What Size Curtains for a Sliding Glass Door? | Ona
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Ona guides · Sizing · Updated
What Size Curtains for a Sliding Glass Door?
For a standard 6-ft (72″) sliding glass door, hang an 88″ rod that runs 8″ past each side of the frame, and plan about 176″ of flat curtain fabric, twice the rod width. That's three 70″ wide panels or two pairs of 52″ panels. On an 80″-tall door, 84″ or 90″ panels kiss the floor, depending on how high the fabric top sits.
Below is the same math for 5-ft and 8-ft doors, plus how to measure, where the curtains go when the door is open, and how to hang a rod over a slider. These numbers are arithmetic from Ona's sizing rules, not a fit guarantee. Check them against your own door. Ready to shop? See sliding glass and patio door curtains.
The sliding door formula 1. Rod width = door frame width + 16″ (8″ past each side). Go wider if the wall allows. 2. Flat fabric = rod width × 2. 3. Panels = flat fabric ÷ one panel's width, rounded up. Use an even number if the curtains meet in the middle. 4. Length = floor to the fabric top for a floor kiss. Set the fabric top ½″ higher to float.
Ona sizes are flat, per panel. A pair is 2 panels, and the wide panel is 1. Folds use up some of the width, which is why you need about twice the rod.
Sliding glass door curtain size chart
Most two-panel sliders are 60″, 72″ or 96″ wide, and many are 80″ tall. Sizes vary by maker, so measure your own frame.
| Door width | Rod (door + 16″) | Flat fabric at 2× | 70″ wide panels | 52″ pairs | 42″ pairs | Floor length on an 80″ door |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft (60″) | 76″ | 152″ | 2 panels = 140″ (1.8×) | 1 pair = 104″ (1.4×), light folds | 2 pairs = 168″ (2.2×) | 84″ or 90″ |
| 6 ft (72″) | 88″ | 176″ | 3 panels = 210″ (2.4×) | 2 pairs = 208″ (2.4×) | 2 pairs = 168″ (1.9×) | 84″ or 90″ |
| 8 ft (96″) | 112″ | 224″ | 4 panels = 280″ (2.5×) | 2 pairs = 208″ (1.9×) | 3 pairs = 252″ (2.25×) | 84″ or 90″ |
Bold marks the closest fit to 2×. Fullness = flat fabric ÷ rod width: 1.5× gives light folds, 2× balanced folds and 2.5× full folds. The wide panel starts at 90″ long, so an 84″ length means a pair.
Is your door another width, or is your rod already up? The curtain calculator works from your own rod. Choose Wide single to count 70″ panels, or Pair to see the panel width one pair would need. For wide panels it rounds up to the fullness you pick, so for a 5-ft door at exactly 2× it suggests three panels where this chart shows two.
What size curtains for an 8-foot sliding glass door?
"8-foot" usually means 8 ft wide (96″). Use a 112″ rod and about 224″ of flat fabric: four 70″ wide panels (280″, 2.5×) or three 42″ pairs (252″, 2.25×). Most 8-ft-wide sliders are still about 80″ tall, so 84″ or 90″ lengths reach the floor.
If your door is 8 ft tall (96″), you need longer panels. A 108″ length puts the fabric top 12″ above the frame, and 120″ (back-tab pair only) puts it 24″ above. Check that the ceiling leaves room for brackets.
Three- and four-panel doors
| Door width | Rod | Flat fabric at 2× | 70″ wide panels | Pairs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 ft (108″) | 124″ | 248″ | 4 panels = 280″ (2.3×) | 3 × 42″ pairs = 252″ (2.0×) |
| 12 ft (144″) | 160″ | 320″ | 5 panels = 350″ (2.2×) one way, or 6 = 420″ (2.6×) split | 4 × 42″ pairs = 336″ (2.1×) |
Rods this long usually need more than one support bracket, and that changes how the curtains can open. See one-way draw or center split below.
How to measure for sliding door curtains
Take these measurements before you buy a rod or curtains. A steel tape and a step stool are enough.
- Width (W). Measure the door frame from the outer edge of the trim on one side to the outer edge on the other.
