Curtain Poles: The Trade Guide
Specialists in professional window furnishing products.
Strong, silent and stylish – the right curtain pole does more than hold fabric. It finishes a scheme, carries real weight day-in, day-out, and installs fast on site. This is a practical guide for fitters, retailers and contract specifiers, with clear answers to the questions you’re asked most – and product pointers you can rely on.
What are curtain pole finials?
Finials are the decorative (and functional) end pieces that cap a pole and stop the rings or eyelet curtains from sliding off. They set the tone – modern, classic or glam – and are often the detail your client notices first.
Our premium curtain poles offer a wide choice of finials across glass and metal, plus classic 28 mm Wooden Curtain Pole options. For example, the Spectrum Metal Curtain Pole range pairs polished metals with finials such as Plain Ball, Ribbed Ball, FYNN and crystal/glass designs in Polished Silver, Black Nickel and Antique Brass finishes. Kits run from 1.2m up to 6m, with an extra bracket included on two-piece lengths.
Prefer a clean, classic ball look? Our Orbit Metal Curtain Pole Sets include nylon-lined rings and strong adjustable wall brackets in Matt Black, Black Nickel, Titanium, Gunmetal, Antique Brass, Polished Brass and Polished Silver.
Our Standard 28mm Wooden Pole Sets keep things timeless and come complete with rings in stocked sizes.
If light control is a priority, room-darkening curtain poles can make a noticeable difference.
How to choose the length of a curtain pole
For a professional, made-to-measure look, the aim is to leave extra pole beyond the window on both sides so the curtains can park there and not block the light.
- Measure the window width (outside edge to outside edge of the visible frame or architrave).
Add some extra length either side so opened curtains rest off the window, not over it – particularly useful with blackout or interlined fabrics. - Check bracket positions for fixings and any obstructions (pelmets, returns, radiators).
Plan supports: long spans need a centre bracket; heavier fabrics benefit from larger-diameter poles and closer bracket spacing. - Select a kit that matches your span. Extensis Extendable Metal Curtain Poles cover popular widths (e.g., 70-120, 90-160, 120-210, 180-340, 210-400cm, model-dependent) for fast, cut-free installs, while Contract 28 kits give robust component choices up to 5m.
Need an ultra-clean, tailored finish? We supply made-to-measure across premium poles and tracks, with fast turnaround all backed by a 5-Year Guarantee.
Our Curtain Poles
Curtain pole vs track – differences and when to use either
Poles
- Best when the pole is a design feature (visible metal finishes, wood tones, statement finials).
- Works brilliantly with rings or eyelets; Spectrum metal Curtain Poles are available with a wide finial choice – including Clear Crystal Cut Diamond, Crackled Glass, Pumpkin, Flat Dimple Ball, Mirror Mosaic, Ribbed Ball, Studded Ball and Plain Ball finials.
- Straight runs only (if you need bends or curves, move to tracks).
Tracks
- Discreet and highly functional; ideal for bay windows, ceiling-fix, recessed looks and sheer-over-blackout layering. Many of our aluminium profiles can be angle-bent (45°/90°) or continuous-curved to suit the aperture, and are compatible with SurgeWave for a flowing, uniform drape.
- Options span premium decorative profiles like Ocular (with multiple colourways and even an LED-lit variant), multi-channel systems such as Project Track, and motorised solutions like Glide-Aside – perfect for hospitality, high-end residential and accessibility.
- Weight handling is excellent on aluminium curtain tracks marked for medium/heavy use, provided the substrate fixings are adequate.
When to Choose
- Choose a pole when design impact matters and the run is straight.
- Choose a track for bays, extra-wide stacks, pelmets/recesses, glare-control layers or where you want corded/motorised control and ultra-smooth glide.
Client inspiration: House Beautiful’s round-up of curtain trends is useful to position finishes (e.g., warm metals, tonal woods) during specification.
What curtain pole do I need? (By length & curtain weight)
This is practical guidance you can use in quotes and on the shop floor. Always combine length with fabric weight and heading style.
Short to mid-spans with standard to medium-weight curtains
- Consider Orbit Curtain Pole Sets for a refined ball-finial look with nylon-lined rings, or Extensis Extendable Poles when you need cut-free convenience.
Wider spans, heavier interlined or blackout curtains
- Step up to Spectrum 50mm for extra rigidity and presence, or specify Contract 28 heavy-rated kits with your preferred bracket set.
Very wide openings, bays, or layered treatments
- Consider switching to a decorative or recessed track for stability, stacking efficiency and bend options (angle or continuous curve). Add SurgeWave for wave-style uniformity, or Glide-Aside motorisation for premium projects and accessibility.
High-volume contract settings
- Our Contract 28 Metal Curtain Pole range is proven on large sites – we’ve delivered 4,000+ poles to a single holiday park project through agile stock and site-sequenced drops. It is is designed for efficient roll-outs and on-site speed.
Conclusion
From boutique show homes to multi-room hospitality refurbs, the right pole specification blends design, durability and simple install logistics. Use 35 mm when you want a neat footprint for standard projects; move to 50 mm for heavier drapes or long straight runs; choose tracks when you need bends, layers or motorisation. With made-to-measure, next-day availability on popular lines and a 5-Year Guarantee, you can specify with confidence – and fit first time.
Ready to specify? Explore our Spectrum Metal Curtain Pole range, Contract 28, Orbit Pole Sets, Extensis Extendable Poles, and Standard 28mm Wooden Pole Sets – or speak to the team for cut-to-length and project bending options.
