Four Poster Fitting Guide
Four poster bed curtains — also called canopy bed curtains, bed drapes or canopy bed covers — are fabric drapes that hang from the top rails of a four-poster bed frame. Originally designed to provide privacy, they are now more commonly used as a decorative addition that complements the bed frame and decorates your sleeping space.
Most four poster, 4 corner post and canopy beds are sold as a bare frame, with no curtains or drapes. To dress one, measure the outside of the top rails, choose canopy bed curtains whose ceiling is at least that size, and decide whether you want a tailored or a softly billowing look. Our box canopy bed curtains come in natural cotton, sheer polyester netting or pure silk, and tie, pin or drape straight onto the rails. They can also be suspended directly from the ceiling, either with or without a frame.
Before and After
A bare four poster bed.
Step 1 · Measure your bed frame
Bed sizes vary between makers, so measure the frame itself rather than going by the mattress size. You need three measurements:
- Length: outside edge to outside edge of the long top rails, head to foot.
- Width: outside edge to outside edge of the short top rails, side to side.
- Height: floor to the top of the rails.
Note: measure the top rails, because that is where the canopy attaches.
Step 2 · Compare with our canopy sizes
Choose the canopy whose ceiling length and width are both at least your rail measurements. If you plan to tie the canopy on, it can be up to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) smaller than the rails — tying gives a little more room than pinning.
| Canopy size | Ceiling L × W |
|---|---|
| Twin/Single | 83″ × 43″ (210 × 110 cm) |
| Full/Double | 83″ × 59″ (210 × 150 cm) |
| Queen | 86″ × 67″ (220 × 170 cm) |
| King/Cal King | 91″ × 79″ (230 × 200 cm) |
| Super King | 91″ × 98.5″ (230 × 250 cm) |
All sizes are 86 inches (220 cm) high.
Shop by size: Twin/Single · Full/Double · Queen · King/Cal King · Super King
Step 3 · Choose your look
- Tailored: choose the size closest to your top rail measurements and tie, pin taut or drape directly over for a clean style with a flat canopy top.
- Billowing: select a few inches larger, or up a size, and tie it on. The extra fabric gathers softly into the corners for a fuller, romantic drape, and the ceiling of the canopy will have soft billows.
A larger canopy is never wasted — it is a style choice. A canopy smaller than your bed rails will not fit.
If unsure, contact us with your enquiry and an image of your bed.
Shop by fabric: Natural 100% cotton · Sheer polyester · Pure silk
Step 4 · Check the height
Our canopies are all 86 inches (220 cm) high.
On a frame lower than 86 inches the extra length drapes on the floor; you can also gather the curtains with the long fabric ties or your own decorative tiebacks. On a frame taller than 86 inches the curtains finish above the floor.
Step 5 · Tie, pin, drape or suspend
Tying
Lay the canopy on the bed, tie the ceiling ties around the top rails, gather any extra fabric into the corners, and tie each corner to its post with the long fabric ties or your own tiebacks. Looks great on timber and metal frames.
Pinning
Mark the midpoint of each top rail and of each side of the canopy ceiling using a pen. Pin the midpoints of the canopy to the midpoints of the top rails, then pin outwards towards the corners, stretching the ceiling taut and gathering excess fabric into the corners. Best on timber rails and for the tailored look. Thumbtacks or upholstery pins placed through the reinforced fabric hems and pinned onto the top face of the rails do minimal damage to either the canopy or the bed frame. Pinning on metal frames is not possible.
Draping
Invert the box-shaped canopy directly over the top rails of the bed, gather the drapes into each corner and tie them around the corner posts.
Suspending
No poster bed, or a bed frame that doesn't suit? Hang the canopy directly from the ceiling with 4 or 6 hooks, or from a suspended curtain rod, timber or bamboo frame using four ceiling hooks — one above each corner. If you hang it without a frame and want a level canopy ceiling, add two extra hooks at the midpoint of each long side. Adjust the height up or down with cord or string until the ceiling is level and the drapes finish where you want. Rods, frames and hooks aren't included.
Suspended from four ceiling points — suits beds without posts.
Bamboo or timber frame
DIY curtain rod frame
Ready to choose? See all our four poster bed curtains in each size and fabric.
