Brackets carry the entire load of a curtain pole, and choosing the wrong type is behind a lot of installation problems. There are fewer types than the terminology suggests.
End brackets
The standard support, fitted near each end of the pole. Every installation needs two.
Most sit on a wall plate with an arm that holds the pole, and the important dimension is the projection — how far the pole sits from the wall. Standard projection is usually 8–10cm, which clears most sills and radiators. If your window has a deep sill, or a blind fitted inside the recess, you need a deeper projection so the curtains hang clear.
Centre brackets
Fitted mid-span on longer poles to prevent sagging. Anything over about 200cm should have one; over 300cm, use two.
Standard centre brackets cradle the pole from below and physically block the rings, which means curtains cannot draw past the centre. That is fine if you have a pair meeting in the middle, and a problem if you have a single curtain drawing the full width.
Passing brackets
The solution to the above. A passing bracket holds the pole in a way that allows the rings to travel over it, using specially shaped passing rings that clip around the bracket arm.
Use these whenever you need a centre support and the curtains must draw the full width. They are also essential on wide single-curtain installations.
Recess brackets
Where the pole fits inside the window recess rather than on the face of the wall. These mount to the side walls of the recess, so the pole ends butt into the reveal and there is no room for finials.
Recess fitting suits deep reveals and rooms where you want the curtains contained within the opening. Be aware you lose the overhang, so curtains will always cover some glass when open.
Ceiling brackets
Fixed to the ceiling rather than the wall. Useful when there is no usable wall above the window, when a steel lintel makes wall fixing difficult, or when you want curtains hung from ceiling height for a taller look.
Ceiling fixings must go into joists. Plasterboard alone will not hold a curtain pole from above, and the consequences of failure are worse than a wall fixing.
Double brackets
Carry two poles on one fixing, for a sheer or voile behind a main curtain. Check the spacing between the two arms is enough that the front curtain hangs clear of the back one — too close and the layers press against each other.
Choosing the projection
Measure from the wall to the outermost obstruction — sill nosing, radiator, blind fitting, window opener — and add 3–4cm. That is your minimum projection.
Curtains that press against a sill or radiator will not hang properly and will wear along the contact line.
How many brackets
Two for poles up to about 200cm. Three up to about 300cm. Four beyond that, or wherever a bay corner needs supporting. Heavy interlined curtains justify an extra bracket regardless of span.
Fixing them properly
Into masonry, use plugs with screws reaching at least 50mm into the brick itself, allowing for plaster depth. Into plasterboard, find the timber studs or noggin and fix into those — or fit a batten first. Never rely on plasterboard plugs alone for anything heavier than a light voile.
Check each bracket is level with the others before mounting the pole. A pole that is out of level by even a few millimetres over its length will show clearly against the top of the window.