Best Thermal Curtains UK (2026)
Five thermal and blackout curtains for keeping more warmth in on cold nights, from budget eyelet pairs to a curtain for a draughty front door
Quick answer
- Best overallDeconovo Thermal Eyelet Blackout Curtains – best rated, many sizes and colours
- Best pencil pleatJohn Aird Thermal Blackout Pencil Pleat – fits tracks and poles, tiebacks included
- Warmest buildDeconovo 100% Blackout with Coated Back – three layers with a coated back
- Best for doorsDeconovo Thermal Door Curtain – long single panel for front doors
- Best styleJohn Aird Crushed Velvet Lined Curtains – fully lined velvet look
Thermal curtains will not replace double glazing, but a thick curtain that reaches the sill or floor and is closed at dusk does cut the chill from a cold window. For most people we would pick the Deconovo Thermal Insulated Eyelet Blackout Curtains: they are the best-rated thermal curtains on Amazon UK, come in dozens of sizes and colours, and Deconovo says the triple-weave fabric blocks 95–99% of light in dark colours.
If you have a curtain track rather than a pole, the John Aird Thermal Blackout Pencil Pleat curtains come from a Scottish firm founded in 1896. For the warmest build, the Deconovo total blackout curtains have a coated back. For a cold front door, hang the Deconovo door curtain, and if looks come first, choose the lined John Aird crushed velvet pair. Be realistic: independent testing has found thermal claims make only a modest difference, so seal the gaps too with our best draught excluders UK guide, and see what your heating costs with our heating cost calculator.
95–99%
How much light Deconovo says its triple-weave thermal curtains block in dark colours; lighter colours block less
Source: Deconovo Amazon UK listing, checked 30 September 2026
Editor's Choice
Deconovo Thermal Insulated Eyelet Blackout Curtains (Pair)
The best thermal curtains for most people: well made, affordable and sold in enough sizes to get a proper fit, which matters more than anything for keeping heat in.
Diagnose your problem
How to choose thermal curtains
The fit and the way you hang them matter as much as the fabric.
Problem
Go long and wide
Warm air escapes around the edges, so a curtain that stops short of the sill or is too narrow to overlap will leak heat. Measure your pole or track, not the window, and choose a width of about one and a half to two times its length.
Recommendation
Pick a drop that reaches the sill, or the floor if there is no radiator underneath. Deconovo sells its curtains in many sizes to make this easier.
Products
Problem
Eyelet or pencil pleat?
Eyelet curtains slide straight onto a pole. Pencil pleat curtains have a gathered tape at the top and hang from hooks on a track or on pole rings.
Recommendation
For a pole, choose any eyelet pick. For a track, go for the John Aird pencil pleat pair, and remember hooks are not included.
Products
Problem
Thicker is warmer
A heavier curtain with a lining or coating traps more still air against the glass. A thin single layer mainly blocks light and draughts.
Recommendation
For the most warmth, choose the Deconovo coated total blackout pair. The velvet and door curtains are thinner, so judge them on looks and fit.
Products
Problem
Curtain a cold front door
A front door with a letterbox and gaps round the frame can chill a whole hallway. A long single panel on a pole above the door blocks the worst of it.
Recommendation
Hang the Deconovo door curtain, and fit a letterbox brush and draught strip as well.
Products
Quick Picks
The best thermal curtain for each kind of window and door
Our Top 5 Picks
Compare all
Deconovo
Deconovo Thermal Insulated Eyelet Blackout Curtains (Pair)
“The best thermal curtains for most people: well made, affordable and sold in enough sizes to get a proper fit, which matters more than anything for keeping heat in.”
