All curtains do, pretty much, the same thing. They block out sunlight, provide some privacy, and bring a little extra style to a space. While blackout curtains do the same thing, they do it with some added aplomb. They don’t just block out light, they keep out any trace of it, allowing you to really control the amount of ambient lighting in the room. Whether you want to create a light-free sleeping environment when you’re lying in bed or just need a really dark room to enjoy a movie on your ultra-short throw projector, blackout curtains are your best bet to setting that up.
The best blackout curtains are usually made from thicker materials than traditional curtains, allowing them to be more potent at keeping out light. Some are even woven using special dark fibers to reinforce its light-blocking abilities. Do note, not all blackout curtains eliminate 100 percent of the light. Some are designed to keep most, but not all, light, so make sure to keep that in mind when looking for ones to install in your home.
Some blackout curtains also get insulating qualities to help with temperature management, so you can keep the room cooler during summertime and keep it warmer during winter season. Maybe, it will even work well enough to let you ditch the cooling sheets or electric blankets. Others use lining that blocks out ambient sounds, allowing it to keep outside noises from entering the room.
The best blackout curtains aren’t just all about the function – they need to complement the room with some nice aesthetics, too. As such, overall appearance is definitely something you’ll want to consider, same with factors such as source fabrics, ease of setup, and hanging options. When shopping, by the way, make sure you’re buying packs of two if you want to buy in pairs, since we’ve seen too many of these curtains sold as single panels.
These are the best blackout curtains to better control the amount of external lighting that enters your home.
Eclipse Solid Blackout Thermal Liner
Pros
- Attaches to existing curtains
- Blocks light effectively
- Can be installed on its own or on existing drapery
Cons
- Too narrow for most window sizes
Sizes: 27 x 60, 27 x 80, 27 x 92 (inches)
Colors: White
Materials: Polyester
Heading: Drapery hooks, rod pocket
Number of panels: 2
if you already have nice drapes that you don’t want to replace with blackout curtains, you can opt for a blackout liner to reinforce them instead. This one comes as a two-piece set, each one measuring just 27 inches wide, although it’s available in three different lengths, so those who need to cover tall windows (or glass doors) can probably find a length that works. Truth be told, they come a bit too narrow, so you might need to get creative with a few sets to make sure they fully cover your windows. It attaches directly to your existing curtains using included hooks, so it’s easy enough to install, while also coming with a rod pocket, in case you want to use the liner on its own (it ain’t pretty, though). The liner helps reduce light, sound, and heat significantly, although not quite to the same extreme degree as proper blackout curtains. It works, though, and should be sufficient for most people’s needs.
- LIGHT BLOCKING – Eclipse Thermaliner panels paired with your existing curtains block over 99% of...
Wayfair Basics Room Darkening Curtain Panel
Pros
- Very wide panels
- Lots of color choices
- Comes with pull wand
Cons
- Doesn’t block light as thoroughly as others
Sizes: 84 x 100 (inches)
Colors: 15 colors available
Materials: Polyester
Heading: Grommets
Number of panels: 1
if you need blackout curtains for very wide windows or glass doors, you’ll want this one from Wayfair, which comes with panels measuring 100 inches wide. It doesn’t block out light as well as Amazon’s window treatments above, which some people might prefer. There’s no word on what percentage of light reduction it performs, but it is quite noticeable when closing it on a sunny day out. Still, it gets dark when you close it, especially at nighttime, so you can, pretty much, keep out any ambient light and noise from the streets if you want to sleep without any disturbance. It looks pretty nice for its affordable price and comes in 15 different solid colors, all while pulling back very smoothly, although it does feel quite heavy just because of its sheer size.
Pony Dance Blackout Curtains
Pros
- Reduces light effectively
- Comes with back tab and rod pocket
- Feels heavy and durable
Cons
- Only darker colored ones block light well
Sizes: Multiple sizes from 29 x 24 to 52 x 108 (inches)
Colors: 28 colors available
Materials: Polyester
Heading: Rod pocket, back tab
Number of panels:
If you want plenty of choices in sizes and colors, you’ll definitely appreciate this blackout curtain from Pony Dance, which is available in so many options, you can probably find a suitable fit for any window in your house. They do recommend the darker shades for the best light-blocking effects (probably avoid light colored ones entirely, based on reviews), so we got the gray ones and they perform well, giving the room a dark and private atmosphere whenever you like. These are not 100 percent blackout, though, so do expect some amount of light to get in, especially when the sun is out in full force. You also barely hear a peep from outside, so it’s really effective at insulating the room. We appreciate the dual headings, as it gets both a rod pocket and a back tab, so you can hang them however you like, while the thick fabric feels durable enough to last for a long while.
