Best Places to Buy Cheap Curtains Online

Shopping for budget curtains online offers convenience and competitive pricing, but knowing where to shop makes the difference between finding genuine deals and wasting money on low-quality products. After researching curtains across dozens of retailers — comparing prices, return policies, selection, and thousands of customer reviews — we’ve identified the best places to buy cheap curtains that balance price, quality, and reliability.

Amazon: Best Overall Selection

Why we recommend it: Amazon dominates the budget curtain market with an unmatched selection spanning thousands of options across every style, size, and price point. Their robust review system, featuring millions of customer photos and detailed feedback, helps you make informed decisions. Prime shipping means your curtains arrive in 1-2 days, perfect for last-minute room makeovers.

Price range: $10-$30 for most budget options Standout brands: AmazonBasics, NICETOWN, Deconovo, H.VERSAILTEX Return policy: 30 days, free returns for Prime members

The key to Amazon success is filtering reviews carefully. Look for “Verified Purchase” badges and recent reviews with photos showing curtains installed in real homes. Sort by “Most Recent” to see current product quality, as manufacturers sometimes change factories or materials over time.

Pro tip: Add items to your cart and wait a day or two. Amazon frequently offers time-sensitive discounts on items in your cart to encourage purchases.

Walmart: Best for Budget Basics

Why we recommend it: Walmart has significantly expanded their curtain selection in recent years, offering competitive pricing that often beats Amazon by a few dollars. Their “Pickup Today” option lets you examine curtains in person before committing, reducing return hassles. The Walmart app frequently offers app-only discounts and clearance deals.

Price range: $8-$25 for basic options Standout brands: Mainstays (Walmart brand), Better Homes & Gardens, Eclipse Return policy: 90 days with receipt, very flexible

Walmart excels at basic, solid-color curtains perfect for rentals or rooms where you prioritize function over fashion. Their house brand, Mainstays, offers surprisingly decent quality for rock-bottom prices. While you won’t find trendy patterns or specialty features, their basics consistently perform well.

Pro tip: Check Walmart’s “Rollback” section for temporary price reductions on overstocked items. These deals can save 20-40% off regular prices.

Wayfair: Best for Style Variety

Why we recommend it: Wayfair caters to design-conscious shoppers seeking more style options than basic big-box stores offer. Their photo-heavy interface with room scene images helps you visualize curtains in different settings. The “Shop the Look” feature lets you recreate entire rooms, including coordinating curtains, rugs, and furniture.

Price range: $15-$40 for budget to mid-range Standout brands: Wayfair Basics, Andover Mills, Winston Porter Return policy: 30 days, but return shipping costs vary

Wayfair runs frequent sales—up to 70% off—particularly during major holidays and seasonal transitions. Sign up for their emails (using a separate email folder) to receive sale notifications and exclusive discount codes. Free shipping typically kicks in at $35, so bundling curtain panels with other home items maximizes value.

Pro tip: Wayfair’s clearance section, called “Open Box,” offers returns and floor models at steep discounts. These are often perfect, just missing original packaging.

Target: Best for Trendy Styles

Why we recommend it: Target consistently offers on-trend curtain styles at budget-friendly prices. Their in-house brands—Project 62 (modern), Threshold (classic), and Opalhouse (boho)—deliver designer looks for $20-$30 per panel. The ability to order online and pick up in-store lets you examine quality before committing.

Price range: $15-$35 for most options Standout brands: Project 62, Threshold, Opalhouse Return policy: 90 days with receipt, one year for RedCard holders

Target’s seasonal refresh cycle means new curtain styles drop every few months. Shopping at season’s end (late summer for summer styles, late winter for winter styles) yields clearance deals of 30-50% off. The Target Circle rewards program offers additional 5% discounts and personalized deals.

Pro tip: Combine manufacturer coupons (found on brand websites) with Target Circle offers for maximum savings. Stack these with RedCard’s 5% discount for 20%+ total savings.

Overstock: Best for Clearance Deals

Why we recommend it: Overstock specializes in excess inventory and discontinued patterns, offering premium brands at budget prices. You’ll find curtains from well-known manufacturers marked down 40-70% because they’re last season’s colors or overstock items. Quality often exceeds what you’d find at the same price from budget-focused retailers.

Price range: $12-$35 for clearance items Standout brands: Rotating selection of name brands Return policy: 30 days, return shipping not free

The challenge with Overstock is limited quantities—once an item sells out, it’s gone. If you find curtains you love, buy what you need immediately. The flip side is pressure to act quickly sometimes leads to hasty decisions, so measure carefully and read reviews thoroughly before purchasing.

Pro tip: Sign up for Club O rewards ($20/year) for free shipping and 5% rewards on purchases. This pays for itself quickly if you buy multiple home items annually.

Tips for Shopping Cheap Curtains Online

Verify dimensions carefully. Online listings sometimes contain errors. Cross-reference dimensions in the title, description, and specifications. When in doubt, check customer reviews—someone usually mentions if actual size differs from advertised.

Read reviews strategically. Focus on 3-4 star reviews rather than 5-star or 1-star ratings. These tend to be most balanced and detailed. Look for reviews from people with similar windows and needs as yours. Search reviews for specific terms like “light blocking,” “wrinkle,” or “thin” to find relevant feedback quickly.

Compare per-panel pricing. Some retailers list prices per panel, others per pair. Calculate price-per-panel to ensure accurate comparisons. A “cheap” single panel may actually cost more than a competitor’s pair.

Factor in shipping costs. Free shipping thresholds vary wildly. A slightly higher price with free shipping often beats a lower price with $10+ shipping. Amazon Prime, Walmart+, and retailer credit cards frequently offer free shipping benefits that offset annual fees for frequent shoppers.

Check return policies before buying. Some retailers charge restocking fees or make you pay return shipping for curtains. Amazon and Walmart offer the most generous return policies. Keep all packaging until you’ve installed curtains and confirmed you’re keeping them.

Look for bundle deals. Buying multiple panels or combining curtains with rods often triggers discounts or free shipping. Plan ahead if you’re decorating multiple rooms to maximize bundling opportunities.

When to Shop for Best Prices

January and July bring major clearance sales as retailers make room for new seasonal inventory. You’ll find the previous season’s colors and patterns heavily discounted.

Holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day) feature home goods sales across most major retailers. Combine these sales with store credit cards or rewards programs for deeper discounts.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer steep discounts, but competition is fierce. Add items to carts early and complete purchases quickly when sales go live.

Mid-week shopping sometimes reveals better deals than weekends, particularly at Target and Walmart, which refresh deals on Sundays but see less traffic midweek.

Red Flags to Watch For

Avoid curtains with predominantly 1-star reviews mentioning “thin,” “see-through,” or “falls apart.” A few negative reviews are normal, but patterns of similar complaints indicate quality issues.

Be skeptical of prices that seem too good to be true. A $5 pair of blackout curtains likely performs poorly. Sweet spot for quality budget curtains is $15-$30.

Watch for inconsistent product photos. If photos show different curtain styles or colors, the listing may be incorrect or the seller may be unreliable.

Final Recommendations

For most shoppers, Amazon offers the best combination of selection, pricing, and convenience. Their massive inventory ensures you’ll find exactly what you need, and Prime shipping means quick delivery.

If you prefer examining products in person before buying, Walmart and Target excel with pickup options and generous return policies.

For design-conscious shoppers willing to wait for sales, Wayfair delivers more stylish options, though prices run slightly higher than pure budget retailers.

Whatever your preference, these retailers consistently deliver quality budget curtains that prove you don’t need to spend a fortune to transform your space.