What is a curtain track runner or glider?
A runner, also called a glider or carrier, is the small part that slides inside or along a curtain track. Each curtain hook or pendant hangs from one, so the runners carry the curtain's weight and let it open and close. On Wave Fold and S Fold tracks they are also held at a set spacing.
Runner and glider mean the same thing. So does carrier. Different makers and different retailers use different words, and you will hear all three.
What runners do
A curtain does not hang from the track itself. It hangs from a row of runners, one for each hook or pendant in the heading. When you draw the curtain the runners slide along the track and the fabric follows. Runners are made to suit one track profile, so a runner from one track will not always fit another.
Why spacing matters on Wave Fold and S Fold
On a pleated curtain the runners are loose and sit wherever the hooks put them. On a Wave Fold or S Fold track the runners are joined so they can only spread to a set distance. That spacing, together with the tape in the curtain heading, forms the wave and sets how much fabric the curtain needs. It is why the track and the curtain for these styles are ordered to match.
Other parts you may hear about
- Lead runner or master carrier: the runner at the leading edge of the curtain. On a cord drawn or motorised track it is the part that is pulled.
- End stop: the part at each end of the track that stops the runners coming out.
- Hook or pendant: the part fixed to the curtain heading that hangs on the runner.
When runners need attention
A runner that is cracked or missing can usually be replaced without replacing the track, as long as the replacement suits that track. If a curtain becomes hard to slide, ask your retailer or installer to look at the track, the joins and the runners together.
Your curtain retailer or installer can tell you which track and runners suit your curtains, and can order replacements that fit. Speedy Blinds makes curtains and tracks for retailers and does not quote or install for homeowners.
Other ways people ask this
What is a curtain glider?
The same part as a runner.
What is a curtain carrier?
Another name for a runner or glider.
Are curtain runners and curtain hooks the same?
No. The hook is on the curtain. The runner is in the track, and the hook hangs from it.
How many runners does a curtain need?
One for each hook or pendant. The count comes from the track width and the spacing, and our public Curtain Calculator works it out.
Useful on this site
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.
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