The 7 Best Blackout Curtains

I’m a really light sleeper. The tiniest sliver of moonlight or a car’s headlights can wake me right up. So when we moved into our new house, getting real bedroom blackout curtains was priority number one.

I’m not talking about those flimsy “room darkening” pretenders. I mean the heavy-duty, pitch-black-at-noon kind of curtains. After trying out a bunch in our master bedroom, the guest room, and the kids’ rooms over the last couple of years, I’ve found a few that really deliver.

These are the curtains that have held up, blocked nearly all the light, and even helped quiet down the noise from the street. Here are my top picks for 2026.

 

 

My Favorite Blackout Curtains

Pony Dance Blackout Curtains

These run about $30 for a pair, and they’re what I have in our master bedroom. They just feel expensive. The polyester blend is thick and has a nice weight to it, so it hangs really well right out of the package.

Even with the lighter grey color we chose, they block almost all the light. It’s not 100% cave-dark, but it’s close enough that I can’t see my hand in front of my face in the middle of the day. They also do a surprisingly good job of muffling sound.

The Downside: The rod pocket design is a little bit of a pain. It’s not as easy to slide them open and closed as curtains with grommets, but it’s a minor annoyance for how well they work.

 

 

Sun Zero Oslo Theater-Grade Blackout Curtain Panel

For just $20 a panel, these are a fantastic deal. We put these in our guest room, and they are seriously dark. They claim 100% light blocking, and I believe it. The room is pitch black when they’re closed.

The material has a soft, almost velvet-like feel which is nice for the price. Sun Zero also says they provide some energy savings by blocking heat and cold, which is a nice bonus.

The Downside: These curtains are heavy. Like, really heavy. It makes them a little tough to slide open and closed, and you’ll want to make sure you have a sturdy curtain rod that’s installed well.

 

 

Eclipse Microfiber Blackout Thermal Curtain Panel

A single panel costs around $25. I used these in my son’s room because he’s constantly yanking his curtains open and closed, and I wanted something that would slide easily. These are much lighter than others but still block about 99% of the light.

They use something called Thermaback technology, which helps with insulation. I can definitely tell a difference in his room’s temperature in both summer and winter. For how lightweight they are, the performance is great.

The Downside: Because they have grommets, you do get a tiny bit of light peeking through the holes at the very top. It’s not a lot, but it’s not total darkness either.

 

 

Nicetown 100% Blackout Window Curtain Panels

These panels are about $25 and are perfect for a nursery or anyone who needs absolute silence and darkness. The secret is a black liner that’s actually sewn into the curtain, so it blocks every bit of light.

I recommended these to my sister for my nephew’s room, and she says they’re amazing. They also do a great job of blocking sound, which is perfect for nap time when the garbage truck decides to show up.

The Downside: The extra liner adds a lot of weight. She had to upgrade her curtain rod to something more substantial because her old one started to bend under the strain.

 

 

Miuco Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains

At around $25, these are a solid choice for controlling room temperature. The triple-woven fabric does a great job of blocking drafts in the winter and keeping the sun’s heat out during the summer.

They block most of the light, maybe 98%, and cut down on sound pretty well. I like that they come with matching tiebacks, which is a nice touch. The grommets make them super easy to install and slide around.

The Downside: On a really bright, sunny afternoon, you can tell they aren’t 100% blackout. It’s more of a deep, deep twilight than true pitch black, but for most people, it’s plenty dark.

 

 

Best Home Fashion UMIXM Wide Tule & Blackout Curtains

These are a bit pricier at $30, but you’re getting a two-in-one deal. They have a sheer lace layer in front of the blackout panel, which looks really elegant. We considered these for the large window in our living room.

You can tie back the blackout part during the day and just have the sheer layer for some privacy and filtered light. Then at night, you close the blackout panel for almost total darkness. It’s a really versatile and stylish option, especially for big windows.

The Downside: Hanging two layers of curtains on one rod is a little tricky. The installation is more involved than a standard single-panel curtain.

 

 

NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Grommet Blackout Curtains

For about $36, this set from Nicetown is probably the most popular one out there. They’re a bestseller for a reason. They work well, come in a ton of colors and sizes, and darken a room without feeling super heavy.

The blackout effect comes from black yarns woven directly into the fabric, rather than a separate liner. They block most of the light and are easy to care for, which is a big plus.

The Downside: Because the fabric is thinner and doesn’t have a liner, they don’t offer much in the way of insulation or soundproofing. They’re great for light blocking, but not much else.

 

 

How I Picked These Curtains

My main test was simple: could I sleep in past sunrise? If light started creeping in and waking me up, the curtains failed. True blackout curtains should make your room feel like a cozy cave, no matter the time of day.

I also looked at the fabric itself. A good blackout curtain feels substantial. It should have some weight and density to it. The really cheap ones feel thin and stiff, and they just don’t block light or hang properly.

And don’t forget to measure! For the best light-blocking effect, your curtain rod should extend at least 3-6 inches past the window frame on each side. And the curtains themselves should be long enough to hang below the windowsill. This prevents that annoying “halo” of light from leaking around the edges.