The Best Blackout Curtains We've Ever Tested

Nov 05, 2024

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Get ready for the best sleep of your life with these picks.

Kat is a writer, editor, author, SEO specialist, and mother based in the UK. She has over 10 years of commerce writing experience and has written for a variety of publications, including InStyle, Real Simple, Food & Wine, Southern Living, Shape, Better Homes & Gardens, Parents, and Parenting.

Nor’Adila is a contributing writer for Real Simple. Her work has appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Living, US World News & Report, and Trip Advisor.

In This Article

Real Simple / Nicole Lund

When it comes to sleeping better at night, even the smallest amount of light can alert the body that it’s time to get up and face the day. With our modern-day schedules, only a handful of people still rise with the sun and even fewer go to sleep at sundown, which is where blackout curtains really come in handy. Thankfully, these curtains can help you get as many minutes of uninterrupted rest as possible.

To come up with our list of the best blackout curtains, we personally tested 11 of the best-selling options on the market over a six-month period, taking note of their efficiency, size and design options, ease of setup, durability, and overall value. We also spoke to interior designer Anne Mahoney for her expert advice on what to look for when shopping around for the best blackout curtains so you can finally get the sleep you deserve.

They have an expensive look and feel.

The color and size options are limited.

During testing, we were impressed by how effectively these Better Homes & Gardens curtains blocked out all light. Even with a streetlamp directly outside the window, no light got into the bedroom at all.

These curtains hold their shape well, too, which is important for the light-blocking perks, and are made from a soft material. The grommet design also makes the curtains easy to install, open, and close, and after months of use, these curtains still work just as well as when we first hung them up.

Despite the inexpensive price tag, these curtains have a textured look and feel that makes them seem much more expensive. It’s worth noting, though, that only one curtain comes in a pack, so remember to double up if you want a set.

Better Homes & Gardens is owned by Real Simple's parent company, Dotdash Meredith.

Dimensions: 63–108 inches long, 50 inches wide | Materials: 83% polyester, 17% rayon | Hanging Style: Grommets | Colors: 5

They have two-in-one light-blocking and insulating properties.

They don’t block out 100% of the light.

Perhaps the best thing about these blackout curtains is that they don’t actually look or feel like blackout curtains. While many of these types of curtains are thick and bulky, these ones from Nicetown are soft to the touch, lightweight, and easy to maneuver.

Even the lining is soft and flexible, just like the front of the curtain. You can drape them however you like, and, while they are thinner than some other options we tried, they’re far from flimsy or cheap.

That said, the curtains blocked out around 93% of outside light. This is a significant improvement to regular curtains, but not as good as some of the other picks in our roundup. Even so, no light got in through the sides or in between the panels, and we think that if we tried a darker color instead of beige, they would likely block out all the light.

Where this set shines, however, is in its thermal capabilities. We kept the curtains shut during the day, and they did an excellent job of keeping the room cool in the scorching summer months.

The curtains are machine washable, too, and even kept their shape and quality after being washed. Six months later, they are still going strong. They also come in 30 colors and plenty of sizes to choose from.

Dimensions: 20–95 inches long, 29–70 inches wide | Materials: Polyester | Hanging Style: Rod pocket, rings and hooks | Colors: 30

These curtains have a high-end aesthetic.

They are not 100% blackout and allow some light to filter through, especially around the edges.

These curtains deliver the high quality you know and love from Pottery Barn. While they’re not 100% blackout, they do have enough light reduction to make them a worthwhile purchase, especially if aesthetics are top of mind.

Their linen fabric is lightweight and drapes beautifully, and they have three hanging options to choose from—rod pocket, ring top, or back tabs—that open and close easily. We’ve had these curtains for over two years and they still look classy, work effectively, and show no signs of wear and tear or discoloration.

There are six different neutral colors available for the custom curtains, but Pottery Barn also has them in eight standard sizes (84, 96, 108, or 120 inches in length, and either 50 or 100 inches wide), in a choice of over 20 colors.

Dimensions: Custom | Materials: 100% Belgian flax linen | Hanging Style: Rod pocket, back tabs, ring top | Colors: 6 for custom curtains, 21 colors for standard sizes

Real Simple / Nicole Lund

They provide complete darkness and have great thermal insulation.

The material has a slight sheen that not everyone may like.

For some serious blackout action, these theater-grade curtains by Sun Zero are your best bet. During the testing period, these curtains effectively blocked all light with none whatsoever filtering through.

In part, this was also due to the way we installed them; we hung them as high as possible above the window and also allowed for 12 inches on either side. Hanging allowance is key for the full light-blocking effect, as when we pulled the curtains closer to the side of the window, a little light did come through.

Even in 90°F weather, the room’s temperature was considerably cooler than it would be without them. They are also easy to take care of; we washed them several times in the washing machine, and they have kept their structure and effectiveness since.

The curtains are made from a thick and heavy material with heavy-duty curtain rings that can handle their weight. Despite the heft, the curtains slide open and close with ease. Since they’re primarily designed for home theaters, there aren’t a lot of sizes and colors to choose from, but the colors offered are neutral and versatile enough for use in a bedroom. The curtains also have a silky texture which is soft to the touch, but there’s a slight sheen that might not appeal to everyone.

