Curtain Header Styles: How to Choose the Right Style for Your Rod or Track
Explore elegant curtain header styles designed by Regal Curtains to complement modern homes across North America. From pleated and ripple fold to rod pocket and grommet tops, each drapery header style offers a unique look, texture, and function—crafted to enhance your window décor with timeless sophistication.
A curtain header is the finished top section of a curtain panel. It determines how the curtain attaches to a rod or track, how the fabric folds, and how easily the panel opens and closes.
Pinch pleats create a tailored appearance and work well with tracks or rods with rings. Ripple folds require a compatible track and create smooth, uniform waves. Grommet, tab-top, back-tab and rod-pocket curtains are generally designed for rods. Use the comparison below to choose the best option for your hardware, fabric weight and room style.
Step 1: Check Compatibility with Your Curtain Rod or Track
Step 2: Choosing the Hanging Header Style
Consider Fullness to Determine Width
| Header Category | Header Style | Window Frame Overall Width (inches) | Order more Width for Fullness | Individual Panel Width (inch) | Panel Quantity | Length(inch) | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleated | Pinch Pleat | 80 | 1x | 50 | 2 | Measured from eyelet ring hook to floor | 3.5 inches Plastic pin hooks |
| Pinch Pleat With Back Tab | 2 | ||||||
| Tailor Pleat | 2 | ||||||
| Pencil Pleat | 2 | ||||||
| French Pleat | 2 | ||||||
| Goblet | 2 | Metal pin hooks | |||||
| Inverted Box Pleat | 2 | ||||||
| Soft Top | 4-IN-1 | 2x | 100 | 2 | |||
| Flat Hooks | 2 | 3 inches Plastic pin hooks | |||||
| Tab Top | 2 | Measured from top of rod to floor | / | ||||
| Back Tab | 2 | ||||||
| Rod Pocket | 2 | ||||||
| Grommet | Grommet | 2 | |||||
| Ripple Fold | Ripple Fold | 1x | 50 | 2 | Measured from eyelet ring hook to floor | Pin hooks / Endcaps |
Pleated Style
Pinch pleat
types
Divided into Double Pinch Pleat and Triple Pinch Pleat
Features
- Each panel comes with adjustable plastic pin hooks (3.5 inches).
- Compatible with curtain tracks, traverse rods, channel rods, and poles with rings, traverse rod, channel rod, and pole with rings.
Panel width
Measure the finished panel width from the outer edge of the first pleat to the outer edge of the last pleat (2-inch side tucks are not included.)
Pinch Pleat (Double Pinch Pleat): Recommended fullness: 200% of the finished panel width.
Triple Pleat (Triple Pinch Pleat): Fabric width 230%.
Suitable for
Medium to heavyweight fabrics, simple, elegant interiors.
Note
Measured from eyelet ring hook to floor.
Tailor/French Pleat
types
Divided into Double Pleat and Triple Pleat.
Features
Tailor Pleat:
Similar to a pinch pleat, but with a wider opening at the bottom of each pleat.
French Pleat:
The pleats are strategically positioned slightly lower than traditional pinch pleats, the rear hooks of this style offer flexibility, allowing for easy customization and rearrangement
Tailor/French Pleat
Fabric width 200-230%.
Pleats are spaced approximately 5.5–6.5 inches apart.
Suitable for
Medium to heavyweight fabrics, high-end or formal spaces.
Note
Measured from eyelet ring hook to floor.
Grommet Top
Inside diameter 1.6 inches, outside diameter 2.25 inches.
Grommet panels have the least stack back out of all the heading styles.
Grommet-top curtains are designed for curtain rods and are generally not compatible with standard curtain tracks.
Number of grommets
The number of grommets depends on the finished panel width. Grommets are evenly spaced to create consistent folds, and each panel contains an even number of grommets.
Available Grommet Colors
Brushed Aluminum and Matte Black
Suitable for
Light- to medium-weight fabrics, and clean modern spaces.
Note
Measure from the top of the rod to the floor.
Tab Top
Features
The number of grommets depends on the finished panel width. Grommets are evenly spaced to create consistent folds, and each panel contains an even number of grommets.
Tab height
4 inches
Curtain length is measured from the top of the pole to floor.
Side hem 1 inch, bottom hem 4 inches.
Suitable for
Light- to medium-weight fabrics, relaxed or casual spaces.
Note
6 pin hooks per 40 inches width.
Measure from the top of the rod to the floor.
Back Tab
Features
1. Suitable for a 1.5-inch diameter rod.
2. Side hem 1 inch, bottom hem 3-1/8 inches.
3. Compatible with curtain rods or rods with clip rings.
Tab height
4 inches
Pocket size
3 inches
Suitable for
Light- to medium-weight fabrics, relaxed or casual spaces.
Note
6 pin hooks per 40 inches width.
Measure from the top of the rod to the floor.
Rod Pocket
Features
1. The rod pocket is 3 inches deep.
2. Top flange is optional.
3. Side hem 1 inch, bottom hem 3-1/8 inches.
4. Suitable for a 1.5-inch diameter rod.
5. Compatible with curtain rods or rods with clip rings.
Suitable for
Light- to medium-weight fabrics, relaxed or cozy spaces.
Note
Measure from the top of the rod to the floor.
Flat Hooks
Features
1. Come with adjustable plastic hooks (3 inches).
2. Side hem 1 inch, bottom hem 4 inches.
3. Compatible with curtain rods with rings.
Suitable for
Light- to medium-weight fabrics, and rooms where the curtains are opened and closed frequently.
Note
1. 6 pin hooks per 40 inches width.
2. Measured from eyelet ring hook to floor.
Ripple Fold
Ripple Fold Curtains with Tape Buckle
The tape-buckle system uses fabric tape sewn into the top of each curtain panel.
Function
Fits specific carriers on tracks provided by REGAL to ensure smooth movement in window or door openings.
Tape buckle spacing
About 5 inches.
Track height
2 inches from top of track to bottom of carriers.
Suitable for
Best suited to medium-weight fabrics and modern spaces where a smooth, uniform wave effect is desired.
Note
Measured from carriers to floor.
