Best Blackout Curtains (2026): 7 Picks Compared by Room

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The best blackout curtains do two jobs: they make a bedroom dark enough to sleep at 5 a.m. in June, and they put a layer of fabric between the room and a cold window in January. Along the Front Range, with high-altitude sun and long, cold nights, both jobs matter. The hard part is that nearly every listing says “blackout” and “thermal insulated,” while the light-blocking figures they actually state range from 60 percent to 100 percent. Below are seven picks matched to specific rooms and windows, then a buying guide on light blocking, hanging styles, measuring and cord safety.

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How we compared: we compared 17 current Amazon blackout curtain listings on what each listing states: light-blocking percentage, fabric construction (woven or coated), top style, panel sizes, fabric weight and care instructions. We did not lab-test these curtains or hang them ourselves, so light-blocking and energy claims are the sellers’ own. Prices and availability change often, so check the current listing before buying.

Quick picks: the best blackout curtains by room and window

Product	Best for	Key features	Price	Buy
NICETOWN Grommet 42x84	Best overall	Triple-weave fabric Blocks 85 to 99 percent per listing Washes cold, tumble dries	$15.45as of Oct 21, 2026 12:30 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
RYB HOME Linen-Blend 100%	Best full blackout for bedrooms	White blackout coating on back Rod pocket avoids eyelet light leaks 52 x 84 in panels	$21.33as of Oct 21, 2026 12:30 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Blackout Shield Linen 50x84	Most hanging options	Back tab, rod pocket, hooks or track 100 percent blackout coating Linen-look face	$32.97as of Oct 21, 2026 12:30 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
MIULEE 225GSM 40x84	Best stated fabric weight	225GSM polyester Same color both sides Up to 95 percent in dark colors	$13.12as of Oct 21, 2026 12:30 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
RYB HOME Velvet 52x84	Best heavy velvet for drafts	Heavyweight velvet Rod pocket or back tab Blocks 65 to 85 percent	$23.99as of Oct 21, 2026 12:30 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
RYB HOME Short 42x45	Best for small windows	45-inch length OEKO-TEX in title Rod pocket or clip rings	$11.95as of Oct 21, 2026 12:30 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Joydeco Patio 100x84	Best for sliding doors	One 100-inch-wide panel Grommet top Blocks over 75 percent	$20.79as of Oct 21, 2026 12:30 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price

Prices are Amazon’s listed prices as of the time shown and change often; check Amazon for today’s price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The seven picks, compared listing by listing

1. NICETOWN Grommet Blackout Curtains 42 x 84 — Best Overall

Best overall

Why we like it

• Triple weave, no separate liner to peel
• Grommets slide easily on standard rods
• Machine wash cold and tumble dry
• Also sold in 63-inch length on this shelf

NICETOWN Blackout Petit — 2 x 42 x 84 in, triple weave, 85–99% stated, 6 grommets/panel, wash cold + tumble dry

The Woven Blackout Line With the Most Lengths and Tops on This Shelf

NICETOWN appears three times among the 17 listings: this 84-inch grommet pair, a 63-inch grommet pair and a 63-inch rod-pocket pair, all from the same “Blackout Petit” fabric. That breadth matters because the right length depends on the window, and being able to match the same fabric across a bedroom window and a kitchen window keeps a house consistent.

The fabric is a triple weave with a black middle yarn, rather than a coating bonded to the back. Woven blackout fabric does not have a coating that can crack after repeated washing, and NICETOWN is one of the few listings that allows tumble drying. Its stated range of 85 to 99 percent is honest about color: a black panel blocks far more than a light one, and the listing says so.

What it does not do is block 100 percent. Five listings on the shelf claim full blackout, and all of those use either a coated back or a very dense weave. If a night-shift worker needs a fully dark room at noon, look at pick 2. For most bedrooms, the NICETOWN in a dark color is the dependable choice.

