How much do curtain makers earn

This guide looks at a curtain maker salary for a range of work types. As well as pay rates for making curtains, we also look at rates for fitting a curtain track, fitting blinds and fitting curtain poles.

Curtain making and fitting takes time and patience. The same goes for fitting blinds. A curtain maker salary will vary according to the type of work required.

Often curtain making is part of broader property projects. It falls under the category of soft furnishings. For example, interior designers frequently rely on curtain making and blind fitting expertise.

What skills do curtain makers need?

Curtain maker skills are in fairly high demand for a number of reasons. First, almost every building with windows needs curtains or blinds. Second, tastes change and people move from properties.

Each time, there could be a need for a curtain maker and fitter. As well as new-build homes, many homeowners are opting for extensions rather than moving. This could require a curtain maker’s skills to match the decor.

This creates further demand for the multiple skills of a curtain maker. Typical skills needed for curtain making include:

• Creating colour themes and styles to match the property decor
• Advising on different types of curtains and blinds that fit a client’s requirements
• Measuring fabrics and materials
• Cutting fabrics and materials
• Making pleats
• Sewing shapes and hems
• Sewing linings
• Fitting weights at the bottom of curtains
• Creating pocket for curtain rails
• Ironing seams the curtains
• Fitting hooks and other curtain attachments
• Putting up curtain tracks and poles

Benefits of fitting curtains and blinds

As well as the obvious advantage of giving rooms privacy, other benefits of putting curtains or blinds on windows include:

• Reducing daylight and glare coming in
• Keeping out heat on hot days
• Keeping in warmth on cold days
• Making rooms more comfortable to use
• Reducing drafts coming from windows

What is an average curtain fitter salary?

We’ve put together this table, based on UK national averages, to give you a rough idea of what you could expect to earn as someone who fits curtains.

What is an average curtain maker salary?

Rates vary according to the type of work involved. We’ve pulled together some average rates from UK data. Someone who makes curtains will not necessarily fit curtains, and vice versa. This is why there are different rates.

Please bear in mind that these are liable to change and will also depend on the experience of the tradesperson:

• Per hour

A range of £10-£20 and an average of £10.21.

• Per week

A range of £300-£600 and an average of £397.

• Per month

Monthly earnings of £1,722.

• Per year

The annual earnings are in the range of £20,000-£30,000. There are specific annual earnings figures of £20,666 and also of £24,359.

How much do other curtain making skills earn?

Fitting curtain tracks

Based on the rates listed above, here’s what tradespeople can earn across a range from low to high. The rates are based on fitting curtain track per room:

Lower range – £100 cost + VAT

Higher range – £150 cost + VAT

Average – £125 cost + VAT

Fitting blinds

It’s not just curtains that need specialist skills to make and install. Blinds are a common feature in offices. But they are also an increasingly popular choice in many homes.

Here are the average pay figures for fitting blinds, in a range from low to high:

Lower range – £60 cost + VAT

Higher range – £115 cost + VAT

Average – £87.50 cost + VAT

Fitting a curtain pole

A curtain isn’t much use without a pole to hang it on. Fitting curtain poles can be quite tricky depending on where windows are located.

A fitter also needs to know how to cope with different wall and ceiling materials to ensure a good fit.

These are the average pay rates to fit a curtain pole on a per-room basis. The range is from low to high:

Lower range – £60 cost + VAT

Higher range – £90 cost + VAT

Average – £75 cost + VAT

Learning curtain making skills

Often, the skills of a curtain maker are passed down from one expert to another. You can also go on courses to learn the craft or brush up on your existing skills.

The National Design Academy offers training on making hand-finished curtains. This includes a Diploma in Professional Soft Furnishings and Curtain Making.

The Curtain Academy runs courses on professional soft furnishing and curtain making. This includes three and five-day options.