We Tested the Best Blackout Curtains for Uninterrupted Sleep (2023)

• Our Picks

• What to Look For

• FAQ

• Why Trust The Spruce

Deconovo Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains are 100 percent light blocking—making them perfect for night shift workers, napping babies, or anyone else who needs to sleep when the sun is up. These light-eliminating curtains also provide thermal insulation that helps improve climate control and reduce noise. Best of all, though, the fabric adds an elegant look into any room. In addition to looking great and offering key functionality, these curtains are also very affordable, which is why they’re our pick for best overall blackout curtains.

When we tested these curtains, we were especially pleased with their light-blocking capability. At night, the fabric kept the bedroom exceptionally dark. They blocked out all of the light that can sneak in during the evening, from the moon to street lights to car headlights. In fact, they were so effective, we ended up opening them a tiny bit!

This two-panel set is offered in several colors and sizes so you can find the perfect style for your space. The curtains are 100 percent polyester and have a silver grommet heading that makes it easy to slide the curtains onto the rods and just as easy to open and close. Just keep in mind before hanging them that it is a bit challenging to get rid of the wrinkles completely; you may need to iron or steam them before hanging. Additionally, while these curtains can be washed, they are a bit delicate. However, neither of these care details detracts from the curtains’ standout effectiveness.

Price at time of publish: $28 for two 42 x 45 inch panels

_{Dimensions: Various sizes from 42 x 45 to 52 x 108 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Grommet | Number of Panels: 2}

It’s hard to find anything not to like about the Rose Home Fashion 100% Blackout Curtains. These thick curtains block light from coming through, reduce noise, and are constructed with an extra layer for thermal insulation, which provides excellent climate control to significantly reduce heat and cold transfer into your room. And they’re easy to hang, too, thanks to the grommets at the top that slide easily onto most curtain rods.

These blackout curtains include two panels per package, and they’re available in a variety of sizes and colors. While the fabric is polyester, it has a nice linen look. Just keep in mind that the material can wrinkle right out of the package and after washing–and those wrinkles can take some time to eliminate. Additionally, while the manufacturer says these curtains are machine washable, some people report they fall apart in the wash. To ensure they last, it’s best to hand-wash or dry clean them only.

Price at time of publish: $40 for two 50 x 63 inch panels

_{Dimensions: Various sizes from 50 x 63 to 50 x 108 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Grommet | Number of Panels: 2}

For a kid’s room or nursery, you won’t find blackout curtains much cuter than WallvyStore's Forest Window Curtain. Featuring panels patterned with trees, foxes, birds, bunnies and other sweet creatures, these printed curtains will help your kiddo sleep by blocking the sun from their room. Because each panel is made by hand, you can choose from a variety of customizations for your curtains, from the style of header to the color of the grommets. With 90 percent opacity, these double-lined panels are nicely effective and look fantastic in any nursery or kid’s room.

These blackout curtains are offered in a variety of sizes and three header types—rod pocket, tape or grommet. Want to make sure the pattern works in your little one’s room? Just order a fabric sample before you commit. They are expensive, but their handmade nature makes them more of an investment. Do keep in mind, though, that the price is only for one panel; if you need multiple, you’ll need to order a few.

Price at time of publish: $148 for one 59 x 63 inch panel

_{Dimensions: Various sizes from 59 x 59 to 59 x 118 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Rod pocket, tape, or grommet | Number of Panels: 1}

The Exclusive Home Medallion Room Blackout Curtain Panels feature an elegant pattern that comes in eight color options and a variety of sizes to enhance your bedroom, living room, or any other room that needs a little light-blocking help. Each set of two attractive polyester panels offers a great balance of style and function to block outside light, manage the temperature, and block outside sounds. You can choose from a range of difference colors, but each curtain panel features a subtle white medallion pattern across its surface.

When we put these blackout curtains to the test, we noticed an improvement in our sleep from the first use–and there was a particularly noticeable difference in our ability to sleep in after sunrise. It’s worth noting, however, that these curtains can appear different in their coloring when they arrive, with some looking more muted than bold. Additionally, you can’t pop the panels into the washing machine, but they’re still easy to maintain with hand washing or dry cleaning.

Price at time of publish: $50 for two 52 x 84 inch panels

_{Dimensions: Various sizes from 52 x 63 to 52 x 108 | Material: Polyester | Heading: Grommet | Number of Panels: 2}

If your budget allows, you’re unlikely to find a more luxurious, well-made blackout curtain than Pottery Barn's Classic Belgian Flax Linen Blackout Curtains. These curtains come in ten gorgeous colors of flax linen in a variety of sizes, so it's easy to find the perfect fit for your home. A unique feature is the curtain’s 3-in-1 construction which offers three different hanging options—pole pocket, hanging loops, or ring top.

