Guides
Which curtain motor brand should you choose? How to read Somfy and Novo specs first
"Which brand is good" can't be answered with a brand name alone — one brand makes many models with different strength and different controls. What matters is that model's specs against your window. This guide walks through each spec, with figures from the manufacturers' sheets.
People about to fit a motorized roller blind or a motorized curtain track usually ask the same thing: which motor brand is good? We won't rank them, because the motor that suits a wide living-room opening and the one that suits a small bedroom window are different motors — even within one brand. So this guide shows you how to read a spec sheet, and then you can compare for yourself, whichever shop you're talking to.
Which curtain motor brand is good? The straight answer
Look at the model, not the brand. The brand tells you who made it. The model tells you how strong the motor is, how much weight it carries, what tube it fits and how it's controlled. We fit four brands — Somfy, Novo, Kacee and Uni — and which model goes on your windows depends on the size and weight of each blind.
- Don't compare names alone — always ask for the full model name of the motor on the quote.
- Match the specs to the real window — an oversized motor doesn't make a blind better, but an undersized one is a real problem.
- Ask how that model is controlled — remote, app or wall switch; models differ.
- Ask about the warranty — how many years, who stands behind it, and what it covers.
What does each curtain motor spec mean?
A roller motor's spec sheet only has a handful of figures. Once you can read them, you'll know which ones matter for your home and which are just good to know.
| Spec | What it means | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Torque (Nm) | The motor's turning force. A bigger number turns a heavier load | Wide or tall blinds and heavy fabric — the heavier the blind, the more torque it needs |
| Speed (rpm) | How many turns the tube makes in a minute | How fast the blind travels. The fabric's actual speed also depends on the tube size |
| Carries up to (kg) | The heaviest blind the maker says that model can carry | Check it alongside torque when the blind is large or the fabric is heavy |
| Roller tube (mm) | The diameter of the tube the motor slides into | Motor and tube have to match. The shop picks them to suit the width of the blind |
| IP rating | How well the motor body keeps out dust and water | Spots with moisture or spray, such as near a balcony |
| Noise (dB) | The loudest the motor gets while running. Lower is quieter | Bedrooms, home offices, media rooms |
| Control | How the motor takes commands — a radio (RF) remote, WiFi, and so on | If you want phone control, check this before anything else |
One thing to know about noise: each maker may measure dB a different way and at a different distance, so comparing across brands is only rough. If noise really matters to you, hearing the actual motor or watching a clip of that model tells you more than the number.
How do Somfy and Novo curtain motor specs differ?
This table covers the three roller motors we hold spec sheets for. The figures come from the spec sheets the shop holds — nothing rounded, nothing filled in. The K25 model name follows what the shop told us, and any cell we can't yet confirm is left as a dash.
| Novo K25 6-28 | Novo K45 15-28 | Somfy LSN 40 6/28 RTS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torque | 6 Nm | 15 Nm | 6 Nm |
| Speed | 28 rpm | 28 rpm | 28 rpm |
| Carries up to | 20 kg | 50 kg | – |
| Control | Radio remote (RF) · WiFi | Radio remote (RF) | Somfy RTS radio remote |
| Supply | – | AC 220V | AC 230V 50Hz |
| Power | – | 150 W | – |
| Noise | – | up to 32 dB | – |
| Ingress protection | IP44 | IP44 | – |
| Roller tube | 50 mm | 65 mm | – |
| Motor length | 573 mm | 547 mm | 562 mm |
Three things to take from the table. First, the Novo K25 and the Somfy LSN 40 have the same torque and speed on paper: 6 Nm at 28 rpm. Second, the Novo K45 has 15 Nm of torque, carries up to 50 kg and takes a larger 65 mm tube, so it's the model for heavier blinds. Third, the control is different on all three — the K25 is the only sheet that lists WiFi. We also fit Kacee and Uni, but their spec sheets aren't in this table yet; just ask.
Which spec should you check first for your window?
- Wide or tall openings, or heavy fabric — check torque and load first. A higher-torque motor carries a heavier blind.
- Bedrooms — check noise, and ask how much light the fabric you've picked blocks. More in blackout vs sunscreen fabric.
- You want phone control — check the control row before anything else, then confirm with the shop that the model you'll actually get supports the app.
- Several blinds in one room — ask how many blinds one remote can run, and whether each can be moved on its own.
- Spots with moisture or spray — check the IP rating and tell the shop what the site is like.
- No socket near the headrail — the Novo K45 and Somfy LSN 40 in the table run on mains power. If you don't want wiring, ask about a rechargeable battery motor. More in do motorized blinds work in a power cut.
What are the specs of the Novo N99 curtain track motor?
A track motor works differently from a roller motor. It doesn't wind fabric up; it draws the curtain along a track. So the figures look different — less torque, more rpm, plus a travel speed — and can't be compared directly with the table above.
| Novo N99 | |
|---|---|
| Fits | Pleated-curtain track · Wave-curtain track |
| Torque | 2 Nm |
| Speed | 88 rpm |
| Travel speed | 10-20 cm/s |
| Supply | AC 100-240V |
| Power | 40 W |
| Motor size | 47 × 65 × 80 mm |
| Motor weight | 0.26 kg |
The N99 sheet doesn't say how it's controlled, and it doesn't give a fabric weight limit. Ask about both when you discuss the price, especially for heavy curtains or a long track. We make motorized curtain tracks from 1 to 16 metres. The price table runs up to 8.49 m; for a longer track, ask us on LINE.
How long does a curtain motor last, what's the warranty, and what does it cost?
- Service life — typically 5-10 years.
- Warranty — we warrant the motor for 6 years and the installation for 1 year.
- Motor for a motorized roller blind — 5,000 THB per unit, charged per blind and separately from the fabric. We don't publish per-model prices; the model used depends on the size of the blind.
- Motorized curtain track — from 5,900 THB a set depending on length, which is the track with its motor. Fabric is separate.
- Every price is before VAT.
How a complete blind is priced, with fabric and fitting, is in how much do motorized roller blinds cost. If you're still deciding between motorized and manual, read motorized vs manual blinds first.
Which curtain motor brand is good?
Judge the model's specs against your window, not the brand name alone. A heavy blind needs more torque, a bedroom calls for a look at noise, and phone control depends on the control type. We fit Somfy, Novo, Kacee and Uni.
What's the difference between Somfy and Novo curtain motors?
It can only be compared model by model. On the manufacturers' sheets, the Novo K25 6-28 and the Somfy LSN 40 6/28 RTS both have 6 Nm of torque at 28 rpm. The difference is the control: the K25 lists a radio (RF) remote and WiFi, while the LSN 40 uses a Somfy RTS radio remote.
How long does a curtain motor last, and is it under warranty?
They typically last 5-10 years, and we warrant the motor for 6 years. The installation is covered for 1 year.
Are curtain motors noisy?
Quieter than an electric fan. As a figure, the Novo K45 sheet states up to 32 dB; for the other models in the table we don't have a figure we can confirm.
Can I choose the motor model myself?
Tell us the brand or model you have in mind. We'll check whether it suits the size and weight of that blind and answer honestly. Before paying the deposit, ask for the motor model to be stated clearly.
Want the numbers for your own windows?
Send rough sizes first — no need to measure precisely. We'll work out a price, then arrange the real measure.