- Trim top (T). Measure from the floor to the top of the trim. Check both ends and the middle, and use the shortest reading.
- Ceiling (C). Measure from the floor to the ceiling. Note any crown molding, vent or soffit above the door.
- Wall space each side (S). Measure from the trim to the nearest corner, wall, light switch or vent. This limits how far the rod can run.
- Handle depth (P). Measure how far the door handle stands out from the wall. Closed curtains have to hang clear of it.
- Which panel slides. Note which side is fixed. That's usually where open curtains should stack.
- The floor. Note a raised threshold, a rug or a floor that slopes near the door.
Then work it through: rod = W + at least 8″ on each side (but no more than S allows), flat fabric = rod × 2, and panels = fabric ÷ panel width. The length comes next.
What length curtains for a sliding glass door?
Curtain length runs from the fabric top to the hem. For a floor kiss, the length equals the height of the fabric top above the floor. To float the hem ½″ above the floor, set the fabric top ½″ higher than the panel length.
Ready-made curtains come in set lengths, so work backward. Pick the length, then place the rod so the fabric top lands at that height.
| Panel length | Fabric top for a floor kiss | Gap above an 80″ door | Ceiling it suits (wall-mounted rod) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84″ | 84″ | 4″ | Any. It's tight: the rod and brackets must fit in that 4″. Pairs only |
| 90″ | 90″ | 10″ | 8 ft. The fabric top sits 6″ below the ceiling. The easiest choice |
| 96″ | 96″ | 16″ | 9 ft. It gives a taller line |
| 108″ | 108″ | 28″ | 10 ft, or a 96″-tall door (12″ above it) |
| 120″ | 120″ | 40″ | Over 10 ft, or a 96″-tall door (24″ above it). Back-tab pair only |
Gaps are measured from 80″. If your trim top is higher, subtract the difference.
By ceiling height, on an 80″ door: choose 90″ for an 8-ft ceiling, 96″ for a 9-ft ceiling and 108″ for a 10-ft ceiling. Each leaves room for brackets below the ceiling.
On grommet curtains, the fabric rises above the rod. On the back-tab pair, the rod hides just below the top edge. Either way, the rod sits a little lower than the fabric top.
At the floor:
- Float (−½″) or kiss (0″) suits a door you use every day.
- Puddle (+4″) looks soft at a window, but on a door it drags and collects grit at the threshold.
- Raised threshold? Measure to the floor in front of it, and float the hem.
Which Ona styles come in door lengths: the wide panel comes in 90″, 96″ and 108″. The 52″ grommet pair goes up to 108″, and the 42″ grommet pair up to 96″. The back-tab pair runs to 120″. Velvet colors vary by length.
More on lengths in how long should curtains be.
Stack-back: where the curtains go when the door is open
Stack-back is the width your curtains take up once they're pushed open. On a window, it decides how much glass you see. On a slider, it decides whether you can walk through.
The part of the rod past the frame is the parking space. Any stack that doesn't fit there sits over the glass.
A common trade rule of thumb says a heavier lined curtain stacks to roughly 20–25% of its flat width, and lighter unlined fabric stacks tighter. We haven't measured the stack of Ona panels on a real door yet.
Glass covered when open ≈ (flat fabric on that side × 0.20 to 0.25) − rod extension on that side
Here's how that plays out on a 6-ft door with an 88″ rod:
| Setup | Flat fabric per side | Estimated stack per side | Over the glass when open (8″ extension) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 wide panels, one-way draw | 210″ | about 42–53″ | about 34–45″, roughly the fixed panel |
| 2 × 52″ pairs, center split | 104″ | about 21–26″ | about 13–18″ on each side, including the side you walk through |
There are two ways to keep the doorway clear:
- Draw one way, toward the fixed glass.
- Extend the rod further on the sliding side. With a center split on a 6-ft door, running the rod 18″ past the frame on the sliding side makes it about 98″. Two 52″ pairs still give 2.1× fullness on that rod.
