Sewing & Quilting Fabric Yardage Calculator
Created by: Olivia Harper
Last updated:
Calculate exactly how much fabric to buy for your sewing or quilting project. This calculator accounts for fabric width, waste factor, and shrinkage to give you an accurate yardage estimate every time.
Fabric Yardage Calculator
SewingCalculate how much fabric you need for any sewing or quilting project
Project Dimensions
Fabric Settings
Tip: Cotton typically shrinks 2-5%. Polyester barely shrinks. Use 10-15% waste for simple projects, 20-25% for complex patterns.
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What is a Fabric Yardage Calculator?
A Fabric Yardage Calculator helps sewists and quilters determine exactly how much fabric to buy for their projects. Whether you're making a quilt, garment, curtains, or home décor items, this tool accounts for project dimensions, fabric width, waste factor, and shrinkage to give you an accurate yardage estimate.
Buying too little fabric means a trip back to the store (hoping they still have the same dye lot), while buying too much wastes money. This calculator finds the sweet spot by considering all the variables that affect how much fabric you actually need.
Fabric Yardage Formulas
Basic Yardage: Project Length (inches) ÷ 36 = Yards needed (for single-width projects)
Multi-panel: (Project Width ÷ Usable Fabric Width) = Number of panels, then Panels × Project Length = Total inches needed
With Waste Factor: Base Yardage × (1 + Waste %) = Adjusted Yardage
With Shrinkage: Adjusted Yardage ÷ (1 − Shrinkage %) = Final Yardage
Example Calculation
For a 60" × 80" quilt top using 44" wide fabric with 10% waste:
- Usable fabric width: 44 − 4 (selvages) = 40"
- Panels across: 60 ÷ 40 = 1.5 → 2 panels needed
- Total length: 2 × 80 = 160"
- Base yardage: 160 ÷ 36 = 4.44 yards
- With 10% waste: 4.44 × 1.10 = 4.89 yards → buy 5 yards
Common Applications
- Quilting: Calculate background fabric, backing fabric, and accent fabrics
- Garment sewing: Determine fabric needed for dresses, shirts, pants, and skirts
- Home décor: Calculate yardage for curtains, pillow covers, and table runners
- Upholstery: Estimate fabric for chair covers, cushions, and slipcovers
Tips for Accurate Yardage Estimates
- Always verify the actual fabric width at the store — it can vary slightly from bolt to bolt
- Account for pre-washing shrinkage (cotton typically shrinks 2-5%)
- For directional prints, add one pattern repeat per length cut
- When in doubt, buy an extra 1/4 yard — it's cheaper than a second trip
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate fabric yardage for a sewing project?
Measure the total area you need to cover (length × width of all pattern pieces), then divide by the usable fabric width. Add 10-15% for waste, pattern matching, and cutting errors. Convert total inches to yards by dividing by 36. Always round up to the nearest 1/8 yard when purchasing.
What is the standard fabric width for quilting cotton?
Quilting cotton is typically 44/45 inches wide. After removing selvages (about 1-2 inches per side), the usable width is approximately 40-42 inches. Other common widths: home décor fabric is 54-60 inches, apparel fabric varies from 36 to 60 inches, and wide backing fabric is 108 inches.
How much extra fabric should I buy for pattern matching?
For prints with a repeat, buy one extra pattern repeat per cut length. For directional prints (one-way designs), add 10-15% extra. For stripes or plaids that need matching at seams, add 15-25% depending on the repeat size. Solid fabrics don't need extra for pattern matching.
How do I convert between fabric measurements?
1 yard = 36 inches = 91.44 cm. 1 meter = 39.37 inches ≈ 1.09 yards. To convert yards to meters, multiply by 0.9144. To convert meters to yards, multiply by 1.0936. Most US fabric stores sell by the yard; international stores sell by the meter.
What is the difference between 44-inch and 60-inch fabric?
44/45-inch fabric is standard for quilting cotton and many apparel fabrics. 60-inch fabric is common for knits, fleece, and some apparel fabrics. Wider fabric means you need less yardage since more pattern pieces fit across the width. Always check your pattern requirements for the specific fabric width.
How much fabric waste should I plan for?
Plan for 10% waste for simple rectangular projects, 15% for projects with multiple pattern pieces, and up to 25% for complex patterns with bias cuts or curved pieces. Pre-washing can shrink fabric 2-5%, so account for that if you pre-wash before cutting.
Sources and References
- Singer Sewing Reference Library, "Sewing Essentials", Creative Publishing International
- Colette Patterns, "The Colette Sewing Handbook", Krause Publications
- Craft Yarn Council, "Standard Fabric Widths and Measurements", 2024