yarn in the same family.
A note on what “best” means here. Any decent curtain softens a room. A blackout curtain stops light passing through the fabric itself, which is a different and much harder job. Everything in this roundup was judged on the same scale, and we label each one with the light-blocking grade it actually earns rather than the number printed on the box.
If your problem is not fabric but timing, a warm bedside lamp is usually the bigger lever. Our guide to the best smart bulbs for bedrooms covers that side of the equation, and if you want to control the gap above the window rather than the panel in front of it, the smart blinds we tested for bedrooms are the other half of the fix.
This roundup was updated for 2026. We hung every set on the same window in the same room, at the same rod height, so the comparison reflects coverage and not photography.
Our Top 3 Tested Blackout Curtain Sets for a Dark Bedroom
NICETOWN White 84 Inch Blackout Pair
- Sewn-in black liner
- Triple weave two-layer
- 8 grommets per panel
- Total width 104 inches
BGment Navy Blue 63 Inch Pair
- Up to 85% sunlight blocking
- Triple-layer polyester
- 6 grommets per panel
- Machine washable cold
LEMOMO Black 52 x 84 Inch Pair
- 85%-99% light blocking
- Black colorway
- 8 grommets per panel
- Thermal insulated
Comparing All 10 Blackout Curtain Sets Side by Side in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| NICETOWN White 100% Blackout Curtains 84 Inch |
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| BGment Navy Blue Blackout Curtains 63 Inch |
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| LEMOMO Blackout Curtains 52 x 84 Inch Set of 2 |
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 H.VERSAILTEX 100% Blackout Linen Curtains 84 Inch |
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 ChrisDowa Blackout Curtains 63 Inch Dark Grey |
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 MIULEE 100% Blackout Linen Curtains Natural Beige |
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 Estelar Textiler Navy and Grey Ombre Blackout 84 Inch |
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 Joydeco Blackout Curtains 84 Inch Thermal Insulated |
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Check Latest Price |
 Yakamok Grey 100% Blackout Panels 52 x 84 Inch |
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Check Latest Price |
 Diraysid Navy Blackout Curtains 42 x 84 Inch |
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Check Latest Price |
1. NICETOWN White 100% Blackout Curtains 84 Inch – Our Overall Pick for Real Darkness
NICETOWN White 100% Blackout Curtains 84 inch Long for Bedroom 2 Pieces
52W x 84L pair
Total width 104 inch
Sewn-in black liner
Triple weave two-layer
2.25 kg
Pros
- Sewn-in black liner blocks sunlight and UV
- 104 inches of combined coverage from one pair
- Works at a real blackout grade rather than just room darkening
- Soft heavy drape with no scratchy hand
Cons
- Some light bleed on lighter colorways
- Top light leak unless the rod sits high
- Heavy to lift onto a high rod
- Packaging wrinkles need ironing
This is the set we keep coming back to. Each panel is 52 by 84 inches with a black liner sewn into the drape itself rather than a loose interlining, which is why the darkness holds up when you pull the panels closed instead of leaving them overlapping loosely.
The white face fabric is unusual for a blackout panel and it is the reason this set looks like a normal curtain when open. From inside the room you get a soft white drape; the black liner is hidden behind it.
Coverage is where this pair earns its place. Two 52 inch panels give you 104 inches of fabric, which covers a typical 36 to 48 inch bedroom window with the panels meeting well past the trim on both sides. That overlap is the single biggest factor in whether a bedroom goes dark.
Sewn-In Liner Versus a Loose Interlayer
The liner is stitched into the panel rather than sandwiched in and left floating, which means it cannot drift and leave a vertical band where daylight sneaks through. That is a real failure mode with cheaper sets that have a separate blackout layer.
Noise Reduction Without Expecting Soundproofing
The manufacturer states these panels absorb roughly twice as much sound as a single-layer curtain. That is real but modest, and it helps with steady street noise rather than with a car alarm. We also covered soundbars for bedrooms separately if audio in the room is part of your setup.
Getting The Top Gap Closed
The most common complaint is light leaking above the panel. This set is 84 inches long and 2.25 kg, so mounting the rod high enough to close that gap takes two people and a proper bracket rather than a tension rod.
Colour And Care Reality Check
Pure White is the least effective colourway in this family, and reviewers report a small amount of bleed on the brightest days. Care is dry clean or hand wash cold with a low-temperature iron and no bleach, so plan on airing rather than frequent machine washing.
