It’s a well-known scientific fact that the darker your bedroom, the better your sleep quality, leading to improved physical and mental health. If a streetlight is keeping you up at night, or you’re a shift worker who needs to sleep during the day, consider investing in some blackout curtains.
We tested a range of blackout curtains from leading home retailers - including John Lewis, Next and Wayfair - to find the best on the market. These all passed our stringent tests:
- Best pencil pleat blackout curtains: John Lewis & Partners Barathea Pair Blackout Lined Pencil Pleat Curtains
- Best eyelet blackout curtains: Next Cotton Curtains Eyelet Blackout/Thermal
- Best value for money: Asda George Home Hidden Tab Top Blackout Curtains
- Runner-up eyelet blackout curtains: Wilko Eclipse Eyelet Blackout Curtains
- Runner-up pencil pleat blackout curtains: Marks & Spencer Thermal Pencil Pleat Blackout Curtains
- Best for ease of hanging: Wayfair Eclipse Eyelet Blackout Thermal Curtains
- Best colour and size selection: Dunelm Solar Blackout Pencil Pleat Curtains
- Best guarantee: Argos Home Blackout Eyelet Curtains
Why is it better to sleep in the dark?
It’s all to do with your circadian rhythm, also known as your body clock, which follows nature’s day/night cycle. Once it starts to get dark, your body starts secreting more of a hormone called melatonin, which makes you feel sleepy.
When the sun comes up, exposing us to daylight, our melatonin levels fall and we wake up. If your bedroom isn’t dark enough for melatonin production to ramp up, you may struggle to fall or stay asleep.
What should I look for when buying blackout curtains?
Fabric
The best blackout curtains are made from densely woven fabric, such as thick cotton or polyester, that won’t let light through its fibres. Look for a poly/cotton lining that’s been coated in acrylic to make it more effective at light-blocking and noise reduction. If you want to keep your room well-insulated (cool in summer and warm in winter), look for an additional thermal layer.
Size
Most brands will be able to advise on how to measure up for their blackout curtains, which are hung like regular curtains. If in doubt, measure the width of your curtain pole and add a couple of inches to allow for some overlap when drawn. Length-wise, measure from a few inches above your curtain pole to the floor, or wherever you want them to finish.
Colour
Many people wrongly assume that blackout curtains need to be black, navy or another dark colour. If they’re made well, the colour shouldn’t matter, as it’s the fabric and lining that does the light-blocking leg work. You’ll find lighter and brighter colours in most ranges today, from ivory to pink.
Heading
Most blackout curtains have either pencil pleat or eyelet headings, which determine how they are hung. Pencil pleats are the most traditional heading. They can hook onto a curtain pole or track and look like slim pencils in a row. Modern eyelets slip onto a curtain pole, but they can’t be used on a track. For the best blackout results, fit pencil pleat curtains as close to the wall as you can, and ideally floor to ceiling. Make sure the grommets (or eyelet rings) of eyelet curtains aren’t too big for your pole.
Price
Don’t scrimp on quality, as thin blackout curtains won’t darken your bedroom enough to make a difference. Luckily, there are plenty of thick, trusty pairs on our list that do their main job brilliantly, for an affordable price. The below blackout curtains start from just £20, but you will obviously need to pay more to cover bigger windows.
How we test
Our three testers trialled the same 10 blackout curtains at home, on the same window for fairness. Each pair was rigorously judged on its light-blocking performance first and foremost, with its warmth retention and ability to reduce external noise also considered. Our panel assessed the thickness, feel, appearance and scent of each set and noted how easy they were to hang and draw.
1
Best pencil pleat blackout curtains
John Lewis & Partners Barathea Blackout Pencil Pleat Curtains
These pencil pleat blackout curtains were the only pair to score top marks for their luxurious feel. Reassuringly thick and heavy, they come in 10 colours and are available in 10 sizes, meaning you’re likely to find a pair to fit your window.
They didn’t have an unpleasant scent, unlike most other sets we tried, and the supplied instructions on how to adjust the heading tape proved clear and easy to follow. Though dry clean only, they blocked all light out brilliantly and were the joint best noise reducers too, which city dwellers will appreciate.
