Credit:
Reviewed / Amazon Basics / Sun Zero
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Credit:
Reviewed / Amazon Basics / Sun Zero
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Amazon's curtains come cheap and will get the job done, but they are nothing special in the looks department. Read More
SunZero's curtains do a decent job blocking light, but they look cheap. Read More
The Quinn curtain blocked performed well in our light tests while looking elegant and feeling well-made. Read More
Neither terrible nor great at blocking light, these curtains didn't impress us. Read More
Did a so-so job blocking light and looked cheap and dull. Read More
If light from outside prevents you from getting a good night’s rest, it’s time to do something about it. Blackout curtains offer one simple fix for unwanted sunlight in your bedroom.
Good blackout curtains, if installed properly, will block most sunlight and darken your sleeping quarters. The best blackout curtains can reduce noise from outside, and keep a room cooler during hot months and warmer during the winter, all while being stylish.
We tested popular curtain brands to find the best blackout curtains you can buy right now. After evaluating each blackout curtain based on its light-blocking abilities as well as its aesthetic characteristics, we determined that the very best blackout curtains are the Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout Curtains with Grommets (available at Amazon) . These polyester curtains outperformed every other product in our lab tests when it came to blocking light.
Along with a great mattress and quality sheets, room-darkening curtains can play an important part in getting a great night’s sleep. Our favorite blackout curtains also will help keep sunlight out of a room, whether you're sleeping, a baby is napping, or your loved ones are sitting back and relaxing for family movie night.
Blocked decently
Available in multiple sizes
Shiny polyester material looks and feels bad
Beautiful
Natural fibers
Mediocre light blocking
Not machine washable
Blackout curtains are useful for sleep if you’re sensitive to light. They keep your room dark while being less personally intrusive than eye masks. Blackout curtains can also be used in your living room to create dark conditions for movie nights, home theaters, or to keep rooms dark if you want to avoid direct light on paintings or furniture.
When shopping for the best blackout curtains, you will find that many are constructed with polyester. This fabric can be tightly woven so it does a good job of blocking the sun’s light. If you’re decorating a room where a little sunlight is welcome, you may want to consider linen, silk, velvet, and other natural fabrics that can offer some aesthetically pleasing alternatives.
Some brands claim their blackout curtains block out all the light, but they may be better described as room-darkening curtains. In addition to the fabric used in the curtains, the actual construction plays a role in its ability to darken a room. Some qualities you can look for are triple-weave construction, which uses a dark polyester thread in between other materials, or a backing sheeting made of polyester.
Before shopping for blackout curtains, ensure you measure the length and width of your windows and select the right curtain size. To effectively block sunlight, blackout curtains need to extend past the edge of windows. All/most of our favorite blackout curtains are available in panels that are 52 inches wide, but some come in additional widths. As important as width is length, because you don’t want sunlight leaking in from the bottom of a blackout curtain. You could always choose a blackout curtain that extends to the floor, but if you like the look of a shorter curtain, some of our favorites are available in lengths as short as 36 inches.
With some blackout curtains, you have options with the hanging style. Grommets, which offer a more modern look, are easy to hang, as they slide onto a curtain rod. Once they are installed, curtains with grommets are also easy to open and close. However, because the holes are larger than the curtain rod they are mounted on, this hanging style does have the potential to let in some light.
For a more traditional look, opt for blackout curtains that have rod pockets or back tabs. While not as easy to install as grommets, rod pockets and back tab curtains slide directly on a rod so there’s less chance of light. Once installed, they tend to be more difficult to open and close than blackout curtains with grommets.
Other hanging styles include ringtops, pinch pleats, and pencil-pleat. Each of these may require you to purchase hanging hardware beyond a curtain rod. Like rod pockets and back tabs, they tend to look more traditional than grommets.
While blackout curtains are available in materials ranging from cotton to linen, our lab testing found that polyester curtains generally offer the best UV-blocking performance. However, you shouldn’t discount other materials. There are some situations where you wouldn’t want total darkness. For example, total darkness can be detrimental to keeping a baby’s normal sleep schedule.
Also, sleep experts recommend getting some sunlight in your system when you wake up because it starts your internal clock for the day and helps your body prepare you to get sleepy at night. Sleeping with blackout curtains is great, but sitting in a room with them all day can be bad for your sleep. (Another option would be getting a sunrise alarm clock, which would allow you to control when daylight begins, as opposed to relying on Mother Nature.)
Ideally, you will want the darkest, highest-quality polyester curtain you can find for maximum light deflection.
Blackout curtains tend to be thicker than regular curtains. Because of this, they can be an energy-efficient way to keep a room cool by deflecting heat, while also darkening it. Thermal blackout curtains can also help ward off cold temperatures.
Sleep is a critical aspect of mental and physical health. Here are some ideas, if you’re looking for ways to improve your sleep hygiene.
We scrutinize each brand of blackout curtain based first and foremost on its ability to block light, but also on its appearance and fabric quality. We consider factors like color and size range, but these are less important than functionality and appearance.
We test every curtain with a Spectra Professional IV type A light meter. Our testers hang each curtain in a doorway and shine flood lights on it from one side, measuring the light that passes through. This test gives us objective numbers on light penetration.
Alex Kane is a senior editor at USA Today’s Reviewed and the author of the Boss Fight Books volume on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. He has written for Fangoria, PC Gamer, Polygon, Rolling Stone, StarWars.com, and Variety. He lives in west-central Illinois.
Sara Tabin
Sleep Writer
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