Best for
Bedrooms and living rooms with a curtain pole
Skip it if
you have a curtain track, or want the warmest possible build
Pros
- +Best-rated thermal curtains on Amazon UK
- +Huge range of sizes and colours
- +Thick triple-weave fabric
- +Machine washable
Cons
- −Pale colours are not fully blackout
- −Unlined, so less warm than a coated curtain
- −Needs a pole, not a track
All specifications
| Heading | Eyelet, 4cm |
| Panels | 2 |
| Construction | Triple weave |
| Light blocking (claim) | 95–99% in dark colours |
| Care | Machine wash, gentle |
John Aird
John Aird Thermal Blackout Pencil Pleat Tape Top Curtains with Tiebacks
“The best choice if your window has a track rather than a pole: good value, with the neat gathered look of pencil pleat.”
Best for
Windows with a curtain track, and anyone who prefers a pencil pleat look
Skip it if
you want to throw them in the washing machine without checking the label
Pros
- +Fits tracks as well as poles
- +Tiebacks included
- +Good value, especially smaller sizes
- +Long-established UK firm
Cons
- −Hooks not included
- −Lower blackout claim than Deconovo
- −Mixed advice on washing
All specifications
| Heading | 3" pencil pleat tape |
| Panels | 2 plus tiebacks |
| Construction | Interwoven thermal lining |
| Light blocking (claim) | 85–95% |
| Care | Check label |
Deconovo
Deconovo 100% Blackout Curtains with Coated Back, Faux Linen Eyelet (Pair)
“The warmest build of our five: the layered, coated construction traps more air against the glass than a single-layer curtain.”
Best for
Cold bedrooms and anyone who wants maximum blackout
Skip it if
you want a soft, heavy fabric feel or lots of colour choice
Pros
- +Three-layer build with coated back
- +Claimed full blackout even in pale colours
- +Crisp drape that resists creasing
- +Machine washable
Cons
- −Newer listing with only a few dozen ratings
- −One reviewer found it plasticky
- −Only three colours
All specifications
| Heading | Eyelet |
| Panels | 2 |
| Construction | 3 layers, coated back |
| Light blocking (claim) | 100% |
| Care | Machine wash, 30°C |
Deconovo
Deconovo Thermal Insulated Door Curtain (Single Panel)
“The best simple fix for a draughty front door: a long panel on a pole above the door blocks the worst of the cold coming into the hallway.”
Best for
Front doors, back doors and cold hallways
Skip it if
you want a heavy, quilted door curtain
Pros
- +Long single panel sized for doors
- +Very popular with UK buyers
- +Many sizes and colours
- +Washable
Cons
- −Unlined, and some find it thin
- −Lower light blocking than our window picks
- −Needs a pole fitted above the door
All specifications
| Heading | Eyelet, 4cm |
| Panels | 1 |
| Construction | Triple weave, unlined |
| Light blocking (claim) | 65–80% |
| Care | Machine wash, 30°C |
John Aird
John Aird Crushed Velvet Fully Lined Eyelet Curtains (Pair)
“The style pick: lined velvet looks far more expensive than it is, but it is thinner than our other picks, so buy it for looks first and warmth second.”
Best for
Living rooms where looks matter most
Skip it if
warmth or blackout is your main goal
Pros
- +Luxurious crushed velvet look
- +Fully lined
- +12 colours
- +Good value
Cons
- −Many reviewers say they are thin
- −Not blackout
- −Colours can look lighter in person
All specifications
| Heading | Eyelet, 4cm |
| Panels | 2 |
| Construction | Velvet, fully lined |
| Light blocking (claim) | Not blackout |
| Care | See label |
Compare All Products
Side-by-side specs for quick decision-making
Swipe to compare →
| Product | Heading | Panels | Construction | Light blocking (claim) | Care | Price | Best For | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eyelet, 4cm | 2 | Triple weave | 95–99% in dark colours | Machine wash, gentle | £20–£35 | Bedrooms and living rooms with a curtain pole | View | |
 | 3" pencil pleat tape | 2 plus tiebacks | Interwoven thermal lining | 85–95% | Check label | £10–£30 | Windows with a curtain track, and anyone who prefers a pencil pleat look | View |
| Eyelet | 2 | 3 layers, coated back | 100% | Machine wash, 30°C | £18–£40 | Cold bedrooms and anyone who wants maximum blackout | View | |
 Deconovo Thermal Insulated Door Curtain (Single Panel)Best for Doors | Eyelet, 4cm | 1 | Triple weave, unlined | 65–80% | Machine wash, 30°C | £15–£30 | Front doors, back doors and cold hallways | View |
| Eyelet, 4cm | 2 | Velvet, fully lined | Not blackout | See label | £10–£45 | Living rooms where looks matter most | View |
Curtains, heaters and radiators
Keep curtains well clear of portable heaters, candles and open fires, and never let them drape over an electric heater. Over a radiator, choose a sill-length curtain or tuck it behind the radiator shelf rather than covering the radiator, which pushes its heat up behind the curtain and out of the window. Leave vents and trickle vents uncovered to help avoid condensation and mould.
