How Do Costco's Blackout Curtains Stack Up Against IKEA's? Here's What We Know

Are you getting a good night's sleep? According to the National Institutes of Health, sleeping well is as important for your body as a healthy diet and exercise. When you lie awake night after night, you're at a higher risk of health issues like heart disease and even dementia. Although anxiety, apnea, and other disorders can be to blame for chronic insomnia, too much light in your bedroom may also be a contributing factor. Experts say it's ideal to sleep in total darkness. However, if you work the night shift or live close to neighbors who leave a floodlight on all night, that may be easier said than done. Fortunately, hanging blackout curtains from Costco or IKEA may help — and we decided to compare the two to find out which is the better option.

Both the popular membership club and the iconic Swedish home furnishing store sell blackout curtains and drapes by the pair. IKEA also sells pleated and roller blinds, which may be one of the window treatment types that are right for you if you have an especially small space or prefer a minimalist look. For the sake of simplicity, we decided to limit our comparison to blackout curtain panels only. First, we compared the cheapest available options at both Costco and IKEA. Then, we read through hundreds of customer reviews to compare the highest-rated curtains at both stores. Finally, since there are some red flag home accessories to skip buying at IKEA, and Costco has recently been in the headlines for product recalls, we made sure none of our recommendations have been flagged for any safety concerns.

When it comes to the most affordable option, you will save a little money by shopping at IKEA. The ROSENMANDEL Blackout Curtains are sold as a pair for $20. Available in neutral colors like grey, beige, dark blue, and dark green, the curtains are constructed from 90% recycled material that resembles wool. They can be hung from a rod pocket, tabs, or on a glider track using hidden hooks. Over 200 reviewers gave these IKEA blackout curtains a five-star rating, frequently mentioning them as a great option if you're on a budget. One reviewer said they got the best sleep they've had in some time after hanging a pair.

Costco's least expensive blackout curtains are the SunSmart Tressa Total Blackout Lined Panel Pair, which retail for $25. They are only available in silver, blue, or brown, and they are lined to provide additional privacy and energy savings. Primarily made of polyester, the SunSmart curtains have some viscose fiber woven into the material that provides added texture and gives them a more high-end look. Fewer Costco members left reviews for these curtains, but those who did overwhelmingly gave them a five-star rating, saying that they do an excellent job blocking light as well as keeping out cold air during the winter.

The best-selling blackout curtains at Costco and IKEA both have hundreds of five-star reviews and sport 4.6-star overall ratings. This made it a bit difficult to determine which pair should come out on top, so we had to dig into both customer feedback and each curtain's features to make our decision. In the end, we picked Costco's Total Blackout Velvet Window Curtain 2-pack as the better choice. Available in five unique colors, the curtains retail for about $44, and have large grommets that make them easy to hang. The fabric is thick enough to help block out ambient noise from outside, which is a plus if you're a light sleeper. Reviewers say the fabric is thick and plush enough to provide some insulation, helping to keep energy bills down. 

IKEA's MAJGULL Blackout Curtains boast hundreds of positive reviews from users who say they do a great job of completely darkening a room. They also provide the added benefit of insulating rooms, and they cost slightly less at around $40. With fewer colors to choose from, though, the most popular 84-inch length is frequently out of stock, and some reviewers complained that the fabric was too heavy or had a funny smell. As such, the top-rated IKEA blackout curtains couldn't quite stack up to Costco's top offering. If neither option is right for your space, don't forget that there are other blackout curtain alternatives that won't break the bank.