Check NICETOWN Grommet 42x84 price on Amazon

2. RYB HOME Linen-Blend 100% Blackout — Best Full Blackout for Bedrooms

Best full blackout for bedrooms

Why we like it

• Claims 100 percent sunlight blocking
• Coated back keeps a neutral street view
• Rod pocket avoids light through grommets
• Listing says it also blocks drafts

RYB HOME RYBCAHJTCBLK — 2 x 52 x 84 in, linen blend, white coated back, 100% stated, rod pocket, wash + tumble low

The Only Listing That Explains Why Its Rod Pocket Beats Grommets for Light

Ten of the 17 listings use grommet tops, which slide easily but leave a ring of open fabric folds at the top where light can get in. This RYB listing is the only one that says outright that its rod-pocket top avoids the light leaking through eyelets that grommet curtains allow. For a nursery or a shift worker’s bedroom, that small gap is the difference between dark and nearly dark.

It is also one of three listings that use a coated backing, along with picks 3 and the Guken back-tab set. A coating is how a curtain reaches a 100 percent claim while keeping a light, linen-look face. The white back also looks neater from the street than a black one.

The trade-offs come with the coating. Coated panels should be washed gently and never ironed on the back, and the rod pocket is harder to open and close daily than grommets. The listing also does not give a fabric weight, so it is hard to compare its insulating mass against the heavier sets.

Check RYB HOME Linen-Blend 100% price on Amazon

3. 100% Blackout Shield Linen 50 x 84 — Most Hanging Options

Most hanging options

Why we like it

• Five hanging methods named
• Only listing that mentions track systems
• Full blackout coating
• Size guide reminder to measure first

Blackout Shield P2Cream5084 — 2 x 50 x 84 in, coated linen look, 100% stated, back tab / rod pocket / hook belt / track, 4.6 lb pair

The Only Listing That Names a Track System as a Hanging Option

Hanging method matters more than it seems. A back-tab or pinch-pleat hang gives tidy folds, a rod pocket seals the top, and a ceiling track lets a curtain wrap close to the wall and block side light. This listing names five methods: back tab, hook belt, rod pocket, clip rings and track. It is the only listing of the 17 that mentions track systems at all. Three listings use back tabs.

The coated back makes it one of the five 100 percent claims on the shelf, and at about 4.6 lb for the pair, it is among the heavier listings that state a weight. The velvet set in pick 5 and the Guken set come closest. More mass usually means a fuller drape and better draft control.

Hooks and rings are not included, so a hook-belt or track hang needs extra hardware. The listing is also clear that the size guide should be checked before buying, which is a reminder that a 100 percent fabric still leaks light if the panel is too narrow or short for the window.

Check Blackout Shield Linen 50x84 price on Amazon

4. MIULEE 225GSM Blackout 40 x 84 — Best Stated Fabric Weight

Best stated fabric weight

Why we like it

• States fabric weight in GSM
• Gives light figures by color
• Same finished color on both faces
• Anti-rust grommets

MIULEE MLCA1204703 — 2 x 40 x 84 in, 225GSM triple weave, 95/80/60% by color, 6 grommets, wash cold

The Only Line on the Shelf That States Fabric Weight in GSM

Grams per square meter is the closest thing a curtain listing offers to an objective density figure, and only the MIULEE line states it. Two MIULEE listings appear, in 63-inch and 84-inch lengths. Everyone else says “heavy” or “thick” without a number.

The listing also breaks light blocking down by color: up to 95 percent for dark colors, 80 percent for medium shades and 60 percent for white. Several sellers mention the effect of color, but only this one and three others (Simplebrand, a Joydeco grommet set and the short RYB pair in pick 6) give figures per shade. The point applies across the shelf: a pale woven curtain is a room-darkening curtain, not a blackout curtain.

Be skeptical of the claim of up to 15 percent lower energy costs. The listing gives no source or test conditions for it. The 40-inch panel width is also narrower than the 50- to 52-inch panels elsewhere, so wide windows may need two pairs.

