Every curtain track is either corded or hand-drawn. It is a small decision that has a surprising effect on how the curtains feel to use day to day.
What the difference actually is
On a hand-drawn track, you take hold of the curtain and pull it along. Simple, cheap and reliable, with nothing to go wrong.
On a corded track, a cord and pulley system runs inside the track. You pull the cord and the curtains move. Your hands never touch the fabric.
The case for corded
It protects the curtains. This is the real argument. Every time you handle a curtain to draw it, you transfer oils from your hands onto the fabric at roughly the same spot. Over years this creates a visible grubby patch along the leading edge, and on pale or delicate fabrics it becomes obvious. A cord eliminates that entirely.
Wide windows become effortless. On a 4-metre span, hand-drawing means walking the curtain across or reaching awkwardly. A cord does it from one position.
The curtains move evenly. The pulley system draws both curtains at the same rate, so they meet properly in the middle rather than one running ahead of the other.
Height stops being a problem. For tall windows or curtains hung close to the ceiling, a cord means never stretching or fetching a stool.
The case for hand-drawn
Cost. Meaningfully cheaper, both for the track and the fitting.
Simplicity. No cord to tangle, fray or eventually need replacing. Nothing to go out of adjustment.
Easier to fit. A hand-drawn track can be cut to length and put up in an afternoon. Corded systems need the cord tensioned correctly, which takes more care.
Nothing hanging down. Some people simply dislike the look of a cord at the side of the window, and in a minimal room it can be a visual distraction.
Child and pet safety
This matters and is worth being direct about. Looped cords are a recognised strangulation hazard for young children. UK regulations require blind and curtain cord systems to be supplied with safety devices, and any looped cord should be secured to the wall with a cleat or tensioner so it cannot be reached.
If you have young children or pets and want corded operation, look at a wand-operated track instead. A wand is a rigid rod that hangs from the leading glider — you get the same protection for the fabric with no loop at all.
What about motorised?
Worth mentioning as the third option. A motorised track gives you all the benefits of corded with none of the reaching, and can be timed or linked to a smart home system. The obvious costs are price and the need for a power supply nearby. For very tall windows, hard-to-reach glazing, or anyone with limited mobility, it can be transformative.
Which should you choose?
Go corded if your curtains are pale, expensive or delicate; if the window is wide or tall; or if the curtains are drawn every single day.
Go hand-drawn if the window is modest, the curtains are washable and hard-wearing, budget matters, or the curtains stay open most of the time.
Consider a wand if you want fabric protection without a looped cord.
Consider motorised if reaching is difficult or the window is exceptional.
One thing to check before ordering
Corded tracks have a fixed cord position — left or right. Decide which side suits the room before you order, taking into account furniture, doors and which side you naturally approach the window from. Changing it afterwards is possible on some systems but rarely straightforward.