Battery or hardwired? Choosing a curtain motor
buying-guide

Battery or hardwired? Choosing a curtain motor

SmartCurtains
•
January 14, 2026
•
5 min
Battery or hardwired? Choosing a curtain motor

Every motorized curtain runs on one of two things: a rechargeable battery tube inside the rail, or a wire back to your electrics. The fabric gets all the attention, but this is the choice that decides how the installation day goes and what you do three years from now.

Battery

A rechargeable battery motor needs no wiring at all. We fit it in an hour, there is nothing to patch and nothing to repaint, and you charge it through a USB lead once or twice a year — the client's own FAQ figure is six to twelve months on a charge.

It is the right answer for a rented flat, for a window with no socket nearby, and for anybody who does not want an electrician in the house.

Motorized Smart Curtainsfrom $479

Hardwired

A hardwired motor is quieter, moves a heavier curtain, and never needs charging. If you are already renovating, or the window is somewhere a ladder is a nuisance — a stairwell, a tall south-facing living room — it is worth the wiring.

We work with the outlets you have where we can. Where we cannot, we will tell you before you order, not on installation day.

Which to pick

BatteryHardwired
WiringNoneTo a nearby outlet
NoiseQuietQuieter
Heavy curtainsUp to medium weightAny weight
MaintenanceCharge 1–2× a yearNone
Best forRentals, finished roomsRenovations, tall windows

If you are unsure, book a free measurement and we will look at the window and tell you which one it wants. There is no charge and no obligation.

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