Curtain Stackback Calculator: How to Keep Your Window View 100% Clear

We all crave that "sun-drenched" look in our homes. You invest in beautiful windows to frame a view, capture the morning light, and connect with the outdoors.

But here is a common scenario: You buy a curtain rod, hang your drapes, and... disappointment. Even when you pull the curtains completely open, they still cover a third of your glass. You feel like you are looking at the world through a tunnel. Your room feels darker, smaller, and restricted.

This is what designers call the "Fishbowl Mistake." It happens when you treat your curtains as a cover for the glass, rather than a frame for the window.

The secret to fixing this isn't buying thinner curtains; it's understanding one critical concept: Stackback.

The Problem: Are Your Curtains Blocking Your View?

Most homeowners make a fundamental error in math. If your window is 60 inches wide, they buy a 60-inch rod.

The result? When you slide the curtains open, the fabric has nowhere to go but on top of the glass. It sits there, blocking your precious sunlight and cluttering the view. To get that high-end, airy aesthetic, you need to clear the glass completely.

What is "Stackback"? (Definition)

Stackback (or "stacking width") is simply the amount of horizontal space your curtains occupy when they are fully drawn open.

Think of it like a "parking spot" for your drapes.

• The Goal: You want to build the parking spot on the wall, not on the window.

• The Solution: You must extend your rod past the window frame on both sides, ensuring the "Stackback" sits entirely on the wall. This reveals 100% of the glass, flooding your room with light and making the window appear significantly wider than it actually is.

Calculate Your Perfect Rod Length (Try Our Tool)

Calculating stackback used to involve some messy math ("Divide by 3, add 10%..."). But precision matters here. If you underestimate the stack, your curtains will creep back onto the glass.

Don't want to do the mental gymnastics? We’ve built a tool to do the heavy lifting for you.

Enter your details below to see exactly how much wall space you need to keep your view 100% clear:

Factor 1: The Fabric Choice (Stiff vs. Soft)

Not all stackbacks are created equal. The biggest variable isn't just the width—it's the texture.

Imagine folding a piece of stiff cardboard versus a silk scarf. The cardboard creates a bulky, triangular flare, taking up massive amounts of space. The scarf folds into a tiny, neat sliver.

This is where the quality of your curtain fabric becomes a functional advantage. Cheap, synthetic curtains are often coated with industrial sizing chemicals, causing them to "flare out" at the bottom like a pyramid, hogging wall space.

At Three Girls, we obsess over the "Stack." Our exclusive Pre-Washed & Dried process removes that stiff factory sizing before the curtains even reach you. This allows the natural linen fibers to relax and drape vertically. The result? A tighter, neater stack that takes up less room on your wall, giving you more view for your money.

Factor 2: The Pleat Style Affects the Stack

The way your curtain is stitched at the top dictates how it bunches together.

• Double Pinch / French Pleat: We call this the "Space Saver." Because it uses less fabric volume than a triple pleat, it stacks remarkably tight. If you have limited wall space on the sides of your window, this is your best friend.

• Triple Pinch / Tailor Pleat: The "Luxurious Volume." These create sumptuous, deep folds. While they look incredibly high-end, they are "space hogs" and require a wider stackback area.

• Grommet Top: Be careful here. While popular, grommets create large, serpentine waves that can be difficult to "train" into a tight stack, often taking up more depth and width than expected.

(Don't worry about memorizing this—our Stackback Calculator above already accounts for these differences!)

Factor 3: The Liner Thickness

Finally, consider the bulk of the lining.

• Unlined: Creates the smallest, airiest stack.

• Blackout Lined: This is our premium 350-400gsm lining. It offers incredible insulation and darkness, but it does add physical bulk.

Advice: If you are choosing our rich Blackout lining (which we highly recommend for bedrooms), be generous with your rod width. Add an extra 2–3 inches to your calculated stackback to ensure the heavier fabric can clear the glass completely.

Conclusion: Let the Light In

You don't need to knock down walls to make your room feel bigger; you just need to stop strangling your windows.

By calculating your stackback and extending your rod onto the wall, you create an optical illusion of grander windows and higher ceilings. But remember: a wider rod requires wider curtains. Don't make the mistake of stretching a standard panel across a wide space.

Now that you have your stackback number, order the perfect Custom Width to cover it comfortably. Let’s frame that view, not hide it.