Your customer asks for "blackout curtain." But do they actually need blackout? Or will dimout save them money and still do the job? Here's how to tell — and how to sell the right fabric every time.
Most kedai kain langsir in Malaysia use these two terms loosely. Customers hear "blackout" and assume total darkness. Tukang jahit hear "dimout" and think it's just a cheaper blackout. Neither is quite right.
Blackout curtain fabric blocks 99–100% of incoming light. Proper blackout achieves this through a foam-backed or triple-weave construction — a dense opaque layer sandwiched into the fabric itself. Hold it up to fluorescent lighting in your showroom. You should see nothing through it. Zero glow.
Dimout is different. It blocks roughly 70–95% of light depending on the weave density and colour. A dark navy dimout at 240gsm might block 92%. A lighter beige dimout at 180gsm? Closer to 74%. The range is wide.
And that range matters when your customer asks you to recommend one.
Blackout fabrics use one of three methods to achieve total light block. Foam coating is the most common — a layer of acrylic foam applied to the reverse side. Triple-weave blackout is woven with a black yarn core between two decorative layers. And then there's flocking, where a dense fibre layer is adhered to the back. Each method has trade-offs in drape, weight, and durability.
Dimout fabrics don't use any of these methods. Instead, they rely on tight weave construction and heavier gsm to reduce light penetration naturally. No coating. No foam. Just dense fabric doing its job.
This is why dimout drapes better in most cases. Without the stiff foam backing, dimout falls in softer, more natural folds. Curtain makers working on velvet curtain fabric projects often prefer dimout construction for that reason — it moves like proper textile, not like a stiff panel.
Let's talk numbers, because that's what decides most purchasing decisions in this trade.
At wholesale level — and we're talking roll quantity, not per bidang cutting — blackout curtain fabric runs between RM12–28 per metre. The spread depends on backing quality, fabric face design, and whether it's a plain or jacquard. Our bestselling plain blackout sits at roughly RM14.50 per metre for rolls of 45 metres, available in 280cm width.
Dimout ranges from RM8–18 per metre at the same wholesale level. A standard 200gsm dimout in 280cm width averages RM9.50 per metre. Significant savings when you're cutting for a 15-unit condo project in Mont Kiara or a boutique hotel refurbishment along Jalan Ampang.
| Feature | Blackout | Dimout |
|---|---|---|
| Light Blocking | 99–100% | 70–95% |
| Wholesale Price (per m) | RM12–28 | RM8–18 |
| Fabric Weight | 200–320gsm | 160–240gsm |
| Standard Widths | 110" / 118" (280–300cm) | 54" / 110" / 118" |
| Drape Quality | Stiffer (foam-backed) | Softer, more natural fall |
| Heat Insulation | High (2–5°C reduction) | Moderate |
| Durability in Humidity | Varies by coating quality | Generally excellent |
| Best Colours Available | ~143 shades stocked | ~87 shades stocked |
| MOQ (Artwork Fabrics) | 1 roll (45m) | 1 roll (50m) |
For a detailed breakdown of curtain fabric pricing across all categories, check our Curtain Fabric Price Guide Malaysia.
This is where your value as a curtain maker or retailer shows. Anyone can sell what the customer asks for. But guiding them to the right fabric? That builds repeat business and referrals.
Certain projects demand blackout. Full stop. Hotel guest rooms — especially anything 4-star and above — require 99% light block to meet hospitality standards. We supply several hotels along Bukit Bintang and in KLCC where the spec sheet explicitly calls for blackout with tested light-blocking certification.
Shift workers. Nurses, factory operators, security guards working nights. These customers don't just want darkness — they need it for health. A dimout that lets 15% of light through their Cheras apartment window at 9am is not acceptable. Blackout, sewn properly with side returns and pelmets, is the only answer.
Home cinemas and media rooms. West-facing units in high-rise condos where afternoon sun turns the living room into a furnace. Nurseries for newborns. These are all blackout territory.
Here's what experienced tukang langsir know. About 60% of customers who ask for "blackout" would be perfectly happy — and better served — with dimout.
Living rooms are the obvious case. Nobody needs total darkness in a living room during daytime. A good dimout at 85% light block gives privacy, controls glare on the TV, and still lets enough ambient light through so the room doesn't feel like a cave. Pair it with a sheer or semi-sheer layer, and your customer gets the best of both worlds.
Dining areas, study rooms, guest bedrooms where the occupant isn't a shift worker. Shophouse offices along Bangsar or Damansara Heights where you want filtered natural light, not complete darkness. All dimout.
And here's the business angle — selling dimout where appropriate means a lower quote, which means fewer sticker-shock rejections. Your close rate goes up. Your margins stay healthy because dimout still carries solid markup at retail.
Most homeowners don't understand fabric construction. They don't know what gsm means. They've never heard the term "foam-backed." So don't lead with technical specs.
Use this instead.
Bring two sample cuttings to the site visit. One blackout, one dimout. Hold each one up against the window. Let the customer see the difference with their own eyes. Takes 30 seconds. Closes the conversation faster than any explanation you could give.
