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Head-to-head · Best Blackout Curtains

Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout vs Eclipse Fresno

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about Budget shoppers who want the best-tested light blocking for the lowest price and do not need decorative styling or a wide color range. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Blackout Curtains
Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout
2 sources1 derived$21.59as of Aug 1

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'
  • — Triple-weave 240 GSM polyester rated 100% blackout, with a thick blackout coating on the back
  • — Metal grommets slide easily on standard or decorative rods and look modern
Watch-outs
  • — Stock can be intermittent, with the top configuration occasionally unavailable
  • — Limited color and size range compared with specialty curtain brands
  • — Plain styling without decorative options like lace overlays
$21.59 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Eclipse Fresno
Ranked #4 in Best Blackout Curtains
Eclipse Fresno
3 sources2 derived$31.99as of Aug 1

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'
  • — Reduces noise by around 40% and insulates against summer heat and winter chill
Watch-outs
  • — Sold as single panels, so you need two (or more) to cover a typical window
  • — Rod-pocket/back-tab header is less convenient than grommets for daily opening
  • — Lighter colors block less light than the darker options
$31.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

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.

How they stack up

Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout

Reviewed.com ranked it ahead of the NICETOWN Contemporary Lined Blackout for outright light blocking, though NICETOWN won CNN's flashlight test. It uses the same triple-weave approach as the NICETOWN Contemporary Lined Blackout and undercuts the Eclipse Fresno, Best Home Fashion Premium Blackout, and Sun Zero Barrow on price.

Eclipse Fresno

Its near-total light blocking puts it just behind the NICETOWN Contemporary Lined Blackout and Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout, and on par with the Best Home Fashion Premium Blackout. Its rod-pocket/back-tab header is less grab-and-go than the grommets on the NICETOWN Contemporary Lined Blackout and Amazon Basics Room Darkening Blackout, and it blocks far more light than the Sun Zero Barrow.

Specs side-by-side

SpecAmazon Basics Room Darkening BlackoutEclipse Fresno
FabricTriple-weave 240 GSM polyester100% polyester, Thermaback/Thermaweave triple-weave
Light Blocking100% (room darkening, back-coated)98-99.9%
HeaderMetal grommetsRod pocket / back tab
Sizes52 x 84 in, 2 panels52 x 84 in (single panel; other lengths)
ThermalInsulating barrierInsulating (heat and cold)
NoiseNoise-reducing~40% reduction
Extras2 Velcro tie-backs—
CareMachine washableMachine washable
MaterialPolyesterFabric, Microfiber, Polyester
Dimensions84"L x 52"W84"L x 52"W
UV—Blocks harmful UV rays
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