Curtain Lining Shading Percentage: 6 Types Compared (Two Pages Chart)

The 6 Two Pages linings run from 60% shading rate on a Privacy microfiber to 100% shading rate on the Blackout 2-pass coated and the Thermal 3-pass coated. GSM ladder runs 90 gsm to 250 gsm. Materials cover microfiber, cotton, polyester, and triple weave polyester. That is the whole chart in one paragraph.

The rest of the page maps each rate to the room it serves, the panel that carries it, and the price delta on the configurator. Every number below comes verbatim from the Two Pages product feed. For the full pillar context on light control, the blackout curtains complete guide covers picks, headers, and how to close every side leak.

The 6 Linings at a Glance

One table, six rows, six columns. Every rate on this page comes from the Two Pages product feed, verbatim.

Lining Type	Shading Rate	GSM	Material	Best Room Use	SKU
Privacy	60% to 80%	90 gsm	Microfiber white	Living, dining	41444987502772
Room Darkening	70% to 85%	117 gsm	Cotton white	Bedroom (soft glow)	41444987502772
Room Darkening	75% to 90%	140 gsm	Polyester white	Primary bedroom, office	41444987502772
Room Darkening	90% to 95%	220 gsm	Triple weave polyester, greyish white	Light-sleeper bedroom, theater	41444987502772
Blackout	100%	150 gsm	Microfiber 2-pass coated white	Nursery, primary bedroom	41444987502772
Thermal	100%	250 gsm	Microfiber 3-pass coated white	Sunroom, cold-climate bedroom	41444987502772

How to Read the Shading Rate Column

Shading rate is the percentage of visible light the lining blocks measured through the fabric plane under standard fabric-passthrough conditions. The Two Pages lining reference confirms that 100% shading means zero visible light through the fabric plane. It does not mean zero light in the room.

Three drivers push the number up. GSM is weight per square meter. Fiber density covers microfiber versus cotton versus polyester triple weave. Coating covers uncoated, 2-pass, or 3-pass acrylic. Higher gsm plus tighter weave plus more coating passes equals higher shading rate.

Read the 6 sections that follow like footnotes on the table row that carries the same name.

Privacy: 60% to 80% Shading Rate

Privacy is a 60% to 80% shading rate applied to a 90 gsm microfiber white lining. It is the lightest layer in the Two Pages range. In the hand it reads translucent, closer to a heavy sheer backer than a proper lining. It softens daylight, blocks silhouettes at night, and preserves the read of the face fabric color under sun.

Best fit is a living room, dining room, or any south-facing window where daytime privacy matters and darkening the space is not the goal. Pair with a linen or cotton face fabric to keep the drape airy.

Room Darkening 70% to 85%: 117 gsm Cotton

The cotton room darkening tier is the only natural fiber in the 6 Two Pages linings. At 117 gsm it sits mid-weight, breathable, and drapes closer to the face fabric than the polyester equivalents. Shading rate lands at 70% to 85%, which reads as clearly dim in daytime but keeps a soft morning glow.

Best fit is a bedroom that wants to feel dark without being blacked out. If you like waking with light, this is your row.

Room Darkening 75% to 90%: 140 gsm Polyester

The polyester midweight step-up. 140 gsm, 75% to 90% shading rate, white. It is the most common upgrade over the 117 gsm cotton, offering more darkening for a lower add-on cost on the configurator. Polyester also holds pleat memory better than cotton over time.

Best fit is a primary bedroom, home office, or media room where daylight suppression matters more than fiber origin. Reliable middle-of-the-road pick if you cannot feel the swatch and want the safer polyester bet.

Room Darkening 90% to 95%: 220 gsm Triple Weave

The almost-blackout tier. Two Pages catalogues it as 220 gsm triple weave polyester greyish white, blocking 90% to 95% of visible light. The triple weave construction is what earns the 90+ percent without adding an acrylic coating. Face fabric colors read very close to normal, only slightly warmed by the greyish backer.

Best fit is a bedroom for a light-sleeper who still wants a hint of morning cue, a home theater with ambient light tolerance, or a west-facing living room. Honest note: the greyish-white base can subtly cool the read of pale linen and cotton face fabrics under direct daylight. Order a swatch if the face fabric is ivory or blush.

