How to use the fabric yardage calculator
- Choose the fabric width from the bolt label, or enter a custom usable width.
- Add each piece you need to cut with its length, width and quantity — include seam allowances.
- Tick directional print if pieces can’t be turned sideways.
- Keep about 10% extra for shrinkage and straightening, then read how much to buy.
How the layout is calculated
Pieces across = Usable width ÷ Piece width (rounded down) Rows = Quantity ÷ Pieces across (rounded up) Length needed = Rows × Piece length (summed for every piece) Buy = Length × (1 + extra %) → rounded up to ⅛ yard
For each piece, the calculator tries both orientations (unless the print is directional) and keeps the one that uses less length.
Worked example
Twenty 10 × 10 inch squares from quilting cotton (42 in usable):
- Across = 42 ÷ 10 = 4 squares; rows = 20 ÷ 4 = 5
- Length = 5 × 10 = 50 in
- Plus 10% = 55 in = 1.53 yd → buy 1⅝ yards
Common fabric widths
| Bolt width | Usable (approx.) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 44/45 in (112–115 cm) | 42 in | Quilting cotton, craft fabric |
| 54 in (137 cm) | 52–54 in | Home décor, upholstery, curtains |
| 58/60 in (150 cm) | 56–58 in | Apparel, knits, fleece, minky |
| 108 in (274 cm) | 104–106 in | Wide quilt backing |
| 118 in (300 cm) | 116 in | Sheer curtain fabric (railroaded) |
Yardage fractions
| Yards | Inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| ⅛ yd | 4.5 in | 11.4 cm |
| ¼ yd | 9 in | 22.9 cm |
| ⅓ yd | 12 in | 30.5 cm |
| ½ yd | 18 in | 45.7 cm |
| ¾ yd | 27 in | 68.6 cm |
| 1 yd | 36 in | 91.4 cm |
Tips for buying fabric
- Prewash cotton, linen and rayon before cutting if the finished item will be washed — they can shrink 3–5% or more.
- Pattern matching: for large prints or plaids on curtains and cushions, add one pattern repeat per panel.
- Buy from one bolt: dye lots vary, so buy all you need at once.
- Check the cut: shop cuts are not always perfectly straight; the extra allowance covers squaring the edge.
- Nap and one-way prints often need 10–25% more fabric because pieces can’t be turned.
Planning bigger projects
For garments, the pattern envelope gives yardage for each size and fabric width — use that first, and this calculator for adjustments like longer sleeves or extra pockets. For curtains, multiply the window width by 2 to 2½ for fullness, add side hems, and enter each panel as a piece with its cut length (drop plus about 12–16 inches for the header and hem). For quilts, list every cut — squares, strips, borders and binding strips — and the calculator adds them all together, so you only make one trip to the fabric store.