We Tested the Best Blackout Curtains–Our Picks Block Light and Help You Sleep (2024)

Our Top Picks

The Sun Zero Nordic Blackout Curtains wowed us the most of the 17 blackout curtain sets we tested. This option boasts a high-quality design, comes in multiple sizes and colors, and blocks light effectively. They were also effective at keeping the room cooler and blocking heat during sunny summer afternoons.

Out of the package, we were impressed with the thick and sturdy material. We liked that it wasn’t overly heavy or stiff like other options; the fabric felt flexible and pleasantly soft. These curtains are also machine washable, making the cleaning process a breeze.

We set up this set in a primary bedroom with a glass sliding door, layering them over an existing window shutter. We were pleased to find that the curtains blocked light much better than the shutter. They created a near-dark environment together, perfect for limiting the bright morning sun and for shielding the last bit of moonlight trying to sneak in on movie night.

The heading of the curtain has grommets rather than a curtain rod pocket. While a rod pocket often better prevents light from passing through, we found that these curtains were still highly effective and offered a sleek look. Plus, grommets typically make it quick and easy to hang the curtain and they allow for the curtains to be smoothly opened, in our experience.

These curtains are available in 22 chic hues, but the price can vary depending on your color choice. We opted for the sage green color, which looked especially stylish but slightly more pastel than the product photo online. For us, this was a pleasant surprise but buyers may want to plan ahead for potential, slight color variations.

You can also choose from eight size options to match your window’s dimensions. All things considered, we highly recommend this affordable blackout curtain because of its quality, performance, and value.

_{Dimensions: Eight options from 52 x 54 inches to 104 x 108 inches | Material: Not listed | Heading: Grommets | Number of Panels: 2}

The IKEA Majgull Blackout Curtains are a solid pick if you’re looking for a basic and reliable blackout curtain. During testing, we were thrilled with how they blocked out around 95 percent of light, allowing just a bit through around the edges.

We used these curtains in a household situated near a highway and found that, while they didn’t block out sound completely (most curtains don't), they did help limit some of the noise from passing cars. What’s more, they helped reduce the heat from the morning sun and kept the room from getting warmer than normal.

In terms of stitching and overall construction quality, these blackout curtains are quite basic. We think these would be a great option for kids' rooms where blocking light is a priority over style. The polyester fabric felt durable, but we don’t think the curtains offer a particularly stylish look compared to other options on the market.

Note that these blackout curtains are available in a limited range of colors and sizes, so they may not be the best option if you don’t have a standard-sized window. We opted for the dark blue option, which was more similar to royal blue upon arrival.

_{Dimensions: 57 x 98 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Grommets | Number of Panels: 2}

These linen curtains from Quince bring beautiful style to your bedroom, living room, or anywhere you need to filter light without sacrificing style.If you’ve avoided blackout curtains because of a stiff feel and drab look, the elegant linen construction may change your mind. The fabric is high quality, flexible, and exceptionally soft, and the lining drapes nicely, too.

While our testing revealed that this set isn't as light-blocking as other options, we still determined that these panels blocked the majority of incoming light (around 80 percent). We also like that these curtains have both a rod pocket and back tab, both of which look stylish and sleek. This product consists of a linen curtain and polyester lining, rather than a singular piece of fabric.

At $89 for a single panel, these curtains come at a higher price point than other options on this list. However, they're still a wonderful investment for anyone seeking a high-quality and stylish option. They're also attractive and do not look like typical blackout curtains, making them a great choice for those who want to balance functionality and aesthetics.

_{Dimensions: Three options from 48 x 84 inches to 48 x 108 inches | Material: Linen, polyester | Heading: Rod pocket, back tab | Number of Panels: 1}

Offering both function and style, the Gracie Oaks Olivia Signature Velvet Curtains are definitely an upgrade from your typical blackout curtain. In our testing, we found they blocked nearly all light (90 to 95 percent) with only a bit of light leaking through the break in between the panels.

Not only did they also muffle sounds slightly, but we found that they actually helped improve the air quality of the bedroom where the curtains were placed, as they blocked dust from getting into the room, according to changes in room air purifier readings.