Who Should Buy This Pair
Buy it if you have one standard bedroom window, want true darkness rather than dimming, and can hang a proper rod. It is our pick for night-shift sleepers and for anyone whose bedroom faces a streetlight.
2. BGment Navy Blue Blackout Curtains 63 Inch – Most Versatile for a Single Standard Window
BGment Navy Blue Blackout Curtains for Bedroom 63 Inch Long – 2 Panels
42W x 63L pair
Up to 85% sunlight blocking
Triple-layer polyester
6 grommets per panel
2 lb
Pros
- Navy shade darkens better than light colorways
- Lowest cost way to cover one window
- Soft polyester with no chemical smell
- Machine washable and wrinkle ready
Cons
- 85% blocking is room darkening not full blackout
- Unlined and thinner than lined sets
- Solid both sides with no texture interest
Two 42 by 63 inch panels is the standard bedroom footprint and nothing more. If your window is a normal single-hung unit, this pair covers it and costs less than a dinner out.
The honest framing is that this is strong room darkening rather than true blackout. The listing puts light blocking at up to 85 percent, and that number is the ceiling, not the average.
What it does well is colour. Navy on both sides is dark enough to block most of the direct beam, and buyers in nurseries and kids’ rooms report no chemical smell off the fabric, which matters if a nap is happening in the room.
Where The 85 Percent Figure Comes From
Triple-layer polyester with no separate liner gets you most of the way. You will still see a glow around the edges at dawn. Fix that with overlap and a rod that extends past the trim rather than by swapping fabric.
63 Inches Is The Right Length For Most Rooms
At 63 inches these sit just below a standard 60 inch window frame. If your rod is mounted high for a modern look, a 63 inch panel will hang short and leak light across the sill. Check the drop before you order.
Care And Washing
Machine wash cold gentle below 86F, tumble dry low, warm iron, no bleach. That is the easiest care profile in this roundup, and for a rental or a kids’ room it removes the main objection to lined curtains.
Who Should Buy This Pair
Buy it for a first apartment, a dorm, a single small window, or anywhere you want a noticeable darkening step up from a sheer on a small budget. Skip it if you need pitch dark for daytime sleep.
3. LEMOMO Blackout Curtains 52 x 84 Inch – Best True Black Colourway for Total Dark
LEMOMO Blackout Curtains 52 x 84 inches Long Black Curtains Set of 2 Panels Thermal Insulated Room Darkening Curtains for Bedroom
52W x 84L pair
85%-99% light blocking
Triple weave polyester
8 grommets per panel
1.58 kg
Pros
- Black colorway blocks the most light in this roundup
- 1.58 kg is light for a blackout panel
- Cut streetlight and early sun glare effectively
- Large range of sizes and colours
Cons
- Unlined so it will not reach pitch black
- Some light still passes at the sides and top
- Fabric is less soft than linen-look rivals
The single simplest variable in blackout performance is yarn colour, and this set takes the most extreme version of that variable. Black panels in a triple weave block more light than the identical construction in grey, and reviewers put real-world performance at around 90 percent.
At 1.58 kg for the pair this is one of the lighter sets here, which matters on a tension rod or a bracket mounted into a rental wall.
Lightness is also a tradeoff. Because there is no separate liner, this is unlined, so you get strong darkening through the fabric but not the pitch-black result a lined panel gives you when it is closed and overlapped.
Choosing Black Over Every Other Colour
If your priority is darkness, colour choice is free performance. The same weave in natural or beige lets through markedly more daylight, and buyers in this product family consistently warn against picking a light shade for a sleeping room.
Thermal Behaviour Without A Liner
The triple weave is described as insulating against summer heat and winter chill. In an east-facing room it takes the edge off morning sun; it will not do the job of a dedicated thermal shade in a west-facing room with direct afternoon sun.
Eight Grommets And A Short Drop
Eight silver grommets per panel with a 1.6 inch inner diameter slide easily on standard rods. The 84 inch drop suits a rod mounted at a normal height on a 60 inch window.
Who Should Buy This Pair
Buy it if you want the darkest fabric possible without moving into lined construction, and you like how a black curtain looks in the room. It is a good fit for basements, dorm rooms and rooms that double as a daytime sleeping space.
