Bottom line: A curtain fabric manufacturer in China sells fabric by the roll, not finished curtains. Expect standard widths of 280 cm and 300 cm, stock-design MOQs of roughly 500-1,000 m per color (around 800 m is common), and FOB Ningbo pricing. The main fabric families are sheer/voile (60-150 GSM), linen-look polyester, blackout (coated or triple-weave), velvet, and jacquard. Vet for a real mill – not a trader – by asking for swatch cards, loom and dye capacity, and per-batch SGS/Intertek reports.
Fabric Manufacturer vs Finished-Curtain Factory vs Trading Company
Before you send an enquiry, be clear on which kind of supplier you actually need – the MOQ, pricing, and lead time are completely different:
- Fabric manufacturer (mill): weaves and/or dyes fabric and sells it on the roll. You (or a workroom) cut and sew the finished curtain.
- Finished-curtain factory: takes fabric and sews completed panels with headers, hems, and grommets.
- Trading company: resells either one without owning production.
Why it matters: if you import fabric by the container to cut and sew locally – the model most regional wholesalers and curtain workrooms run on – you want a mill, not a finished-goods price from a curtain factory. Dairui operates as both: we weave and dye fabric and stock it by the roll, and we run finished-curtain production, so a buyer can source either from one supplier. The key is to state upfront which you need, because the quote changes entirely.
If you are still deciding between buying raw fabric and ordering completed panels, our guide on buying curtain fabric from China: roll supply or OEM finished walks through the trade-off in detail.
The Main Curtain Fabric Types a China Manufacturer Makes
A full-line fabric mill weaves and finishes several distinct fabric families. These are the ones an export-focused manufacturer like Dairui stocks and produces, with the weight and width ranges buyers ask about most:
| Fabric family | Weight (GSM) | Typical width | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheer / voile | 60-150 | 280 / 300 cm | Light, airy layers; DTC and volume retail |
| Linen-look polyester | 80-150 | 280 / 300 cm | Linen drape, washable, mid-market DTC |
| Blackout (coated) | 200-350 | 280 / 300 cm | 99-100% light block, hotels, volume |
| Blackout (triple-weave) | 200-300 | 280 / 300 cm | 95-99% block, soft hand, premium |
| Velvet | 180-350 | 280 / 300 cm | Plush drape, decorative, dim-out to blackout |
| Jacquard / textured woven | 150-300 | 280 / 300 cm | Woven patterns, decorative programs |
Sheer and voile split into three tiers by fiber and weight: plain polyester voile at 60-90 GSM for high-volume retail, linen-look polyester at 80-110 GSM for mid-market DTC, and linen-blend or 100% linen at 110-150 GSM for premium markets. On the blackout side, construction – not just weight – sets how much light is blocked; our breakdown of coated vs woven vs triple-weave blackout explains why a 220 GSM 3-pass coated fabric out-darkens a heavier single-layer weave.
If an enquiry lists “linen look, blackout 280/300 cm, sheer and voile, and wave fabric,” that maps cleanly onto these families – a useful sign the buyer knows the category and is sourcing fabric by the roll, not finished curtains.
How Curtain Fabric Is Quoted – MOQ, Width, and FOB
Fabric is priced by the meter and ordered by the roll, which changes how you read a quote compared with finished curtains:
- Width: standard rolls are 280 cm and 300 cm wide. That width is the curtain drop (railroaded), so one width covers most window heights without seaming.
- MOQ: stock designs are commonly 500-1,000 m per color (around 800 m is typical); custom-woven or custom-dyed colors carry a higher minimum. Trial and sample lengths are available before a bulk commitment.
- Pricing: quoted FOB Ningbo (or Shanghai). Ask for price per meter at your volume and the loading quantity per container – see our container loading and CBM guide for how much fabric fits a 20 ft vs 40 ft.
- Color: matched from the factory color card or your reference swatch. A lab dip or sample runs about $50-80 per color in 3-5 days – see how curtain sampling works.
All MOQ and price figures here are typical ranges – confirm the exact numbers on your quote, since they move with design, color count, fiber, and order volume.
How to Vet a Curtain Fabric Manufacturer in China
The biggest risk is paying a manufacturer’s expectation to a trader who only holds a showroom. Five checks separate a real mill from a middleman:
- Mill or middleman? Ask to see the weaving and dyeing floors by photo, video, or visit. A real manufacturer can show looms and dye lines; a trader can only show a sample room.
