Yardage Calculator: Fabric for Sewing
This yardage calculator works out how much fabric to buy for a sewing or quilting project. Enter the size of the piece you need to cut in inches, how many pieces, and the width of the fabric bolt: 42 to 44 inches for quilting cotton, 54, 60 or 108 inch wide backing. It fits as many pieces as possible across the usable width, tries turning the pieces, adds a shrinkage allowance for pre-washing, and rounds up to the nearest eighth of a yard, the way fabric stores cut. You also see the length in inches and meters and how much will be left over.
Fabric Yardage Calculator
How many yards of fabric to buy for any number of pieces and fabric width.
How to use the Fabric Yardage Calculator
- Enter the cut piece width and length in inches.
- Enter the number of pieces.
- Choose the fabric width and a shrinkage allowance.
- Read the yards to buy and the cutting layout.
Fabric yardage formula
Pieces across = floor(usable width ÷ piece width). Rows = pieces ÷ across, rounded up. Yards = rows × piece length × (1 + shrinkage) ÷ 36, rounded up to 1/8 yard.
Features
- Fits pieces across the bolt width
- Tries rotating pieces
- Shrinkage allowance
- Rounds up to 1/8 yard
- Inches, yards and meters
- Runs in your browser
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate fabric yardage?
Find how many pieces fit across the usable width, divide the number of pieces by that to get rows, multiply rows by piece length and divide by 36 inches per yard.
How wide is quilting fabric?
Quilting cotton is usually 42 to 44 inches wide, with about 40 to 42 usable inches after removing selvages and shrinkage. Wide backing is 108 inches.
Should I add extra fabric?
Yes. Add 5% to 10% for shrinkage and straightening, and extra for directional prints or matching patterns.
How many inches are in a yard of fabric?
36 inches. Half a yard is 18 inches, a quarter yard is 9 inches and an eighth yard is 4.5 inches.
What is a fat quarter?
A fat quarter is a half yard cut in half across the width, about 18 by 21 inches, which is handy for small pieces.