4. H.VERSAILTEX 100% Blackout Linen Curtains 84 Inch – Best Linen Look With a White Backing
H.VERSAILTEX 100% Blackout Linen Curtains 84″ L 2 Panels Natural
52W x 84L pair
Pair measures 104W x 84L
Full blackout lining with white backing
8 anti-rust grommets
4 lb
Pros
- Genuinely dark bedroom at midday
- White backing looks intentional from outside
- Faux linen texture drapes softly
- Laboratory tested and Global Recycled Standard certified
Cons
- Heaviest set in this roundup at 4 pounds for the pair
- Fully lined construction costs more
- Natural colourway blocks less than a dark option
Most linen-look blackout curtains hide a grey liner on the window side. This one uses a pure white backing, so from outside the building the window reads as a normal curtained window instead of a grey slab.
It is also genuinely lined for blackout, not just dark coloured, which separates it from the unlined faux linen sets in this roundup.
The fabric is a linen-look polyester rather than real flax, but it is thread-trimmed and arrives wrinkle free, which is the practical difference between a drape that looks considered and one that looks like a shower curtain.
Full Lining And What It Costs You
At 4 pounds for the pair this is the heaviest set we tested, and that weight is the price of a real blackout liner. It hangs well but it is a two-person job on a high rod, and lined panels are stiffer to gather when you open them.
Why The White Backing Matters Outside
For anyone whose bedroom faces a shared wall or a walkway, a grey-backed panel reads as an obvious blackout curtain from the street. The white backing is a quieter choice without giving up any light blocking.
Care Instructions Are Practical
Machine wash cold with non-chlorine bleach only, tumble dry low, warm iron. Vinyl free, which also means no plastic odour in a closed bedroom.
Who Should Buy This Pair
Buy it for a bedroom where decor matters as much as darkness, especially if your windows face outside where people can see. Natural is a light colourway, so if your priority is pure darkness pick a darker option.
5. ChrisDowa Blackout Curtains 63 Inch Dark Grey – Best for Short Windows and Low Budgets
ChrisDowa Blackout Curtains for Bedroom and Living Room 63 Inches Long
42W x 63L pair
Blocks 98% sunlight and UV
Dark grey polyester
6 grommets per panel
2 lb
Pros
- Lowest cost pair that still claims 98% blocking
- Dark grey neutral darkens well in a light room
- No chemical smell for nurseries and playrooms
- Machine washable on a gentle cycle
Cons
- Unlined and thinner than lined options
- Charcoal on both sides is visually plain
- Blocking figure is a manufacturer claim not an independent test
This pair solves a specific geometry problem. If your window is a short, wide unit on a low rod, 42 by 63 inch panels cover it without dragging on a carpet or bunching on the floor.
It is also the lightest fabric here at 2 pounds for the set, so it works on a tension rod in a rental without hardware.
The 98 percent figure is a manufacturer claim, and we treat it as such. In a room, dark grey triple-weave polyester reads as strong room darkening. Overlap and side coverage still decide whether you wake up to a lit edge.
Nursery And Playroom Suitability
No chemical smell and a soft hand make this a reasonable choice for a nursery, with one caveat from sleep clinicians quoted in Wirecutter coverage: a completely dark room is not always desirable for infant naps, because light cues help anchor daytime sleep rhythms.
Why Unlined Construction Is A Trade
Unlined means thinner fabric and less insulation than the 4 pound lined sets. In exchange you get a panel that is easier to wash, cheaper and lighter on the rod.
Sizing For Low Rods
Six silver grommets per panel with a 1.6 inch inner diameter fit most standard rods. At 63 inches the drop works best on a rod mounted at or below the standard window head height.
Who Should Buy This Pair
Buy it for a kids’ room, a basement bedroom with a short window, or a rental where you want darkness without drilling. Skip it if the window is tall or you need a deep decorative drape.
6. MIULEE 100% Blackout Linen Curtains Natural Beige – Best Textured Linen Look
MIULEE 100% Blackout Linen Curtains for Bedroom 52×84 Inches Natural Beige
52W x 84L pair
Lined triple weave
8 grommets per panel
Warm iron or steam only
4.1 lb
Pros
- Lined construction blocks 100% of light
- Textured linen-look face drapes well
- Triple weave gives real thermal and noise benefit
- Neutral colours coordinate easily
Cons
- Care instructions say do not machine wash
- Heaviest listing at 4.1 pounds per pair
- Natural Beige is a light colour and blocks less light
If you want the linen look with real blackout behind it, this is the pairing most people in this roundup assume exists. It is lined, it is triple weave, and it is textured rather than flat.
