Curtain heading tape is the woven band sewn along the top of a curtain that forms the pleats, carries the hooks and controls how the fabric gathers. Get the width right and the heading hangs full and even. Get it wrong and even premium fabric falls flat at the top of the drop.
The short answer, if you are deciding between sizes: 2 inch tape suits lighter fabrics, shorter drops and shallower headings, 3 inch tape is the workroom standard for most domestic pencil pleat curtains, and 6 inch tape produces the deep, structured heading that full-length and heavier curtains deserve. The longer answer depends on fullness ratio, fabric weight, heading style and the hooks you plan to use. This guide works through all of it, from what heading tape actually does to pairing tape with buckram and hooks, so your next roll is the right one first time.
What Curtain Heading Tape Actually Does
Heading tape is a stiffened, woven strip with rows of cord pockets and hook loops running along its length. Sewn across the reverse of the curtain top, it does three jobs at once.
First, it gathers. Pulling the cords draws the flat fabric into even pleats at the fullness the tape is designed to produce. Second, it carries the hooks that hang the curtain, spreading the load across the full width of the heading rather than concentrating it at a few stress points. Third, it gives the top edge structure, keeping pleats crisp and uniform through years of drawing open and closed.
Because one component controls gather, load and structure together, tape width has more influence on the finished curtain than almost anything else in the make-up. That is why the choice between 2 inch, 3 inch and 6 inch deserves more attention than it usually gets.
2 Inch vs 3 Inch vs 6 Inch: Fullness Ratios and Fabric Drop
Fullness ratio is the amount of flat fabric relative to the finished gathered width. A ratio of 2.0 means two widths of fabric are gathered into one width of heading. Deeper tapes support deeper, more generous pleats, and deeper pleats need more fabric to sit properly.
| Tape width | Typical fullness | Typical drops | Where it earns its keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2″ (50mm) | 1.75 to 2 times | Sill length and short drops | Lightweight fabrics, cafe curtains, dormer windows, valances and smaller windows |
| 3″ (75mm) | 2 to 2.25 times | Most domestic drops | The all-rounder for pencil pleat in cottons, polycottons and mid-weight fabrics |
| 6″ (150mm) | 2.25 to 2.5 times | Full length and floor to ceiling | Deep pencil pleat on heavier, lined and interlined curtains and taller windows |
As a rule, heading depth should sit in proportion to the drop. A 6 inch heading on a sill-length kitchen curtain looks top-heavy, while a 2 inch heading on a floor-length interlined pair looks mean and will struggle to control the weight. Our 3 inch tape range covers the broad middle ground, which is why it accounts for the bulk of workroom orders, while 6 inch tape with eight rows of cord pockets is the specification for a deep, evenly ribbed pencil pleat on full-length work. For narrow glazing, caravans, boats and lighter treatments, 2 inch tape keeps the heading in scale.
Which Tape for Pencil Pleat, Pinch Pleat, Eyelet and Wave
Heading style decides the tape before fabric does. Here is how the four most requested headings map to product.
| Heading style | What to use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pencil pleat | 3″ tape as standard, 6″ for deep headings | Corded tape forms the pleats; hang on R7 hooks |
| Pinch pleat | Pinch pleat buckram, hand or machine pleated | Tape gives a softer result; buckram with sewn-in hooks gives sharp, permanent pleats |
| Eyelet | Eyelet buckram, not gathering tape | Rings need a flat, stiffened band, so buckram replaces tape entirely |
| Wave | Dedicated wave tape | Forms a continuous S-curve on compatible tracks and poles |
Pencil pleat remains the volume heading in UK workrooms and is the natural home of corded tape. For pinch pleat, a tape can produce the look on lighter domestic work, but a professional double or triple pleat is built on pinch pleat buckram with hooks sewn through the layers. Eyelet headings take no gathering tape at all: the fabric must stay flat and rigid where the rings punch through, which is the job of eyelet buckram. If you are also weighing up ring materials, our guide to brass vs steel eyelets covers that decision in full. Wave headings use a purpose-made tape, such as 3 inch wave tape, that works with the glider spacing to throw the fabric into even ripples. For contract work in hotels, pubs and public buildings, specify 3 inch fire retardant tape so the heading matches the fire performance the contract demands.
Pairing Tape with Buckram
Tape and buckram are not rivals. They solve different problems and often appear on the same workroom order. Tape gathers and carries. Buckram stiffens. A pencil pleat curtain needs the gather, so it gets tape. A pinch pleat or goblet heading needs a rigid band that holds a folded shape, so it gets pinch pleat buckram. An eyelet curtain needs a reinforced strip that will not tear around a punched ring, so it gets eyelet buckram, fused or sewn in before the eyelets are pressed.
The practical rule: if the heading is formed by pulling cords, choose from the tapes range. If it is formed by folding, pressing or punching, choose from the buckram range. Roman blinds sit outside both, using Roman blind tape to form the rod pockets down the blind.
Matching Tape to Hooks: Microflex, R7 and Pin Hooks
The hook has to suit the heading, and the wrong one undoes careful tape selection.
R7 hooks are the standard partner for corded heading tapes. They clip into the woven loops on 2 inch, 3 inch and 6 inch tape and are quick to reposition when levelling a pair on site.
Microflex hooks are sewn into the heading and adjust in 5mm steps, which makes fine height adjustment simple after hanging. They are built for pinch pleat and goblet work, and for workrooms running automated pleating equipment they are the system hook for machine insertion.
Pin hooks push directly into a buckram heading, making them the usual choice for hand-pleated pinch pleat and for headings without woven loops.
Stock all three and you can hang any heading that leaves the workroom without improvising.
Corded vs Cordless Tape
Corded tape is the default. Pull the cords from one end, ease the gathers along, tie off and dress the pleats. It is fast, repeatable and easy to release again for cleaning or alteration.
Cordless tape has no draw cords and relies on the maker to form the pleats, usually by hand pleating and securing with sewn-in hooks. It suits workrooms that want complete control over pleat position, and headings where cords would be redundant.
For most pencil pleat production, corded wins on speed and consistency. Keep cordless in mind for bespoke pleat spacing and specialist headings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fullness ratio should I use for pencil pleat curtains?
Work to 2 to 2.5 times fullness. Lighter voiles sit at the top of the range because they need more fabric to look generous, while heavier interlined fabric can sit nearer 2 times. The tape gathers to the ratio you cut for, so the decision is made at the cutting table, not at the track.
Can I use 3 inch tape on full-length interlined curtains?
You can, but 6 inch tape will control the weight better and produce a deeper, more even pleat that suits a long drop. On interlined work the wider band also resists the sag that can appear between hooks on a narrower tape.
How much heading tape do I need per curtain?
Order the flat, ungathered width of each curtain plus around 10cm for turnings at each end. For production work, 50m rolls are more economical than cut lengths and reduce joins.
Do contract curtains need fire retardant tape?
If the curtain fabric must meet a fire performance specification, the heading tape should match it. Hotels, offices, pubs and public buildings routinely require flame retardant components throughout, so specify fire retardant tape at quoting stage rather than retrofitting.
Order Heading Tape for Your Workroom
Emmett Machinery stocks 2 inch, 3 inch and 6 inch heading tapes alongside the buckram and hooks to finish every heading style, in cut lengths for one-off makes and 50m rolls for production. Orders over £100 ship free, and next day delivery keeps the workroom moving. Shop the full tapes range online, or get in touch for trade quantities and bulk pricing. Newer to curtain making? Start with our five top tips for making your own curtains.