How to Install a Shower Curtain

Co-authored by Eric Shipe and Amber Crain

Last Updated: January 7, 2023

Installing a shower curtain in your bathroom is a simple procedure that you can accomplish easily in less than an hour. There are many types of shower curtain rods and shower curtains out there, but are 2 basic rod types - tension rods and mounted rods. If you are working with an atypical space, you may need to tweak the instructions to suit your specific needs.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Measuring Your Installation Height

1
Check the length of your shower curtain. If it’s new, the curtain’s length will be listed on the packaging. Otherwise, you’ll need to measure it yourself using a tape measure. The standard shower curtain size is 74 inches x 74 inches – a perfect square.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.}
2
Measure your space to ensure the curtain will hang properly. There should be 2 inches of space between the floor and the shower curtain. To effectively contain moisture, the curtain needs to hang at least 5 inches below the edge of the bathtub.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.}
- The two inches of space between the curtain and floor prevents the bottom of the curtain from collecting too much moisture and dirt.
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3
Add approximately 4 inches onto the curtain’s length. This will give you a rough installation height for the curtain rod. You may need to adjust up or down slightly to meet your individual needs, but in general adding 4 inches onto the curtain length should give you a proper placement.
4
Use a tape measure to measure and mark the installation height. Determine the spot on each shower wall where the rod should be suspended by using a tape measure. Mark the spot on each side by making a small dot with a sharpie. These dots are where the ends of the rod will be placed.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.}

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Installing a Tension Rod

1
Increase the rod’s length by twisting counterclockwise. Tension rods are made of two interlocking shafts. Find the point where the two shafts fit together and place one hand on either side of this point. Twist counterclockwise to lengthen the rod.
- A tension rod is not fixed permanently to the walls. It is held in place by a strong spring inside the rod, which applies enough pressure on the walls to hold it in place.^{[4]
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- Twisting clockwise will shorten the curtain rod.
2
Expand the rod until both ends are fixed in the marked location. Continue expanding the length of the rod by twisting counterclockwise until both ends meet the shower wall. Adjust the placement of the ends until they are exactly where you want them. Then expand the rod a little more until the tension creates a stable hold on both sides of the shower.
- In general, tension rods can be adjusted to fit the width of most spaces without requiring any measurement beforehand.^{[5]
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- If you do want to measure beforehand, the rod’s final length should be approximately 1 inch longer than the space it will occupy to maintain a snug fit.
3
Confirm the rod is suitable for the space by testing the tension. Double check the tension by twisting clockwise to shorten the rod back into its original position, then repeat the process again. Confirm that the rod feels firmly affixed in place after repeating the process.
- The more you have to lengthen the tension rod to fit in place, the less stable its hold will be.
- If your rod is unable to maintain a strong hold, you probably need to get a longer tension rod.
4
Use a level to make sure the rod is perfectly straight. Take a level and hold it horizontally. Place the flat top of the level directly against the rod in the center. The tiny bubble will tell you if the rod is straight or crook.
- Tweak slightly to make it straight, if necessary.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Installing a Mounted Rod

1
Check your hardware. Shower curtain rods meant to be permanently affixed to opposing walls will come with accompanying hardware. Every kit is different, but in general you should have 2 brackets and at least 8 screws to keep the brackets on the wall.
2
Drill each bracket into the wall. After measuring and marking your installation height, follow the specific installation instructions that came with your rod to mount the brackets. In most cases, you’ll be using a drill to mount the brackets in the pre-measured spaces.
- If you have dry wall you will need to use anchors with your brackets.
- Learn more about using dry wall anchors here.
3
Fit each end of the rod into the brackets. Once in place, make sure that your hardware is firmly installed and holding the rod securely before attempting to hang the curtain and liner. If any screws are loose, use your drill to tighten them to the wall.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Hanging the Shower Curtain and Liner

1
Place your shower curtain hooks on the rod. The standard number of shower curtain hooks needed is 12 and they are generally sold in sets by the dozen for convenience. If you’re using hooks that have some sort of decoration or embellishment, make sure the decoration side is facing out into the bathroom, not inward facing the shower.
- These also come in ring form. The rings snap open and closed easily. Unsnap to open them, hang them on the rod, but do not snap them closed them yet.
- Once you have the hooks/rings on the rod, make sure that they fit properly and slide easily along the curtain rod.
- Most come in standard sizes that fit most curtain holes and rods, but if you’re using hooks/rings that are very large or very small, you may want to measure the size of the holes before you buy rings to make sure they will fit.^{[6]
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2
Line up the left edge of your liner and your curtain. Make sure the curtain is on top of the liner, closest to you. The liner will go beneath it. Find the holes on the top left edge of both pieces and line the holes up so that one ring can pass through both holes.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.}
- Liners are usually clear plastic and they act as a barrier between the shower and the curtain.
- Liners aren’t required, but they are practical and commonly used, especially with shower curtains that are made of fabric that isn’t waterproof.
3
Thread the shower curtain hooks/rings through the curtain and liner. Starting from the left side, thread one ring through the holes of both the curtain and the liner. Then move on to the next hole, repeating the same process. Continue threading until all 12 rings have been threaded through all 12 holes.
- If you are using curtain rings, snap each ring closed after you thread it through.
- Double check that the liner is on the wet side of the shower and the curtain is on the dry side, facing out into the bathroom.
4
Confirm that the rod is sturdy and the curtain slides easily. Arrange the curtain and liner as you normally would, and take a close look. Is the rod easily supporting their weight? Give a little tug, if necessary, to test the tension. Then slide the curtain open, testing that the hooks/rings move easily down the rod.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.}
- If the rod cannot support the weight, you may need to get a longer or more sturdily built tension rod.
- If the curtain and liner aren’t sliding easily down the rod, you may need bigger hooks/rings to properly fit the rod.

Expert Q&A

Question

Does the shower curtain rod go inside the tub?

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Owner of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. Eric and his team specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. They serve homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors with a refined process, creative ideas, 4K photo-realistic renderings, and 360 Panoramic views. Bath + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2017-2020. Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College.

Eric Shipe

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

It can, if you want. Your shower curtain can go over the inside of the tub, the outside edge, the curb, or outside the curb.
Question

How do I know where to put my shower curtain?

Eric Shipe
Home Improvement Specialist
Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Owner of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. Eric and his team specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. They serve homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors with a refined process, creative ideas, 4K photo-realistic renderings, and 360 Panoramic views. Bath + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2017-2020. Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College.

Eric Shipe

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

Measure the height of your shower curtain first—this is a great way to make sure your shower curtain rod is placed at the right height.
Question

What side do the suction anchors that are on the sides of the shower curtain face, inside or out? They are on the same side as the unfinished hem.

Mo.mow.mo.money

Community Answer

They face the inside of the tub, as the plastic part (liner) of the curtain goes on the inside of the tub, so the suction cups keep the liner from moving about as you shower.