- Swatch cards and lab dips. Genuine mills send physical swatch cards and will run a lab dip to your exact color before bulk production, not just JPEGs.
- Certifications, stated honestly. OEKO-TEX and BSCI on fabric are usually supplier-authorized, not self-held. Ask for the fabric-source certificate plus per-batch SGS or Intertek test reports. For fire-rated projects, confirm the exact standard (NFPA 701, EN 13773, or BS 5867).
- Capacity and dye-lot consistency. Ask annual capacity, loom count, and how they hold color consistency across dye lots on reorders – the number-one headache for repeat fabric buyers.
- Width and roll consistency. Confirm exact usable width (280 vs 300 cm), GSM tolerance, and roll-length consistency, because those three drive your cutting yield and true cost per panel.
Dairui weaves and dyes in-house in Shaoxing with a 500,000-piece annual finished capacity, ships fabric and finished curtains FOB Ningbo, and provides supplier-authorized fabric certificates with per-batch third-party test reports on request. New buyers usually start with swatch cards and a lab dip before placing a first roll order – the same path we would recommend with any mill you are vetting.
Fabric by the Roll, or Finished Curtains?
One last decision sets your whole order: if you cut and sew locally, run a workroom, or sell fabric on to other makers, buy by the roll and keep your cutting flexibility. If you sell completed panels, order finished curtains and skip the workroom step entirely. Plenty of buyers do both – importing roll stock for custom work and finished panels for their catalog range – from a single supplier that produces each. Decide which fits your business, then ask the manufacturer to quote that specific path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOQ for curtain fabric from a China manufacturer?
Curtain fabric is ordered by the roll. Stock designs are commonly 500-1,000 m per color (around 800 m is typical), and custom-woven or custom-dyed colors carry a higher minimum. Trial and sample lengths are available before a bulk order. Pricing is usually FOB Ningbo – confirm exact figures on your quote.
What width does curtain fabric come in?
Standard rolls are 280 cm and 300 cm wide. That width is used as the curtain drop (railroaded), so a single width covers most window heights without a seam. Confirm exact usable width with your supplier, as it affects your cutting yield.
Does a curtain fabric manufacturer also sell finished curtains?
Some do, some only sell fabric. Dairui sells fabric by the roll and also runs finished-curtain production, so buyers can source either. Tell the supplier upfront which you need, because the MOQ, pricing, and lead time are completely different for roll stock versus sewn panels.
How do I know it is a real fabric mill and not a trader?
Ask to see the weaving and dyeing floors by photo, video, or a visit, and request physical swatch cards and a lab dip. A genuine manufacturer can show looms, dye lines, loom count, and capacity figures; a trading company can only show a showroom and forward your request to an unnamed factory.
What certifications should curtain fabric have?
On fabric, OEKO-TEX and BSCI are usually supplier-authorized rather than self-held. Ask for the fabric-source certificate plus per-batch SGS or Intertek test reports. For fire-rated or hospitality projects, confirm the specific standard required – NFPA 701, EN 13773, or BS 5867 – in writing before you order.
How is color matched on curtain fabric?
Color is matched from the factory color card or from a reference swatch you send. A lab dip or sample typically runs about $50-80 per color in 3-5 days before bulk. For repeat orders, confirm how the mill manages dye-lot consistency so reorders match your first run.
Can I buy curtain fabric by the roll and have it shipped by container?
Yes. Fabric is sold by the roll and consolidated into 20 ft or 40 ft containers. Ask your supplier for the loading quantity and CBM at your order size so you can plan freight and landed cost – a 40 ft high-cube holds a large volume of rolled fabric.
Bottom Line
Sourcing curtain fabric from China starts with naming the supplier type: a mill sells fabric by the roll, a curtain factory sells sewn panels, and a trader resells either. Match that to your business, then read the quote on the category’s own terms – 280/300 cm widths, MOQ per color by the roll, FOB Ningbo, and a lab dip before bulk. Vet for a real mill with swatch cards, capacity figures, and per-batch test reports, and confirm dye-lot consistency before you reorder. Get those right and fabric sourcing becomes the predictable, lowest-cost layer of your curtain program.
Last reviewed: 2026-06. Author: DAIRUI Sourcing Desk.
