The Best Thermal Curtains To Add Your Home This Winter

Making your home energy efficient is never an easy feat, especially during summer and winter. Instead of blasting air conditioning or cranking up the thermostat, your curtain can actually make a difference in your home temperature. Many people seek a thermal curtain to keep home more energy efficient and help you save money on your electric bill while adding style to your home window treatments.

In this guide to thermal curtains, we'll break down everything you need to know about these insulating— and often light-blocking— drapes. Then, we'll highlight a few of the best thermal curtain styles on the market today, including some great light-blocking and noise-reducing options.

What are thermal curtains?

Thermal curtains, often called insulated curtains, are made using fabric that helps regulate heat, block light, and reduce noise. A properly fitted insulating curtain can help to reduce heat loss by as much as 25%, making them an excellent option for the winter!

Typically thermal curtains are constructed with two to four layers of drapes, with most thermal curtains made up of three layers. The first layer is usually a decorative fabric that faces inside your home. It is usually made of thermally resistant material like cotton, linen, polyester, wool, or silk that gives you a style of naturally flowing curtains feel. A middle layer is made up of thermal resistant material like thick cotton batting, flannel, and foam to keep cold air out and warm air in. And the third layer is a lining that protects the inner layer from sunlight. Some curtains offer the fourth layer as a vapor barrier.

Thermal curtains work by trapping cold air between the window and the curtain, keeping it from spreading throughout the room. While they can't keep the cold out entirely, they can help minimize cold drafts and cut down your heating bill.

Are blackout and thermal curtains the same?

Though they have similar appearances and characteristics, thermal curtains and blackout curtains serve two different purposes. While thermal curtains are designed to keep cold air out and provide thermal insulation for your windows, blackout curtains are designed to block out light with blackout technology. Thanks to their insulating fabrics, many thermal curtains help block light and noise too.

The 16 Best Thermal Curtains

Now that you know what to look for let's highlight a few of the best thermal curtains on the market today. Before shopping, you'll want to measure your window frame to ensure you purchase the right size. To ensure ample coverage and fullness, your curtains shoulder measure around 2-3 times the width of the window. You may need two curtain panels for more oversized windows and doors for adequate coverage.

Thermalogic Weathermate is one of the best thermal curtains you can get for your home. The elegant and energy-efficient curtains are lined with Thermafoam that will help keep warm air and cool air from escaping. Light filtering and sound dampening will help eliminate reflection to TV and protect your furniture from sun fading. Made from 100% cotton face and 100% acrylic back, this curtain is a must-have.

Features

• Thermal
• Sound Dampening
• Light Filtration: Light filtering
• Material: Face is 100% cotton; back is 100% acrylic
• Cleaning Method: Machine wash, dry flat

Alcott Hill's Scarsdale Blackout Thermal Curtains are undoubtedly some of the best thermal curtains out there. The versatile curtains come in six sizes and seventeen color options to accommodate every window size and home decor style. The innovative fabric construction helps to block light, reduce noise, and trap heat without any stiffness or bulk. Sturdy grommets along the top slip easily onto most standard curtain rods. And unlike many curtains, they can be machine washed and tumble dried for easy cleaning.

Features

• Thermal
• Noise reduction
• Light Filtration: Blackout
• Material: Polyester
• Cleaning Method: Tumble dry; Machine washable

Sticking to a tight budget? These Room-Darkening Thermal Curtains from Wayfair Basics should do just the trick! The affordable thermal curtains come in thirteen sizes and thirty-eight color options to complement any living space. They're made with machine-washable polyester fabric that's incredibly effective at blocking light, reducing noise, and keeping out cold drafts. A convenient grommet header slides easily over any curtain rod for a stylish pleated look.

Features

• Thermal
• Noise-reducing
• Light Filtration: Room Darkening
• Material: Polyester
• Cleaning Method: Machine washable

Tokyo Long Co.'s Sliding Door Thermal Curtains are a great way to keep cold weather from seeping through the cracks of your sliding door. They're cut from linen fabric with a polyester lining that keeps out 100% of sunlight and UV rays. The light-reflecting design helps minimize energy costs by regulating temperature on hot summer afternoons and cold winter nights. When they're ready for a wash, just toss them in any standard washing machine, tumble dry, and they're ready to hang.