One-way draw or center split?
| One-way draw | Center split | |
|---|---|---|
| How it opens | All panels stack to one side, usually over the fixed glass | Panels meet in the middle and open to both sides |
| Doorway | Stays clear | Needs a longer rod on the sliding side to stay clear |
| Panel count | Any number, including 3 | An even number: wide panels in twos, or pairs |
| Center support bracket | Grommet and back-tab panels can't slide past one, so the rod has to span the door on its end brackets | Sits at the meeting point, out of the way |
| Best for | A door you walk through every day | A symmetrical look, and wide doors |
Most rods long enough for a slider come with a center support bracket. Grommets and back tabs can't pass it. If your rod needs one, a center split is the simplest setup.
For a one-way draw, choose a rod that its maker rates to span your width on end brackets alone, or a track system. Check the maker's span and weight limits.
How to hang curtains over a sliding glass door
- Mark the height. Choose the panel length first. Mark the fabric top on the wall at that height above the floor for a floor kiss, or ½″ higher to float. Painter's tape works well.
- Mark the rod line. On grommet and back-tab curtains, the rod sits a little below the fabric top. Hold a panel up against the wall to check before you drill.
- Mark the ends. Run the rod at least 8″ past each side of the frame. If the wall allows, go further on the side where the curtains stack.
- Find solid fixing. Most sliders have a wood header above the opening, behind the drywall. Screw brackets into framing where you can, or use anchors rated for the weight.
- Clear the handle. Choose brackets that hold the rod farther from the wall than the door handle stands out, with room left over for the folds.
- Add support. Fit any center bracket the rod needs. Grommet and back-tab curtains can't pass it, so place it where the panels meet.
- Hang and dress. Hang the panels so the folds fall the same way on each side. Turn the outer edges back toward the wall to cut light at the sides.
- Test it. Open and close the curtains, walk through the door, and check the hem at both ends.
On the handle in step 5: how much bracket depth Ona panels need to clear a typical handle hasn't been checked.
Hanging over vertical blinds: mount the rod above and outside the blind's headrail. Choose brackets that stand far enough off the wall for the curtains to clear the vanes.
Rods and hardware: Ona doesn't sell rods, brackets, rings or hooks. Grommet panels need a rod that passes through the grommets.
For heights over windows as well as doors, see how high to hang curtains.
Which curtain heading works best on a sliding door?
| Heading | How it moves | Best for | Ona option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grommet | Metal rings slide straight along the rod | A door you open every day | Grommet pair (42″ or 52″ panels), wide 70″ panel, velvet pair |
| Hidden back tab | Tabs on the back sit on the rod, with tailored folds and more friction | A door you open now and then | Back-tab pair |
| Rod pocket | A fabric sleeve slides least easily | A door you rarely open | The same back-tab pair, hung by its pocket |
| Pleated drapery on rings or a traverse rod | Carriers glide, and some systems pass their own supports | A one-way draw across a very wide door | Ona's pinch-pleat style is a coming-soon preview |
Worked examples
A 6-ft slider with an 8-ft ceiling
- Door: 72″ wide. The trim top is at 81″ and the ceiling at 96″.
- Rod and fabric: an 88″ rod needs 176″ of flat fabric.
- Option A, one-way draw: three wide panels (210″, 2.4×), on a rod rated to span 88″ without a center support.
- Option B, center split: two 52″ pairs (208″, 2.4×), with the center bracket at the meeting point. If the wall allows, run the rod 18″ past the frame on the sliding side.
- Length: 90″. The fabric top sits 9″ above the trim and 6″ below the ceiling. A 96″ panel wouldn't leave room under the ceiling for a floor kiss.
- Set price:
- Three wide panels at 90″ list at $417. With Buy 2, Get 1 Free, they come to $278.
- Two 52″ back-tab pairs at 90″ cost $418. That's 2 items, so no offer applies.
An 8-ft-wide slider with a 9-ft ceiling
- Door: 96″ wide and 80″ tall. The ceiling is at 108″.
- Rod: a 112″ rod needs 224″ of fabric. If the wall allows, extend the rod 16″ each side to 128″.
- Panels: four wide panels (280″) make a center split, two per side. That's 2.5× on the 112″ rod and 2.2× on the 128″ rod.
