Verdict
The Best 4Aggregated review·10 sources·updated October 16, 2026·checked October 19, 2026

Best Blackout Curtains

Top blackout curtains ranked by aggregate score from 10 published reviews for true light blocking, thermal insulation, noise reduction, and value.

This guide aggregates 10 published reviews across 4 products; the thinnest-sourced pick rests on 2. No publisher printed a score for the top pick — its rating is derived from what reviewers wrote. How we rank.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.
Quick answer

Eclipse Fresno is our top pick for blackout curtains — an averaged 4.1/5 across 2 published reviews at about $31.99. Runner-up: Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout (~$21.59).

At a glance4 products ▾
2 sourcesall derived
$31.99Best for: Shoppers who want a thick, near-total blackout panel with thermal and noise benefits and don't mind a rod-pocket header or buying single panels.
$31.99 · Check Price on Amazon
1 source
$21.59Best for: Budget shoppers who want the best-tested light blocking for the lowest price and do not need decorative styling or a wide color range.
$21.59 · Check Price on Amazon
2 sourcesall derived
$14.29Best for: budget shoppers who want a true blackout rod-pocket panel and do not mind a shiny polyester finish
$14.29 · Check Price on Amazon
1 source
$16.16Best for: Anyone who needs a nursery or bedroom genuinely dark on a small budget, and who will choose a darker colourway.
$16.16 · Check Price on Amazon

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

The full ranking

How we rank →
Eclipse Fresno
#1 · Top Pick
★ Premium Pick
Best for: Shoppers who want a thick, near-total blackout panel with thermal and noise benefits and don't mind a rod-pocket header or buying single panels.
Eclipse Fresno
2 sourcesall derived$31.99as of Oct 19
▾Why it's ranked here

The Eclipse Fresno is the proven-blackout specialist, laboratory-tested to block 98-99.9% of sunlight through patented Thermaback construction. Bob Vila praised the Eclipse line for blocking 'nearly all sunlight, even in the middle of the day,' and reviewers note no light bleed from the edges, no chemical smell, and roughly 40% noise reduction. It ships as single panels with a rod-pocket header. As a thick, durable, near-total blackout panel at around $40, it is excellent.

Strengths
  • — Laboratory-tested to block 98-99.9% of sunlight and UV rays, with patented Thermaback/Thermaweave construction
  • — Bob Vila named the Eclipse Microfiber line 'Best Lightweight,' blocking 'nearly all sunlight, even in the middle of the day'
Watch-outs
  • — Sold as single panels, so you need two (or more) to cover a typical window
  • — Lighter colors block less light than the darker options
Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout
#2
Best for: Budget shoppers who want the best-tested light blocking for the lowest price and do not need decorative styling or a wide color range.
Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout
1 sourceOne review so far, so ranked one place lower$21.59as of Oct 19
▾Why it's ranked here

The Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout is the value champion and Reviewed.com's Editor's Choice for blackout curtains, after it blocked light better than every other panel they tested. Triple-weave 240 GSM polyester with a back coating earns a 100% blackout rating, and you get thermal insulation and noise reduction for around $35. It is plain, and stock can be spotty. On pure light-blocking per dollar, it is the best buy on this list.

Strengths
  • — Reviewed.com's Editor's Choice for best blackout curtains, doing 'an excellent job of blocking out unwanted light'
  • — Metal grommets slide easily on standard or decorative rods and look modern
Watch-outs
  • — As with any panel, edge gaps can leak light without a wraparound rod
Sun Zero Oslo Theater Grade Extreme 100% Blackout Rod Pocket Curtain Panel
#3
Best for: budget shoppers who want a true blackout rod-pocket panel and do not mind a shiny polyester finish
Sun Zero Oslo Theater Grade Extreme 100% Blackout Rod Pocket Curtain Panel
2 sourcesall derived$14.29as of Oct 19
▾Why it's ranked here

The Sun Zero Oslo Theater Grade Extreme is a polyester rod-pocket blackout panel sold singly, 52 inches wide in 63, 84 or 95-inch lengths. Bob Vila's tester named it the best bang for the buck, rating it 4.5 of 5 for effectiveness and 5 of 5 for value, and liked its heavy, velvety fabric. Reviewed tested three sets bought from different retailers and found they do a decent job blocking light, but its staff thought the shiny polyester looks cheap.

Strengths
  • — Bob Vila rated it 4.5 of 5 for effectiveness and found it performed well once installed
  • — Heavy fabric with a plush, velvety feel, per Bob Vila
Watch-outs
  • — Heavier weight makes the panels harder to slide open and closed, per Bob Vila
  • — Reviewed's staff found the shiny polyester looks cheap
NICETOWN Contemporary Lined Blackout
#4
Best for: Anyone who needs a nursery or bedroom genuinely dark on a small budget, and who will choose a darker colourway.
NICETOWN Contemporary Lined Blackout
1 source$16.16as of Oct 19
▾Why it's ranked here

The NICETOWN Contemporary Lined Blackout takes the top spot on CNN Underscored's flashlight test, where it was the only panel that let no light through. The lined triple-weave build also adds thermal insulation and some sound damping, and the panels cost very little. Consumer Reports is cooler on it, flagging glare from the pure-white colourway, so the colour you pick matters.

Strengths
  • — The only curtain to pass CNN Underscored's flashlight test with no light visible through the fabric
  • — Lined triple-weave construction rated at 85 to 99 percent light blocking
Watch-outs
  • — The lining makes the panels heavy and somewhat stiff to drape
Reviews aggregated from
BobvilaReviewedConsumer ReportsSleepopolisBestreviewsCNN Underscored

Spec comparison

4 products
vs
SpecEclipse FresnoAmazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout
Fabric100% polyester, Thermaback/Thermaweave triple-weaveTriple-weave 240 GSM polyester
Light Blocking98-99.9%100% (room darkening, back-coated)
HeaderRod pocket / back tabMetal grommets
Sizes52 x 84 in (single panel; other lengths)52 x 84 in, 2 panels
ThermalInsulating (heat and cold)Insulating barrier
Noise~40% reductionNoise-reducing
CareMachine washableMachine washable
MaterialFabric, Microfiber, PolyesterPolyester
Dimensions84"L x 52"W84"L x 52"W

Frequently asked questions

What's the strongest pick among blackout curtains?
Eclipse Fresno is the top pick for blackout curtains — 4.1/5 averaged from 2 published reviews. The Eclipse Fresno is the proven-blackout specialist, laboratory-tested to block 98-99.9% of sunlight through patented Thermaback construction. Bob Vila praised the Eclipse line for blocking 'nearly all sunlight, even in the middle of the day,' and reviewers note no light bleed from the edges, no chemical smell, and roughly 40% noise reduction. It ships as single panels with a rod-pocket header. As a thick, durable, near-total blackout panel at around $40, it is excellent.
When was this guide last updated?
This guide was last re-checked in October 2026. Prices, links, and source ratings are re-verified on a rolling basis, and the ranking updates when the underlying scores change.