Window treatments are one of those projects that sneak up on your budget. A single window seems harmless enough, but multiply it across a whole home and suddenly you're looking at a real line item. The range is enormous too, from a $20 IKEA panel to a $1,500 custom motorized shade, so let's talk honestly about what dressing your windows actually costs in Canada.
What do window treatments actually cost?
Per window, expect to spend roughly $50 to $1,500 CAD depending entirely on whether you go ready-made or custom. Ready-made curtains and off-the-shelf blinds typically run $50 to $300 per window, while custom drapery and made-to-measure shades land around $400 to $1,500+ per window once you factor in fabric, fabrication, and installation.
For a whole home of, say, 10 to 15 windows, a realistic budget is roughly $1,000 to $4,000 going mostly ready-made, or $6,000 to $20,000+ if you go fully custom. As always, these are estimates. Prices vary by region, fabric quality, window size, and whether you DIY the install or hire a pro.
Cost breakdown by treatment type
- Ready-made curtain panels: roughly $20 to $120 per panel. Most windows need two panels, so budget $40–$240 per window before hardware.
- Curtain rods and hardware: roughly $20 to $150 per window. A quality extra-long or ceiling-mount rod runs higher.
- Roller and cellular (honeycomb) shades: roughly $40 to $300 per window ready-made; $200–$600 custom.
- Roman shades: roughly $80 to $250 ready-made; $300–$800+ custom.
- Faux or real wood blinds: roughly $50 to $300 per window.
- Custom drapery (fabric + fabrication): roughly $400 to $1,500+ per window, more for floor-to-ceiling or patterned fabric.
- Motorization (per shade): add roughly $150 to $600 per window.
- Professional measuring and installation: roughly $50 to $150 per window.
Budget, mid-range, and invest tiers
Budget (roughly $1,000–$2,500 for a home): Ready-made linen-look panels and off-the-shelf cellular shades, hung high and wide for a custom feel. IKEA and Amazon do the heavy lifting here.
Mid-range (roughly $3,000–$8,000 for a home): A blend of quality ready-made drapery from West Elm or Pottery Barn paired with custom blinds or shades in the key rooms. This is where most of my clients land.
Invest (roughly $10,000–$25,000+ for a home): Fully custom, lined, floor-to-ceiling drapery with motorization and professional installation throughout. Beautiful, but reserve it for the rooms that truly matter.
Where to save vs. splurge
Save on: secondary spaces like laundry rooms, guest rooms, and hallways, where simple ready-made panels or basic faux-wood blinds are completely fine. You can also save by buying ready-made and simply hemming them yourself.
Splurge on: the living room and primary bedroom. Lined, floor-grazing drapery in these spaces does more for a home than almost any other purchase, and blackout lining in the bedroom is worth every dollar for sleep. Motorization is also genuinely worth it on hard-to-reach or very large windows.
Where to shop and source in Canada
- IKEA has the best value on simple panels, basic roller blinds, and tracks.
- Wayfair and Amazon offer huge ready-made selections in cellular, roman, and roller shades, great for budget builds.
- West Elm and Crate & Barrel carry beautiful ready-made and semi-custom drapery in organic, natural fabrics.
- EQ3 and Urban Barn are good for elevated ready-made panels with a modern-Canadian sensibility.
- Structube and HomeSense are worth a browse for affordable panels and hardware.
- Home Depot and Rona are your go-to for blinds, faux-wood shades, and in-store custom-blind ordering.
- Local drapery workrooms and Hunter Douglas dealers handle true custom work; expect higher prices but excellent fit.
Money-saving tips
- Hang high and wide. Mounting your rod near the ceiling and extending it past the window frame makes cheap ready-made panels look custom and your room feel taller.
- Buy ready-made, then tailor. A simple hem or a sew-in blackout lining transforms an inexpensive panel.
- Measure twice, order once. Returns on custom shades are nearly impossible, so confirm every measurement.
- Mix it up. Use affordable shades for function and add inexpensive side panels for softness, you get the layered look without full custom cost.
- Watch for sales. Home Depot and Rona run frequent custom-blind promotions, and ready-made drapery goes on sale seasonally.
FAQ
How much do window treatments cost per window in Canada?
Roughly $50 to $300 per window for ready-made options, and $400 to $1,500+ per window for custom drapery or made-to-measure shades, depending on size and fabric.
Are custom window treatments worth it?
In your most-used and most-visible rooms, yes. Custom lined drapery and properly fitted shades look and perform far better. In secondary rooms, ready-made is the smarter spend.
What's the cheapest way to cover my windows?
Ready-made panels from IKEA paired with inexpensive cellular shades, hung high and wide. You can dress a window well for under $100.
How much does motorization add?
Plan for roughly $150 to $600 extra per shade. It's most worthwhile on large or hard-to-reach windows.
Window treatments are where a thoughtful mix really pays off. Go custom where it counts, lean on ready-made everywhere else, and remember that how you hang them matters as much as what you buy. Done right, even a modest budget can leave every window feeling soft, finished, and intentional.
About the author: Paige Eaton is a design-obsessed DIYer, home renovator, and the founder of Organic Moderne.