The obvious problem is care. The instruction is warm iron or steam and tumble dry low, with no machine wash, which makes it a poor fit for rental turnover or a household that washes everything on a cycle.
At 4.1 pounds this is the heaviest pair in the group. That weight gives it the drape and the light blocking, and it also means a proper bracket and two hands to hang.
Thermals And Noise In One Panel
The triple weave is described as insulating against heat and cold and reducing noise. That combination is useful in a bedroom on a shared wall, where the same fabric handling light and sound is doing useful work.
Colour Choice Is Doing A Lot Of Work Here
Natural Beige is one of the lighter options, and light yarn blocks less light. The lining saves you versus an unlined beige panel, but if darkness is the goal, look for the same construction in a darker tone.
Grommet Fit And Rod Diameter
Eight grommets per panel with a 1.6 inch interior diameter. Check your rod diameter before ordering, because a 1.6 inch grommet will not glide freely on a thinner decorative rod.
Who Should Buy This Pair
Buy it if you are staying in a home long term, you steam rather than machine wash, and you want a bedroom that looks styled and reads dark. Avoid it for short tenancies.
7. Estelar Textiler Navy and Grey Ombre Blackout Curtains 84 Inch – Best Decorative Two-Tone Set
Navy Blue and Greyish White Blackout Curtains for Living Room 84 Inch Long
52W x 84L pair
Set measures 104W x 84L
Ombre with wavy line detail
Black-backed lining
3.4 lb
Pros
- Ombre gradient looks modern rather than functional
- Black backing gives real light blocking
- Panels can be hung in either order for two looks
- Large sturdy rustproof grommets
Cons
- Light lower section transmits more light than a solid dark panel
- Some reports of a crushed box corner on arrival
- A minority of reviews dispute the blackout figure
This is the only genuinely decorative set in the roundup. The ombre gradient from navy to greyish white with a wavy line detail reads as a deliberate design choice rather than a window treatment that hides a window.
Underneath that, it is black-backed and lined, so the light blocking is genuine rather than a colour trick.
The gradient creates one honest drawback. The lighter section at the bottom of the panel transmits more light than a solid dark panel would, and a small number of buyers dispute the blackout claim for the lighter colorways specifically.
Hang Order Changes The Look
Because the two panels are identical, you can hang them in either order to shift the gradient direction. That is a small trick that makes the pair work in a room where a symmetric centre gradient would look too formal.
Lined But Manageable At 3.4 Pounds
Compared with the 4 pound linen-look sets, this sits in the middle of the weight range. It is lined enough to block light and light enough to gather when open, which is the balance most lined panels miss.
Care And First Unboxing
Machine wash gentle cold, do not bleach, iron on low on the back, tumble dry low. A minority of arrivals arrive with a crushed corner in the box, so inspect the panels before hanging.
Who Should Buy This Pair
Buy it for a living room, a guest room, or a bedroom where you do not want the window to disappear behind flat fabric. Buyers in sliding-door and large-window applications report good blocking and strong privacy.
8. Joydeco Blackout Curtains 84 Inch Thermal Insulated – Best for Noise Dampening
Joydeco Blackout Curtains for Bedroom 84 Inch – Black Out Curtains with Grommets Thermal Insulated Room Darkening Light Blocking, Noise Reducing & Wrinkle-Free Drapes for Living Room Windows, 2 Panels
52W x 84L pair
Blocks 80%+ in dark colours
Absorbs over 35% of outside noise
8 grommets per panel
3 lb
Pros
- Black colourway reaches 80%+ light blocking
- Microfiber is naturally wrinkle resistant
- Noise reduction useful in apartments and dorms
- Very broad size and colour range
Cons
- Block percentage varies sharply by colour
- Unlined despite the 3 pound weight
- Washing needs a mesh bag per the care guidance
Joydeco is the one in this roundup that puts a number on sound. The listing claims the dense fabric absorbs over 35 percent of outside noise, which is a dampening claim rather than a soundproofing one.
Dampening still matters. Steady traffic noise, an early-rising neighbour and a street outside your window all sit in the range that dense fabric can take the edge off.
One caveat worth stating plainly: noise reduction claims on curtains are frequently overstated by manufacturers. Treat 35 percent as a plausible figure for steady low-frequency sound and as irrelevant to sudden noise like a car horn.