Research Methodology
How We Chose These Products
This is editorial research, not a lab test. We use qualitative badges and do not assign invented scores.
We compared popular thermal and blackout curtains sold on Amazon UK on fabric construction, sizes, heading type, care and value, using manufacturer listings and UK customer reviews. Product order is editorial judgement.
Selection Criteria
Construction
25% weightTriple weave, lining or coated back, and weight
Sizes and fit
20% weightRange of widths and drops, heading type
Customer feedback
25% weightRating and number of UK reviews on 30 September 2026
Care
10% weightMachine washable or not
Value
20% weightPrice band against build
Important Limitations
- •TopMagpie did not measure heat loss or light blocking. Percentages are manufacturer claims.
- •No live prices: bands only, and prices vary a lot by size.
- •Blackout performance depends on colour: dark colours block more light than pale ones.
Research last conducted: · Price bands checked:
Frequently Asked Questions
People also ask about thermal curtains
For most people, the Deconovo Thermal Insulated Eyelet Blackout Curtains. They use a thick triple-weave fabric and come in dozens of sizes and colours. For a curtain track choose John Aird pencil pleat, and for the warmest build choose the Deconovo coated total blackout pair.
They help, but modestly. Independent testing has found that thermal claims make less difference than the packaging suggests. You get the most benefit by closing them at dusk, choosing a curtain that reaches the sill or floor and overlaps at the edges, and sealing draughts around windows and doors too.
Not quite. Blackout describes how much light a curtain blocks, while thermal describes how well it slows heat escaping. Many curtains are sold as both because a thick, dense fabric does a bit of each, but a lined or coated curtain is warmer than a thin blackout weave.
Floor length traps the most heat, but not if there is a radiator under the window. A long curtain over a radiator pushes its heat behind the curtain and towards the cold glass. In that case choose a sill-length curtain.
Often, yes. A long curtain on a pole above the door blocks cold air from the letterbox and gaps round the frame. Fit a letterbox brush and draught strips as well for the best result.
Eyelet curtains slide straight onto a curtain pole and give even, modern folds. Pencil pleat curtains hang from hooks, so they work on tracks as well as poles with rings. Pick based on what you already have fitted.
Most of our picks are machine washable on a gentle or 30°C cycle, but none should be tumble dried. Care advice for the John Aird pencil pleat curtains varies, so check the label first.
Ready to pick thermal curtains?
Our #1, the Deconovo Thermal Insulated Eyelet Blackout Curtains, pairs a thick triple-weave fabric with a huge range of sizes and colours.
View #1 Pick on Amazon UKDisclosure & Editorial Policy
Amazon Affiliate: TopMagpie is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Programme. We earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't affect our editorial choices or the prices you pay.
No Lab Testing: We have not laboratory-tested these products. Recommendations are based on spec analysis, reviews, and editorial judgement.
Prices: Approximate bands, checked . Amazon prices change frequently – always verify the current price before purchasing. We do not invent live prices.
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