PVC Strip Curtain Thickness Guide: 2mm, 3mm, 4mm — Which Do You Need?

Last updated: April 2026

PVC strip curtain thickness is one of the most important specifications to get right. Too thin and strips flap in draughts, get damaged by vehicles, and lose sealing effectiveness. Too thick and strips become stiff, hard to push through, and unnecessarily expensive.

2mm PVC Strips: Lightweight and Flexible

2mm is the lightest and most flexible standard grade. Use it when the opening is primarily used by pedestrians, strips need to part easily with minimal force, the environment is ambient temperature, and budget is a primary consideration.

Not suitable for: forklift traffic, cold rooms below -5°C, or openings with significant draught pressure.

3mm PVC Strips: The Most Popular All-Rounder

3mm is the workhorse of PVC strip curtains — the specification most frequently sold in the UK. It suits warehouses and distribution centres, cold rooms and chillers, food manufacturing, loading bays with low to moderate vehicle frequency, and the vast majority of commercial applications.

Not suitable for: daily heavy forklift traffic or blast freezers below -25°C.

4mm PVC Strips: Heavy-Duty Performance

4mm strips are specified for the most demanding environments: high-frequency forklift access points, blast freezers and deep-freeze cold stores below -20°C, large industrial openings where strip stiffness maintains the seal, and vehicle spray booths.

Note: 4mm strips require more force to push through — not suitable for pedestrian-only areas.

Quick Selection Guide

Browse our full range by thickness in our PVC strip curtains collection.