Blackout: 100% Shading Rate, 150 gsm 2-Pass Coated

The number that matters: 100%. Two Pages delivers full blackout on a 150 gsm microfiber base with 2 acrylic coating passes. The 2 passes are what earn the 100%, not the raw weight. Zero visible light passes through the fabric plane.

The panel does 100%. The install does not. Rod overhang, side return, top gap, and bottom hem still leak. A properly overhung rod with returns turned to the wall closes 90% of that residual leakage.

Thermal: 100% Shading Plus Insulation, 250 gsm 3-Pass Coated

Sounds like the same rate as blackout. Construction disagrees. Two Pages catalogues thermal as 250 gsm microfiber 3-pass coated white, hitting 100% shading plus a proper thermal barrier and mild sound dampening. The third coating pass is the difference: it adds insulation and stiffens the drape noticeably compared to the 150 gsm blackout.

Best fit is a sunroom, a west-facing living room that overheats in summer, or a cold-climate bedroom that loses heat through the window at night. Heaviest of the 6, so plan for a robust rod. For pick-level shopping, the best thermal insulated curtains roundup covers the panels that carry this lining.

Which Room Reads Which Rate

Reversing the chart: pick the room, get the shading rate.

The header shapes the drape. The lining shapes the light. Two decisions, one panel.

From Chart to Hand: Feel the 6 Linings

Percentages read one way on the page and a different way under a bedside lamp. The Two Pages Lining Booklet ships all 6 linings for $2.99. Handling the 90 gsm microfiber next to the 250 gsm 3-pass coated does more for a decision than any chart on this page. Once the rate is felt, the blackout curtains complete guide covers panel picks, headers, and install steps to bring the shading rate from fabric plane to whole-room reality.

FAQ

What does 100% blackout shading rate actually mean?

100% blackout means zero visible light passes through the fabric plane of the lining. The Two Pages 150 gsm 2-pass coated blackout and 250 gsm 3-pass coated thermal both hit that number. It does not mean zero light in the room. Rod overhang, side return, and top-bottom gaps still leak.

What is the shading rate of a privacy lining?

Privacy is 60% to 80% shading rate. Two Pages catalogues it as a 90 gsm microfiber white lining. It blocks silhouettes and softens daylight without darkening the room. Best fit is a living room, dining room, or any window where daytime privacy is the goal and light preservation matters.

How much light does room darkening block?

Room darkening covers 3 tiers on the Two Pages chart: 70% to 85% on 117 gsm cotton, 75% to 90% on 140 gsm polyester, and 90% to 95% on 220 gsm triple weave polyester greyish white. The 90% to 95% tier is often called almost blackout and suits bedrooms that tolerate a soft morning glow.

What is the difference between 2-pass and 3-pass coated blackout lining?

Both hit 100% shading rate on the fabric plane. 2-pass coated (150 gsm microfiber) is standard blackout. 3-pass coated (250 gsm microfiber) adds a thermal barrier and noise dampening, catalogued by Two Pages as thermal lining. Both are the darkest layers in the range.

What is the thermal lining shading rate?

Thermal lining on Two Pages hits 100% shading rate, same as blackout, but delivered on a 250 gsm microfiber 3-pass coated construction. The extra weight and third coating pass add insulation and mild sound dampening. Best fit is a sunroom, west-facing living room, or cold-climate bedroom.

Which lining is best for a nursery?

The 150 gsm 2-pass coated blackout lining hits 100% shading rate at the lightest blackout weight in the range. On a Liz Linen Drape Pleated panel with pinch pleat header and generous rod overhang, it produces the darkest nap-time read available in the catalogue. The 350 gsm thermal is heavier and rarely necessary for a nursery.

Does higher gsm always mean more shading?

Almost, but not linearly. Gsm correlates with fiber density and coating, both of which drive the shading rate. A 90 gsm microfiber sits at 60% to 80%. A 220 gsm triple weave sits at 90% to 95%. A 150 gsm 2-pass coated blackout hits 100% because of the coating, not the raw weight. Construction beats gsm alone.

Can I feel the 6 linings before ordering a full panel?

Yes. The Two Pages Lining Booklet ships all 6 linings for $2.99. Free shipping applies over $300 (the booklet alone will not qualify). Handling the 90 gsm microfiber next to the 250 gsm 3-pass coated does more for a decision than any chart on a page. The booklet is the fastest way to feel the numbers.