You’ve probably been there. You just finished a gorgeous bathroom renovation, or maybe you finally moved into that apartment with the soaring ceilings and the clawfoot tub. You go to the big-box store, grab a standard 72-by-72-inch curtain, and hang it up. Then you see it. That awkward, four-inch gap at the bottom where the world can see your ankles and water can escape to ruin your baseboards. It looks cheap. It feels unfinished. Honestly, a standard curtain in a high-ceiling bathroom is like wearing high-water pants to a black-tie gala.
Extra long shower curtains and liners aren't just for people with fancy tastes. They are a functional necessity for modern homes. Most modern construction now favors 9-foot or even 10-foot ceilings. If you mount your curtain rod at the standard height in a room that tall, you’re wasting the vertical space and making your bathroom look smaller than it actually is. By moving that rod up toward the ceiling and using a curtain with some real length, you draw the eye upward. It’s an old interior design trick. It works every time.
But there is a lot of confusion about what "extra long" actually means. Is it 84 inches? 96? Does the liner need to match exactly? If you get this wrong, you’ll end up with a pile of wet fabric bunching on the floor, which is a fast track to mold and a tripping hazard.
The math of the floor-to-ceiling look
Standard curtains are 72 inches square. That’s the baseline. Anything beyond that falls into the "long" or "extra long" category. Usually, you’re looking at two main tiers: 84 inches and 96 inches. Some specialty manufacturers like Annie Selke or specific hospitality suppliers go even further, reaching 108 inches for those truly cavernous spaces.
Why does this matter? Because of the rod.
If you have a tension rod, you have flexibility. But if you have a fixed, permanent rod, you are locked in. Most people make the mistake of measuring from the rod to the floor and buying a curtain that is exactly that length. Don’t do that. You need to account for the rings. Most shower curtain rings add about one to two inches of "drop." If you buy a 96-inch curtain for a 96-inch space, it’s going to drag. You want about a half-inch of clearance from the floor. This allows for air circulation. Without air, the bottom of your curtain stays damp. Dampness leads to pink mold (which is actually a bacteria called Serratia marcescens). It’s gross. It’s hard to clean. Avoid it by measuring properly.
🔗 Read more: Blue Tabby Maine Coon: What Most People Get Wrong About This Striking Coat
Common sizing at a glance
- 72 x 84 inches: This is the most common "extra long" size. It’s perfect for standard ceiling heights where you want to mount the rod higher than usual to create a more "boutique hotel" feel.
- 72 x 96 inches: The heavy hitter. This is for bathrooms with 9-foot ceilings or for clawfoot tubs that sit high off the ground.
- Custom widths: Sometimes "extra long" isn't enough; you need "extra wide" too. If you have a wrap-around rod for a freestanding tub, you might need a width of 108 or even 180 inches.
The liner dilemma: Fabric vs. PEVA
The liner is the workhorse. While the outer curtain does the heavy lifting for aesthetics, the liner is the frontline defense against water damage. When dealing with extra long shower curtains and liners, the material choice becomes even more critical because there is more surface area to trap moisture.
A lot of people still buy PVC liners. Stop doing that. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) off-gasses phthalates and has that "new shower curtain smell" which is actually just chemicals entering your lungs. It’s also stiff. In an extra-long format, a stiff PVC liner is a nightmare to wrangle. It won't drape. It’ll poke out of the tub and leak water onto your rug.
Go with PEVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate) or fabric. PEVA is PVC-free, non-toxic, and much softer. However, for a truly high-end feel, a heavy-weight fabric liner made of polyester is the gold standard. These are treated with a water-repellent coating. They drape beautifully. They don't have that "static cling" that makes a cheap plastic liner wrap around your legs while you're trying to wash your hair.
Weighing it down
One of the biggest complaints with longer curtains is "the blow-in." It’s a physics thing. The Bernoulli Principle suggests that the fast-moving warm air inside the shower creates lower pressure, and the higher pressure outside pushes the curtain inward. With more fabric in an extra-long curtain, there’s more surface area for the air to push against.
You need weights.
💡 You might also like: Blue Bathroom Wall Tiles: What Most People Get Wrong About Color and Mood
Look for liners with heavy-duty magnets at the bottom. If you have an acrylic or fiberglass tub, magnets won't do anything. In that case, you need "weighted hems" which usually involve a lead-free glass bead or a heavy rubber cord sewn into the bottom seam. This keeps the curtain taut and prevents it from invading your personal space.
Where to actually find these things
You won't find a great selection of 96-inch curtains at your local grocery-anchored department store. They usually stop at 72 or maybe 78 inches. You have to look at specialty retailers.
Places like The Company Store or West Elm are reliable for the 84-inch variety. For the 96-inch or custom lengths, you might have to hit up Etsy or specialized bath boutiques. Amazon has them, of course, but you have to be careful. Read the reviews. Check the weight. Many "extra long" curtains on discount sites are paper-thin and look terrible once they're hung up. A thin 96-inch curtain looks like a hanging bedsheet. You want something with "heft"—look for a "Grams per Square Meter" (GSM) rating of at least 200 for fabric curtains.
Installation tricks for the "Built-in" look
If you’re going for the extra-long look, don't use a cheap plastic tension rod. It will bow in the middle under the weight of all that extra fabric. Use a permanent, screw-in rod.
Better yet, look into ceiling-mounted tracks.
📖 Related: BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse Superstition Springs Menu: What to Order Right Now
If you have a walk-in shower with a high ceiling, a track mounted directly to the ceiling is the cleanest look possible. It eliminates the visual clutter of the rod and rings entirely. You just see a wall of fabric. This is how high-end hotels in New York and London handle small bathrooms to make them feel like spas.
Maintenance is different for long curtains
You can't just throw a 96-inch heavy cotton curtain in a tiny apartment washing machine and expect it to come out great. These things get heavy when wet. Very heavy.
If you have a linen extra-long curtain, be prepared for shrinkage. Linen can shrink up to 10% on the first wash. If you bought a 96-inch linen curtain and wash it on hot, it’s now an 86-inch curtain, and your "floor-to-ceiling" look is ruined. Always wash in cold water and air dry, or buy a curtain that has been "pre-shrunk" or "garment washed."
For the liners, the same rules apply: wash them once a month. Yes, even if they don't look dirty. Soap scum and skin cells build up in those long folds at the bottom. A quick cycle with some white vinegar and a couple of towels (to act as scrubbers) will keep a PEVA or fabric liner fresh for years.
The "Doubling Up" Strategy
Some designers suggest using two "standard" width but extra-long panels instead of one wide one. This allows you to pull them to either side like window drapery. It adds a layer of symmetry that feels very intentional. If you go this route, make sure your rod is sturdy. Two 96-inch heavy-duty cotton panels plus a liner is a significant amount of weight.
Actionable steps for your bathroom
- Measure twice: Measure from the ceiling to the floor, then subtract two inches for the rod/rings and a half-inch for the floor gap.
- Check your tub material: If it's not metal, skip the magnets and look for "weighted hem" liners specifically.
- Buy the liner first: It's easier to find a long decorative curtain than a long liner. Make sure you can get a 84 or 96-inch liner before you fall in love with a curtain you can't protect.
- Steam it: Extra long curtains arrive with deep creases from being folded in a box. A hand steamer is your best friend here. Don't expect the shower steam to get those wrinkles out; it’s never hot enough.
- Go high: Mount your rod at least 8-10 inches above the top of the shower opening if space allows. This is the "secret" to that luxury look.