We’re also huge fans of the flexible and soft velvet material, which offers an elegant look. They aren’t overly stiff or thick but have a nice medium weight that looks and feels high quality. The curtains draped nicely, but note that there’s a fair amount of fabric so we weren’t able to pull the curtains completely to the side. They also have a weighted hem to prevent movement. The curtains have a rod pocket top and back tabs for your choice of installation.

There's also a whopping 29 colors and 13 sizes to choose from. Considering the simple yet timeless design and impressive performance during testing, we think these would work well in just about any room.

_{Dimensions: 13 options from 50 x 63 inches to 100 x 120 inches | Material: Velvet | Heading: Hook belt, back tab | Number of Panels: 1}

When you want the benefits of light blocking but prefer the look of your existing curtains, you might consider a blackout liner. We particularly like this highly effective and well-designed one from Rose Home, which impressively blocked 100 percent of light during testing.

The material is a stiff plastic, which helped with insulation as well.The liner felt moderately heavy and flexible overall, and we were generally impressed with the durability and quality. Plus, it’s machine washable for easy upkeep.

While moving the liner on the curtain rings was smooth, keeping the liner and curtains aligned was a bit trickier. Additionally, we found that the loops in the rod pocket were a bit of a tight fit for our curtain rod, so you may have to opt for the included rings if you have a larger rod. The white liner matches well with most styles of curtains, and you can choose between six sizes to pair with your window size.

_{Dimensions: Six options from 27 x 59 inches to 50 x 92 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Rod pocket or rings | Number of Panels: 2}

If you're fitting a window with a unique size (like a picture window in the living room), check out this option from Nicetown. Sold as a set, you can pick from sizes as small as 37 x 40 inches and as large as 70 x 108 inches (big enough to cover a sliding glass door).

We installed a set of Nicetown Blackout Curtains over a bedroom window, choosing a blue pair measuring 52 x 84 inches. We estimated that these curtains block 90 to 95 percent of incoming light from the bright city street outside the window.The only visible brightness was from the top of the curtain because the rod didn’t allow the curtain to sit flush against the wall.

While we found that these curtains moved smoothly along the curtain rod, we recommend using two hands for adjustments because they are heavy. They’re also a bit stiff, with a rough texture—not a soft, smooth, flowy curtain. However, the opaque material does an excellent job blocking light, so it serves its purpose well.

After six months of testing, these curtains continue to perform exactly as we expected. They block out almost all light, and we’ve even had trouble getting out of bed in the mornings. The curtains remained durable and were easy to take down when we decided to change what room they were in.

_{Dimensions: 41 options from 37 x 63 inches to 70 x 108 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Grommet |Number of Panels: 2}

If you want to let some light in during the day, consider a pair of blackout curtains with tie-backs, like this set from Amazon Basics. It conveniently includes two Velcro tie-backs to use when you don’t want the curtains to fully cover your window.

Based on our testing experience, you won’t be disappointed in their light-blocking ability, either. The machine-washable polyester material didn't allow any light through; the only incoming bit was from a small opening between the two curtain panels.

The rod pocket header easily fit over our existing curtain rod, but you can also order these with a grommet or back pocket to accommodate different methods of hanging the curtains.There are various sizes and colors available too, but note that color availability isn’t consistent across all sizes.

Speaking of color, we found that the liner gave the white curtains a blue hue, but that’s not unheard of for light-colored blackout curtains. All summed up, we’d recommend these blackout curtains for anyone who wants to effectively block incoming light at night but keep the curtains tidy with matching tie-backs during the day. Just note that the tie-backs are not attached to the curtains themselves, so you’ll have to keep track of them when they’re not in use.

_{Dimensions: Options ranging from 42 x 63 inches to 52 x 96 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Rod pocket (hidden loop and grommet options also available) |Number of Panels: 2}

Get rid of light glare by picking dark, light-blocking curtains for your home theater—or any room that can benefit from a cozy, cinema-like ambiance. For that purpose, we recommend the Sun Zero Oslo Blackout Curtain Panel. After testing a pair of these curtains, we can vouch for their claim that they block all incoming light. When fully closed, no light filtered into the room, and they also seemed to insulate against intense heat outside during the testing period.