Why our canopy bed curtains cost more than a budget set
Search for four poster bed curtains and you'll see sets from under $20. Here's what the difference buys:
- Made to fit real poster beds: five sizes, each 86 inches (220 cm) high.
- Real canopies: complete canopies with ceiling and sides.
- Better fabrics: natural 100% cotton with our exclusive run-proof weave, sheer polyester trimmed with micro fibre, or 100% silk bed canopies.
- Finished properly: fully hemmed, with ceiling, ceiling ties and long corner ties included — tie or pin straight onto the rails.
- Built to last: the same canopies hang in boutique resorts in thirteen countries, washed and used season after season.
- Designed by us since 1995: a family business, not mass produced and not sold on Amazon or Temu. Free US shipping from North Carolina.
Beds our canopies fit
Our box canopy bed curtains are made for four poster and canopy bed frames, including popular beds from:
Pottery Barn · Crate & Barrel · Anthropologie · Serena & Lily · McGee & Co · Pier 1 · Design Within Reach · IKEA · Zinus · DHP · Novogratz · Walker Edison · King Living · Temple & Webster · Harvey Norman
…and every common four poster style:
- Slim metal canopy frames — black, white or gold
- Square-post timber four poster beds
- Carved and turned traditional poster beds
- Painted and whitewashed poster beds
- Brass and iron poster beds
- Antique and reproduction four posters
Remember to measure your bed's top rails and choose your size from the chart — bed sizes vary between makers and models.
Brand names are used only to describe compatibility.
Bed not listed? Send us your bed measurements and a photo through our Contact Us page and we will recommend a size.
Frequently asked questions
What size canopy bed curtains do I need for a four poster bed?
Measure the outside of your bed's top rails, length and width, and choose canopy bed curtains whose ceiling is at least that size. Our ceilings are 83″ × 43″ (Twin/Single), 83″ × 59″ (Full/Double), 86″ × 67″ (Queen), 91″ × 79″ (King/Cal King) and 91″ × 98.5″ (Super King). If you tie the canopy on, it can be about 1 inch smaller than the rails.
What size canopy curtains do I need for a full size canopy bed frame?
Full size poster frames are typically around 57″ wide and 80″ long outside the rails. Our Full/Double canopy (83″ × 59″) fits frames up to 59″ wide; if your frame is wider, or you want a fuller drape, choose the Queen (86″ × 67″).
Is there a canopy bed curtain size chart?
Yes — the size chart on this page lists every canopy's ceiling length and width in inches and centimetres. Every size is 86 inches (220 cm) high.
Will canopy bed curtains fit a king four poster bed?
King poster frames vary from about 78″ to over 81″ wide outside the rails. Our King/Cal King canopy (91″ × 79″) fits frames up to 79″ wide, or about 80″ when tied. For wider King frames, or a billowing look, choose the Super King (91″ × 98.5″).
Can I use canopy bed curtains on a metal canopy bed frame?
Yes. Tie the canopy around the metal rails using its ceiling ties, then tie each corner to the post. Tying works on any rail shape and leaves no marks.
Do four poster beds come with curtains?
Usually not. Most four poster and canopy beds are sold as a bare frame so you can choose your own fabric and style, and the curtains are bought separately. Our canopy bed curtains are made to fit those frames, in natural cotton, sheer polyester netting or pure silk.
What are the curtains on a four poster bed called?
They are called bed curtains, canopy bed curtains or bed drapes, and sometimes canopy bed covers. On a traditional bed the fabric across the top is the canopy or tester, the side panels are the curtains, and a short gathered panel around the top edge is the valance. Our box canopies combine the top and all four sides in one piece.
What kind of curtains do you use for a canopy bed?
Lightweight, sheer fabrics drape best and let light and air through: natural cotton for a soft, relaxed look, sheer polyester for a romantic and tropical look, or pure silk for a luxurious finish.
Why do four poster beds have curtains?
Historically, bed curtains kept sleepers warm and gave privacy in large, draughty rooms. Today they are mainly decorative: they soften the frame, make the bed the focal point of the room and create a cosy, enclosed feel.
Where can I buy curtains for a four poster bed?
CanopyBedCurtain.com has made canopy bed curtains for four poster beds since 1995, in five sizes from Twin/Single to Super King, with free shipping within the USA from our North Carolina warehouse.
Last reviewed: October 2026