Pencil Pleat Curtains
Quick answer Pencil pleat curtains have a gathered heading made by drawing up a heading tape, so the top forms tight, even pleats that look like a row of pencils. They hang from hooks on a curtain track or from rings on a pole, and they suit almost any room. We make pencil pleat curtains to your exact size, from 10″ to 120″ wide and up to 144″ long, in Warwick drapery, sheers, velvet and Sunbrella, with optional 100% blackout lining. Each order is made in 2–3 weeks.
Pencil pleat is the most versatile curtain heading: neat when the curtains are closed, compact when they are open, and easy to hang on a track or a pole. Choose your fabric, enter the width and length of each panel, and pick Pencil pleat as the heading in the custom curtain builder. You see the price as you build.
Why choose pencil pleat curtains
- Works on tracks and poles: hooks clip into the heading tape and hang from track gliders or pole rings, so you can use the hardware you already have.
- Full, even folds: the gathered heading spreads the fabric evenly across the window when closed.
- Stacks neatly: open curtains gather into a slim stack at each side, so more light gets in.
- Same price as tab top: pencil pleat costs no more than our tab top heading.
How to size pencil pleat curtains
- Measure the width of your track or pole between the finials.
- Multiply by about 2 to 2.5 for fullness and split the total across your panels. For example, a 60″ track needs about 120″ to 150″ of curtain, so two 60″ to 75″ panels.
- Measure the drop from the top of the track, or the bottom of the pole ring, to where the curtain should end.
Not sure? Use the curtain size calculator or read how to measure for curtains.
Pencil pleat or pinch pleat?
Pencil pleat gives soft, gathered folds and suits most rooms and budgets. Pinch pleat curtains have stitched triple pleats on a stiffened header for a more tailored, formal look. For a relaxed style, see tab top, back tab or rod pocket curtains.
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