Dimensions: 63–95 inches long, 52 inches wide | Materials: Polyester | Hanging Style: Rod pocket | Colors: 9

Our overall best pick for the best blackout curtain is the Better Homes & Gardens Solid Woven Textured Blackout Curtain Panel. The curtains block out every last inch of outside light, are soft yet sturdy, and are easy to install. It looks and feels a lot more expensive than it is, and still performs as new after six months. For a more customizable option, we also love the Pottery Barn Custom Belgian Flax Linen Blackout Curtain. You can choose between three hanging options, 20 widths, and 130 lengths. Plus, they’re super stylish.

To come up with our list of the best blackout curtains, we tested 11 options in real-world settings over an initial two-week period. When we received the curtains, we evaluated factors such as their material, quality, design, ease of installation.

Once the curtains were up, we checked how effective they were at blocking out the light and whether they lived up to any other claims, like thermal insulation and noise cancellation.

We noted whether there were any improvements to our sleep patterns and if they helped in other instances like watching movies. We paid particular attention to how well they covered the entire window and whether any light managed to creep in.

We also noted how well they open and close, how they look, and how well they hold up over time. After the initial testing period, we kept the curtains up for six months to see if there was any deterioration and if they remained as effective after prolonged use. We provided our findings after two months and then again at six months.

Real Simple / Aliyah Rodriguez

Opacity refers to how well the blackout curtains block the light from getting into the room. This can also be thought of as how “see-through” the material is. The higher opacity a curtain’s material has, the less light it will allow to get in. Most blackout curtains have a maximum opacity because the whole point of them is to keep light out.

Mahoney says that most blackout curtains can block nearly 100% of light, but this will depend on the material on the inside. “What makes curtains ‘blackout’ is the fabric liner that is made to block light,” Mahoney says, adding that the liners on these curtains are made from much thicker materials than the liners on standard curtains.

Blackout curtains can be made from all sorts of materials, like polyester, cotton, or cotton blends. To successfully block out the light, the fabrics used are thick and tightly woven. Sometimes blackout curtains will have a different outer fabric and another for the lining. This lining can be made from synthetic fibers, like polyester, acrylic or foam, or another triple-weaved fabric for ultimate light-blocking power and even insulation.

The best blackout curtain materials, according to Mahoney, are velvet, polyester, or cotton blend—something with weight to keep the shape of the drapery. “This allows the window treatment to stay close to the window instead of moving back and forth, which will maximize privacy,” she says.

Real Simple / Nicole Lund

Just like regular curtains, blackout options come in an array of different sizes for windows large and small. The curtains on our list range from 20 to 120 inches long and 30 to 70 inches wide. However, many retailers offer custom sizes so you can get the perfect fit, like the Pottery Barn Custom Belgian Flax Linen Blackout Curtain.

Getting the right size is extremely important when it comes to blackout curtains because even if they’re just a sliver shorter or narrower than your window, light can seep in. Mahoney advises that it’s better to order longer blackout curtains to be on the safe side. Then, you can then get them tailored to your exact needs.

Shortening curtains at home is an easy task with an iron-on hemming tape, but if you’d rather leave that up to a pro, Mahoney suggests taking them to your local dry cleaners for an inexpensive trim and hem. To make the room look bigger and to ensure every last inch of light is blocked, Mahoney suggests installing the curtains higher and wider than the window where possible. “Always measure 6 to 8 inches above the top of the window and 3 to 6 inches extra for the width,” she says.

Blackout curtains come with various hanging fixtures, including rod pockets, back tabs, ring tops, rings and hooks, and grommets. If your curtain rod is installed low on the window, you’ll want to avoid curtains with large grommet holes, as light can easily shine through them. Mahoney suggests choosing curtains with pinch pleats, which can be hung all the way up to the ceiling and help cover the gaps where light could filter in.

Amazon Basics Portable Window Blackout Curtain Shade with Suction Cups: This curtain is designed for light-blocking on the go. It has suction cups along the edges that stick onto a window, making it more of a makeshift solution rather than a permanent bedroom fixture. It was easy to attach and detach, and it did a decent job of blocking out around 90% of daylight. Although it only comes in one size, there’s velcro along the sides that allows you to adjust the length and width as needed. It’s a great solution if you’re traveling with children who wake up at the slightest sliver of light or if you’re a renter and don’t want to screw rods into the wall.

Don’t worry—you don’t need to choose black curtains in order to get a peaceful night’s sleep. The color of the curtain doesn’t impact its ability to keep the light out because that’s the lining’s job. Even beige or white blackout curtains can still effectively keep your room snoozily dark as long as the fabric is thick and tightly woven.

While they’re busy blocking out sunlight, blackout curtains simultaneously keep out its rays, too. These curtains act as insulation to keep your room’s temperature steady and unaffected by the weather outside, but some are better than others at this, like the Nicetown Black Blackout Curtain Blinds. The best ones will keep the heat out during the summer and trap it inside in the winter, which will also keep your energy costs down.

When shopping around for blackout curtains, be careful not to choose room-darkening ones instead. These are often less expensive because their material is typically not as thick or tightly woven as blackout curtain fabric, and they might also lack the extra lining. While room-darkening curtains can block some light, they’re not designed to prevent all of it from getting through. If total darkness is a non-negotiable, then blackout curtains are the way to go.

This article was written by Kat de Naoum, who has over 11 years of commerce writing experience. For this article, we reviewed and personally tested multiple blackout curtains on the market and noted factors such as each product’s size, material, opacity, efficiency, and overall value. Nor’adila Hepburn also contributed to this article and interviewed Anne Mahoney, an interior designer and founder of Anne Lydia.