- Length: 96″. The fabric top sits 16″ above the frame and 12″ below the ceiling.
- Set price:
- Four wide panels at 96″ list at $596.
- Buy 2, Get 1 Free takes $149 off, bringing it to $447. Four items also earn the bonus 20% off, which takes it to $357.60. Both discounts apply.
A 5-ft bedroom slider, as dark as possible
- Door: 60″ wide and 80″ tall. The ceiling is 8 ft.
- Rod: for a darker room, go wider. Running 12″ past each side makes an 84″ rod, which needs 168″ of fabric.
- Panels: two 42″ grommet pairs give 168″ (2.0×), two panels per side. Overlap them where they meet.
- Length: 90″, with the fabric top 10″ above the frame.
- Fabric: the grommet pair is lined, with supplier-listed 100% blackout fabric. We haven't tested it independently. Light can still get in at the top, the sides and the center. Hanging the curtains higher, wider and to the floor reduces those gaps.
- Set price: two pairs at 90″ cost $418. For a one-way draw, three wide panels at 90″ come to $278 with Buy 2, Get 1 Free.
Buy 2, get 1 free applies automatically. In every group of 3 items, the lowest-priced item is free. With 4 or more items, a bonus 20% off the order applies on top. The two discounts stack, and a pair counts as one item, as does a wide panel. See how the offers work.
For one door, order all the panels in the same style, color and size, in one order.
Sliding glass door curtain ideas
- Hang high and wide. A rod well above the frame and past the sides makes the door look taller and keeps the glass clear.
- Stack over the fixed glass. A one-way draw keeps the walkway open and parks the fabric where you don't walk.
- Treat the wall as one window. If the door sits in a short wall, run the rod from corner to corner and size the fabric to the full rod.
- Layer over vertical blinds. Use the blinds for daytime light control and close the curtains at night.
- Line up the room. Set every fabric top in the room at the same height, so the windows and the door read as one line.
- Match or contrast. Light Beige, Linen or Greyish White blend into pale walls. Dark Grey, Denim Blue or Black frame the view.
- Velvet for evening rooms. In a living or dining room, a Dark Gray or Sage Green velvet pair at 90″ or 96″ feels warm and soft. It's room-darkening and unlined, not blackout.
- Kitchen sliders. Float the hem for easy cleaning, and keep fabric well away from the cooktop and other heat sources. Ona's shortest length is 63″, and there are no café curtains.
Room images on this page are styling visualizations, not product photos.
Ona curtains for sliding doors
| Style | What you get | Door lengths | Heading and lining | Price per item, door lengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wide Grommet Panel | 1 panel, 70″ wide | 90″, 96″, 108″ | Metal grommets. Lined. Supplier-listed 100% blackout fabric | $139–$159 |
| Linen Texture Blackout Grommet Pair | 2 panels, 42″ or 52″ each | 84″, 90″, 96″ (52″ also 108″) | Metal grommets. Lined. Supplier-listed 100% blackout fabric | $199–$239 |
| 100% Blackout Back-Tab Pair | 2 panels, 52″ each | 84″, 90″, 96″, 108″, 120″ | Hidden back tabs plus a rod pocket. Lined. Supplier-listed 100% blackout fabric | $199–$219 |
| Velvet Room-Darkening Grommet Pair | 2 panels, 52″ each | 84″, 90″, 96″, 108″ (colors vary by length) | Metal grommets. Unlined. Room-darkening, not blackout | $139–$149 |
Prices are live list prices for door lengths (84″ and longer), checked October 16, 2026.
- Colors: the wide panel and grommet pair come in Light Beige, Linen, Greyish White, Sage Green, Light Grey, Dark Grey, Denim Blue and Black. The back-tab pair comes in Ivory, Linen, Light Beige, Sage Green, Cappuccino and Light Grey. In "Linen Texture", the word describes the look, not the fiber.
- Light and warmth: the supplier lists all four styles as thermal insulating. There's no insulation rating, so we don't quote temperature or energy figures.
- Not included: rods and hardware, and custom sizes. Ona sells listed sizes only.
