Fabric Yardage Calculator

Fabric Yardage Calculator: Buy the Right Amount the First Time

Buying too little fabric means a second trip to the store hoping the dye lot matches; buying too much wastes money. This calculator works out exactly how many yards you need by fitting your pattern pieces across the fabric bolt width.

The Formula

Cut Size = Piece Size + 2 × Seam Allowance, Pieces per Row = floor(Fabric Width / Cut Width), Rows Needed = ceil(Quantity / Pieces per Row), Yardage = (Rows × Cut Length) / 36

Worked Example

6 pieces at 20"×30", with 0.5" seam allowance, on a standard 44" wide bolt.

Cut Size = 21"×31", Pieces per Row = 2, Rows Needed = 3, Yardage = (3×31)/36 = 2.583 yards

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter the piece width and length in inches.
  2. Enter how many pieces you need to cut.
  3. Optionally adjust seam allowance and fabric bolt width.
  4. Click Calculate to get the yardage to buy.

Related Calculations

Use with the Seam Allowance Calculator to double-check your cut dimensions first.