Overview
Curtain installs are part interior design, part fitter's craft, and the pole length is the line nobody measures
Curtain installation is a different trade to curtain making. The maker stitches the curtains in a workshop; the installer arrives with a ladder, a level, and a kit of brackets to put the pole or track in the right place over the window. The cost is partly the hardware (pole, finials, brackets, rings, cord pulls, track if it's a curved bay) and partly the labour to fit it cleanly into a plastered wall that may or may not have a stud where the bracket needs to go. A flat 'curtain pole fitted, $80' quote without the bracket count, the wall type, and the pole length gives the customer no view on the awkward bay window that's actually three poles, not one.
QuoteGenio gives curtain installers a quoting shape that fits the install reality. Survey and wall-type check as the first line, hardware by piece (poles or tracks by length, finials, brackets per metre, rings), wall fixings appropriate to the wall (plaster, masonry, plasterboard with toggles), install labour by window, and hanging the curtains as a separate line if the customer hasn't done it themselves. Send via WhatsApp from the customer's living room with photos of each window, take card payment on completion for one-off jobs, and the final invoice closes with the after-photos for the customer's interior designer (if there is one).
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every type of curtain making and installation business.
The problem
The quoting headaches every curtain installer knows
Curtains price by fabric width, drop, fullness, lining, heading and track. Pricing all of that for a multi-room job on a notepad is an evening exercise that nobody enjoys.
Fabric maths takes time
Calculating fabric quantities at 2x or 2.5x fullness, plus pattern repeats and lining, eats hours on every multi-room quote.
Spec confusion costs jobs
'Curtains' versus 'pinch-pleat triple-fullness lined curtains on a corded track' is the difference between losing the job and winning it.
Slow quotes lose decorators
Interior decorators need quotes the same week to keep schemes on programme. Slow turnaround sends the work to a faster workroom.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A workflow built for curtain pricing: fabric per linear metre, track per metre, labour per heading, all from your phone.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for curtain pricing
Add lines for fabric per metre, lining per metre, heading labour, track per metre and install. Mix sheers, blockouts and motorised on one quote.
Works from your phone
Measure on-site, quote, send. No trip back to the workroom, no spreadsheet, no late-night admin.
Quote in under 2 minutes
Templates for common heading styles get you from measure to sent quote before the decorator finishes the coffee.
Professional every time
Branded PDFs with your workroom name, full spec per window, clear totals. Decorators trust quotes that look like a real workroom.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how curtain installers actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Curtain Installers choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Curtain Installers build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Curtain Installers job pricing
A rough guide to what curtain installers charge for common jobs. Pricing varies by fabric, fullness, lining, heading style and track. Use these as a reference when you build your own rate card, not as fixed prices.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Site measure and consultation | R1,240 - R2,975 |
| Lined curtain, mid-range fabric (per linear metre, made & fit) | R2,975 - R6,280 |
| Lined curtain, premium fabric (per linear metre) | R6,280 - R12,891 |
| Sheer curtain (per linear metre, made & fit) | R1,983 - R4,628 |
| Manual curtain track (per linear metre, supply & fit) | R1,240 - R2,975 |
| Motorised curtain track (per linear metre) | R5,289 - R11,238 |
| Pelmet or cornice (per linear metre) | R3,636 - R7,933 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Curtain installers typically charge R1,240 to R2,975 for a site measure and consultation, refunded against the order. For interior decorator clients with multiple windows, charge by the hour because consultation time scales with scheme complexity. List the measure as its own line so it is valued.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use per linear metre pricing for fabric and lining because that is how mills price you. Use per linear metre for track because that is the cost driver. Use heading-style labour as a fixed per-window line. Use hourly for restoration of existing curtains where scope is unknown.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here is what a clean, itemised curtain quote looks like. Fabric, lining, heading, track and labour all visible per line. Decorators and clients accept clear quotes faster because every cost is visible before they ask.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Lined curtains and motorised track, master bedroom
Site measure and consultation
Premium fabric, pattern-matched (4.2 linear metres at 2.5x fullness)
Blockout lining (4.2 linear metres)
Pinch-pleat heading and making (per pair)
Motorised curtain track (3.2 linear metres)
Labour (install track, hang curtains, dress)
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site measure and consultation | 1 | R1,983 | R1,983 |
| Premium fabric, pattern-matched (4.2 linear metres at 2.5x fullness) | 4.2 | R7,933 / m | R33,318 |
| Blockout lining (4.2 linear metres) | 4.2 | R1,074 / m | R4,512 |
| Pinch-pleat heading and making (per pair) | 1 | R6,280 | R6,280 |
| Motorised curtain track (3.2 linear metres) | 3.2 | R7,933 / m | R25,385 |
| Labour (install track, hang curtains, dress) | 3 | R1,570 / hr | R4,710 |
| Subtotal | R76,189 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R7,619 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R83,808 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Pattern repeat allowance on patterned fabric, blockout lining upgrade, interlining for a luxe drape, motor wiring sub-contract, the second trip to dress curtains after they have hung for a week, and the cost of pelmets or cornices. Add them to your template once and stop absorbing them.
Peer snapshot
How Curtain Installers actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Curtain Installers on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
14
Quotes sent per month
48%
Average quote acceptance
4 min
Median time to send quote
R83,808
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
Start quoting Curtain Installer jobs like this, free
Build your first quote in under 2 minutes. No credit card, no setup fee, no contract.
Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of curtain workrooms. The same fabric and pricing traps come up again and again. Fix these and you will protect your margin and stop disputes at delivery time.