- Ready Made - 2 pieces of heavy-duty blackout curtains includes, each measures 52" wide x 84"...
Town & Country Luxe Catarina Blackout and Sheer Curtain Pair
Pros
- Curtain and sheen layered combo looks classy
- Effective at light reduction
- Easy to install
Cons
- Not fully blackout
Sizes: 52 x 63, 52 x 84, 52 x 96, 52 x 108, 52 x 120 (inches)
Colors: 11 colors available
Materials: Polyester
Heading: Grommets
Number of panels: 2
If you like the look of layered window treatments, you’ll love this blackout curtain set, which comes with both a light-blocking curtain and a white sheer overlay. The addition of the sheer on top gives it a softer and breezier appearance that makes it more decorative than your typical blackout drapes, especially with the sateen-like finishing. According to the outfit, it has an Opacity 3 level, which is just under the full blackout level, so it will still allow some amount of light through. In practice, though, it’s opaque enough to block out most light (probably 85 percent or higher), so it can leave a room very dark even in the middle of the day. As with other blackout curtains, the darker ones block more light than the darker colors (we had the black pearl color), so keep that in mind when making your pick.
- Talia Double Layer Sheer and Room Darkening Blackout Indoor Curtains 2-Pack
Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout Curtain
Pros
- Blocks out light effectively
- Comes with Velcro tie-backs
- Looks great for the price
Cons
- Tie-backs not connected to curtains
Sizes: 52 x 84 x 52 x 96 (inches)
Colors: Four choices
Materials: Polyester
Heading: Rod pocket (some versions have grommets)
Number of panels: 2
These blackout curtains come with Velcro tie-in backs that you can tie around it to partially open when you want to let some light in, although the ties aren’t actually connected to the curtain, so you’re probably going to end up losing them at some point. They’re excellent at blocking out light (not 100 percent, but it’s up there), making it easy to maintain a dark room during the day, although light will come through between the gap from the panels, so you’ll want to make sure you get the correct width size for your specific windows. We highly recommend getting the version with the rod pocket, since they look much nicer, with the grommet version looking a bit like shower curtains.
- Room darkening 100% blackout curtain panel (set of 2) for blocking sunlight and UV rays, reducing...
IKEA Majgull
Pros
- Power light-blocking ability
- Insulates well
- Feels hefty and substantial
Cons
- Limited sizes and colors
Sizes: 57 x 84, 57 x 98 (inches)
Colors: Four colors available (all of them darker shades)
Materials: Polyester
Heading: Rod pocket, back tabs
Number of panels: 2
We love the light blocking capabilities of this blackout curtain, as we saw practically no light coming through the fabric. Instead, the only light coming into the room seemed to be from those that manage to sneak in through the edges. It insulates effectively, too, so it should help you manage the temperatures in the room all year, with some amount of noise reduction, as well (you can still hear cars outside. The curtains aren’t particularly pretty, but they get the job done, although you may want to check elsewhere if you’re looking for more premium aesthetics. It’s available in two lengths and four dark colors, with each panel weighing over four pounds.
Pottery Barn Peace & Quiet Noise-Reducing Blackout Curtain
Pros
- Zero light comes through the fabric
- Three hanging options
- Oeko-Tex certified
Cons
- Expensive
- Only two colors
Sizes: 50 x 94, 59 x 96, 50 x 108 (inches)
Colors: Two colors available
Materials: Polyester
Heading: Rod pocket, back tabs, ring tops
Number of panels: 1
This blackout curtain feels very dense, so we had high hopes for its light-blocking abilities. It didn’t disappoint, as it’s literally pitch black, save for the light that’s able to enter from the edges. Yeah, you’ll definitely want to find a way to secure it flush to the wall if you want zero light to get through. It also filters a good amount of sound while insulating the room, making it a veritable shield of a window treatment. Plus, it has a nice textured appearance that we really love. We appreciate the inclusion of three heading options, namely rod pocket, back tabs, and even ring tops, so you can install it however you prefer, although we recommend using the rod pocket to minimize the amount of light that’s able to seep through the cracks. We do wish it’s available in more colors, though, since the two available hues do limit your decorating options.