coastal
What Goes Into a Custom Drapery Quote
Drapery pricing online is mostly contradictory tables on sites that have never measured a window. Here is how the number is actually built.
A drapery quote is built from 4 things: fabric, fabrication, hardware, and measure and install. The header style drives most of it, because it sets both the fullness, which decides yardage, and the sewing labour. Lining is the other lever, and on a coastal window it is not optional.
Search this question and most of page 1 is auto-generated cost tables that contradict each other, often on the same website. So here is how a workroom that measures, sews and installs actually builds the number.
On pricing. We do not publish price lists, because no 2 windows are the same job. Drop, width, header, lining, hardware and the state of the wall all move the number, and a measurement taken from a plan will not catch any of it. What follows is what the quote is made of. Send photos and rough dimensions and we will come back with a figure for your windows.
The 4 parts of a drapery quote
Every quote is the same 4 components. Any quote that does not separate them is hiding something.
- Fabric. Yardage times price per yard, driven by drop, width and fullness.
- Fabrication. The sewing labour, driven by header style, lining and detail.
- Hardware. Rod or track, brackets, rings, finials, or a motorised system.
- Measure and install. On-site work at both ends.
Cost by header style
The header is the single biggest driver, because it sets both the fullness and the labour.
| Header style | Fullness | Fabrication labour | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat panel | Minimal | Lowest | Simplest construction, decorative rather than functional |
| Sheer panel | Moderate | Low to medium | Light fabric, but delicate to handle and hem |
| Pinch pleat | 2 to 2.5 times | High | Every pleat is sewn in individually |
| Ripple fold | 2 to 2.5 times | High | Even wave, requires a compatible track system |
| Layered or interlined | Highest | Highest | Multiple fabrics and linings assembled together |
Fullness is the part people miss. A 2.5 times fullness pinch pleat on a wide window needs 2.5 times the window width in fabric before hems and returns. That is why 1 wide window can cost more than 2 narrow ones.
Fabric and lining
Yardage depends on drop, width, fullness and pattern repeat, and it multiplies whatever the fabric costs per yard. Mid-range goods, luxury weaves and designer books are separated by a wide margin, and on a tall window that margin gets multiplied several times over.
Lining is not optional here, and it is where a lot of value sits.
- Standard lining. Protects the face fabric, improves drape, evens out how the window reads from the street.
- Blackout lining. Bedrooms, media rooms and anywhere on the east side of a coastal house.
- Interlining, the extra layer between face fabric and lining. Adds weight, body and insulation, and makes inexpensive fabric hang like expensive fabric. It is the upgrade most worth taking.
Hardware
| Hardware | Relative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic rod, brackets and rings | Lowest | Fine for light panels on standard windows |
| Decorative rod with finials | Medium | Specify for the weight it carries, not the look alone |
| Ripple fold or traverse track | Higher | Required for that header, not optional |
| Motorised system | Highest | Adds electrical planning as well as hardware |
Hardware is easy to under-budget. On a tall window with heavy interlined panels, a light decorative rod will bow. The rod has to be specified for the weight it is carrying.
Measure and install
Installation is quoted per window, and it climbs with tall ceilings, bay windows and motorised systems.
Measuring is the part worth paying for. Drapery is unforgiving. Panels that are 1 inch short of the floor look wrong in a way nobody can explain but everybody notices. Coastal houses in particular have settled floors, out-of-square openings and ceiling heights that vary along a single wall, and a measurement taken from a plan will not catch any of that.
Coastal considerations
This is where drapery on the South Carolina coast differs from drapery anywhere else.
Sun rot is real. UV degrades the lining before it degrades the face fabric. On a south or west facing window, a good lining is protecting your investment, not just improving the drape. Untreated cotton linings on a bright window can weaken and tear at the folds within a few seasons.
Fading is uneven. The leading edge of a panel that sits in direct light fades faster than the rest, so a panel can go patchy rather than evenly lighter. Solution-dyed and high-lightfastness fabrics hold up much better.
Humidity changes hems. Natural fibres move with humidity. Linen in particular takes up and gives off moisture and the hem can rise and fall through the year. It is a known characteristic, not a fault, and it is worth knowing before you choose linen for a floor-length panel.
Closed-up houses. A second home that sits unconditioned for months can develop mildew spotting on lining, particularly where a panel touches glass or an exterior wall. Leaving panels open and a little air moving matters more than most people realise.
What is in our quote
We break every drapery quote into the same 4 lines, so you can compare it against anybody else's.
- Fabric, with the yardage shown
- Fabrication, with the header style named
- Lining or interlining, specified
- Hardware and installation
Drapery is made to your window, which means lead time runs longer than furniture work. Expect roughly 2 to 4 weeks from fabric arrival, longer for large multi-window projects.
Getting a number
Send a photo of each window straight on, with something for scale, plus the rough width and the floor-to-ceiling height. Tell us whether you want panels to break at the sill, below the apron, or at the floor, and whether the room needs blackout.
Request an estimate or call 843 785 4002. Full scope on the custom drapery page. Cornices, valances and upholstered pelmets are made in the same workroom as our furniture reupholstery.
Frequently asked questions
What goes into a custom drapery quote?
Four things: fabric, fabrication, hardware, and measure and install. The header style drives most of the number, because it sets both the fullness, which decides how much fabric the window needs, and the sewing labour.
Why is custom drapery so much more expensive than ready-made?
Fullness and fabrication. A pinch pleat panel at 2.5 times fullness uses 2.5 times the window width in fabric before hems and returns, and each pleat is sewn individually. Ready-made panels are a fixed width with a simple header and are rarely long enough for a full drop.
Do I need lining on drapery?
On a coastal window, yes. Lining protects the face fabric from UV, improves how the panel hangs, and evens out how the window looks from outside. On bright south and west facing windows it is what stops the fabric weakening at the folds.
What is interlining and is it worth it?
Interlining is an extra layer between the face fabric and the lining. It adds weight, body and insulation and makes a moderately priced fabric hang like a much more expensive one. It is usually the best value upgrade on a drapery quote.
How long does custom drapery take?
Roughly 2 to 4 weeks from the fabric arriving, longer for large multi-window projects. Fabric lead time is often the longest part of the schedule.
Which drapery header should I choose?
Pinch pleat for a traditional room and the most common choice. Ripple fold for a clean modern wave, which needs a compatible track. Flat panel where the drapery is decorative rather than functional. Sheers where you want light and privacy at the same time.
Does linen drapery move with the seasons?
Yes. Linen and other natural fibres take up and release moisture, so hems can rise and fall slightly through a humid coastal year. It is a characteristic of the fibre rather than a fault, and it is worth knowing before choosing linen for a floor-length panel.
David Quintanilla is co-owner of Palmetto Upholstery & Fabric. The workrooms in Hilton Head Island, North Charleston and Myrtle Beach make drapery, cornices and soft furnishings alongside upholstery.
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Start a project
Send us the piece.
Photos from the front, side and back, plus a rough length. An estimate comes back the same week, with an honest read on whether the frame deserves the work.