Fabric Yardage Calculator
The general-purpose yardage calculator: enter your piece size, quantity and fabric width, and get the exact number of yards or meters to buy — with seam allowance and a waste factor built in.
Calculate fabric for any project
Napkins, bags, bandanas, banners, linings, appliqué backgrounds — anything cut as rectangles.
The yardage formula
Fabric is sold by length, but your pieces consume width and length. The trick is to lay pieces out across the bolt mathematically:
If the piece is wider than the fabric, rotate the piece (swap width and length) or accept that it needs a seam — the calculator tells you when a piece does not fit.
Worked example: 12 cloth napkins
Eighteen-by-twenty inch napkins, 1 inch allowance, 45-inch fabric, 10% waste:
In 60-inch fabric the same napkins fit 3 per row: 4 rows × 21 in = 84 in × 1.10 ≈ 2⅝ yd — buying the wider bolt saves over a yard here.
Standard fabric widths at the store
| Fabric type | Typical bolt width | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Quilting cotton | 42–44 in | Quilts, napkins, crafts |
| Craft / utility cotton | 45 in | Aprons, bags, linings |
| Upholstery / drapery | 54 in | Sofas, curtains, cushions |
| Apparel | 58–60 in | Clothing, large panels |
| Sheer / wide lining | 110–118 in | Extra-wide curtains, quilt backing |
Bolt widths vary by manufacturer — measure the bolt or check the label instead of assuming, especially on sale or clearance fabric.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how many yards of fabric I need?
Figure out how many of your pieces fit across the fabric width (fabric width ÷ piece width, rounded down), how many rows you need (quantity ÷ pieces per row, rounded up), then multiply rows by piece length to get total inches. Divide by 36 for yards. Example: twelve 18×20 inch napkins in 45-inch fabric fit 2 per row, need 6 rows, 6 × 20 = 120 in ≈ 3⅓ yards plus waste.
How big is one yard of fabric?
A yard is 36 inches of fabric length at whatever width the bolt is — commonly 42–45 inches for quilting cotton, 54 inches for upholstery, 60 inches for apparel, and 110–118 inches for sheers and wide backing.
How much extra fabric should I add for seams and mistakes?
Add ½–1 inch of seam allowance to each cut edge in your planning, then a 10% waste factor for cutting errors and shrinkage. For pattern-matched projects like curtains, add a full pattern repeat per cut instead.
Why does fabric width change the yardage?
Yardage buys length; width is fixed by the bolt. If your pieces only fit one-per-row in 45-inch fabric but two-per-row in 60-inch fabric, you need almost half the yardage. Always check the bolt width before using an online estimate.
Does this work for meters instead of yards?
Yes — switch the unit toggle to centimeters, enter metric measurements, and the results show both yards and meters so you can buy from either a US or metric fabric store.