Whether you plan to use these blackout curtains in your home theater or bedroom, the neutral shades will work with a range of decor styles. While the polyester material has a smooth, silky texture on the front and back, we were surprised by the slightly shiny finish to the fabric and would’ve preferred a more matte finish. That may be a matter of personal preference, though.

After six months of testing, these curtains have held up nicely, maintaining their structure and look. We love using these curtains instead of the Roman shades in a bedroom, to extend the life of the Roman shades and create more privacy in the bedroom. They blocked out the early morning sun during the summer and allowed us to experience uninterrupted sleep.

Note that the Sun Zero Oslo Blackout Curtains have a pocket header for a curtain rod, so if you were planning on hanging your curtains using grommets or clips, you’d have to change course to accommodate this option. They’re available with a 52-inch width and in various lengths ranging from 63 to 95 inches.

_{Dimensions: Seven options from 52 x 63 inches to 52 x 95 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Rod pocket |Number of Panels: 2}

For an extra-wide blackout curtain to cover a patio door, we recommend this option from Wayfair Basics. The curtain measures 84 x 100 inches and is available in over a dozen colors. Based on our testing experience, this option has a quality look and feel, and blocks approximately 70 percent of incoming light. This isn't as much as our other picks, but is plenty to darken a patio doorway and serve as a barrier from sunshine and outside noises.

This thermal curtain also helps to insulate the room against cold drafts or hot temperatures. That’s notable if you’re looking for blackout curtains for a sliding patio door, since the large panels of glass can be a significant cause of heat loss in the winter or rising temperatures in the summer.

The grommet header made hanging the large curtain panel fast and easy. The curtains pull back smoothly and drape nicely over our curtain holdbacks, which was one of our favorite features of this blackout curtain.

There is a curtain-pull wand which made pulling back the wide, 84-inch-tall curtain easier, but in our experience, the weight of the curtain caused the to be wand a slower and more cumbersome method than pulling back the curtain by hand.

Rather than hanging several individual blackout curtain panels side by side, the Wayfair Basics Blackout Patio Door Curtain Panel is a simple solution for most standard sliding doors. It blocks enough light to improve the comfort of your room and looks nice when pushed back during the day.

_{Dimensions: 100 x 84 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Grommets | Number of Panels: 1}

A set of portable blackout curtains can mean the difference between tossing and turning or enjoying a good night's sleep while traveling. The Amazon Basics Portable Travel Window Blackout Curtains are a great option, impressing us with their ability to block light, and their overall convenience.

The suction cups (which adhere best to a clean window) allow some pockets of light to pass through, but we still found them effective enough to buy one more hour of sleep for a baby—even caused us to miss the wake-up call from an alarm clock!

You do have to take the curtains down if you want to enjoy a view out the window during the day—the suction cup design means you can't push the curtains back as you would with a curtain rod. If you leave the blackout curtains in place, it seems about 90 percent of the light is blocked, based on our testing experience.

The curtain folds up into its travel bag, which is convenient for slipping it into your suitcase or backpack, but since the material is quite thick and stiff, it took some effort to refold the curtain into a size that fits well in the bag.

Finally, these curtains measure 50 inches wide and 78 inches long, but they have Velcro pieces around the edge, so you can adjust them as needed to fit windows. That’s a big plus since each place you stay will likely have different sizes of windows.They’re available in a few kid-friendly prints, and some basic solid colors if you want a simpler option.

_{Dimensions: 50 x 78 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: None | Number of Panels: 1}

Final Verdict

FAQ

• What is the best material for a blackout curtain?

  Polyester is considered one of the best materials for a blackout curtain. This synthetic fiber is durable, affordable, and often machine washable. That being said, not all blackout curtains are machine washable because of the thick, heavy nature of the curtain.You might have to clean your curtains in another way if they won't fit in your washer or aren't recommended for machine-washing on the care label.

• Do blackout curtains make a room hotter or cooler?

  Blackout curtains can accomplish both since the thick material can assist in regulating the temperature of a room. "In the hotter months, they can help block out the sun, helping maintain cooler temperatures," says Bernard. To maximize the effect, she suggests that you keep the curtains closed during the warmest hours of the day. When temperatures are colder outside, "blackout curtains can reduce drafts from windows and insulate the space, helping to trap heat," adds Bernard.

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