Check MIULEE 225GSM 40x84 price on Amazon

5. RYB HOME Velvet Blackout 52 x 84 — Best Heavy Velvet for Drafty Rooms

Best heavy velvet for drafts

Why we like it

• Only velvet listing on the shelf
• Heavy pair, about 4.3 lb
• Listing says it blocks wind and heat
• Rod pocket or back tab

RYB HOME RYBUSVELVETBTRP — 2 x 52 x 84 in, heavy velvet, 65–85% stated, rod pocket / back tab, about 4.3 lb pair

The Only Velvet Panel, and the Lowest Light-Blocking Claim Among Our Picks

This is a deliberate trade. Velvet is a dense, heavy pile fabric, and at about 4.3 lb for the pair it is among the heaviest listings on the shelf. For a living room with a single-pane or tired double-pane window, a full, heavy drape that hangs close to the glass and reaches the floor is what reduces the cold-glass chill. The listing says the panels block heat and wind, and that is the job we picked it for.

It is honest about light: 65 to 85 percent, the lowest range among our seven picks. That makes it a room-darkening curtain more than a blackout one. For a bedroom where full darkness matters, pair it with a blackout liner or choose picks 2 or 3.

Velvet also shows dust and pet hair, and the listing suggests gentle machine washing or dry cleaning. It is the right choice when warmth and look come first and light control second.

Check RYB HOME Velvet 52x84 price on Amazon

6. RYB HOME Short Blackout 42 x 45 — Best for Small and Basement Windows

Best for small windows

Why we like it

• Shortest length on the shelf
• Only listing naming OEKO-TEX
• Rod pocket or clip-ring hanging
• 85 to 99 percent in dark colors

RYB HOME RYB-RPBLACKOUT — 2 x 42 x 45 in, triple weave, 85–99% dark colors, rod pocket, OEKO-TEX named

The Only Sub-63-Inch Length and the Only OEKO-TEX Mention

Every other listing on the shelf is 63 inches or longer. Basement egress windows, bathroom windows and the small window over a kitchen sink need something much shorter, and a long panel bunched on the sill traps moisture and gets dirty. At 45 inches, this RYB pair is the only listing sized for those openings. It is also the only one of the 17 that names OEKO-TEX, a textile certification for tested chemical substances, in its title.

The listing pitches it for privacy in street-facing kitchens and ground-floor bathrooms, and its light figures follow the same color logic as the others: dark colors near total darkness, light colors much less.

Bathroom and basement windows are also the most humid in the house. Keep the panels a little off the glass so condensation can dry, and wash them periodically. Our guide to mold in bedrooms covers the condensation-behind-curtains pattern in more detail.

Check RYB HOME Short 42x45 price on Amazon

7. Joydeco Patio Door Blackout 100 x 84 — Best for Sliding Doors

Best for sliding doors

Why we like it

• One 100-inch panel spans a slider
• No center gap between panels
• Also works as a room divider
• Rust-proof grommets

Joydeco JD21018-D — 1 x 100 x 84 in, high-density polyester, 75%+ light / 90% UV stated, grommet top

The Only Single-Panel Listing on the Shelf

Sixteen of the 17 listings sell pairs. The Joydeco is the only single panel, and at 100 inches wide it covers a standard sliding patio door without a seam in the middle. That matters for both light and drafts, because a center gap between two panels is where both get through. Sliders are often the largest single area of glass in a Front Range home and face the back yard and afternoon sun.

The listing also suggests it as a room divider or basement divider, which is handy for a finished basement where a guest area or home office needs to be closed off.

The stated light blocking is modest: over 75 percent. This is a glare and heat-control curtain for a living area, not a bedroom blackout. A single wide panel also has to be pulled all the way to one side to use the door.

Check Joydeco Patio 100x84 price on Amazon

How to read blackout curtain listings

“Blackout” is not a standard

Every listing on this shelf uses the word, but the stated light blocking ranges from 60 percent (white woven panels) to 100 percent (coated panels). There is no single standard behind the term. Read the actual percentage and the color it applies to. Five of the 17 listings claim 100 percent; most of the rest give a range that depends on color.