Features

• Thermal
• Noise-reducing
• Light Filtration: Blackout
• Material: Linen
• Cleaning Method: Machine washable

Round out your bedroom room decor with these Bingaman Blackout Thermal Curtains from Wrought Studios. Thanks to a grommet top design and handy tiebacks, it's easy to let light in and out as you please. Tie them back to take in some morning sunshine or pull them closed to enjoy total darkness during a mid-day nap. In addition to blocking cold drafts, they'll help reduce noise and keep out light too. The pair of 54-inch wide curtain panels come in three lengths and twelve rich color options.

Features

• Thermal
• Noise-reducing
• Light Filtration: Blackout
• Material: Polyester
• Cleaning Method: Machine washable

Get your best sleep ever with these Belknap Velvet Room-Darkening Thermal Curtains from Mercer41. The luxe polyester curtains block out icy air, bright light, and sound to create an ambient sleeping environment any day, any time. Plus, they launder easily in your washing machine. The solid-colored velvet panels come in thirteen luxurious shades, including blush pink, plum, slate blue, navy, and more. With a wide range of sizes to choose from, it's easy to find a pair for every one of your bedroom windows.

Features

• Thermal
• Noise-reducing
• Light Filtration: room darkening
• Material: Velvet, polyester
• Cleaning Method: Machine washable, hang to dry

Keep a light, luxury feel with these Emery Linen Blackout Curtain from Pottery Barn. The blackout curtain is made of a 73% linen and 27% cotton blend with flax fiber imported from France with an optional 100% cotton blackout liner. The weave of the natural yarn-dyed fiber creates dimensional highs and lows for added depth, while the blackout liner provides enhanced light filtration. As a feel-good, these curtains are made in a Fair Trade Certified factory that supports fair and safe labor practices.

Features

• Thermal
• Light Filtration: blackout
• Material: 73% linen and 27% cotton blend with flax fiber

If you are looking for well-insulated curtains, then you must check out these Nicetown's Thermal Curtains. These curtains are energy smart, offer blackout fabric, impede 85%-99% light and UV rays, and are noise-reducing. Featuring triple weave technology and black yarn layer sandwiched in between insulating heavy microfiber layers, perfect for both winter cold and summer heat.

Features

• Thermal
• Noise-reducing
• Material: Polyester, Polyester Blend
• Cleaning Method: Machine washable in cold water, tumble dry

They're sewn from richly-textured European flax linen and washed for a soft, lived-in look. The all-natural fabric is opaque enough to subdue sunlight and increase privacy on its own, but West Elm still offers an additional blackout liner. Each panel boasts a dual top treatment with a pole pocket for a scrunched look and hidden tabs for a pleated effect. The 48-inch panels come in three length options and can be purchased individually or in sets of two.

Features

• Thermal
• Material: European flax linen
• Available with blackout lining (sold separately)

When it comes to curtains, few fabrics feel more luxurious than silk. These Pottery Barn Dupioni Silk Thermal Curtains are made with gorgeous yarn-dyed 100% dupioni silk with an optional polyester lining to block out light and cold air. Convenient 3-in-1 construction allows them to hang from the rod pocket or convert to a ring-top style using the drapery hooks included. Choose from three sophisticated neutral color options: ivory, brownstone, and platinum grey. They're sold as individual panels, so be sure to order two for large windows and doors.

Features

• Thermal
• Material: 100% dupioni silk, 100% polyester black-out liner.
• Available with blackout lining (sold separately)

Create a peaceful bedroom oasis with these Pottery Barn Peace & Quiet Noise-Reducing Blackout Curtains. They're made using dense polyester fabric with a 100% acrylic coating that helps to keep out noise, light, and cold air for your best sleep ever. The versatile curtains are sewn in a Fair Trade Certified factory supporting fair wages and safe working conditions. Each 50-inch wide panel comes in three lengths and four color options: gray, dark flax, light gray, and chambray. Don't underestimate the light shades. They're still incredibly effective at blocking out the light!

Features

• Thermal
• Block sunlight
• Material: 100% polyester with 100% acrylic coating
• Cleaning Method: Machine wash
• Made in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory

Add drama to your windows with these CB2 Velvet Curtain Panels from CB2. While many velvet curtains are made from cheap polyester fabrics, the richly-textured velvet fabric is made from 100% cotton. In addition to adding style, the lush fabric helps reduce sound, lock in heat, and darken the room. A simple back tab header accommodates almost any standard curtain rod. Choose from four lengths and nine sophisticated shades, including copper, dusty orchid, wine red, and midnight blue. No matter what color you choose, it's sure to look chic.