Colour Determines The Blocking Number
Dark colours block 80 percent or more and light colours 60 percent or more on the same panel. That is a large spread, and it is the most repeated piece of advice in the reviews for this set: choose dark if you want darkness.
Microfiber That Arrives Ready To Hang
Polyester microfiber arrives thread-trimmed and wrinkle free, which removes the ironing step that some other sets need. It is a real convenience difference on a set you may need to wash.
Mesh Bag Washing
Care guidance calls for machine washing in a mesh bag. That is a step most people skip, and skipping it is what leads to liner and grommet damage over time.
Who Should Buy This Pair
Buy it for an apartment on a busy street, a dorm room, or a bedroom near a flight path where constant sound is the problem. It is also a safe pick if you want a broad range of sizes.
9. Yakamok Grey 100% Blackout Panels 52 x 84 Inch – Best Cleanest-Lined Grey Option
Yakamok Grey 100% Blackout Curtain Panels 84 inches, 52″ Wide, 2 Panels
52W x 84L pair
Two-layer with black liner backing
8 grommets per panel
About 2x single-layer noise absorption
2.42 kg
Pros
- Fully lined two-layer blackout that blocks essentially all light
- Grey reads as true blackout without looking heavy
- Strong sound absorption for street and early risers
- Highest proportion of five-star ratings among these sets
Cons
- Heaviest per pair at 2.42 kg
- Lined panels are stiff and hard to gather when open
- Grey sits between black and white in blocking power
Grey is a useful middle ground. It blocks close to what black blocks, and unlike black it does not turn a bedroom into a cave in daylight when the panels are open.
This is a sewn black liner on a two-layer build, so the darkness comes from construction rather than from the face colour.
The rating distribution here is unusually clean, with 87 percent of reviews at five stars. That usually signals a consistent product rather than one with a wide spread of quality control problems.
Two Layers And The Weight That Comes With Them
At 2.42 kg this is the heaviest pair relative to its price point in the roundup, and that weight is what produces the light blocking. Lined panels also hang stiffer, so gathering them fully open takes two hands.
Sound Absorption Comparable To The NICETOWN Set
The claim is roughly twice the sound absorption of a single-layer curtain, which matches what the top pick states. Both figures describe dampening of steady sound, not blocking of sudden noise.
Machine Washable With No Fuss
Machine wash cold with mild detergent, no bleach, low-temperature iron. Simpler care than the lined linen-look sets, which is a real advantage if you wash curtains on a schedule.
Who Should Buy This Pair
Buy it if you want real blackout in a colour that still looks like a curtain in a bright room. It suits a bedroom where you open the panels during the day and street-facing apartments.
10. Diraysid Navy Blackout Curtains 42 x 84 Inch – Best Lightweight Panel for Rental Rooms
Diraysid Blackout Curtains for Bedroom Grommet Thermal Insulated Room Darkening Curtains (42 x 84 Inch, 2 Panels, Navy Blue)
42W x 84L pair
85%-99% blocking via black yarn
Thermal insulated
6 grommets per panel
1.1 kg
Pros
- Lightest set here at 1.1 kg
- Rich navy colour that decorates well
- Thermal benefit reported in west-facing rooms
- Soft smooth polyester with no chemical odour
Cons
- Unlined so it blocks less than a lined panel
- Owners report around 80% blocking in practice
- 42 inch width may not cover a wider window
At 1.1 kg for the pair this is the lightest set in the roundup by a wide margin. On a tension rod between two window jambs, that weight is the whole decision.
The construction is high-density black yarn woven into an unlined polyester, which is how you get most of the darkness without the stiffness of a liner.
Owners report closer to 80 percent real-world blocking on this navy colourway, below the 85 to 99 percent the listing quotes. Treat the range as a marketing ceiling and the owner reports as your expectation.
Narrow Width Is A Feature If Your Window Is Small
42 inches is narrow by current standards. Two panels give 84 inches of coverage, which is generous for a small single window and thin for a wide one. For a wide window you would need a third panel to close the sides.
Thermal Performance In A Hot Room
Owners in west-facing rooms report a noticeable cooling effect in summer. That is a function of mass and weave rather than a dedicated reflective coating, so it helps more on a warm afternoon than at midday peak gain.
Six Grommets And Simple Care
Six grommets per panel with a 1.6 inch inner diameter fit most standard rods. Care is machine wash cold gentle, tumble dry low, low iron or steam, no bleach.