Key specifications
Material: Polyester
Heading: Pencil pleat
Sizes: 10
Colours: 10
Price per pair: £45 to £145
2
Best eyelet blackout curtains
Next Cotton Curtains Eyelet Blackout/Thermal
Now 30% Off
Next has a generous choice of colour options with 20 hues to browse, including blush, sage and mustard. Made from 100% cotton with a contemporary eyelet heading, these blackout curtains were the best on test for retaining warmth in the bedroom, and the joint best at reducing noise.
The acrylic-coated lining kept all light at bay, but it carried that tell-tale plasticky scent for the first few days. They were easy to hang and draw, thanks partly to an included leaflet of helpful tips, and they can withstand the washing machine and tumble dryer.
Key specifications
Material: Cotton
Heading: Eyelet
Sizes: 10
Colours: 20
Price per pair: £45 to £95
If you’re on a budget, look to these blackout curtains, which offer surprisingly good thickness and quality for their price. If you like the ease of an eyelet heading but want a sleeker look, you’ll be a fan of the hidden tab top design.
The eight-colour range covers all bases, but the sizes are limited and the biggest only comes in one colour. They can be machine washed, but not tumble dried or ironed. They’re solid all-round performers, making our bedrooms noticeably darker, and they come with a 100-day satisfaction guarantee.
Key specifications
Material: Polyester
Heading: Hidden tab top
Sizes: 4
Colours: 8
Price per pair: £30 to £60
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4
Runner-up eyelet blackout curtains
Wilko Eclipse Eyelet Blackout Curtains
Though a tad too thin and lightweight for our liking, these eyelet blackout curtains blocked out daylight well. They were creased upon arrival, but straightened themselves out fairly quickly after a few days on our curtain poles.
We found them simple to hang and you can pop them in the washing machine, but note that they are line dry only. There are six colours available, including this trendy mustard, but they only come in three sizes.
Key specifications
Material: Polyester
Heading: Eyelet
Sizes: 3
Colours: 6
Price per pair: £30 to £50
5
Runner-up pencil pleat blackout curtains
Marks & Spencer Thermal Pencil Pleat Blackout Curtains
Now 20% Off
These pencil pleat blackout curtains arrived carefully packaged in a big enough bag to limit creasing. They’re thick and weighty, which further straightened them out when hanging, with an overall premium feel.
We like that they’re 62% cotton, but it’s a shame that they’re dry clean only. There’s some handy guidance on the back of the pack and it’s helpful that you can order fabric samples online before you buy. There are nine sizes available but only three colours - navy, blush and duck egg.
Key specifications
Material: Cotton and polyester
Heading: Pencil pleat
Sizes: 9
Colours: 3
Price per pair: £39.50 to £99
We like the choice of colours that these eyelet blackout curtains come in, including pink and denim blue, and there are a decent eight sizes available too. They blocked out light well, proved a doddle to hang and draw, and they’re machine washable at a low temperature.
They did pick up a lot of creases during transit though and they lack that quality feel, but their price feels very reasonable. Buyers who are watching their purse strings will find them good value for money.
Key specifications
Material: Polyester
Heading: Eyelet
Sizes: 8
Colours: 8
Price per pair: £24.99 to £59.99
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If you’re struggling to find practical blackout curtains that also suit your interiors taste, try Dunelm. There are 20 colours on offer, in 14 sizes, so you’re bound to find a pair that you like.
They block out residual noise as well as light, but don’t expect them to feel especially luxurious. They’re dry clean only and instructions on how to gather the pleat wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Key specifications
Material: Polyester
Heading: Pencil pleat
Sizes: 14
Colours: 20
Price per pair: £30 to £110
Argos is the only brand we tried that offers a full year guarantee on its blackout curtains. Made from a poly/cotton blend, with an eyelet heading, they effectively blocked out light from our bedrooms and were easy to hang and draw.
They aren’t luxurious, being on the thin side, and they were the most creased upon taking them out of their packaging. But that said, they’ll get the job done at a great price, and there are 10 colours and five sizes available.
Key specifications
Material: Cotton and polyester
Heading: Eyelet
Sizes: 5
Colours: 10
Price per pair: £20 to £50