If they still ask questions, keep it simple: "Blackout is like closing your eyes — nothing gets through. Dimout is like wearing sunglasses — you still know the sun is there, but it's comfortable." Every homeowner understands that analogy.
Keep at least 3 blackout and 3 dimout cuttings in your sample book specifically for comparison demos. Label them clearly with the light-blocking percentage. We provide free sample cuttings for walk-in customers at our Jalan Klang Lama showroom — grab a set on your next visit and use them at your customer consultations.
When a customer is on the fence, the price difference often decides. For a standard bedroom window at 2.4m x 2.6m, the fabric cost difference between blackout and dimout might be RM35–50. Not life-changing. But multiply that across 4 bedrooms, a living room, and a dining area in a typical condo unit, and you're looking at RM200–350 in savings by using dimout where blackout isn't needed.
That's real money for a young couple furnishing their first home in Setapak or Puchong. And recommending that saving — rather than upselling blackout everywhere — is what gets you their friends' business too.
Both blackout and dimout fabrics are ready stock at our Petaling Jaya warehouse in the most popular colourways. But be aware: stock runs low before Raya season and before major property handover waves. If your project timeline lands in November through January, order early. Container shipments from our factories in China can face 3–6 week delays during Chinese New Year.
For unusual colours or custom colourways — especially for hotel or commercial projects — budget an additional 6–8 weeks for production. MOQ for custom colours is 500 metres for blackout, 300 metres for dimout.
Walk-in cutting is available for both blackout and dimout at our showroom along Jalan Klang Lama. Minimum cutting charge applies for quantities under one roll. Contact us for current per-metre cutting rates.
280cm and 300cm widths across all our blackout and dimout lines. No piecing needed for standard ceiling heights — saves your tukang jahit time and reduces waste on every job.
143 blackout shades and 87 dimout shades in ready stock. Not 500 colours where 400 gather dust. We curate based on what Malaysian developers and homeowners actually buy — warm greys, soft beiges, off-whites dominate.
Every batch is tested for light transmittance. We provide test certificates for hotel and commercial projects. No guesswork about whether your "blackout" actually blocks 99% or just 90%.
We import direct — no middlemen between our factories and your workshop. Wholesale pricing from RM8 per metre for dimout, RM12 per metre for blackout. Volume discounts on orders above 500 metres.
Ready stock items available for same-day walk-in collection from our Taman Desaria warehouse. Located at Batu 8, Jalan Klang Lama — easy access from Federal Highway and LDP.
Regular curtain makers and retailers get 30-day credit terms after account setup. Dedicated trade rep for commercial project quotations with per-project pricing.
Blackout fabric blocks 99–100% of light using an opaque backing or coating, creating near-total darkness. Dimout fabric blocks roughly 70–95% of light, allowing a soft ambient glow through. The key difference is the backing construction — blackout uses a foam or triple-weave layer, while dimout relies on denser weaving without a full opaque coating. For everyday rooms, dimout works perfectly. For total darkness, you need genuine blackout.
Generally, yes. Blackout fabric ranges from RM12–28 per metre at wholesale, while dimout falls between RM8–18 per metre. The price gap comes from the additional coating or backing layer required for full light block. However, some premium dimout fabrics with textured jacquard finishes can actually exceed basic blackout pricing. Always compare like-for-like quality, not just the "blackout" or "dimout" label.
Absolutely. Dimout works well in bedrooms where complete darkness isn't strictly needed. Many homeowners in Malaysia actually prefer dimout for master bedrooms because it allows soft morning light through — which helps with natural waking instead of an alarm. For shift workers or anyone who needs to sleep during daytime, blackout is the better choice. But for the average bedroom, a good 85–90% dimout does the job comfortably.
Most 4-star and 5-star hotels specify blackout for guest rooms to meet international hospitality standards. Hotels along Bukit Bintang and in KLCC typically require 99% minimum light blocking with tested certification. Dimout is commonly used in hotel corridors, lobbies, and function rooms where total darkness is unnecessary. We supply both grades with the test certificates needed for hotel project tenders.
Yes — and this is a strong selling point for Malaysian condos. The foam or coating layer in blackout fabric reflects solar heat, reducing room temperature by 2–5°C in direct sun exposure. Particularly useful for west-facing units, which are common in KL developments. Dimout provides some heat reduction too, but noticeably less than a proper blackout. For customers prioritising energy savings and air-conditioning costs, blackout pays for itself over time.
Our standard widths are 110 inches (280cm) and 118 inches (300cm) for both blackout and dimout ranges. Some entry-level dimout fabrics are available in 54-inch (137cm) width only — these are typically used for cushion covers or narrow window applications rather than full curtain panels. For curtain making, the 280cm and 300cm widths cover standard ceiling heights without joining seams.
Send us your project details — room type, window sizes, light requirements. We'll recommend the right fabric and quote you trade pricing on the spot.