Motorised curtains guide

Types of motorised curtains

There are two main types: a track motor that carries curtains and sheers, and a tubular motor that turns the tube of roller, zebra, pleated and venetian blinds ^[3][1].

One maker’s track motors work with classic, pinch-pleat and wave curtain headings ^[3]. Tubular motors are made for roller, Roman, pleated, zebra and venetian blinds; on venetians the slat tilt can also be motorised ^[1][5]. Motorised tracks are mounted on the ceiling or the wall ^[4].

Power: mains, 24 V or battery

There are three options: mains (230 V) wired, low-voltage (24 V) with a power supply, and motors with a built-in rechargeable battery. Battery systems need no cabling or electrician, but the battery must be charged regularly ^[4][1][6].

Some track motors run on either mains or 24 V; for 24 V the power supply is bought separately ^[4]. Charge intervals depend on use: one maker expects a roller-blind motor to be charged once a year ^[1], while another smart blind lasts 4–6 months with one cycle per day ^[6]. Charge only with the manufacturer’s charger ^[3].

Battery systems may not be fully standalone: some smart blinds need a signal repeater plugged into a socket for remote or app control ^[6].

Mounting and wiring

We recommend ceiling mounting: with a wired motor the cable comes neatly from the ceiling and the blind stays in the layer closest to the glass. Mains connections must follow the manufacturer’s wiring diagram and local regulations, done by a competent installer or electrician ^[4][3].

Plan space for the cable and plug before installation ^[4]. Battery motors need no wiring and no electrical knowledge ^[5][6]. On motors with a radio antenna, do not cut or extend the antenna wire and keep it away from metal ^[1].

Some motorised tracks can be drawn by hand during a power cut ^[4]; when one battery blind runs flat it can be pulled down by hand, but must be recharged before it can be raised ^[6].

Control and smart home

Motorised curtains are run by remote, wall switch or phone app and, with a suitable hub, can be linked to smart-home systems and voice assistants ^[1][4][5].

Manufacturers use different radio protocols; one maker’s protocol runs at 433 MHz, and fitting a Zigbee module moves the motor to 2.4 GHz so the old remotes no longer work ^[1][3]. Zigbee is known for low power use and a self-healing mesh network ^[8]; Matter is a shared standard meant to let devices from different brands work together ^[7]. Check compatibility with your smart-home system on the product page before buying.

Timers, sensors and energy

With a timer the curtain can open and close at set times each day, including when you are away. Some systems link to weather sensors ^[5].

Measured energy data come only from office test settings: in thermally insulated test rooms of a US Department of Energy laboratory, a reflective automated interior blind cut summer window cooling load by 13–15% compared with a conventional fabric blind ^[14]; in another test facility, automated blinds with daylight control saved 19–38% of cooling load and 49–76% of lighting energy ^[15]. These results are for commercial offices and cannot be generalised to homes.

How to choose a motor

A tubular motor is chosen by torque (Nm), a track motor by the curtain weight it can carry and the track length. Manufacturers give selection in their own tables; use the manufacturer’s selection table ^[9][3][10].

As an example, one maker’s battery tubular motor catalogue lists a 0.55 Nm motor for blinds up to 5 m² and a 2 Nm motor up to 18 m² ^[9]. Example track motor values range from 35 kg and 10 m of track to 60 kg and 12 m ^[3]. For large blinds the motor is read from a table where blind width and drop meet ^[10]. Curtain weight includes accessories as well as fabric ^[4]. Ready-made smart blinds may not be cut to size; cutting can void the warranty ^[6].

Safety and standards

Electrical safety of curtain motors is based on IEC/EN 60335-2-97; for child safety the EU requires corded interior blinds to be safe by design ^[11][12][13].

Cordless motorised operation removes the cords and chains that pose a strangulation risk; but the standard does not cover children playing with the drive or people who cannot use it safely without supervision, so it cannot be called "completely safe" ^[11]. Obstacle detection is not standard on every motor; on one maker’s 50 mm blind motor, for example, it works only on the way down and the motor simply stops ^[10]. Indoor motors may not be suitable for bathrooms or outdoors ^[6][1]. Keep batteries away from children.

Noise and care

For one maker’s 24 V blind motor, noise is given as below 44 dB(A) measured 1 m in front of the motor ^[2]; the same maker lists 44 dBA for a battery motor ^[1]. Our advice: check the measurement condition when comparing.

Some track motors have a quiet mode, and noise varies with speed ^[3]. With battery systems care mostly means charging and replacing the remote’s battery ^[6].

Accessibility

Motorised curtains move control to a reachable height for people who find it hard to reach the window; the remote can be fixed to the wall ^[6][16].

The US ADA accessibility standards require operable parts in public facilities to work with one hand without tight grasping and to sit within a set reach range ^[16]. The motor standard still does not cover people who cannot use it without supervision; plan the installation around the user’s needs ^[11].