Woven vs coated

• Triple-weave curtains have a black yarn layer woven into the middle. They wash and tumble dry more easily and look the same on both sides. Dark colors block the most.
• Coated curtains have a blackout layer bonded to the back. They reach full blackout in light colors, but the coating should not be ironed and can wear with heavy washing.

Top style changes how much light leaks

Grommets slide easily and are the most common top on this shelf. Rod pockets and back tabs sit tighter to the rod and leak less at the top but are harder to open daily. For the darkest room, mount the rod a few inches above the frame and wider than the window, and choose a length that reaches the sill or floor. Light at the edges is usually a sizing problem, not a fabric problem.

Measuring for fullness

Measure the window width including the trim, then add a few inches on each side. Most decorators aim for a total curtain width of about one and a half to two times the window width so the panels look full when closed. For length, 63 inches usually ends near a sill on a standard window, and 84 inches suits most floor-length hangs from a rod above the frame.

Do thermal blackout curtains really save energy?

They can help, with limits. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver guide recommends closing curtains and shades at night to protect against cold drafts and opening them in the day to let in warming sunlight, especially on south-facing windows. In summer, it recommends closing draperies on windows that get direct sun to reduce heat gain, and suggests medium-colored draperies with white plastic backings for that purpose.

The DOE also points to cellular shades as the stronger insulating option. Its fact sheet on interior cellular shades says Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory simulations found cellular shades achieved higher energy savings than all other shading types, and that vinyl or metal blinds, which make up about 60 percent of U.S. window coverings, do not provide much insulation. If insulation is the main goal, compare with our best window blinds and shades roundup, which includes cellular options.

Treat any seller’s percentage savings claim with caution. None of the listings here give a test basis. A heavy curtain that hangs close to the wall and reaches the floor will do more than a thin one that hangs inches from the glass with gaps at the sides.

Front Range windows: sun, cold and drafts

High altitude means intense sun, which fades furniture and floors and heats west-facing rooms in summer. Winter brings long, cold nights when windows are the coldest surface in the room. Curtains help with both, but they do not fix a leaking window.

• If you feel moving air near a closed window, the problem is air leakage. Start with our guide to fixing drafty windows, then add curtains.
• For a winter-only fix on older windows, a shrink film kit from our window insulation kit roundup pairs well with heavy curtains. Our walkthrough on how to insulate windows for winter covers the order of work.
• Watch for condensation on the glass behind closed curtains on very cold mornings. Persistent moisture on frames and sills can lead to mold, so open curtains during the day to let the glass dry.

Safety: space heaters, cords and kids

Curtains and space heaters are a common combination in a cold bedroom, and a dangerous one. The CPSC advises keeping portable heaters at least three feet away from drapes, furniture, bedding and other combustible materials. If you use one, see our bedroom space heater guide for placement and tip-over features.

Cords are the other hazard. The CPSC warns that children have strangled on the cords of window blinds, shades and draperies, and that it can happen in moments even with an adult nearby. It says cordless window coverings are the only way to eliminate that hazard. Grommet, rod-pocket and back-tab curtains on a fixed rod have no operating cords, which is one advantage over corded blinds. If you use a traverse rod or drapery with a continuous-loop cord, the CPSC recommends anchoring that cord to the floor or wall, and moving cribs, beds and furniture away from window covering cords.

When curtains are not the answer

Curtains cover symptoms. Fogging between double-pane glass, rotted sills, ice forming on the inside of windows or water stains below a frame point to failed seals, flashing or air leaks that a curtain cannot fix. Those are worth an evaluation of the window and wall assembly. Our structure and exterior hub explains which specialists handle windows, siding and moisture.

Buying a home along the Front Range and want the windows, frames and signs of moisture checked before closing? Reach out through our contact page to connect with a vetted local inspector.

References

• Window Covering Cords — U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Keep Warm and Safe This Winter: Tips for Using Generators, Furnaces and Space Heaters — U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Energy Saver Guide: Tips on Saving Money and Energy at Home — U.S. Department of Energy
• Interior Cellular Shades Boost Home Energy Performance — U.S. Department of Energy