Eyelets for curtains, banners and tarpaulins take far more strain than those on clothing. They carry the weight of the fabric, resist wind and cope with constant sliding along a pole or rope. That is why size, spacing and edge reinforcement decide how long the finished piece will last. Below you'll find practical advice for each of the three uses.
Curtain eyelets
On curtains, eyelets both hold the fabric and create even, soft folds. The key rule is that the hole must be larger than the curtain pole so the curtain glides easily.
- Size: for poles up to 20–25 mm in diameter use the largest metal eyelets, for example No.34 with a 27.7 mm hole. For thin wires and cords, No.28 or No.31 is enough.
- Number: always use an even number of eyelets so both curtain edges turn back towards the wall.
- Spacing: usually 15–20 cm between centres; closer spacing gives deeper, fuller folds.
- Reinforcement: back the top edge with stiff heading tape or a double layer of interfacing 8–10 cm wide.
CAP RIVER Luxury Metal Rivets – 12.5 mm Gun Metal
Metal eyelets PE 0001 dome
Decorative rivets 2630 – 7 mm antique nickelEyelets for banners
Banners face wind that pulls hard on the corners, so function matters more than looks.
- Use eyelets with a 10–14 mm hole (No.26 or No.28) that will take cable ties and rope.
- Place them every 30–50 cm around the edge and always in every corner.
- Fold the edge double or reinforce it with tape before punching.
- Flat eyelets suit banners best: they don't snag and lie flat when the banner is rolled up.
Eyelets for tarpaulins, covers and awnings
Canvas and tarpaulin are thick and heavy, so they need eyelets with a taller barrel and a wide washer that grips the material on both sides. Avoid sizes that are too small: on canvas, No.4 and No.5 are the minimum for light covers, while for trailer, boat and furniture covers choose No.24 and up.
| Use | Recommended size | Spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Curtain on a pole | No.34 (27.7 mm hole) | 15–20 cm |
| Curtain on a wire | No.28–No.31 | 15–20 cm |
| Banner | No.26–No.28 | 30–50 cm |
| Canvas cover | No.24–No.31 | 40–60 cm |
| Light case or bag | No.4–No.5 | as needed |
Colour and outdoor durability
For indoor curtains colour is a matter of style – gold and gunmetal eyelets suit both modern and classic interiors. For banners and covers that live outdoors, choose a darker finish such as black oxide, where wear and scratches are less visible. After rain, let the piece dry fully stretched out so moisture doesn't sit around the metal parts.
Before punching the whole panel, do a test on a scrap of the same material with the same number of layers. This shows whether the barrel grips properly and whether the eyelet spins. Mark every position with chalk or a fading pen, measuring from both ends towards the middle, so the last eyelet lands exactly where it should and you never have to move one that is already set.
Frequently asked questions
How many eyelets does a curtain need?
Divide the fabric width by your chosen spacing (say 18 cm) and round to an even number. A 2.5 m wide curtain usually ends up with 12–14 eyelets.
Can I fit large eyelets without a machine?
Yes, with a hand setting kit – a hole punch and die for the matching size – and a heavy hammer. For batch work, a press or machine gives a more consistent result.
Why are my banner eyelets pulling out?
Usually the edge wasn't reinforced, or the hole was punched bigger than the barrel. Fold the hem double and punch exactly to the eyelet size.
You'll find the large sizes from No.24 to No.34 in our eyelets collection, and tapes and ribbons for reinforcing edges in their own section.
