The 9 Best Blackout Curtains, Tested and Reviewed
Whether you’re looking to get some rest during the day or create a cinema atmosphere for your room, blackout curtains can certainly help. Unlike regular curtains, blackout curtains completely block out light so your room can stay dark and cozy.
“Light is a signal our brain uses to ‘wake up,’” says sleep expert Avinesh Bhar, MD, MBA. “Most of us don’t need blackout curtains to maintain a sleep time at night. However, many people work shifts that may require them to sleep during daylight hours, which is when blackout curtains help. The blackout curtains help maintain our sleep without interruption of light waking us up earlier than expected.”
We tested 11 of the best blackout curtains, evaluating them on effectiveness, design, quality, and value. While coming up with our list, we also considered factors such as opacity, size, fabric, and heading type. For expert tips, we consulted Dr. Bhar as well as interior designer Anne Mahoney.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Better-Homes-Gardens-Solid-Woven-Textured-Grommet-Blackout-Curtain-Panel-74f736663e244465a619a17f66cfb66b.jpg)
-
They were a top performer in terms of effectiveness, design, quality, and value.
-
They’re sold individually and dry-clean only.
The Better Homes & Gardens blackout curtains earned the top spot on our list because they earned a perfect score for effectiveness, design, quality, and value. (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by Wade Review’s parent company, Dotdash Meredith.) We measured their blackout capacity by hanging them on our bedroom window that had a street lamp outside of it. We were in awe that these curtains blocked out all traces of the light, to the extent that we didn't see anything shining through.
What makes these curtains even more appealing is their price. We feel that you're really getting your money's worth because of how affordable they are per panel. And even though they're inexpensive, we still thought they were just as effective, if not more effective, than some of the other blackout curtains we tested. Over the last six months, we've been able to sleep in on weekends and not wake up with the early morning summer sun—they work like a charm.
With the exception of a textured design, the blackout curtains come with no extras, like a tie-back or curtain hooks. Also, colors and sizes are limited so you won’t be able to make a design statement with these curtains. You can only hang them via metal grommets at the top. It’s also worth noting that they are sold individually, so prepare to buy two if you have double windows to cover. Also, the panels are dry-clean only, which makes them more inconvenient to clean than machine-washable curtains.
Dimension: 50 by 108 inches, 50 by 63 inches, 50 by 84 inches, 50 by 95 inches | Material: Polyester, rayon | Hanging Style: Grommets | Number of Panels: 1
-
![A person opening up the Better Homes & Gardens Woven Textured Blackout Curtains.]()
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/rsp-blackout-curtains-shades-test-better-homes-gardens-solid-woven-textured-grommet-panel-mckenzie-rambush-03-fbe77de3f3d94b0eac7cdd3870a956d0.jpeg)
PHOTO: Wade Review / McKenzie Rambush
-
![The Better Homes & Gardens Woven Textured Blackout Curtains hanging over a window and open slightly in the middle.]()
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/rsp-blackout-curtains-shades-test-better-homes-gardens-solid-woven-textured-grommet-panel-mckenzie-rambush-01-b111fb1c90684cb885385add34bb4027.jpeg)
PHOTO: Wade Review / McKenzie Rambush
-
![The Better Homes & Gardens Woven Textured Blackout Curtains hanging up and fully closed.]()
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/rsp-blackout-curtains-shades-test-better-homes-gardens-solid-woven-textured-grommet-panel-mckenzie-rambush-02-e016a811a45d4651aa992b420a74a6fe.jpeg)
PHOTO: Wade Review / McKenzie Rambush
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/rsp-blackout-curtains-shades-test-better-homes-gardens-solid-woven-textured-grommet-panel-mckenzie-rambush-03-fbe77de3f3d94b0eac7cdd3870a956d0.jpeg)