Fabric Yardage Calculator
Estimate how much fabric to buy from your pattern piece size, how many pieces you need to cut, and your fabric's width.
How the yardage is worked out
The calculator lays your pieces out in rows across the fabric width, all facing the same way, and counts how many rows of fabric that takes:
pieces per row = floor(fabric width / piece width)
rows = ceil(pieces / pieces per row)
length (in) = rows × piece length
yardage = length / 36With the defaults - a 20 × 40 in piece, 6 of them, 60 in fabric - three fit across, so two rows of 40 in give 80 in, or 2.22 yd. The floor and the ceiling both round against you, and they step. Widen the piece to 21 in and only two fit across; you now need three rows, 120 in, 3.33 yd, for the same six pieces.
What the numbers must already include
- Seam allowances. The tool measures the rectangle you type, so add 5/8 in to every cut edge before entering the size.
- Usable width, not bolt width. Subtract the selvedges and any pressed centre crease. Quilting cotton sold as 44 in is often 42 in usable.
- Nap, pile and one-way prints. Every piece is assumed to face the same direction, which is right for velvet and corduroy but wastes fabric on a plain weave, where alternating pieces would nest.
- Shrinkage. Wash and dry before cutting, or add 5 to 10 per cent for cotton and linen.
Frequently asked questions
How many yards do I need for a dress?
Enter the pattern pieces. A simple shift in 60 in fabric usually comes out near 2 to 2.5 yd; a full skirt or a directional print can double that.
How many inches are in a yard of fabric?
36 in of length, whatever the width. A yard of 60 in fabric is 36 × 60 in, twice the cloth of a yard of 30 in fabric at the same price per yard.
Why did adding one inch to my piece add a whole yard?
Because pieces per row is a whole number. Crossing the point where three stop fitting across drops you to two and adds a full extra row.