In addition to doing a great job blocking light, these curtains offer great climate control. When we tested them, we found they did a particularly good job cooling the room on a hot day. We found that by keeping the curtains closed, we were able to keep our room at least five degrees cooler during the sunniest part of the day–and there was no need to cool the room. This room cooling effect was one of our favorite benefits of these curtains. If you live in a very sunny climate, this can amount to significant savings over the life of the curtains.

However, it’s worth noting that these blackout curtains do carry a high price tag–and that price is per panel, not per set. Overall, though, they’re a classic investment that can offer energy savings by blocking both light and heat.

Price at time of publish: $149 for one 50 x 84 inch panel

_{Dimensions: Various sizes from 50 x 84 to 100 x 108 inches | Material: Linen, polyester lining | Heading: 3-in-1 construction allows for hanging via pole pocket, hanging loops or ring top | Number of Panels: 1}

With a price that falls under $30 for a set of two panels, you’re unlikely to find a better deal for light-blocking curtains than NICETOWN’s Thermal Insulated Grommet Blackout Curtains. And even at this great value, these curtains do what the best light-blocking curtains do: reduce noise, block outside heat and cold for climate control in your room, and block light. The curtains are offered in over a dozen colors, and in our testing we found the darker colors are more thoroughly light-blocking than the white panels.

No matter which shade you choose to match your decor, you’ll get anywhere from 90 to 100 percent light blocking capability–a detail that makes a big difference. We also liked that these curtains allowed you to opt for a little less blackout power if you don’t need full-strength curtain panels. Made out of luxurious-feeling textured fabric, they feel like a high-end product. Oh, and cleaning the curtains is also easy—just throw in a cold cycle wash, and they'll be good as new. Just keep in mind they can’t go in the dryer.

Price at time of publish: $22 for two 42 x 63 inch panels

_{Dimensions: Various sizes from 29 x 45 to 55 x 96 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Grommet | Number of Panels: 2}

Whether you’re looking for bright bold colors, pastels, earth tones, or just your basic white or black, the ECLIPSE Kendall Modern Blackout Thermal Rod Pocket Window Curtain has you covered with 22 colors to choose from in four different sizes. These curtains are great for those in need of a particular color, plus an effective light-blocking solution. Each panel can block about 98 percent of the light sneaking in your windows, and the curtains also offer noise reduction and climate control.

While they have a great modern look, users do say that you can tell these are a more budget-friendly option because the fabric feels synthetic to the touch. However, that’s not a big drawback–and the synthetic fabric means you can easily clean the curtains by just tossing them in the wash. You only get one panel, but at their affordable price, ordering two is still a steal.

Price at time of publish: $9 for one 42 x 63 inch panel

_{Dimensions: Various sizes from 42 x 54 to 42 x 95 inches | Material: Polyester | Heading: Rod pocket | Number of Panels: 1}

Infuse some luxury into any room and keep outside light to a minimum with Melodieux’s 100% Blackout Velvet Curtains. These sumptuous velvet blackout curtains come in five rich, luscious colors, and they hang with a heavy drape that looks more expensive than their actual price. Plus, the panels are fantastic at eliminating light; they can block 100 percent of incoming light and offer noise reduction and climate control, too. These curtains could look good in just about any room; the red velvet in particular is reminiscent of a classic movie curtain and could be a fun touch to darken your media room.

Customers have no complaints about these soft-to-the-touch blackout curtains. With great weight, multiple size options and an array of color choices, they’re a great choice for anyone who likes the look of velvet. However, these curtains aren’t machine-washable–but that’s a detail many other blackout curtains share.

Price at time of publish: $66 for two 52 x 96 inch panels

_{Dimensions: Various sizes from 52 x 63 to 52 x 96 inches | Material: Faux suede textured velvet | Heading: Grommet | Number of Panels: 2}

Final Verdict

Overall, we recommend the Deconovo Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains, which we give high marks for their great light blocking, noise reduction, climate control and fabric quality–all at a good price. If you’re on an especially tight budget, another great option is NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Grommet Blackout Curtains. This affordable alternative offers great light-blocking capability but won’t break the bank with its nicely budget-friendly price.

FAQ

• What are some disadvantages of blackout curtains?

  Blackout curtains are a great option when you truly want to block all natural light from a space, usually a bedroom or maybe a media room in which you want to emulate a movie theater feel. In other rooms of your home where you want privacy or want to reduce glare but still enjoy the natural light, you’d be better off with other types of curtains that aren’t 100 percent blackout.
  

• Do blackout curtains make the room hotter?

  Blackout curtains generally provide climate control, keeping the winter cold or summer heat outside instead of filtering in through your windows. “If you have a drafty house with older windows, blackout shades are a great way to control the room’s temperature, making you feel more comfortable and helping you save money on your power bill,” Jennings said. To be sure your blackout curtains include climate control, make sure the description says “thermal lined.”

• Can you wash blackout curtains?

  Many blackout curtains need to be dry cleaned or hand washed, but some can be tossed in your washing machine. Read the manufacturer’s instructions to determine the care instructions for your blackout curtains.