Put up a curtain pole on a metal stud wall — HomeGraft

Fit a curtain pole safely above your window, choosing the right fixing for your wall type as you go.

CP-01Plan the pole position and check your kitDecide how high and how wide the pole needs to be so curtains clear the window and stack back neatly. A common rule is 150-200mm above the window frame and 150-200mm past each side. Lay the pole, brackets and screws out and check the kit is complete before you start.

1 each · Curtain pole kit (with brackets and screws)

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1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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CP-02Work out what the wall is made ofKnock on the wall above the window. A dull, solid sound is brick or block. A hollow sound with a springy give is stud or dot-and-dab plasterboard. Run a magnet or detector sideways at bracket height, looking for a regular line of screw heads about 400-600mm apart, which marks stud centres.

1 each · Stud and cable detector

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1 each · Small fridge magnet

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CP-03Confirm timber or metal stud, if that's what you haveIf the wall is stud, drill a 2mm pilot hole at a marked bracket point and check what comes out. Fine pale dust means timber stud. Grey metallic swarf, or a hole that feels sharp-edged, means a metal stud frame — common in flats, new builds and any refit since the 1990s. Lath and plaster feels bouncy and you'll hit narrow wooden strips every 25-30mm rather than a solid stud.

1 each · 2mm drill bit

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CP-04Mark and level the bracket positionsMark the centre of the window, then measure out equally to each side for the bracket points. Use a spirit level to get both brackets dead level with each other, not just level with the window frame, which may not be square.

1 each · Spirit level

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CP-05Check for cables and pipes, and know how to stop themSweep the marked area with a detector, but don't rely on it alone — cables can run almost anywhere, and detectors miss deep cables, cables in metal conduit, and anything behind metal-backed plasterboard. A metal stud frame will also confuse a cheap detector. Before you drill, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely. If you have any doubt about what's behind the wall, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

CP-06Drill and fix — the right fixing for your wallSolid brick or block: drill a 6mm hole 40mm deep, insert a plastic wall plug, then drive in a screw. Plasterboard on timber studs: pilot with a 2mm bit and drive a wood screw straight into the centre of the stud, no plug needed. Plasterboard on metal studs: never use a plastic plug or a wood screw, which strips straight through 0.5mm steel — use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing where the bracket lands on the stud, or a toggle-type hollow-wall anchor rated for the pole's weight where it falls between studs. Dot-and-dab plasterboard: use a fixing long enough to pass through the dab void and bite into the masonry behind, typically 60-75mm. Lath and plaster: fix into the timber studs or joists behind the laths, not the plaster alone, using a pilot hole to stop old plaster cracking.

4 each · Wall plugs (red, for masonry)

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4 each · Wood screws 40mm

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4 each · Self-drilling metal-stud fixings

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4 each · Toggle-type hollow-wall anchors

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4 each · Long screws 75mm (for dot-and-dab)

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1 each · Cordless drill

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CP-07Know what a metal stud won't hold on its ownA metal stud fixing is fine for a light curtain pole. It is not enough for anything heavy or anything that pulls away from the wall repeatedly, such as a heavy pull-cord track or a pole taking full-length lined curtains that get yanked open every day. In that case, fix through to the masonry behind, or fit a timber noggin between the studs first.

1 each · Timber noggin (50x50mm, cut to fit)

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CP-08Fit the brackets and check they're levelScrew each bracket firmly into its fixing. Rest a spirit level across both brackets to check they're still even before you tighten fully. Give each bracket a firm tug to check it holds.

CP-09Hang the pole and curtainsThread the curtain rings or track glider onto the pole first, then rest the pole in the brackets. Fit any locking screws or finials to stop the pole lifting out. Hang the curtains and check they run smoothly along the pole.

CP-10Tidy upVacuum up drilling dust from the sill and floor, especially plaster or masonry dust. Fold away the dust sheet and wipe down the wall below the brackets.

1 each · Dust sheet

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