Many Singapore homeowners look at JB for curtains, especially after collecting the keys to a BTO with every window still bare. Fabric and sewing can cost less across the Causeway, and some Johor Bahru shops advertise that they serve Singapore too. Whether it works out cheaper depends on what the quote includes once measuring, installation and after-sales are counted.
This guide sets out what you might save, the hidden costs, and the questions to ask a JB shop, so you can compare it fairly with a Singapore quote. We are a Singapore curtain maker, so take our view with that in mind; the checklist works for any shop.
Why people buy curtains in JB
- Price. Fabric, sewing and labour often cost less in Malaysia, so a JB quote for the same curtains can come in lower.
- Range. Larger JB showrooms stock many fabrics, and some are close to the Causeway.
- Combining trips. People already going to JB for groceries or a day out add a curtain shop to the trip.
The costs a JB quote can leave out
Measuring. Made-to-measure curtains need exact measurements taken after renovation. Either the shop sends someone to your flat, which some JB shops do for Singapore customers at a fee or a minimum order, or you measure yourself. Measuring errors are the most common reason curtains come out too short or too narrow.
Installation. Ask whether installation in Singapore is included, who does it and when. Some JB shops install in Singapore; others only make the curtains and leave fitting to you or a handyman. Our guide on how to hang curtains shows what fitting involves.
Tracks and hardware. A quote for curtains alone can look cheap until you add tracks, brackets, gliders and a curtain box adaptor.
Trips and time. Showroom visits, a fabric decision trip and possibly a collection trip each mean a Causeway crossing, with jam and travel costs.
Bringing goods back. Large curtain orders bought in Malaysia and carried into Singapore may attract GST at the checkpoint if they exceed your traveller’s allowance. Check the current rules with Singapore Customs before you buy.
After-sales. If a curtain is the wrong length, a glider breaks or a motor fails, someone has to come back. Ask how adjustments and warranty claims work for Singapore customers, and who pays for the return visit.
JB vs Singapore: side by side
| JB curtain shop | Singapore curtain shop | |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric and sewing price | Often lower | Often higher |
| Measuring at your flat | Sometimes, may carry a fee or minimum | Usually offered |
| Installation in Singapore | Varies by shop | Usually included or quoted |
| Adjustments after fitting | Needs a return trip across the Causeway | Easier to arrange |
| Warranty and repairs | Check terms for Singapore customers | Local service |
| Your time | Causeway trips for visits and collection | Visits come to you |
When JB can make sense
- You are doing many windows, so the fabric saving is large.
- The shop measures and installs in Singapore, and that is in the written quote.
- You are happy to measure carefully yourself, or your windows are simple and standard.
- You already travel to JB often.
When a Singapore shop usually works out better
- A small BTO or resale flat with a few windows, where the saving is small compared with trips and fees.
- Motorised tracks, ripple-fold curtains or false ceilings, where installation and adjustments matter.
- Tight timelines around key collection or move-in.
- Anyone who wants one number to call when something needs fixing.
Before deciding, compare a full Singapore quote. Our HDB curtain packages start from $378 for a 2-room flat with dim-out night curtains, tracks, delivery and installation, and our curtain prices guide shows per-metre prices and what other Singapore shops publish.
Questions to ask a JB curtain shop
- Do you measure at my flat in Singapore? Is there a fee or minimum order?
- Is installation in Singapore included, and who installs?
- Does the price include tracks, brackets, hooks, lining and delivery to Singapore?
- What happens if a curtain is the wrong size? Who pays for remaking and the return visit?
- What warranty do you give on tracks and motors for Singapore customers, and how do I claim?
- How long from deposit to installation?
- Is the quote in ringgit or Singapore dollars, and what exchange rate applies?
Common questions
Are curtains cheaper in JB?
Fabric and sewing often cost less in JB. Once measuring, installation, tracks, Causeway trips and after-sales are added, the gap narrows, especially for small flats. Compare full quotes for the same windows.
Do JB curtain shops install in Singapore?
Some do, and advertise it. Others only make the curtains. Ask for installation in Singapore to be written into the quote, with the date.
Can I measure my windows myself for a JB shop?
You can, but measuring errors are the main reason made-to-measure curtains come out wrong. Our guide to measuring windows for made-to-measure curtains shows how, and the curtain length calculator helps with the drop.
Is there GST on curtains bought in Malaysia?
Goods brought into Singapore above your traveller’s allowance may attract GST at the checkpoint. Check the current rules with Singapore Customs before you buy.
What is the cheapest way to do curtains for a BTO?
A whole-flat package from a local shop is often the simplest low-cost option, because tracks and installation are included. See our cheap curtains in Singapore guide for other ways to save.
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