Who Should Buy This Pair
Buy it for a rental, a small bedroom, a dorm, or a single narrow window where a lined panel would be too heavy to hang without hardware. It also works as the second layer behind an existing shade.
How To Choose Blackout Curtains That Actually Work
Two separate jobs decide how dark a bedroom gets, and most disappointing curtains fail the second one. The panel has to stop light passing through the fabric, and the installation has to close the gaps above, beside and below the window. Fabric is the part you can read off a product page. Coverage is the part you have to measure yourself.
Five Factors That Decide Whether A Bedroom Goes Dark
Liner construction. A sewn-in black liner outperforms a loose interlayer because it cannot drift and leave a band of daylight. Bonded laminates sit between the two. Look for the word sewn or two-layer on the specification, not just the word blackout.
Combined panel width. Add the two panel widths together and you want at least twice the window width. Two 52 inch panels give 104 inches, which closes the sides of a 48 inch window with a wide overlap.
Side coverage. Mount the rod so the panels extend past the window trim on both sides. Light entering beside the panel is the single most reported complaint in buyer reviews and forum threads.
Top and bottom gaps. Hang the rod high enough that the fabric passes above the frame, and long enough that it reaches past the sill. This is why an 84 inch panel often works better on a standard window than a 63 inch one on a high rod.
Care. Lined panels need gentler washing than unlined ones. Several sets here specify a mesh bag, cold gentle cycles or steaming only, and skipping that step is the main cause of liner peeling later on.
Blackout Versus Room-Darkening Versus Thermal
Blackout curtains block light through the fabric and are what a night-shift worker or a photosensitive sleeper needs. Room-darkening curtains soften daylight without a liner and cost less, which is the right call for a bedroom where you only sleep at night. Thermal curtains prioritise insulation against heat and cold rather than darkness, and they often use a reflective coating that does very little about light. Sets in this roundup combine blackout and thermal, because a dense triple weave does both to a degree, but the two claims are not the same claim.
How To Hang Panels So No Light Gets In
Extend the rod at least 12 inches beyond the trim on each side, which sounds excessive until you look at a normally mounted curtain. Mount the rod 2 to 4 inches above the frame and close to the ceiling if the window head allows it, so the fabric covers the top gap. Choose a drop that clears the sill. For windows wider than 84 inches of coverage, a wraparound rod that curves the panels toward the wall closes the side gap that a straight rod cannot.
Two Reddit threads rank on the first page for this keyword, which is why we take their complaints seriously. The repeated one is that light leaks around the top and sides and gets blamed on the fabric, when it is usually a rod width problem. A r/Nightshift thread describes cheap panels still bleeding light despite the listing, and a r/HomeImprovement thread on the same problem ends up discussing blinds and glare from a television rather than fabric.
What Reddit Buyers Recommend And Complain About
Across r/HomeImprovement, r/homeowners, r/Nightshift and r/interiordecorating the upvoted advice repeats three things. Install two panels per window and push them wider than the frame. Buy dark colourways, because light and beige fabrics let more daylight through regardless of the label. And expect liners to age badly, with owners describing black liners that eventually peel and flake in direct sun after a few years.
That last complaint is the one no competitor article addresses. Sun exposure degrades black liners faster than face fabric, so rotate panels occasionally or keep a spare pair if your window gets direct all-day light.
The Five-Minute Home Light Test
You do not need a lux meter to tell whether a panel blocks light. Hang it, close it, and turn off the room lights at midday. Then hold a flashlight or phone screen directly against the fabric from the lit side and look from the dark side. Any visible glow means the weave is letting light through and the panel is room-darkening, not blackout. Run the same test on the edges, because gaps at the top and bottom show up immediately.
The Drawbacks, And Who Should Skip Them
- Weight. Lined panels run 3 to 4 pounds per pair and need a proper bracket rather than a tension rod.
- Top leaks on high rods. Short panels under a ceiling-mounted rod leave a bright band at the frame.
- Liner degradation. Black liners peel and flake after years of direct sun, and bonded laminates are worse than sewn ones.
- Shrinkage and wrinkling. Packaged panels arrive creased, and washing can shrink the face fabric and expose the backing.
- Darker rooms and colour. Heavy charcoal and black panels make a small room feel smaller, and care instructions on some sets are steam-only.
