Cheap curtains in Singapore usually means one of three things: ready-made curtains from IKEA, Nitori, Spotlight or Shopee; second-hand curtains on Carousell; or a whole-flat package from a local curtain shop. For a single window, ready-made is often cheapest. For a whole HDB flat, a package that includes tracks and installation often costs less than buying, fixing and fitting everything yourself, and the curtains fit.
Here are eight ways to keep the cost down, and the few places where saving money usually backfires.
1. Price the whole flat, not one curtain
Ready-made panels look cheap one at a time, but a flat needs curtains, tracks, brackets, hooks and someone to put them up. Our HDB curtain packages include dim-out night curtains, white aluminium tracks, delivery and installation:
| Flat | Package price |
|---|---|
| 2-room HDB | $378 |
| 3-room HDB | $478 |
| 4-room HDB | $578 |
| 5-room HDB | $678 |
Add up a ready-made alternative for the same rooms, including tracks and installation, before you decide. The BTO curtain budget planner does this room by room.
2. Use dim-out instead of blackout where you can
Dim-out fabric costs less than blackout and is enough for living rooms, studies and anyone who does not mind a little morning light. In our pricing, dim-out is $60 to $80 per metre of track width and blackout is $75 to $100. Keep blackout for bedrooms where you need it. Our blackout vs dim-out guide explains the difference.
3. Choose polyester over linen and velvet
Polyester and polyester blends are the cheapest curtain fabrics, and they cope best with Singapore humidity: they resist creasing, mould and fading, and most are machine washable. Linen-look polyester gives the natural look for less. See curtain fabrics.
4. Pick a simple heading
Pinch pleat and eyelet curtains use less fabric and simpler tracks than ripple fold (S-fold), which needs a special track and gliders. If budget matters more than the look, ask for a quote in both. See S-fold vs pleated curtains.
5. Use blinds on small windows
A roller or Korean combi blind on a small kitchen, study or toilet window often costs less than a curtain plus a track, and suits those rooms better. Roller blinds start from about $5 per sq ft in our pricing, with a 20 sq ft minimum per blind. See blinds prices.
6. Skip the sheer where you do not need it
Day and night curtains (a sheer plus a night curtain) cost almost twice a single layer. Many bedrooms only need a night curtain. Keep sheers for the living room, or for windows facing the next block.
7. Reuse good tracks
If your flat already has straight, sturdy tracks, reusing them saves about $13 to $20 per metre for a single track in our pricing. Old tracks that sag, stick or have broken gliders are worth replacing.
8. Ready-made, second-hand and online, done right
Ready-made curtains from IKEA, Nitori, Spotlight or Shopee, and second-hand curtains on Carousell, are the lowest-cost option for one or two windows. To avoid wasting money:
- Check the drop. Ready-made lengths often do not match Singapore ceiling heights. Measure first with the curtain length calculator.
- Check the width. Two panels should together be about twice the track width to look full.
- Check the heading. Eyelet curtains need a rod; hook curtains need a track.
- Budget for installation. We can install tracks or rods and hang ready-made curtains; see curtain installation.
Our comparison of ready-made and made-to-measure curtains covers when each makes sense.
Where cheap curtains cost more later
- Wrong measurements. Curtains that stop short of the floor or do not close fully get replaced.
- Weak tracks on false ceilings. A track fixed only to plasterboard can pull out. Fix into a curtain box or frame.
- Thin “blackout” fabric. Some cheap curtains sold as blackout let light through. Hold a sample up to a window before buying.
- Fabric that fades or moulds. Low-grade cotton and linen near a west-facing window or in a humid room may need replacing sooner.
Common questions
Where can I buy cheap curtains in Singapore?
For single windows, IKEA, Nitori, Spotlight, Shopee and Carousell. For a whole flat, compare local curtain shops’ packages, which include tracks and installation. Our HDB packages start from $378 for a 2-room flat.
How much should curtains cost for an HDB flat?
Whole-flat packages from Singapore shops published in October 2026 started from about $380 to $600 for a 2-room flat, depending on fabric and what is included. See our curtain prices guide.
Are ready-made curtains cheaper than made-to-measure?
Per panel, yes. For a whole flat, once tracks, installation and alterations are added, the gap is often small, and made-to-measure curtains fit the windows.
Is it cheaper to buy curtains in JB?
Fabric can cost less in JB, but measuring, installation, trips and after-sales add up. See JB vs Singapore curtains.
Blinds Prices in Singapore (2026): Roller, Korean Combi, Venetian and Zip Blinds
Curtain Length Guide: Short, Sill, Floor and Floor-to-Ceiling Curtains
Curtain Prices in Singapore (2026): What Curtains Cost per Window and per Flat