Shop sliding door curtains → · Size your door in the calculator → · See the Wide Grommet Panel →
Standard US shipping is free. Returns are accepted for damaged, defective or incorrect items only (refund policy). Delivery times are estimates (shipping policy).
Sliding glass door curtain FAQ
What size curtains do I need for a sliding glass door?
For a standard 6-ft (72″) slider, use an 88″ rod and about 176″ of flat fabric: three 70″ wide panels or two pairs of 52″ panels. On an 80″-tall door, 84″ or 90″ lengths kiss the floor.
What size curtains for an 8-foot sliding glass door?
An 8-ft-wide (96″) door needs a 112″ rod and about 224″ of flat fabric, such as four 70″ panels or three pairs of 42″ panels. If the door is 8 ft tall instead, choose 108″ lengths, or 120″ in the back-tab pair.
How many curtain panels do I need for a sliding glass door?
Divide twice the rod width by one panel's width and round up. That's two 70″ panels for a 5-ft door, three for a 6-ft door and four for an 8-ft door. With pairs, it's two 42″ pairs, two 52″ pairs or three 42″ pairs.
How wide should curtains be for a 72-inch sliding door?
Laid flat, the curtains together should measure about 176″, twice an 88″ rod. Two pairs of 52″ panels (208″) or three 70″ panels (210″) give about 2.4× fullness.
What size curtain rod do I need for a sliding glass door?
Add at least 16″ to the frame width: 76″ for a 5-ft door, 88″ for a 6-ft door and 112″ for an 8-ft door. Go longer on the side where the curtains stack if the wall allows.
How far should a curtain rod extend past a sliding glass door?
At least 8″ on each side. Lined curtains stack thickly, so 12–20″ on the stacking side keeps more of the glass and the doorway clear.
How high should I hang curtains over a sliding glass door?
Start about 4–6″ above the door frame, leaving room for the brackets. Going about 10″ above the frame makes the door look taller, if your ceiling allows.
What length curtains for a sliding glass door?
Measure from where the fabric top will sit down to the floor, and choose that length for a floor kiss. On an 80″ door, 84″ panels need the fabric top 4″ above the frame and 90″ panels need it 10″ above. On an 8-ft ceiling, 90″ is the easiest fit.
Should sliding glass door curtains touch the floor?
They should just kiss the floor or float about ½″ above it. A puddled hem looks soft at a window but drags on a door you open every day.
Can grommet curtains slide past a center support bracket?
No. Grommet and back-tab curtains stop at any bracket in the middle of the rod. Use a center split with the bracket at the meeting point, or a rod that spans the door on its end brackets.
Can I hang curtains over vertical blinds on a sliding door?
Yes. Mount the rod above and wider than the blind's headrail, with brackets that stand far enough off the wall for the curtains to clear the vanes.
What kind of curtains are best for sliding glass doors?
Floor-length grommet curtains suit a door you use every day, because they slide easily along the rod. Wide panels mean fewer panels to handle. Back-tab or rod-pocket curtains suit a door you rarely open.
Is a 100 × 84 curtain set enough for a sliding glass door?
It covers a 6-ft door, but with little fullness. On an 88″ rod, 100″ of flat fabric is about 1.1×, so it hangs almost flat. Check whether the 100″ is one panel or two panels added together.
What are the alternatives to curtains on a sliding door?
Vertical blinds, sliding panel tracks and cellular shades made for patio doors are the usual alternatives. Many homes layer curtains over blinds, using the blinds by day and the curtains at night.
Will blackout curtains make a room with a sliding door dark?
They help, but light gets in at the top, the sides and the center. Hang the rod higher and wider, overlap the panels where they meet, and let the hem reach the floor.
How we worked this out
- The rules. Every number here comes from Ona's fit rules: about 2× the rod width in flat fabric, a rod measured without its finials, and length measured from the fabric top to the hem.
- Door sizes. The widths are common nominal sizes. Yours may differ.
- Stack-back. The figures use a trade rule of thumb, not a measurement of Ona panels.
- Prices. They're the live list prices on the date shown.
- Images. Room images are styling visualizations, not product photos.
Questions about your own door? Contact us.