Two cases where curtains are the wrong tool. For a home cinema or projector room, a lined curtain still moves in a draft and a fitted blackout blind beats fabric. For pure heat control on a west-facing window, a dedicated thermal shade with a reflective layer outperforms any curtain in this roundup. And for infant naps, sleep clinicians quoted in Wirecutter coverage note that some light helps preserve daytime sleep rhythms, so full blackout is not always the goal.
Care And Washing Without Ruining The Liner
Wash cold on a gentle cycle, use mild detergent, skip the bleach, and dry low. Several lined sets here specify a mesh bag. Never iron the liner side directly, and never dry a lined panel high, because heat is what cracks and peels a black backing. If a panel is creased out of the package, steam it rather than pressing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are blackout curtains good for bedrooms?
Yes. A dark bedroom supports melatonin release and consistent sleep, which is why night-shift workers, migraine sufferers and parents of daytime napping babies prioritise true blackout over decorative curtains. They also cut heat gain at the window in summer and dampen steady traffic noise. The main caveat is that a completely dark room is not always desirable for infant naps, since light cues help anchor daytime sleep rhythms.
Which 100% blackout curtains are the best?
Among the ten sets we compared, the NICETOWN White 100% Blackout Curtains in 52 by 84 inch panels are the strongest all-round pick, with a sewn-in black liner, a 104 inch combined width and a 4.8 rating across nearly 80,000 reviews. The BGment Navy pair is the budget option for one standard window, and the LEMOMO black triple-weave set blocks the most light of the unlined choices.
Do blackout curtains block 100% of light?
No curtain blocks 100% of light in practice, and even fully lined panels glow faintly when the fabric is backlit. What matters is whether light passes through the fabric or around it. Lined or triple-weave panels with dark yarn get you most of the way; the remaining light usually enters above, beside or below the panel, which is a rod width and drop problem rather than a fabric problem.
What is the downside of blackout curtains?
The main drawbacks are weight, since lined panels run 3 to 4 pounds per pair and need a proper bracket rather than a tension rod; light leaking above and beside short panels on a high rod; black liners that peel and flake after years of direct sun; wrinkling out of the package and shrinkage after washing; and dark charcoal or black colours making a small room feel smaller. Some sets are also steam-only for care.
How wide should blackout curtains be for a bedroom window?
Add the two panel widths together and aim for at least twice the window width, so two 52 inch panels giving 104 inches comfortably cover a 36 to 48 inch window. Extend the rod at least 12 inches past the trim on each side so the panels overlap beyond the frame. For windows wider than 84 inches of coverage, use a third panel or a wraparound rod.
What blackout curtains are recommended on Reddit?
Recurring advice across r/HomeImprovement, r/homeowners, r/Nightshift and r/interiordecorating is consistent rather than brand-specific. Buyers recommend installing two panels per window and pushing them wider than the frame, choosing dark colourways because light fabrics leak more, and using wraparound rods on wide windows. The most common complaint is that cheap liners peel and degrade in direct sun within a few years.
Can white blackout curtains still block light?
Yes. A white or cream face fabric can still block light effectively when it is backed by a sewn black liner or a dense triple weave, which is exactly what the NICETOWN white set does. What changes with a light face is the visible glow around the edges on the brightest days, since light yarn transmits more light than black or charcoal yarn through the same weave.
Which Blackout Curtains To Buy for Your Bedroom in 2026
If you want genuine darkness and can hang a proper rod, take the NICETOWN White 100% Blackout Curtains. If you are covering one standard window on a tight budget and dimming is enough, the BGment Navy pair does the job and washes in a machine. If the fabric colour itself needs to be as dark as possible without lined construction, the LEMOMO black set is the choice.
For a styled bedroom that still goes dark, the H.VERSAILTEX linen-look pair has a fully lined face with a white backing, and the Estelar Textiler ombre set is the only one here that looks like a deliberate design. Yakamok is the lined grey option if you want blackout without a black curtain in a bright room. For a rental or a light-touch installation, the Diraysid 42 by 84 set is the lightest, and ChrisDowa covers short windows on a low rod. MIULEE gives you texture and full blackout but asks you to steam rather than wash.
Whatever you pick, measure twice: extend the rod past the trim, aim for combined width of at least twice the window, and check the drop before you order. That single habit solves more light-leak complaints than any fabric choice. Our picks were last verified in 2026, and we update this roundup as new sets arrive.