Mistake: Forgetting the pattern repeat allowance
Better: Patterned fabrics need extra metres to match the pattern at the seams. Add 10 to 25 percent extra fabric depending on the repeat size, and state it on the quote so the client understands the cost.
Mistake: Quoting at flat width without fullness
Better: Curtains hang flat without fullness. Always quote at 2x or 2.5x fullness for pinch-pleat or wave headings, and state the fullness in the description so the client sees the difference.
Mistake: Skipping the lining as standard
Better: Lining is what makes curtains drape and last. Quote a standard lining as default and add blockout or interlining as upgrades. Never quote unlined unless the client specifically asks.
Mistake: No motor wiring line on motorised tracks
Better: Motorised tracks need either hard-wiring (sparkie required) or low-voltage transformers. Add a wiring sub-contract line or a clear note that wiring is by others.
Mistake: No deposit on custom fabric orders
Better: Cut fabric is non-returnable. Take 50 to 70 percent deposit before ordering fabric and state it on the quote so the client agrees when they accept.
Mistake: Skipping the second-trip dressing
Better: Curtains need to settle for a week before final dressing (steaming, pleat-setting). Add a second-visit labour line or build it into your standard install fee so it is documented.
Mistake: Open-ended quote validity
Better: Imported fabric prices move with the rand. Set a 14 or 30 day validity so a high-end fabric quote does not expose you if the client takes months to decide.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote curtain jobs
Consult with the client at site and measure width and drop for every window, then calculate fabric metres at the agreed fullness (2x for pencil-pleat and wave, 2.5x or even 3x for pinch-pleat). Decide on heading style, lining type (standard, blockout, interlining for a luxe drape), and track choice (manual corded, motorised, curved for bays, dual for sheer-plus-blockout). On patterned fabrics, check the repeat size on the fabric sample because you will need to add 10 to 25 percent extra metres depending on repeat. Photograph the ceiling or wall mount position, note whether the sparkie is available for motorised tracks, and ask about pelmets or cornices on feature windows.
Itemise fabric, lining, heading labour, track, and install. Line items for site measure and consultation, fabric per linear metre at the calculated fullness (Premium fabric, pattern-matched, 4.2 linear metres at 2.5x fullness), lining per linear metre stating blockout or standard, pattern repeat allowance as its own line, pinch-pleat or wave heading and making labour per pair at $ 280 to $ 480, manual or motorised track per linear metre (Motorised curtain track with motor and remote), pelmets or cornices per linear metre where included, labour hours for install and dressing, and a second-visit dressing line so the curtain is pleat-set and steamed after settling. State fullness in every fabric line so clients cannot later claim they expected something fuller.
Use 14 to 30 day validity because imported fabric pricing moves with the rand and mill prices shift. For a special-order fabric with long lead time, drop to 10 to 14 days so mill changes can be reflected. Take 50 to 70 percent deposit before ordering fabric since cut fabric is non-returnable and made-to-measure curtains have no resale value; the balance is due on completion. State deposit and lead time in writing on the quote. Note that the second-trip dressing happens a week after hanging so curtains can settle, and include it as a line (or fold it into install with a note) so it never feels like extra.
Send the quote via WhatsApp from the consultation, or email to interior decorators with the scheme brief referenced. Decorators need quotes within the same week to keep schemes on programme, and clients comparing workrooms pick the document that reads like a real workroom with full spec per window. Build on your phone at the measure with fabric samples photographed in the quote, share the branded PDF link, and follow up after 3 days. When a client upgrades to interlining on bedrooms or adds a padded pelmet to the lounge, send a variation quote with just the changed lines so the fabric order proceeds on the main quote.
FAQ
Common questions from curtain installers
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. Set the rate as 'per metre' and the quantity as the metres of fabric required at fullness. The PDF shows the unit rate and total clearly.
Yes. Once your quote is ready, share it as a link via WhatsApp. Your client gets a professional branded document instantly.
Each line item has its own description and price. Quote fabric per metre, lining per metre and heading labour as a per-pair line so the workroom and the client both see every cost.
Yes. Every quote has a unique public link. Your client can open it on their phone and accept it online. No signup required.
Yes. Convert any accepted quote into an invoice with one click. All line items carry over, so there is no double entry.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
Always add a pattern repeat allowance. For a small repeat (under 30cm) add 10 to 15 percent extra fabric. For a large repeat (60cm+) add 20 to 30 percent. State the allowance on the quote as its own line so the client understands why patterned fabric uses more metres than plain. This protects your margin if they later compare to a competitor who under-quoted on metres.
50 to 70 percent before ordering fabric, with the balance on completion. Cut fabric is non-returnable and made-to-measure curtains have no resale value. State the deposit clearly on the quote and on your terms so the client agrees when they accept it. QuoteGenio lets you add a deposit line directly into the quote.
Yes. Pelmets and cornices are a separate piece of work with their own fabric, padding, MDF and labour. Quote them as a per-linear-metre line below the curtains so the client can choose to add or remove without re-quoting the whole window. It also lets you upsell when the curtain budget is settled.
Yes. Curtains need a week to settle before final pleat-setting and steaming. Either include a 'second-visit dressing' line as standard or fold it into your install fee with a clear note. Skipping it leaves curtains looking lumpy and creates callbacks. Better to charge for it and deliver a perfect drape.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
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Reviews
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Real feedback from people who quote for a living.
"Security quotes with six or seven cameras and zones used to be a nightmare. The line item structure handles it easily and clients understand exactly what they are getting."
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Handyman · Port Elizabeth
"Quoting per head with add-ons for staffing and equipment is straightforward. Clients can see exactly what they are paying for and they stop haggling on the total."
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Caterer · Dubai
Guides
Guides for Curtain Installers
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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