Features

• Thermal
• Blackout
• Reduce sound
• Material: 100% cotton
• Cleaning Method: Dry clean only

Struggling to find curtains with the right dimensions? With endless lengths and widths to choose from, these Pottery Barn Belgian Flax Blackout Curtains make a suitable choice for any window. They're cut from richly-textured Belgian flax linen with an enzyme wash for a worn-in look and feel. Unlike some synthetic fabrics, the natural linen textile is durable, breathable, and allergen-free. A built-in blackout liner keeps out sunlight and offers more privacy than standard curtains. The convertible header provides three easy hanging options: hanging loops, pole pocket, and ring top.

Features

• Thermal
• Blackout
• Allergen-free
• Material: 100% Belgian flax linen; Blackout liner is 100% polyester
• Cleaning Method: Dry clean only

Add privacy to your covered outdoor space with these Denton Cabana Indoor-Outdoor Blackout Curtains from Beachcrest Home. They're made using water-repellent, mildew-resistant fabric that can be used inside your sun porch or outside on your deck or poolside cabana. The heavy fabric blocks light and drafts to keep you comfortable during an afternoon catnap or late-night movie. Matte silver grommets along the top make for easy hanging on any standard curtain rod. For proper fullness and coverage, the panels should measure around 2-3 times the width of the window.

Features

• Thermal
• Light Filtration: Room Darkening
• Material: Polyester
• Cleaning Method: Dry clean only

Add texture to your living space with these Kordell Wyckoff Blackout Insulated Curtains from Corrigan Studios. The polyester fabric boasts a gorgeous two-tone woven texture for a rich hand and luxurious drape. They're light-blocking, heat-retaining, noise-reducing, making them a practical choice for any bedroom, living room, gaming room, or nursery. They're sold in sets of two panels and available in four versatile lengths. Choose from five stylish colors: indigo, smoke, spa, spice, and taupe.

Features

• Thermal
• Light Filtration: Blackout
• Material: Polyester
• Cleaning Method:  Machine washable

Bring a touch of style to your space with these Turion Floral Thermal Curtains from Nicole Miller. The light-blocking, insulating polyester fabric boasts a delicate floral print that isn't overly distracting in small spaces. Eight brushed nickel grommets slide right over most standard curtain rods. Each pair of 52-inch wide panels is available in four lengths to fit a range of windows. The dainty floral print comes in eight neutral color options, including linen, chambray blue, and dove grey.

Features

• Thermal
• Light Filtration: Blackout
• Material: Polyester
• Cleaning Method: Handwash only

How To Pick The Best Thermal Curtains

Machine Washable

To keep your thermal curtains clean, it may be best to seek one that is machine washable. Most thermal curtains nowadays on the market can be machine wash on cold, gentle cycles. Otherwise, thermal curtains can be hand washed in cold water. Be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions before purchasing.

Number of layers

Thermal curtains can range from two to four layers of materials. Each layer offers a different function and is designed to provide thermal resistance and prevent thermal transmittance conductivity. Depending on your need, you may want to go for two layers. It is more budget-friendly than four layers that offer an insulation and blackout option. Single layers are available on the market, but they won't provide you with sufficient insulation.

Type of Material

Material plays an important factor when it comes to purchasing thermal curtains.

For good value, there are multiple materials that can be used for lining thermal curtains while acting as blackout lining.

For styling, it is worthy of purchasing one that provides an additional layer that provides you with the design you are looking for to fit your home style.

Proper Fit

To fully benefit from thermal curtains is to make sure you choose one that fits properly. There are multiple types of header styles that you can choose from, and each offers its own benefits besides fitting with the look you are trying to create.

Rod Pocket

This type of header allows the most versatility as you can add your own rings for a personal touch. It offers a casual and simple look.

Grommet

Grommet is one of the most common styles as it allows opening and closing the curtain to be more convenient.

Tab Top

This style is most popular in farmhouse style as it features exposed loops on the fabric that are drowned through a curtain rod.

Pinch Pleat

This type of curtain draws together a lot of the fabric for a fuller. It is typically tightly bound and stitched at the top, and the curtain fabric contains elegant folds flowing down.

Not sure how to measure your window? Learn how to choose the right curtain lengths and widths for your window.